10 Tracks That Have made Me Happy in 2018

I've been a little absent lately. I am sorry. Doing a Masters turned out to be far more demanding than I expected. All good, but it means I haven't written very much at all. Hey ho... I have still been listening to lots of music and here are ten tracks that have made me happy in 2018. There are lots more (unsurprisingly).

Kali Uchis – Dead To Me (2018)

This is likely my album of the year. Columbian-US singer Kali Uchis has produced the richest pop album I have heard in years. This song probably isn't the catchiest (and it is the acoustic version) but it does show off her voice. And it is a very pretty video too.

Sudan Archives – Come Meh Way (2018)

I've literally just picked this up but I love it. Don't be fooled by the name, it's a lady from LA signed to ultra-cool Stones Throw label. I don't need to say much  - just play it loud if you can.

The Supremes – Remove This Doubt

Have we heard everything we need by The Supremes? Apparently not. I have literally dozens of CDs of the The Supremes and this one has snuck me by until I picked up the new expanded edition of The Supremes Sing Holland Dozier Holland. It's a killer.

The Cherry Boys – Karmomah’s Café

One of my favourite purchases of the year was the Revolutionary Spirit Box Set on Cherry Red that catalogues the Liverpool independent scene from '76-'88. There are dozens of awesome tracks on it, but this - a relatively unassuming later track - struck me.

Bloodstone – Natural High

Again another case of why hadn't I clocked this before? Thanks to Rob I heard this not long ago - a gorgeous slab of sweet 70s soul. It's on the Jackie Brown soundtrack - another reason I should have registered it sooner.

Wanda Jackson – Tunnel of Love (Only Lovers Left Alive Version)

Of course I had heard the original version of this, but this version from Jim Jarmusch's Only Lovers Left Alive slows it down and weirds it out (bad grammar, I know!). What is also weird is that it took me best part of two years to see this film. It was very very very good.

Aretha Franklin – Master of Eyes

I picked up the Complete Atlantic Box Set (which frustratingly isn't complete, but anyway) and this track was tagged at the back of an album I'd never heard 'Hey Now Hey'. It's Aretha so we already know that its awesome. [Right now the news is that she is very very ill so I very happy to add this to the list.]

Happy Rhodes – When The Rain Came Down

To think I almost missed this! Numero have an incredible track record but the early write-up of this pitched it as an ethereal new age type thing, so I was inclined to pass. Steve in Polar Bear popped it on and my opinion quickly changed. Basically it is Kate Bush fan fiction, but where fan fiction draws close to eclipsing the original. I am not sure that this the Bushiest track on the comp, but I liked the folkyness of it, so here we are.

Phyllis Hyman – You Know How To Love Me

I have had a massive thing lately for late 70s/80s R&B and Phyllis Hyman slips in so well. This track must have killed a few dancefloors back in the day.

OMD – Souvenirs

One of the bands featured on the Revolutionary Spirit comp. noted above was OMD. I had pssed over OMD for no terribly good reason. I think I'd just regarded them as a little twee - not really up to the Bunnymen or Teardrops or even Dead or Alive's standard. A well overdue revisit has corrected that opinion. Despite the weird and very stupid video I really like this song.

These made me happy.