Friday, 14 November 2014

Elemental

Songs containing the name of a chemical element. We only need one per element!
Element nameElement symbolAtomic numberSongArtist
HydrogenH1H to He, Who Am The Only OneVan De Graaf Generator
HeliumHe2H to He, Who Am The Only OneVan De Graaf Generator
LithiumLi3LithiumNirvana
BerylliumBe4
BoronB5Come, labor on!Hymn words by Jane Borthwick
CarbonC6CarbonTori Amos
NitrogenN7Nitrogen PinkPolly Scattergood
OxygenO8Love Is Like OxygenThe Sweet
FluorineF9
NeonNe10Neon NightsAtlanta Rhythm Section
SodiumNa11NaCl (Sodium Chloride)Kate & Anna McGarrigle
MagnesiumMg12
Aluminium (aluminum)Al13
SiliconSi14Silicon WorldEiffel 65
PhosphorusP15
Sulfur (Sulphur)S16
ChlorineCl17
ArgonAr18Nowhere Near Gone (see what I did there?)Joe Kendall
PotassiumK19
CalciumCa20
ScandiumSc21
TitaniumTi22
VanadiumV23
ChromiumCr24
ManganeseMn25
IronFe26Iron ManBlack Sabbath
CobaltCo27
NickelNi28Red Light NickelKelly Joe Phelps
CopperCu29Copperhead RoadSteve Earle
ZincZn30
GalliumGa31
GermaniumGe32
ArsenicAs33
SeleniumSe34
BromineBr35
KryptonKr36Pocket Full Of KryptoniteThe Spin Doctors
RubidiumRb37
StrontiumSr38
YttriumY39
ZirconiumZr40
NiobiumNb41
MolybdenumMo42
TechnetiumTc43
RutheniumRu44
RhodiumRh45
PalladiumPd46
SilverAg47Silver Dream MachineDavid Essex
CadmiumCd48
IndiumIn49
TinSn50Tin SoldierThe Small Faces
AntimonySb51
TelluriumTe52
IodineI53IodineLeonard Cohen
XenonXe54
Caesium (Cesium)Cs55
BariumBa56
LanthanumLa57
CeriumCe58
PraseodymiumPr59
NeodymiumNd60
PromethiumPm61
SamariumSm62
EuropiumEu63
GadoliniumGd64
TerbiumTb65
DysprosiumDy66
HolmiumHo67
ErbiumEr68
ThuliumTm69
YtterbiumYb70
LutetiumLu71
HafniumHf72
TantalumTa73
TungstenW74
RheniumRe75
OsmiumOs76
IridiumIr77
PlatinumPt78Platinum BlondeBlondie
GoldAu79GoldSpandau Ballet
MercuryHg80MercuryBloc Party
ThalliumTl81
LeadPb82Gunpowder and LeadMiranda Lambert
BismuthBi83
PoloniumPo84
AstatineAt85
RadonRn86
FranciumFr87
RadiumRa88Radium EyesCount Zero
ActiniumAc89
ThoriumTh90
ProtactiniumPa91
UraniumU92UraniumKraftwerk
NeptuniumNp93
PlutoniumPu94
AmericiumAm95
CuriumCm96
BerkeliumBk97
CaliforniumCf98
EinsteiniumEs99
FermiumFm100
MendeleviumMd101
NobeliumNo102
LawrenciumLr103
RutherfordiumRf104
DubniumDb105
SeaborgiumSg106
BohriumBh107
HassiumHs108
MeitneriumMt109
DarmstadtiumDs110
RoentgeniumRg111
CoperniciumCp112
UnuntriumUut113
UnunquadiumUuq114
UnunpentiumUup115
UnunhexiumUuh116
UnunseptiumUus117
UnunoctiumUuo118

Tuesday, 12 August 2014

Initialized band names

  • M.F.S.B. Mother-fucking Sons of Bitches.
  • J.A.L.N. Band. Just Another Lonely Night.
  • N.K.O.T.B.S.B. An amalgamation of New Kids On The Block and Back Street Boys. Sounds absolutely ghastly.

