Song: Rescue Song

Artist: Mr. Little Jeans, Norway

Album: Rescue Me EP, 2011

Notes: A curious but fabulous, catchy, sunny pop number from newcomer originally from rural Norway, won a singing competition at 14 moved to London at 18, but now based in LA. Mr. Little Jeans is the project name of Monica Birkenes who describes her music as 'death metal, K-Pop and Showtunes' none of which are remotely evident here.

Song: Little Triggers

Artist: Elvis Costello & The Attractions, England

Album: This Year's Model, 1978

Notes: Costello at his tongue-twisting best on a lost nugget from a seminal album. One of the most metaphoric and clever tunesmiths in rock history.

Song: Falling Into You

Artist: Rachel Platten, New York

Album: Be Here, 2011

Notes: Another perky, uptempo popish ditty by Platten from her strong and uplifting maiden album. Telegenic singer-songwriter current opening for Matt Nathanson on tour.

Song: Oh No

Artist: Ellery, Cincinnati

Album: This Isn't Over Yet, 2010

Notes: Plaintive, ethereal, a lovely fragile vocal turn by lead singer Tasha Golden in a duo completed by her husband, Justin. Discovered via the fab www.soundout.com music analytics web project.

Song: Not There Yet

Artist: Eric Hutchinson, Takoma Park, MD

Album: Moving Up, Moving Down, 2012

Notes: Yet another worthwhile number featured on one of the best new, no-nonsense pop-rock CDs of the year thus far. It's his fourth album since bowing in 2003. Watch out for upcoming tour.

Song: Always You

Artist: Ingrid Michaelson, Staten Island, NY

Album: Human Again, 2012

Notes: Too good - a short, simple, achingly beautiful piano-led ballad, and a bonus cut on Ingrid's superb new long-player. A No-Risk disc.

Song: Streets of Your Town

Artist: Go Betweens, Australia

Album: 16 Lovers Lane, 1988

Notes: One of the much-missed bands finest moments, a pleasing, easy-flowing lost gem. Fronted by singer-songwriter/guitarists Grant McLennan and Robert Forster, they were around until 2006 - when McLennan sadly died suddenly and too soon from a heart attack at just 48.

Song: Half The World Away

Artist: Oasis, England

Album: The Masterplan, 1998

Notes: Lost nugget from the in-fighting Gallagher brother, a top tune subsequently selected as the theme song to the BBC Television comedy series 'The Royle Family'. Only released as a B-side.

Song: Back Where You Belong

Artist: Sinead O'Connor, Ireland

Album: How About I Be Me (And You Be You), 2012

Notes: One of three ace new cuts on the latest from Sinead, typically haunting and emotive. She could sing a coupon and make it sound like the most important and emotive issue of the day.

Song: Maybe Tomorrow

Artist: Goldenhorse, New Zealand

Album: Riverhead, 2002

Notes: Lovely laid-back jangly sound of a Kiwi quintet featuring lead singer Kirsten Morrell, a delightful brand of smart folk-rock. No longer have a website and may have disbanded.

Song: Darlin’

Artist: Josh Ritter, Moscow, ID

Album: Bringing In The Darlings, 2012

Notes: Another simple, tasteful tune on an economic, understated new EP by the literate wordsmith, inspired by the simplistic songwriting stylings of the music of Buddy Holly and Rick Nelson.

Song: Heed The Warning

Artist: Chaka Khan, Chicago

Album: What Cha' Gonna Do For Me, 1981

Notes: The queen of funk on a soaring lost R&B belter from a fab album produced by the great, late Arif Mardin. Chaka's real name? - Yvette Marie Stevens.

Song: Good Enough

Artist: Dodgy, England

Album: Free Peace Sweet, 1996

Notes: Playful Modern Rock winner by a power-pop who were on the fringes of the BritPop genre which exploded out of the UK in the 1990s. They last reunited in 2007.

Song: Terrible Love

Artist: Birdy, England

Album: Birdy, 2011

Notes: An extraordinary cover version by 15-year old British ing�nue/pianist/singer, of a song originally written and recorded by the National. Her maiden album is sensational.

Song: Adiemus

Artist: Adiemus, Wales

Album: Songs of Sanctuary, 1996

Notes: A memorable classical, electronica, New Age and African music collision masterminded by Welsh composer/producer Karl Jenkins under the Adiemus moniker. Used in an old Delta commercial, it features the London Philharmonic Orchestra and top South African singer, Miriam Stockley.

Song: Very Careless People

Artist: Teitur, Faroe Islands

Album: Let The Dog Drive Home, 2011

Notes: Such a strong wordsmith, and an original talent all round, a new gem from Danish musician, Teitur Lassen. Been knocking it out of the park with one highly literate and melodic album after another since his impressive 'Poetry & Aeroplanes' debut in 2004.

Song: The Late Show

Artist: Jackson Browne, Germany

Album: The Late Sky, 1974

Notes: Superb lost diamond from arguably his finest hour, featuring lovely harmony vocals from Don Henley, J.D. Souther and Dan Fogelberg. Ever-youthful Browne is now 63.

Song: Lonesome Lullaby

Artist: Bap Kennedy, N. Ireland

Album: Lonely Street, 2000

Notes: Top drawer, haunting Americana production and top-of-the-class story-telling from his sterling 2000 long player - even though he's from Belfast. His upcoming album produced by Mark Knopfler.

Song: I Look To You

Artist: Whitney Houston, Newark, NJ

Album: I look To You, 2009

Notes: Tragically prescient, her final great ballad, the lyrics are eerily predictive. Foreboding and too sad, restrained and superb.

Song: Hey Ho

Artist: Gin Wigmore, New Zealand

Album: Holy Smoke, 2009

Notes: Highly creative, bouncy cut from promising Kiwi songstress. Latest album called 'Gravel & Wine' also worth checking out.

