Music - five I love.

1. Astor Piazzola – Adios Nonino
Astor Piazzola is considered the most important tango composer of the twentieth century. He caused great upset amongst Argentina’s followers of traditional tango by updating the form in what some thought as a disrespectful fashion. He incorporated elements of jazz and classical music into his “neuvo tango.” He was physically attacked for doing so, because as they used to say in Argentina, everything can change but not the tango! One tango singer burst into the studio of a radio station where he was giving an interview and held a pistol to his head.

He wrote this composition on the death of his father. It is worth listening to closely. After just under two minutes of a dissonant piano introduction we are suddenly presented with an unforgettable theme. This is then replaced by some lively string and bandoleon (a type of accordion) playing, only for the violin to resurface with the theme once again with even more emotion. The quicker, urgent stuff returns, with sliding string notes and a little percussion. Then the bandoleon reprises the sad theme. The piece ends with the ensemble half joyously taking us to a quiet conclusion.

2. The Animals – We’ve Gotta Get Out Of This Place
How compelling is that bass line! The Animals were a Toon band and as you can hear they badly wanted to leave the place. This track was recorded over 40 years ago and is certainly not a romantic love song!. The singer is the legendary Eric Burdon, a tough little brick-shithouse of a man, who now lives in California, so he at least achieved his ambition. One of the earliest British teen-angst songs.

3. Ray Charles – Hit the Road Jack
Listen to that rhythm and Ray’s trademark voice. His backing singers were called The Raeletes, and it is said that the only way you could get in the group was if you let Ray. The duetting singer on this track had Ray’s child – in all he had eight by six different women. Probably explains the title of the song?

4. The Hollies -Bus Stop
Brilliant opening riff starts us on the way to just under three minutes of pop perfection. The Manchester lads are now oldies, and this was a hit in 1966 just before the England World Cup victory, so has always been a favourite of mine. The jangling guitar almost sounds like rain and the lyrics are at times laughable - “Bus stops, bus goes, she stays, love grows…” – simple really.

5. The Everly Brothers – Crying in the Rain
Kentucky brothers Don and Phil Everly were the ultimate vocal partnership in the 1950’s. They had many hits when I was a kid, and were firmly lodged in my head, never to be removed, I hope. Like all partnerships they had bad times. Disagreements through the late 60s and early 70s climaxed in 1973, during a concert in Los Angeles. The manager came on the stage, stopped the show and told the audience that he was upset with Don's sloppy performance. Phil smashed his guitar and stormed off, and Don announced that The Everly Brothers had split. Ten years later the brothers made peace with each other and reunited as a singing duo at the Royal Albert Hall in London. Get the version of this classic from that show and you will not be disappointed.