Sunday, 28 July 2013

A River Runs Through It

A visit to Stourhead recently made me wonder whether that Stour was the same Stour as the one that runs through Shipston-on-Stour, and so another list was born. Towns and villages with a river in their name. It's not the same Stour at all, by they way.
  • Alde
    • Aldeburgh
  • Arrow (Wales)
    • Staunton-on-Arrow
  • Avon (Warwickshire, tributary of the Severn)
    • Stratford-upon-Avon
    • Welford-on-Avon
    • Bidford-on-Avon
    • Newbold on Avon
  • Avon (Bristol)
    • Avonmouth
    • Bradford-on-Avon
  • Cocker
    • Cockermouth (where the Cocker runs into the Derwent)
  • Dart
    • Dartmouth
  • Dyfi
    • Aberdyfi
  • Eden
    • Crosby-on-Eden
  • Fal
    • Falmouth
  • Humber
    • Barton-upon-Humber
  • Kent
    • Kendal (originally Kent Dale)
  • Plym
    • Plymouth
  • Severn
    • Frampton-on-Severn
    • Oldbury-on-Severn
    • Upton-upon-Severn
    • Stourport-on-Severn (that one's doing my head in)
  • Stour (> Avon > Severn)
    • Shipstone-on-Stour
    • Preston on Stour
    • Atherstone on Stour
  • Stour (a different one that runs down to Christchurch where it meets another Avon, which has Netheravon and Upavon on it)
    • Milton-on-Stour
  • Tavy
    • Tavistock (originally Tavy's Dock)
  • Tees
    • Thornaby-on-Tees
    • Hurworth-on-Tees
    • Stockton-on-Tees
    • Middleton-in-Teesdale (I'll allow that)
    • Forest-in-Teesdale
  • Teign
    • Teignmouth
  • Thames
    • Kingston upon Thames
    • Sunbury-on-Thames
    • Walton-on-Thames
    • Staines-upon-Thames (really?)
    • Richmond upon Thames
    • Henley-on-Thames
    • Purley-on-Thames
    • Whitchurch-on-Thames
    • Dorchester-on-Thames
    • Sandford-on-Thames
    • Lechlade-on-Thames
  • Trent
    • Burton upon Trent
    • Walton-on-Trent
    • Stoke-on-Trent
    • Newark-on-Trent
    • Carlton-on-Trent
  • Tyne
    • Newcastle upon Tyne
    • Langley-on-Tyne
  • Wye
    • Ross-on-Wye
    • Staunton-on-Wye
  • Wyre
    • St Michael's-on-Wyre

