Helpless Heart written by Paul Brady is the title track of Maura O’Connell’s 1989 album (see image above). I wrote about Paul Brady’s cover of the old Irish ballad Arthur McBride a little while ago. Maura like Paul is an…
Blog Archives
Helpless – Neil Young (1976) – (feat. The Band and Joni Mitchell)
I first heard this song in Martin Scorsese’s film account and presentation of the final concert of The Band – The Last Waltz on American Thanksgiving Day 1976 at San Francisco’s Winterland Ballroom. Many of the songs which feature in that concert will…
El Amor Mas Bonito (1989) – Rocio Durcal
On a Saturday afternoon a few months ago, my kids and I were travelling in heavy traffic and this song came on the radio. I asked the ‘taxista’ who was singing and ta-da Rocio Durcal – El Amor Mas Bonito…
Como Río en Primavera (2009) – Marcela Gandara
Marcela Gandara’s music features here prominently and for good reason; she’s an amazing talent. I don’t think I have heard an ordinary song from her. Every one just levitates me like a wave in the impact zone and takes me…
Birds and Ships (1998) – Billy Bragg and Wilco (feat. Natalie Merchant)
This is the first song to feature here from Billy Bragg and Wilco’s wonderful tribute album to Woody Guthrie called Mermaid Avenue (see image above). I played this album so often after it was released although I hadn’t heard much…
Hello (1983) – Lionel Richie
40 years ago since its release, this classic 80’s ballad still hits close to my heart. Hello is my number 1 go-to song in my scarce opportunities to practice Karaoke. It’s one of the few songs I can sing pretty…
Hell Broke Luce (2011) – Tom Waits
This is one of my favourite songs from Tom. He went into beast-mode on this track depicting the horrors of war. Someone wrote: ‘I listen to this every night before I go to sleep… Tom Waits voice scares all the…
Breathe (1996) – The Prodigy
Back when this song was released I was posted to the biggest shit-hole job one could ever hope for at Canberra’s Defence Department. I wrote a chapter about that experience, but prefer not to relay it here because I might…
Heaven Knows I’m Miserable Now (1984) – The Smiths
Heaven Knows I’m Miserable Now is is one of my favourite songs by The Smiths. If I was going to introduce someone to their music then I would present the following: Heaven Knows I’m Miserable Now, How Soon is Now,…
Heartbeat (1958) – Buddy Holly
This is the second track to appear here from Buddy Holly. Heartbeat is an adorably winsome song and Holly makes it his own with his peculiar intonations. The first song to appear here: Everyday was released a year prior to…