Song: Late Arriving

Artist: Greg Laswell, San Diego

Album: Landline, 2012

Notes: Yet another cracker on the upcoming new set from San Diego's finest. Signed to the excellent Vanguard Records label.

Song: Midnight Without You

Artist: Chris Botti feat. Paul Buchanan, Portland, OR

Album: Midnight Without You, 1997

Notes: Smooth, lilting title cut from the jazz trumpeter's 1997 album featuring a rare guest vocal turn by Blue Nile's Paul Buchanan (and Blue Nile's Paul Moore on bass).

Song: Moonlight Shadow

Artist: Cat Stevens, England

Album: Teaser and The Firecat, 1971

Notes: Still sounds fresh as a daisy, timeless acoustic nugget from Stevens. A new 'Moonshadow' musical written by him will make its world premiere in Australia in May telling the 'the story of a young man and his moonshadow's struggle against the oncoming of darkness and the search for everlasting happiness."

Song: Monkey Lullaby

Artist: Kanute, England

Album: Not available

Notes: Extremely obscure but so inventive and enjoyable, a pairing of British musicians, singer-songwriter Rachael Gray and uber-cool producer and DJ, Rob Overseer. Also features a vocal sample by Rickie Lee Jones from her debut album - the lovely ballad, 'On Saturday Afternoons In 1963'.

Song: On Saturday Afternoons In 1963

Artist: Rickie Lee Jones, Chicago

Album: Rickie Lee Jones, 1979

Notes: The finest ballad from her iconic maiden album. 15 albums from Rickie Lee since her astonishing bow in 1979.

Song: Back Stabbers

Artist: O'Jays, Canton, OH

Album: Back Stabbers, 1972

Notes: Vintage soul smash by one of popular music's most enduring vocal groups, showcasing the songwriting and production chops of the great Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff who single-handedly defined the sound of Philadelphia in the 1970s.

Song: Whistle For The Choir

Artist: Fratellis, Scotland

Album: Costello Music, 2006

Notes: Slight shades of the Kinks on saucy alternative rock number by Scottish trio of unrelated 'Fratelli brothers', Jon, Mince and Barry.

Song: Small of My Heart

Artist: Madison Violet, Canada

Album: No Fool For Trying, 2009

Notes: Top-drawer folk-pop balladry from north of the border, the duo of Lisa MacIsaac (brother of top fiddler, Ashley) and Brenley MacEachern. Making waves in Europe and Australia but still a bit of secret in the US.

Song: I Can Barely Say

Artist: Fray, Denver

Album: Scars & Stories, 2012

Notes: Strong melodrama from their latest CD. Deeply mournful and full of regret produced with distinction by the great Brendan O'Brien in Nashville.

Song: Tell Me There’s A Heaven

Artist: Chris Rea, England

Album: The Best of Chris Rea, 1994

Notes: Too sad, and too disturbing for words, the tale of a father trying to comfort his young daughter when confronted with questions about some of the harshest realities of adult life.

Song: Hush

Artist: Shelly Fraley, Nashville

Album: Hush, 2012

Notes: Perky title cut from a strong new sophomore album by non-country Nashville tunesmith. Shelly has secured a few tv placements for her songs, including 'One Tree Hill' and 'Private Practice'. More at shellyfraley.com.

Song: #9 Dream

Artist: John Lennon, England

Album: Walls and Bridges, 1974

Notes: Evergreen, dreamy classic one of the few solo songs he recorded featuring his short-term girlfriend May Pang on backing vocals, rather than Yoko who was otherwise ubiquitous on most of Lennon's recordings. Lennon would have been 72 this year.

Song: Novio

Artist: Moby, New York

Album: Mobysongs 1993 - 1998, 2000

Notes: Written by Moby for subsequent inclusion in the 2000 Hong Kong action thriller movie, 'Double Tap' - which you can find on which you can find on this excellent collection of bits and bobs.

Song: Maybe Tomorrow

Artist: Drew Holcomb & the Neighbors, Nashville

Album: Chasing Someday, 2011

Notes: No-nonsense song construction, lots of mellifluous banjos and guitars, huge melodies and harmonies, great execution. Drew's wife Ellie is in his backing band along with three so-called neighbors.

Song: I Don’t Believe I Miracles

Artist: Colin Blunstone, England

Album: Ennismore, 1972

Notes: Stunning solo lost gem (written by a fellow English musician, Russ Ballard) by the former lead singer of the Zombies and future vocalist for the Alan Parsons Project.

Song: Careful

Artist: Horse, Scotland

Album: The Same Sky, 1990

Notes: Amazing ballad from sorely overlooked Scottish singer, Sheena McDonald aka, Horse. She's been recording outstanding music on her own Randan indie label for the last decade, more at www.randan.org.

Song: Jamming

Artist: Bob Marley & The Wailers, Jamaica

Album: Exodus, 1977

Notes: The song that inspired Stevie Wonder's 'Master Blaster Jammin' smash - but not a hit for the legend himself. How many top 50 hits did Marley score on the Billboard Hot 100:? - none, not even 'No Woman No Cry' nor this one.

Song: Two Shots

Artist: Elle King, Brooklyn, NY

Album: Not available

Notes: An organic corker from a new performer first featured on L&F six months ago, recently snapped up by RCA Records and now preparing her debut album. Recently blew the roof off the dump at SXSW. A star in the making?

Song: Sing

Artist: Glen Campbell/Travis, Delight, AR/Scotland

Album: Meet Glen Campbell, 2008

Notes: An astonishing update by Campbell of an original recording by Travis, smartly morphing into the melodic original by the jangly Scottish combo.