Phil Shaw writes his list of Top 30 songs released in 2024… if you’re not sure what to listen to these days then Phil’s guide introduces some new songs and sounds you may not have heard before. Educational.
Phil writes for an intriguing website called Here Comes The Song which has been created by Neil Morton – former sports editor of The Independent on Sunday and senior subeditor of The Guardian and Observer. So he knows how to write, and edit… as does many of the contributors
…including Phil Shaw – a freelance journalist and author who has written for most of the quality broadsheets in Britain – The Guardian, The Observer, The Daily Telegraph, Scotland on Sunday, The Independent as well as covering music for TimeOut. He has edited nine editions of The Book of Football Quotations and among the numerous sporting events he has reported are five World Cups and four European Championships.
These two make the website extremely intelligent refreshing reading.
Enjoy…
“….The idea is an homage to songwriting and songwriters, a doffed cap to the songs we love and why they’re so important to us. A paean, in other words. As a lapsed singer-songwriter who wisely decided journalism might be a better way to ensure food reached the table, I will try to blend both worlds by writing about songs which have meant a great deal to me and talk about their structure, lyrics and history, with YouTube links to performances, other relevant sites and exceptional cover versions. It will be principally about songs performed by the writer him or herself although great covers will be acknowledged. That rules out instrumentals.
I’ve asked a number of friends and former colleagues – music lovers all – to contribute their thoughts, and they have been generous with their time and eloquent with their words. “
oh… and …The Island Book of Records 1969-70 is named the Best Music Book of the Year 2024
‘Island,’ said Cat Stevens, ‘was a magical pink wonderland’: Traffic, Nick Drake, John Martyn, Fairport, Free, Mott, Crimson, samplers et al. Evocative interviews and illustrations chronicle its first heyday and tease a second spearheaded by reggae.
