New York, 25 October 1927. The jazz age and prohibition (banning of alcohol) were in in full 'swing'. Bix, burning briefly, comes in with his cornet at about 35 seconds. About 100 years ago.

While Pink Floyd are best-known for the mega hit (and mega hard work to some) albums such as 'Dark Side of the Moon' and 'The Wall', their earliest incarnation under singer and songwriter Syd Barrett was as a psychedelic and whimsical sixties band.

The 'video' is filmed in Belgium.

In Mental Health Awareness Week, here's a short workshop courtesy of the Drifters and songwriting geniuses Carole King and Gerry Goffin.

The Smiths are the perfect marmite band. Fans adore them. Non-fans really don't.

This is the first track on their first album and perhaps as good as anything they made. Either way, it's not bad, whatever your feelings about marmite.

Franciscan nun Sister Irene O'Connor began singing when a teacher in Singapore in the 1960s. The following decade, together with producer Sister Marimil Lobregat, she recorded the 'Fire of God's Love' album which has become a cult classic for its psychedelic-folky sound. Have a listen. It might not be what you'd expect, but it is perhaps consoling.

Like people, songs have afterlives, often long after being initially ignored.

The Passenger, from the 1977 album 'Lust for Life', was released as the b-side (the flip side of vinyl singles) of the ignored single 'Success'. But gradually it made its way in to the mainstream until it became a relentless favourite of movie directors and advertising agencies. All of which is great for Iggy though these different contexts can maybe detract from simply listening to the song.

David Bowie plays the piano (and sings).

Some people may find classical music inaccessible. But even people who like it sometimes struggle with atonal works.

Yet atonal music, where there are no discernible keys or typical harmonies, is over 100 years old and Arnold Schoenberg was at its forefront. Written in 1926-8, this short piece is from one of his most famous works. One way to listen is to not expect harmony or indeed anything. After all, life itself can feel pretty atonal sometimes.

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