Bit of a lazy London centric post today, but I’ve been sick as a dog all week, and Time Out has just published a list of the “50 Best London Songs Ever“.
The inexplicable absence of “London Calling” by the Clash makes the list a bit suspect (Fergies “London Bridge” (Video) is also sadly absent ), but there are some good interviews/features on all fifty tracks.
I’m sure most people could make an alternative list of all the songs that are missing… “Electric Avenue”, “West End Girls” “Its a London Thing” “Parklife”, etc.
There’s also an interview with Damon Albarn and Paul Simonon about their new apparently London influenced band “The Good, The Bad And The Queen”. I’m off to see them next week as part of the BBC’s Electric Proms festival (along with James Brown, Jamie T and Young Tiger).

Time Out’s Top 50 London songs / Competition to win 2,500 itunes tracks

It’s a tenuous link I know but here’s four MP3’s from London based acts or remixers currently looping on my trusty old ipod.

Ty – “Don’t Watch That (Knickers, Y-Fronts and Jockstraps)“ (MP3) – Buy the album

Jeremy Warmsley – “I Believe In The Way That You Move“ (MP3) – Buy the album

Soweto Kinch – “Everybody Raps“ (MP3) – Buy the album

Franz Ferdinand – “Do You Want To (Erol Alkans Glam Racket mix)“ (MP3) – Myspace

Musical Map of London

While I’m on the subject of London, its been a while since I mentioned a neglected little project of mine: The Musical Map of London.

With the advent of Google Maps I thought why not collect together as many London musical locations as possible. Its a huge task, and this is a very very rough early attempt but I need your help – please leave a comment with any address’s, tales, birthplaces, drug busts, recording studios…anything really that should be included on the map. I’m on night shifts in a few weeks so I’ll be updating it with any suggested locations in the wee small hours.

Also if anyone with coding skills or ideas has any thoughts on how I could better present the map. Being able to search would be useful, as would a better way of displaying the list as it grows.

Links:
Derelict London’s fantastic “London’s Musical History Landmarks” page – some great pictures here.
Soho Music Tour – The Times with a Soho walking tour.
The story of The Clash in London – features pictures of almost every location The Clash ever visited in London.
The story of the Ziggy Stardust album cover shoot here.

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