Song: Engines
Artist: Gary Go, England
Album: Gary Go, 2009
Notes: One of a good half-dozen really strong lost gems are hidden away on his debut album. Clever chap, writes some of his sturdy pop-rock using his iPhone and performed gigs at flagship Apple stores in London and New York.
Song: When You’re Older
Artist: Kate Earl, Alaska
Album: Fate Is The Hunter, 2005
Notes: Part Filipino, part Welsh and Dutch, beautiful and talented, left-handed singer-songwriter, managed by Mariah Carey's ex-husband and former Sony Music chief, Tommy Mottola.
Song: A Little Opera Goes A Long Way
Artist: Sky Sailing, Owatonna, MN
Album: An Airplane Carried Me to Bed, 2010
Notes: Splendid dexterous acoustic guitar work, simple, melodic, easy-flowing gem from Adam Young's (Owl City) first incarnation, Sky Sailing.
Song: Sense of Purpose
Artist: Pretenders with the Duke String Quartet, England
Album: The Bridge School Concerts, 2000
Notes: Terrific strings-accompanied live version update of a top Chrissie song originally released and universally ignored as a single in 1990.
Song: The Border
Artist: Sebastien Schuller, France
Album: Evenfall (import), 2009
Notes: Fabulous melodic singer-songwriter music from little-known French musician who also composes film soundtracks.
Song: A Song for You
Artist: Ray Charles, Albany, GA
Album: My World, 1993
Notes: If you don't like this recording song, you may be listening to the wrong show. The best, most soulful version of one of the greatest songs ever written (by Leon Russell).
Song: Save My Heart
Artist: Jason Reeves, Iowa City, IA
Album: The Lovesick, 2011
Notes: Brand spanking new infectious pop-rock bubbler from top singer-songwriter who works with Colbie Caillat. Should (but won't) be a huge hit.
Song: Madly
Artist: Tristan Prettyman, San Diego, CA
Album: Hello, 2008
Notes: Engaging cut from former model and top surfer out of San Diego, she's dated Ray LaMontagne and Jason Mraz.
Song: Use Somebody
Artist: Laura Jansen, Denmark
Album: Bells, 2011
Notes: Ultra cool acoustic cover of the anthemic rock hit by Kings of Leon. Based in LA since 2006, wonderful debut album.
Song: Season of Love
Artist: Shiny Toy Guns, Los Angeles
Album: Season of Poison, 2008
Notes: Strong vocal harmonies, great percussion and string arrangements, unusual for an alternative indie-rock combo.
Song: Chai Tea Latte
Artist: Angel Taylor, Los Angeles
Album: Love Travels, 2009
Notes: Uber-talented California-based songstress, one of the finest debut offerings by any artiste from the past ten years.
Song: You and I
Artist: Wilco, Chicago
Album: Wilco The Album, 2009
Notes: Band formed from the ashes of underrated combo Uncle Tupelo, a delightful restrained folk rocker, prominently featuring guest vocalist Leslie Feist (aka, Feist).
Song: Almaz
Artist: Randy Crawford, Macon, GA
Album: Abstract Emotions, 1986
Notes: Extraordinary, soul-soprano of jazz/R&B soulstress with exceptional ballad tale of 'Almaz'. Recorded 16 albums over an amazing career.
Song: This Is The Last Time
Artist: Keane, England
Album: Hopes and Fears, 2004
Notes: Pop-rock glory from a flawless debut album. They recently played a couple of gigs in China - including one for ultra-stylist fashion line, Burberry - and an acoustic set on the Great Wall of China.
Song: Hurricane Glass
Artist: Catherine Feeny, Portland, OR
Album: Hurricane Glass, 2006
Notes: Mild shades of Sheryl Crow, the much under-appreciated singer-songwriter. Toured with lots of top artists including Dr. John, Suzanne Vega and John Prine - more at www.catherinefeeny.com.
Song: Nothing Else Matters
Artist: Lucie Silvas, England
Album: Breathe In, 2004
Notes: Heavily orchestrated, bit melodramatic but a cracking song, terrific vocal performance by its writer. Just completed her third outing called 'Letters To Ghosts'.
Song: Why Does It Always Rain On Me?
Artist: Travis, Scotland
Album: The Man Who, 1999
Notes: Self-pitying rock at its finest, the melancholic musings of top band from Glasgow. The video for song features frontman, Fran Healy wearing a kilt (if you're into that sort of thing).
Song: Simple
Artist: k.d. lang, Canada
Album: Hymns of the 49th Parallel, 2004
Notes: A self-penned gem from one of finest vocal interpreters of other songwriters' material. Album is stuffed with cover version diamonds.
Song: Pink and Black
Artist: Tyler Hilton, Palm Springs, CA
Album: The Tracks of Tyler Hilton, 2004
Notes: Yet another A+ cracker from an album just packed with one terrific folk-pop-rock nugget after another, few of which have seen the greater light of day.
Song: I Will Not Take My Love Away
Artist: Matt Wertz, Nashville
Album: Everything In Between, 2006
Notes: Less is so often more, simple, plaintive, worthwhile. So many promising and talented non-country tunesmiths knocking around Nashville these days, hard to get heard above the noise.
Song: Precious Angel
Artist: Bob Dylan, Duluth, MN
Album: Slow Train Coming, 1979
Notes: From his excellent 19th studio album, his first after becoming a born-again Christian (which he's subsequently eschewed). Ably assisted by guitarist and producer, Mark Knopfler from Dire Straits.
Song: Canaan
Artist: Black Dub, Canada
Album: Black Dub, 2010
Notes: Black Dub is new project group formed by top producer, Daniel Lanois (U2, Dylan, Dashboard Confessional etc.) - who's released several sterling solo efforts since 1989.
