Songwriter Mike Scott says he was inspired by a sense of ‘wonderment’ — and by a collage of influences, including Prince
Others have tried to capture the song’s aura of warm reassurance, though few have carried it off
The band’s storming classic was based on an old gospel blues number first recorded in 1927
Baccara’s 1977 track was covered by dance-pop acts such as Goldfrapp — and will be belted out during this summer’s Euro 2024 tournament
Written by Johnny Mercer after his affair with Judy Garland ended, the first of many renditions was sung by Fred Astaire
The singer’s heartfelt plea has resonated and been reimagined since its release
The track reflected the sense of excitement and desperation portrayed in the 1977 movie
The great trumpeter channelled the song’s New Orleans roots, though some claim it goes back a thousand years
Re-recorded and sampled by musicians such as Pink Floyd and Hank Marvin, the piece returns in the latest series
A minor hit for Dandy, the song was given punky attitude by the 2-Tone band — and featured a trombonist’s reprise performance
Composer Gavin Bryars looped and layered a recording of a rough sleeper to create something hypnotic
Folk and rock musicians have been drawn to a song that was spotted off the coasts of the UK and the US
Reflecting its writer’s sense of isolation, the Tubeway Army track went on to have a fruitful afterlife
Widely covered following its 1972 release, the ‘reggae rock’ track was revived in a 1980s TV advert for a coffee brand
Inspired by a real woman, the 1957 song was later covered by artists such as Cliff Richard and Lou Reed
The track pays tribute to his long partnership with Art Garfunkel
His drummer Clyde Stubblefield’s 20-second break on the track became one of the most sampled beats in music
Under pressure, the leader of Sly and the Family Stone came up with a sparse funky blues that baffled and beguiled
The band have been credited with helping integrate gay culture into the mainstream, while the song’s dance routine spread like wildfire
His track for the 1973 film was unusually structured, including a section written by Linda McCartney, and gave rise to a memorable cover version
Adapted from a Yiddish musical comedy number, the track became a sensation — and was used by the Nazi propaganda machine
The singer’s powerhouse performance brought the song to the attention of The Rolling Stones
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