1. Starman – David Bowie
This song just started me off on my road into music. When I saw David on Top of the Pops in 1973 in his cat suit and boots, arm draped around Mick Ronson’s shoulder I thought “Now I know what I want to do! I want to be that guy!” he was just so different, more importantly, I loved the song, it was pure pop but so original, the first chords in the intro are so surreal, I still haven’t worked them out to this day.
2. God Only Knows – Beach Boys
I was too young to hear Pet Sounds in the 60’s but I got the album in the 70’s and this song really made me realise how simple but powerful great lyrics can be. That opening line “I may not always love you, but long as there are stars above you” opened my eyes and ears. I loved the vocal, I think Dennis Wilson sang it and it was a masterful performance. I was on a journey.
3. Aladdin Sane – David Bowie
I was nuts about Bowie and I bought this album just after release, this was the coolest album I had ever heard and the title track just blew me away, the discordant piano solo, the weird lyrics and the way the song just drifts everywhere, I was entranced, I knew I could never sing or write like David, but it totally inspired me to try.
4. Glittering Prize – Simple Minds
In the early 80’s I was starting to write songs and this track off the New Gold Dream album really influenced my singing in those early days, Tony and I loved the synth strings back then and we were always trying to imitate the string sound Simple Minds had. The album was an 80’s masterpiece.
5. The Big Music – The Waterboys
The Waterboys changed everything for me. Mike Scott’s songs had a huge effect on my song-writing and singing as I developed my art in the 80’s. This song totally blew me away when I heard it. I could not believe how powerful it was, huge strings, and a brass section, masses going on, and Mike singing like his life depended on it. The lyric is mystical and so visual, cleverly illustrating how music is spiritual. Absolute genius.
6. How Soon Is Now? – The Smiths
The Smiths were truly the most original band to appear for decades. I loved Morrisey’s lyrics from the start and I recall my bandmates saying “he can’t sing” and me replying “you don’t get it” I chose this song as Johnny Marr’s guitar work is just sublime and really made me think differently about my guitar. The feel in this song is menacing, but setting it against Morrissey’s yearning lyric was totally brilliant.
7. I Don’t Believe In You – Talk Talk
The Colour of Spring album is probably my favourite of all time, and for me, this song is the best track, it’s just timeless and I never tire of hearing it. The way the band used traditional instruments, and left “space” everywhere in their arrangements taught me so much. I don’t think I could have written “I Can See Your Face” had I never heard Talk Talk.
8. Some Fantastic Place - Squeeze
As a song writer using guitar to write (can’t play piano!) I think Glen Tilbrook has influenced my writing style more than anyone. This is easily their best song and I adore it’s upbeat feel and clever chord progressions, Chris Difford wrote the lyric as a tribute to Glen’s former girlfriend who died of leukaemia, crushingly beautiful words. This song really influenced me musically when I wrote “The Girl From Devon”
9. Sunshine On Leith – The Proclaimers
I have never heard a more beautiful love song than this. The words are simply stunning “While I’m worth my room on this earth, I will be with you, while the chief puts sunshine on Leith, I’ll thank him for his work and your birth and my birth” with this folk classic The Proclaimers just raised the bar for me, I can only aspire to one day write a lyric as simple and honest and for our band to produce a musical score so achingly gorgeous.
10. Bad Ambassador – Divine Comedy
Neil Hannon became a hero to me when I first heard his music in 1996 and I have been a fan ever since. He is a very clever song writer and his lyrical ideas are always amazing. This song from 2001’s Regeneration album hit me hard, it is just so grand, the rising strings, the piano are all perfect and the lyric is sublime, but the way the song builds in intensity really taught me about structure. If TSE ever reach this level of perfection I will retire a happy man!