Tuesday, 25 June 2013

Five-star albums from the iPodyssey

  1. Abbey Road: The Beatles
  2. All Mod Cons: The Jam
  3. Alright Jack: The Home Service
  4. All The Way From Tuam: The Saw Doctors
  5. Automatic For The People: R.E.M.
  6. Avalon Sunset: Van Morrison
  7. Back and Fourth: Lindisfarne
  8. Bat Out Of Hell: Meat Loaf
  9. The Beatles (White Album): The Beatles
  10. Best of: Chuck Berry
  11. Best of: Rod Stewart
  12. Best of: Sandy Denny
  13. Best of: Talking Heads
  14. The Best Of Dahler Mendi Volume 2: Dahler Mendi
  15. Big Hits: Rolling Stones
  16. Blonde On Blonde: Bob Dylan
  17. Blood On The Tracks: Bob Dylan
  18. Blue: Joni Mitchell
  19. Bob Till You Drop: Ry Cooder
  20. Born To Run: Bruce Springsteen
  21. Breakfast In America: Supertramp
  22. Bringing It All Back Home: Bob Dylan
  23. Burlesque: Bellowhead
  24. Can’t Stand The Rezillos: The Rezillos
  25. Change Everything: Del Amitri
  26. The Collection: The Dubliners
  27. Court And Spark: Joni Mitchell
  28. Communique: Dire Straits
  29. Daring Adventures: Richard Thompson
  30. Darkness On The Edge Of Town: Bruce Springsteen
  31. The Definitive: Simon & Garfunkel
  32. Desire: Bob Dylan
  33. Different Class: Pulp
  34. Down By The Jetty: Dr Feelgood
  35. Enlightenment: Van Morrison
  36. The Essential Collection: Elvis Presley
  37. Fest Noz de Bretagne: Various Artists
  38. Fleetwood Mac: Fleetwood Mac
  39. Flesh & Blood: Roxy Music
  40. Fog On The Tyne: Lindisfarne
  41. Folk Heritage II: Various Artists
  42. Freedom And Rain: June Tabor and the Oysterband
  43. Full House: Fairport Convention
  44. Glass Houses: Billy Joel
  45. Gold: Abba
  46. Graceland: Paul Simon
  47. Greetings from Asbury Park, N.J.: Bruce Springsteen
  48. Hand Of Kindness: Richard Thompson
  49. Hark! The Village Wait: Steeleye Span
  50. The Harrow & The Harvest: Gillian Welch
  51. Harvest: Neil Young
  52. Hedonism: Bellowhead
  53. Hejira: Joni Mitchell
  54. Henry The Human Fly: Richard Thompson
  55. Highway 61 Revisited: Bob Dylan
  56. The Hissing Of Summer Lawns: Joni Mitchell
  57. Hold Back The Night: Graham Parker & The Rumour
  58. Holy Bandits: The Oysterband
  59. Hotel California: The Eagles
  60. Hounds Of Love: Kate Bush
  61. I Am: Earth, Wind & Fire
  62. If I Should Fall From Grace With God: The Pogues
  63. I Love My Ocarina: The Chuckerbutty Ocarina Quartet
  64. The Incomparable: Ella Fitzgerald
  65. In Spite Of Ourselves: John Prine
  66. Inventaire 1970-1993: Tri Yann
  67. Irish Heartbeat: Van Morrison
  68. IV: Led Zeppelin
  69. I Want To See The Bright Lights Tonight: Richard & Linda Thompson
  70. Jailbreak: Thin Lizzy
  71. Jenni Scott’s Mix-CD
  72. The Kick Inside: Kate Bush
  73. Larkrise To Candleford: The Albion Band
  74. Legend: Bob Marley
  75. Let England Shake: P.J. Harvey
  76. Let’s Stick Together: Brian Ferry
  77. Liege & Lief: Fairport Convention
  78. Light Years: E.L.O.
  79. Live & Dangerous: Thin Lizzy
  80. London Calling: The Clash
  81. Making Movies: Dire Straits
  82. Matachin: Bellowhead
  83. Modern Lovers: Jonathan Richman & The Modern Lovers
  84. Moondance: Van Morrison
  85. The Mountain: Steve Earle & The Del McCoury Band
  86. Never Mind The Bollocks: The Sex Pistols
  87. Nevermind: Nirvana
  88. The News: Lindisfarne
  89. Nicely Out Of Tune: Lindisfarne
  90. No Roses: Shirley Collins & The Albion Country Band
  91. Oh Brother Where Art Thou? OST: Various Artists
  92. The Old Straight Track: Jack The Lad
  93. Parallel Lines: Blondie
  94. A Parcel of Steeleye: Steeleye Span
  95. Physical Graffiti: Led Zeppelin
  96. Piano Man: Billy Joel
  97. Please To See The King: Steeleye Span
  98. Pour Down Like Silver: Richard & Linda Thompson
  99. The Prospect Before Us: The Albion Dance Band
  100. Ragged Kingdom: June Tabor & The Oysterband
  101. Reasons To Be Cheerful: The Best Of: Ian Dury
  102. Revolver: The Beatles
  103. Rise Up Like The Sun: The Albion Band
  104. The River: Bruce Springsteen
  105. Rubber Soul: The Beatles
  106. Same Oul’ Town: The Saw Doctors
  107. Saturday Night Fever OST: Various Artists
  108. Searching For The Young Soul Rebels: Dexys Midnight Runners
  109. The Seeger Sessions: Bruce Springsteen
  110. Setting Sons: The Jam
  111. Sergeant Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band: The Beatles
  112. Shoot Out The Lights: Richard Thompson
  113. Sir Henry At Rawlinson End: Vivian Stanshall
  114. The Shouting End Of Life: The Oysterband
  115. Smiddyburn: Dave Swarbrick
  116. Songs For Swingin’ Lovers: Frank Sinatra
  117. Songs In The Key Of Life: Stevie Wonder
  118. Soul Decade: The Sixties: Various Artists
  119. Sounds Affects: The Jam
  120. Sounds Of The Seventies (Time Life): Various Artists
  121. Squeezing Out Sparks: Graham Parker & The Rumour
  122. Street Legal: Bob Dylan
  123. The Stranger: Billy Joel
  124. Street Life: Bryan Ferry & Roxy Music
  125. Swarbrick 1: Dave Swarbrick
  126. Swarbrick 2: Dave Swarbrick
  127. Talking Book: Stevie Wonder
  128. Then And Now: The Who
  129. This Is The Story: The Proclaimers
  130. Thriller: Michael Jackson
  131. Too-Rye-Ay: Dexys Midnight Runners
  132. Trawler: The Oysterband
  133. Tubular Bells: Mike Oldfield
  134. Tupelo Honey: Van Morrison
  135. Tusk: Fleetwood Mac
  136. Unhalfbricking: Fairport Convention
  137. The Very Best Of: 10CC
  138. The Very Best Of: Elton John
  139. The Very Best Of: Elvis Presley
  140. The Very Best Of: Jake Thackray
  141. Waking Hours: Del Amitri
  142. War Of The Worlds: Jeff Wayne
  143. We'll Keep A Welcome: Bryn Terfel
  144. What We Did On Our Holidays: Fairport Convention
  145. Woodface: Crowded House
  146. Yours Truly, Angry Mob: The Kaiser Chiefs
  147. You Win Again: Hank Williams
  148. 20 Golden Greats: Buddy Holly

