131 Songs - Numbers 89, 90 and 91

Number 89 - Missing by Everything But The Girl

There are certain albums that Alison and I both like that we play when we want to relax at home. And the same artists get played again and again. That is why the next three songs are on my list. Everything But The Girl are one of our favourites and we have a choice of seven of their CD's. There are some great tracks on "Idlewild" ("Apron Strings" nearly made my first choice) but I think that 1994's "Amplified Heart" is the best of their albums. "We Walk The Same Line" and "25th December" are great back to back tracks near the end, but I have gone for "Missing". And it is a collaboration, words by Tracey Thorn and music by Ben Watt. They married in 2009 after 28 years as a couple and now have three children. Maybe that is why there has been no new material since 1999. Although their two albums after "Amplified Heart" went electronic and are not in our collection.

Number 90 - Wild Child by Enya

I have to admit, I would never play Enya on my own. But with a gin and tonic and a bowl of crisps on a Friday evening at 6pm on the dot, Alison must have chosen one of Enya's CD's too many times to count. And she does write some lovely, sombre songs. The most obvious choice would have been "Orinoco Flow" from her classic "Watermark" album, but my choice is this equally haunting track from her 2000 album "a day without rain".

Number 91 - Why Can't We Live Together by Sade

This is not a 6pm Friday album. More like late evening fare. But this is one of my all time favourite songs. It really should be in the covers section to follow as it is a composition by Timmy Thomas. The introduction instrumental on this track is quite something. The drummer on the recording is Paul Cooke and he used to be part of the "Sade" band. But having left the group in 1984, he is no longer credited on the earlier LP or our new CD as having been in the band. It carefully says "Sade are", which means now (on it's 1984 release), not then (at the recording). He is just on the "thanks" list with other session musicians. It must have been an acrimonious parting.