THE TOP 10 SONGS I CAN'T LIVE WITHOUT!
Hugh Green is a refreshingly original recording artist who has been hard at work , especially last year , to bring out his debut album "Demons" which will be launched in Dublin this coming Saturday (13th January 2024.) The Glaswegian born singer/songwriter was brought up within a working-class background who suffered (like many ) through the Thatcher dominated and depressing years of the 1980's, finding work eventually in the Govan Shipbuilders (H&W) before they closed. Musically his influences in his early years were Boxcar Willie, Jim Reeves and Johnny Cash.
At 16 he started to DJ in the local pubs (Totally underage) this led him to travel abroad as a DJ to Greece and Grand Canaria, working with Cream (Ministry of Sound) before coming to Ireland (Waterford) in 1997. He then moved to Dublin after a decade on Suirside and learned to play guitar during Covid- teaching himself via You Tube Videos.
He started writing his own compositions in 2022 with Beardfire , a local Dublin record label , releasing singles each month. His hard work is paying off and his debut album this January 2024 is the result of some hard work, determination and graft over the last few years. Here are the 10 songs he has chosen .
10. Artist; DEL AMITRI Song; BE MY DOWNFALL
I was lucky enough to see these guys in the Barrowlands in Glasgow and although I already knew their music, this live gig just sold them to me. I still go back to that Album “Change Everything” and this one influenced my writing of my song Latest Mistake all these years later.
9. Artist; JEFF WAYNE Song; FOREVER AUTUMN
This just blew everything away in 1978. I didn’t really get into this until the 80’s but it was amazing then and amazing now. I did manage to see the live show in Belfast a few years ago but by all accounts, the new version is not to be missed. I start with this and almost always end up listening to the whole album over and over. Of course Moody Blues front-man Justin Hayward had a huge hit with the single that was released in '78.
8. Artist; PAUL SIMON Song; DIAMONDS ON THE SOLES OF HER SHOES
Graceland is quiet rightly is recognized as one of the all-time greats and this song just epitomizes what it is all about. Funny enough I really don’t like “You can call me Al” which kinds ruins the album for me.
7 Artist; JOURNEY Song; DON'T STOP BELIEVIN'
I know everyone seems to love this track but there is a reason for that. I got into it back in the 1980’s while listening to Foreigner and Boston. I find myself just singing “ Just a smalltown girl” in my head way too often. I just love it….
6. Artist; BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN; Song; ROSALITA (Come Out Tonight)
The Boss. Bruce Springsteen. What a performer! What else can I say about Springsteen that hasn’t already been said a million times. The guy just can’t write a bad song. To me this is up there as his best. When I hear his music played in the car for instance, I always end up switching over to Bluetooth and pop this on from Spotify. Never while I’m driving of course….
5. Artist; BON JOVI Song; NEVER SAY GOODBYE
I will admit that I'm atotal sucker for a rock ballad and this is my favourite. I saw these guys headline Donnington back in 1987 with their Slippery When Wet album and although at the time I loved the usual tracks Livin’ on A prayer and You Give Love A Bad Name, as I get older I always go back to this one. For me the best Rock Ballad of that time and totally underrated due to the success of the other tracks on that Album.
4. Artist; MEAT LOAF Song; PARADISE BY THE DASHBOARD LIGHT
Again, what another classic song from an all time classic album ( Bat of of Hell of course.) This one gets me moving every time I hear it. I love playing it when I’m cooking and banging it out loud as I can. I became a massive Meatloaf fan from this Album but this track to me is just something special. It’s 70/80’s rock at its best and is actually very funny and clever lyrics.
3. Artist; THIN LIZZY Song; SOUTHBOUND
Of this list I just could not have a top 10 without my favourite rock band of all time in there. Also, my favourite album of all Time – Live and Dangerous. I know its not number one but everything and anything that Philo has released I just love. It’s a tough one picking his best, but this is up there for me. Sometimes I nip up to Sutton Cemetery just to have a chin wag with the man himself. RIP Philo.
2. Artist; BIG COUNTRY. Song; JUST A SHADOW
Being Scottish I suppose I was always going to have at least two Scottish band in there and you can’t get much more Scottish than Big Country. From the first time I heard their guitars I Just loved all their early stuff. This was and still is my favourite track. I have seen these guys probably about 5 or 6 times when I was younger and even used to wear a tartan suit at one point (embarrassing). I’m glad that it didn’t work out for Stuart Adamson in the Skids. Such a sad ending though to an amazing talent.
No.1 Artist; RAINBOW Song; SINCE YOU'VE BEEN GONE.
This to me is about as perfect you can get for a song. It has everything. Easy lyrics amazing solo, perfect timing drums and a hook that grabs you from the opening line. Unlike all the other songs in my list I’m not a massive Rainbow fan except when Dio sang with them, but I find myself singing this song almost every day for years and years it just won’t go away, and I never get sick of it.
Honorary mention – Band on the Run – Wings – I used to visit the Mull of Kintyre a lot during the summers and the locals would play “Mull” much to the annoyance of the locals. That is what got me into listening to them and this song has stuck with me ever since...