My pub juke box
Jon Collins, executive chair of Noctis, chooses his favourite tracks
Music is very important to me, whether it's a road-trip soundtrack, a weekend morning backdrop to coffee and newspapers or a party playlist compilation. With about 10,000 tracks on my PC, creating a top 10 is almost impossible — so many tunes, so many memories...
First record bought: Duke of Earl by Darts. In the mid-'70s, when I was young and impressionable, they seemed pretty cool when Dave Lee Travis introduced them on Top of the Pops.
Favourite piece of music:
Z Cars theme, ideally being played as I look on from the stands at Goodison Park. Usually being played as I run towards the ground, wishing yet again that I'd left the pub a bit earlier...
This top 10 is in no particular order and I apologise to the following for missing them (and many others) out: Frank Sinatra, Stone Roses, Franz Ferdinand, Bruce Springsteen, Danny Wilson, REM, Happy Mondays, the Beatles, the Monkees, Happy Mondays, Stevie Wonder, B52s, Kaiser Chiefs, Morrissey...
1. Mr Brightside The Killers
What a track! Powerful guitar and electrifying keyboards, all building to soaring vocals at the end. This track reminds me of trips to Ibiza and being introduced to the art of one- legged dancing at club openings.
2. Wake Up, Boo The Boo Radleys
A really upbeat track: Scousers singing about being "25, never felt this alive" at a time when I — as a 25-year-old Scouser — was having a ball in London.
3. Sweet Home Chicago The Blues Brothers
They've come up with better tracks but, at more than seven minutes long, this is the one to go for if you're looking for value for money at the jukebox. Combining it with Sympathy for the Devil meant that just two tracks gave me control over the music in Hull University Students' Union for more than 15 minutes.
4. In the Morning The Coral
More Scouse musical genius with a very catchy hook. It was the backdrop to many a motorway trip, hardly noticing the miles slipping by as I talked nonsense with friends and colleagues.
5. Tequila Terrorvision
Not to be confused with Tequila by Chuck Rio. All a friend of mine needs is this track, a bandolier full of shot glasses and a bottle of Cuervo to lay waste a house full of consenting adults in less than two hours...
6. Like a Rolling Stone Bob Dylan
Had to include Dylan — genius lyrics combined with a majestic keyboard. His vocals can only be bettered by a mangled but impassioned version performed by my first boss!
7. Killing in the Name Of Rage Against the Machine
Spiders in Hull (all black décor, ludicrously cheap but responsibly served cocktails) bore witness to my only attempts at slam-dancing. All pretty tame, really, compared to the mosh
pit when I saw this band live —
I couldn't get within 30 yards.
8. Laura Scissor Sisters
Stand-out track for a perfect festival weekend up at T in the Park. Topped off by my waking in a Perthshire field, shaving and changing at motorway services, jumping onto a flight to London and going straight into a Prime Minister's Advisory Group meeting on alcohol and crime...
9. Real Gone Kid Deacon Blue
This track brings back a ton of memories — not least standing behind the bar at Frames, serving the masses as about 250 of my closest friends and family all went mental to this song. Jimmy the Carpet's tray solo was a highlight.
10. World in Motion New Order
A perfect melding of two of my favourite passions — football and music. I can even forgive John Barnes' attempt at rapping.
With Budweiser and a shot of lime, it provided a perfect Italia '90 accompaniment.