Song: Stay
Artist: Alison Krauss, Decatur, IL
Album: Forget About It, 1999
Notes: Sings like a bird, the queen of bluegrass with an overlooked single. Reportedly working on much-anticipated follow-up with Robert Plant to their seminal 'Raising Sand'.
Song: The Roller
Artist: Beady Eye, England
Album: Different Gear, Still Speeding, 2011
Notes: Sounding more like John Lennon than ever, Liam Gallagher - former lead singer of Oasis - with first outing of his new band. May not reunite with brother Noel until the money runs out.
Song: Mmalo-We
Artist: Bayete, South Africa
Album: Mmalo-We, 1993
Notes: Fabulous world music beats, instruments, vocals and overall grooves from venerable combo from township of Soweto, led by exceptional performer and songwriter/singer, Jabu Khanyile - sadly died in 2006.
Song: Sigmund Freud’s Impersonation Of Albert Einstein In America
Artist: Randy Newman, Los Angeles
Album: Little Criminals, 1977
Notes: His own peculiar and ever-questioning take on the American Dream, the unmistakable and unimpeachable genius of Newman with his best-titled song.
Song: Break Off The Bough
Artist: Cary Brothers, Los Angeles
Album: Under Control, 2010
Notes: Brilliant indie-rock from artist who first came to attention with the track 'Blue Eyes' on the terrific 'Garden State' film soundtrack.
Song: Heartache Avenue
Artist: Maisonettes, England
Album: Maisonettes for Sale, 1984
Notes: Infectious three minutes of fun retro-pop. British band were around for about three minutes, had one hit single and album, then called it quits.
Song: These Streets
Artist: Paolo Nutini, Scotland
Album: These Streets, 2006
Notes: Strong title cut from his debut album. Of Italian descent, but born in Glasgow, not as consistently good as some of the other lesser-known tunesmiths featured on L&F.
Song: We’re All In The Dance
Artist: Feist, Canada
Album: Paris Je T'Aime (soundtrack, import), 2006
Notes: Leslie Feist - or just Feist - who had big hit with Apple iPod Nano tv commercial's '1234'. Charming, easy-swaying cut only available on French film soundtrack.
Song: Conversation 16
Artist: National, Cincinnati, OH
Album: High Violet, 2009
Notes: Extremely dark lyrics but fresh, original sound. Parent long player was named Album of the Year at the 'Q' magazine music awards in London.
Song: Angel From Montgomery (live)
Artist: Bonnie Raitt with Bruce Hornsby, Burbank, CA
Album: Road Tested, 1995
Notes: Saddest song of all time (and thanks to all for suggesting it at facebook.com/lostandfoundradio). Sad, forlorn musing of a bored middle-aged housewife, written by John Prince and much covered.
Song: Feeling A Moment
Artist: Feeder, Wales
Album: Pushing The Senses, 2005
Notes: Top-drawer indie rock from Newport in Wales. Very little Stateside success but remain a big draw in the UK - they opened for U2 on their 'Vertigo' tour some years ago.
Song: For You
Artist: Peter Bradley Adams, Birmingham, AL
Album: Traces, 2009
Notes: Another exceptional lost nugget from Adams who was one-half of Eastmountainsouth who Robbie Robertson signed to the Dreamworks label - if you have a spare $10, check out self-titled album 'Eastmountainsouth' - every track is a winner.
Song: Love Is Strange
Artist: Everything But The Girl, England
Album: The Best of EBTG, 1996
Notes: So simple, so good - originally written way back in 1956 by its first hitmakers, Mickey and Sylvia. EBTG is the duo of Tracey Thorn and Ben Watt who met nearly 30 years ago while both were attending Hull University.
Song: Falling In Love (With My Best Friend)
Artist: Matt White, New York
Album: It's The Good Crazy, 2010
Notes: Standout track on his sophomore album who was dropped by a major label during the major culling that went on during the recession. Took the indie root and recorded his second album entirely on analog tape - very rare these days.
Song: Que Sera Sera (live)
Artist: Jennifer Terran, Los Angeles
Album: Live From Painted Cave, 2006
Notes: Gorgeous live treatment of the ballad standard, originally written for the Alfred Hitchcock movie, 'The Man Who Knew Too Much'. Terran runs her own record label, and is also a dance instructor.
Song: All Work and No Play
Artist: Frankel, Los Angeles
Album: Not available (soon)
Notes: Understated, easy-swaying pearl from constantly upcoming singer-songwriter, Michael Orendy, aka, Frankel. More at www.peanutdungeon.com.
Song: Frozen
Artist: Madonna, Bay City, MI
Album: Ray of Light, 1998
Notes: Not an obvious L&F artiste - and of course a big hit - but one of her better outings, due to collaboration with brilliant electronica whizz, William Orbit - and the eastern-inspired strings arrangement by another top backroom chap - Craig Armstrong.
Song: Stitched Up
Artist: Herbie Hancock feat. John Meyer, Chicago
Album: Possibilities, 2005
Notes: Two top musicians getting their groove on for Hancock's fascinating 2005long-player - which featured lots of other creative duets with the likes of Sting, Annie Lennox, Carlos Santana and Paul Simon.
Song: Nothing and Everything
Artist: Liz Williams, Austin, TX
Album: Senseless, 2008
Notes: Sterling track from unsigned singer-songwriter who's creating a stir around Texas with really promising material. Download song here from iTunes or check out myspace.com/lizwilliams.
Song: Old Man
Artist: Neil Young/Redlight King, Canada/Canada
Album: Harvest, 1972
Notes: A few minutes of the iconic Neil Young original segued into new, sensational urban update by free-spirited newcomer, Redlight King (aka, Kaz).