Normally, writing my column at midnight is a sign of bad time management but this week it's actually a shrewd strategy. This kind of music deserves to be heard after dark. If night had a single soundtrack, I've come to the conclusion it would be Bobby Wellins' bleary tenor sax on Starless and Bible Black.
I was delighted to discover the Youngbloods, the Stan Tracey Quartet, early Françoise Hardy and James Carr's version of The Dark End of the Street (the Flying Burrito Brothers' one is good too), surprised by how much I enjoyed the King Crimson and Van Der Graaf Generator suggestions, unmoved by Because the Night, the week's most popular recommendation, and entertained by the rambling digressions into Macs, mash-ups, the best version of Round Midnight and the best way to cook a pumpkin.
A strong B-list: Them (Here Comes the Night), Tito & Tarantula (After Dark), Tekitha (Walking Through the Darkness), Gerry Rafferty (Night Owl), the Doors (End of the Night), the Walker Brothers (After the Lights Go Out), Frank Sinatra (In the Wee Small Hours of the Morning), Depeche Mode (Waiting for the Night), Antonio Carlos Jobim, etc (Corcovado), King Crimson (Starless) and Tom Waits (Midnight Lullaby).
Next up: songs about law enforcement. I've phrased it to include the likes of highway patrolmen and secret police as well as regular policemen. Previous playlists rule out I Fought the Law, Indiana Wants Me, Cop Shoot Cop and, yes, Highway Patrolman.
Put your hands above your head and walk slowly towards the A-Z and Readers Recommend archive. Deadline is midday on Monday. No sudden moves.