One-star albums from the iPodyssey - about to be deleted

  1. All About Eve: All About Eve
  2. Audibly Nice: Pneumatic & Sloth
  3. The Bairns: Rachel Unthank & The Winterset
  4. Banba: Clannad
  5. The Best of Traditional Irish Dance Music: Various Artists
  6. Eddi Reader: Eddi Reader
  7. The Eighties Mix: Various Artists
  8. Equinoxe: Jean-Michel Jarre
  9. Everytime We Touch: Cascada
  10. Foxtrot: Genesis
  11. Genesis: Genesis
  12. Giants Of Rock: Various Artists
  13. Hello I Must Be Going: Phil Collins
  14. High School Musical OST: Various Artists
  15. High School Musical 2 OST: Various Artists
  16. In Blue: The Corrs
  17. Live In The City Of Light: Simple Minds
  18. Out Of Control: Girls Aloud
  19. Red Book: Texas
  20. Rock Ballads 2: Various Artists
  21. Rock Ballads 3: Various Artists
  22. Songs Jigs Reels: The Kilfenora and Glenside Ceilidh Bands
  23. Suede: Suede
  24. Tangled Up: Girls Aloud
  25. Three: The Sugababes
  26. Up All Night: One Direction

Tuesday, 22 January 2013

Imperative band names

Daisy came up with this. What bands or artists have names that are imperatives?
  • Be Good Tanyas
  • Blur
  • Bomb The Bass
  • Bridge
  • Cast
  • Change
  • Chuck Berry
  • Club Nouveau
  • Coldplay
  • DeBarge
  • Double
  • Exile
  • Fine Young Cannibals
  • Go West
  • Harry Nilsson
  • Imagine Dragons
  • Iron Maiden
  • Jack The Lad (rude)
  • Josh White
  • Ken Boothe (one for our Scottish readers)
  • Kid Creole
  • Knit Your Own Yoghurt
  • Level 42
  • Mark Knopfler
  • Muse
  • Nick Drake
  • Panic At The Disco
  • Pilot
  • Pogue Mahone
  • Pulp
  • Scissor Sisters (gruesome image)
  • Spike Jones
  • Spin Doctors
  • Split Enz
  • Squeeze
  • Sting
  • Swing Out Sister
  • Take That
  • Thunder
  • Will To Power
  • Wire

Wednesday, 7 November 2012

There must be 50 ways to say goodbye in a song

  • Adios - Linda Ronstadt
  • Bye Bye - Mariah Carey
  • Farewell, Farewell - Fairport Convention
  • Just Go Away - Blondie
  • Sayonara - The Pogues

Sunday, 9 September 2012

The Eyes Have It

Eyes - the window to the soul. Also the window to the blues, the rock 'n' roll, and maybe even the rap. Songs about eyes. No cheating and searching on Spotify - I will know.
    Brown
    • Brown Eyes: Fleetwood Mac
    • Brown-Eyed Girl: Van Morrison
    • A Pair Of Brown Eyes: The Pogues
    Blue
    • Blue Eyes: Elton John
    Red
    • Ole Red-Eyes Is Back: The Beautiful South

Tuesday, 22 May 2012

Dance Craze Songs

A list of songs with an associated dance craze. Ideally the song lyrics should explain how to do the dance.
  • Agadoo: Black Lace. The fourth worst song ever?
  • The Bump: Kenny. Ludicrous seventies dance.
  • Do The Funky Chicken: Rufus Thomas.
  • The Chicken Song: Spitting Image.
  • (Do Do Do) The Funky Gibbon: The Goodies.
  • Macarena: Los Del Rio.
  • Oops Upside Your Head: The GAP band. Sitting on the floor, rowing - what was all that about?
  • (Do The) Push & Pull: Rufus Thomas.
  • The Resurrection Shuffle: Ashton, Gardner, and Dyke.
  • Superman: Black Lace.
  • The Time Warp: Rocky Horror Show.
  • The Twist: Hank Ballard & The Midnighters, and later covered by Chubby Checker.
Disqualified:
  • Land Of 1000 Dances: Just About Everybody. Too general.

Friday, 11 May 2012

Eponymous Tracks

Not albums, oh no. That would be too easy. What we want here are tracks with exactly the same name as their performer.


  • Hi Tension: Hi Tension
  • M.E.T.H.O.D. Man: Method Man. Or is that cheating?
  • Talk Talk: Talk Talk
  • They Might Be Giants: They Might Be Giants