Getting on for two years ago, I was in a café having a conversation with my friend Olivia about music. I say a conversation. From Olivia’s recollections it sounds more like me going off on a tiresome rant – decrying the likes of Coldplay’s need to insert wordless ‘obligatory festival-ready sing-along choruses’ into their songs (see ‘Viva la Vida’).

Olivia suggested I start noting down such musings in blog form. I was quite taken with the idea. I do harbour a fair amount of musical trivia, mostly relating to blues, rock, pop and their various offshoots; the chronology and release years of Beatles albums, the fact that the Pink Floyd track ‘Set the Controls for the Heart of the Sun’ is the only one to feature all five members, that sort of thing.

I also carry around in my head a bank of songs to rival any popular streaming service. Well known, obscure or downright bizarre, any one of these songs can be jolted into life at any moment. It can take as little as an overheard utterance of the most arbitrary words to set a chain reaction in motion. A song relating to or containing said words will be selected from the darkest recesses of my Wurlitzer brain, placed on the automated turntable of my vocal folds and played out in glorious mono through my mouth. Much to the delight/frustration of those around me (delete as appropriate).

This curious ability has caused numerous friends and acquaintances to bestow upon me a title I’m rather fond of: The Human Jukebox.

Well, here at last is the blog! Thank you Olivia for the idea and sorry it took so long!

And what better way to kick off than with a selection of festive tunes! I’ve assembled for your listening pleasure an eclectic selection of Christmas ditties, in the form of a Spotify playlist to be found here. Perfect to get that seasonal spirit warmed up (or mulled…)

We’ve got some well-trodden chart favourites (Wham! and Mariah are both present), some golden oldies (Messrs Crosby, Sinatra, Martin et al), some silly ones (deliberately from Tom Lehrer, not so deliberately from Mike Oldfield) and a few lesser known outside bets (a gorgeous Joni Mitchell song, an a capella ‘Silent Night’ by Pentatonix and a frankly stunning take on a traditional carol by the Beach Boys).

To bring us more up to date, I’ve put in three tracks from John Legend’s silky smooth Christmas album. And while I’m not the Boob’s number one fan, it doesn’t quite feel like Christmas without the Canadian crooner’s creamy vocals, so he’s at the party too.

FAIR WARNING: for novelty value, I’ve also thrown in a couple of truly awful ones. The inclusion of John Owen Jones’ unbearably sugary and indulgent rendition of ‘O Holy Night’ and Bob Dylan’s alarming 2009 recording of ‘Hark the Herald Angels Sing’ make this list the good, the bad and the ugly of Christmas music.

As an extra treat, every day from tomorrow to Christmas Eve I will hand pick one of my faves and give it a little write-up. Aren’t you lucky?!

From January I will aim to post something once a week. It could be anything; a new musical discovery, a discussion of a classic artist, album or song, or some other musical topic I happen to be pondering. I don’t pretend to be a total expert, more a huge music enthusiast with some decent knowledge and some hopefully interesting opinions to share. Comments, recommendations and contrasting opinions always welcome – don’t be a dick. As well as a chance for me to share music I know and love I hope it will also be a chance for me to discover new things. And I’ll try and avoid snobbery (‘Viva la Vida’ is a perfectly decent song, if not a personal fave.)

Happy reading and happy listening! Tomorrow we take a closer peek at ‘In Dulce Jubilo’ by Mike Oldfield…

The link to the playlist again.