Billy Nichols - London Social Degree

Happy memories of this, not least because I remember arriving here as a social newbie, and was quickly thrown into the maelstrom that is London life.

The wearing of daft hats, dancing to peculiar music, drinking your own body weight in alcohol and talking bull until 3 am in the morning is the only degree that you really need at 21.

The other higher education qualifications I have only lead to the company of grown ups, who, if they truly admitted it, would rather be wearing a daft hat and supping on a Brandy Alexander.

The Pixies - Monkey's Gone To Heaven

Despite many happy fruggings to the Pixies at indie clubs all across England, I've never bought one of their records, a gross mistake that I urgently need to correct.

The clip is the first appearance of the Pixies on television.

Boz Scaggs - Lowdown

And relax.... it is Friday, which technically means no work at all, save the important business of organising the weekend's delights.

Here's some Boz Scaggs to MOR you to relaxation satisfaction. Pull up a textured bean bag and put your blackberry in the office shredder.

The Associates - Party Fears Two

I hope you are sitting uncomfortably.

This song, which has all the calming effects of drinking five espresso in a confined space with people you don't trust, may be some of the brilliant neuroticism ever committed to record. Unbelievably, it's magnificent descending break was used as the introduction to Radio 4's bellicose "Week Ending".

The rather lovely Billy MacKenzie who wrote and sang "Party Fears Two" inspired the devotions of fellow neurotic Morrissey, who, in a rare state of passion, wrote "William It Was Really Nothing" for Billy. But Morrissey never created anything as mole hill paranoid and magnificent as this.

The Average White Band - Pick Up The Pieces

Monday, and whole pattern of working life starts again unless its snows, in which case the country is closed. When I commute on my scooter, it is this track that runs through my head as I dodge cars, errant pedestrians, competitive cyclists and my personal bete noir, the tourist coach.

Doris - Beatmaker

This is the raw throated Doris, who takes no prisoners with this slice of Soho boogaloo.

Take her advice with whisky chaser, and chat up a pretty ice skater.

Cilla Black - It's For You

This extraordinary record by Cilla Black makes her sound like a queen. Lennon and McCartney wrote this for Cilla, and its as perfect as thing finding a particularly lustrous green beetle under a rock.

Produced by George Martin, the influence of James Bond is particularly evident. Martin also arranged "Goldfinger" in the same year.

If Lennon and McCartney look smug at the end of the song, you can't scarcely blame them. This is a hell of a song to give away.

Enjoy. It's for you.