Wow In Music – I’m Not In Love

Darrell Mann

There aren’t many songs that get hour-long documentaries written about them 10cc’s 1975 hit ‘I’m Not In Love’ is one of them. It became a worldwide smash, not only topping the UK charts but also reaching number two … Read More

Wow In Music – Tiny Dancer

Darrell Mann

In the 12 October edition of the Guardian newspaper there was a big section in which various celebrities had posed questions for Elton John to answer. I’m not sure how the newspaper’s editors managed it, but one of … Read More

Wow In Music – Just The Way You Are

Darrell Mann

One of the funniest things I ever saw on television happened about twenty years ago when a very hip and trendy TV music programme invited Paul McCartney onto the show for an interview. It was a big coup, … Read More

Wow In Music – Thing Called Love

Darrell Mann

This section of the ezine feels more and more like a Hall of Fame for under-appreciated musicians. We continue the theme this month with John Hiatt, surely one of the greatest American singer-songwriters of the last fifty years. … Read More

Wow In Music – Driving With The Brakes On

Darrell Mann

It’s difficult for me to think of a band more criminally underrated than Del Amitri. I can’t think of a weak track across the course of their half dozen albums released between 1985 and 2002 – including some … Read More

Wow In Music – Take It With Me

Darrell Mann

First up, no-one – no-one – writes lyrics like Tom Waits. He has the rare knack of hitting a nerve. The song ‘Take It With Me’ from his 1999 album, Mule Variations represents something of a high-point … Read More

Wow In Music – No Me, No You, No More

Darrell Mann

I was reading the inspiring book, ‘Your Song Changed My Life’, by Bob Boilen a few weeks ago. In the book, Boilen interviews a number of my favourite artists asking them, per the book’s title, which music changed … Read More

Wow In Music – First We Take Manhattan

Darrell Mann

With 20/ 20 hindsight, it makes perfect sense that Jennifer Warnes’ exquisite 1986 album, Famous Blue Raincoat: The Songs of Leonard Cohen, became a critical and commercial success. After all, Cohen is now widely regarded as one of … Read More

Wow In Music – River

Darrell Mann

Released in 1971 and produced by Reprise records, River is a contemporary folk song found on Joni Mitchell’s classic album, ‘Blue’. For some reason, even though it really isn’t really a Christmas song, it has somehow … Read More

Wow In Music – You Make My Dreams

Darrell Mann

Something of a guilty pleasure of a song for this month’s ‘Wow’ feature. “You Make My Dreams”, sometimes incorrectly referred to as “You Make My Dreams Come True”, is a song by the American duo Hall & Oates, … Read More

Wow In Music – Shine On You Crazy Diamond

Darrell Mann

After writing Dark Side of the Moon, their most commercial album to date, the four members of Pink Floyd were introduced to all of the trappings of international stardom. It is perhaps no surprise, therefore that the band’s … Read More

Wow In Music – Horses

Darrell Mann

Pipping the Ramones’ first album to the post by five months, Horses is generally considered not just one of the most startling debuts in rock history but the spark that ignited the punk explosion.

Exactly forty-three years ago … Read More

Wow In Music – Here, My Dear / Let’s Get It On

Darrell Mann

I have another theory. One I’ve had for a long time, but have never had the chance to really explore. Mainly because, outside the world of art, music and literature I wouldn’t know where to go find the … Read More

Wow In Music – Lost Ones

Darrell Mann

The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill is the debut solo album by American singer and rapper Lauryn Hill. It was released on August 25, 1998. The album debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 chart, selling 422,624 copies … Read More

Wow In Music – Happy

Darrell Mann

Earworms. Yes. And no. Earworms are songs that you’re unable to get out of your head. Sometimes that’s a good thing, and sometimes it isn’t. Scientists at the University of St Andrews have named the Top 20 official … Read More

Wow In Music – I Say A Little Prayer (x2)

Darrell Mann

This month saw the sad passing of singer, Aretha Franklin, a woman who was blessed with arguably the greatest singing voice in the history of recorded music — and with it, the superhuman ability to make songs better … Read More

Wow In Music – The Downtown Lights

Darrell Mann

I’m writing this at 3am, soft rainfall and ambient lightning flashes outside suggesting, at last, a break in the unstoppable summer weather, and all I want to do is stroll down to the street corner in my local … Read More

Wow In Music – Awaken

Darrell Mann

1977. Punk had arrived. Which meant if you were Prog, you had suddenly become a dinosaur. Literally overnight. Some prog bands never recovered. Archetypal prog band, Yes, instead took the bit between their teeth and produced one of … Read More

Wow In Music – Wow In Music – Boogie Wonderland

Darrell Mann

Disco music is one of the most denigrated of all the popular genres. For the most part there is good reason for the criticism. The cream, however, always rises given time, and Earth, Wind & Fire’s massive hit, … Read More

Wow In Music – Strawberry Fields Forever

Darrell Mann

One of the greatest singles of all time. An enduring classic that it is difficult to tire of listening to. Why is that?

Let’s start the investigation somewhere else. Somewhere a long way from the Beatles… The Pearl … Read More