Before The Curtains Close
I like Trains
2005

All The Good Times
Mr Fox (Written by Bob Pegg)
The Gypsy
1971

In The Gallery
Dire Straits
Dire Straits1978

Mark Knopfler worked at the Yorkshire Post in Leeds and then stayed to study in the city, living here between 1968-73 and forming friendships that went on to inform his musical career in Dire Straits and beyond. ‘In The Gallery’ was written in London but inspired by Leeds based artist Harry Phillips (father of his friend Steve Phillips).

Here’s a Harry Phillips sculpture in a church in Letchworth Garden City.

Put Your Records On
Corinne Bailey Rae
Corinne Bailey Rae
2005

Sometimes a song appears to come out of nowhere, and then it’s everywhere. Put Your Records On was that kind of song but to say it came out of nowhere is to do Leeds born and educated Corinne Bailey Rae a disservice. Having put in time in several groups, not least adding to vocals to tracks by Leeds bands such as The New Mastersounds, this was not so much a sudden hit as rather the arrival of a significant talent.

Corinne is involved with Pump Aid -  a charity bringing sustainable clean water and sanitation to communities in Africa. Check them out here.

Brushed With Oil, Dusted With Powder
Scritti Politti
Anomie & Bonhomie
1999

A quick delve into the world of music journalism with tell you that Scritti Politti‘s Green Gartside is the man mostly likely to write The Perfect Pop Song, if he hasn’t already. It all began at Leeds University in 1977 with a mix post-punk, radical politics and a love of wordplay. By 1981 the band’s first candidate for the above accolade – The Sweetest Girl – had been recorded.

You would now like to read part of an interactive dissertation on deconstruction and philosophical reference in music wouldn’t you? Try here.

Heartbroken
T2
2007

Where Were You?
The Mekons
1978

Post-punk pioneers (and survivors) The Mekons were formed from a particularly fruitful collection of Leeds University students in 1977 – Gang Of Four and Delta 5 came out of the same group of friends.

This particular Mekons song was partly the inspiration behind the choice and arrangement of songs for the Song Tunnel which, if read from the top end to the bottom, form a narrative around meeting someone to go see a gig together.

At the time of installation of The Song Tunnel, The Mekon was ranked number 39 in Empire Magazine’s 50 Greatest Comic Book Characters.

Hot Diggity
Marion Ryan
1956

There are two generations of Ryan in the Song Tunnel – Marion Ryan “the Marilyn Monroe of popular song”, and her sons the songwriting and singing partnership Paul and Barry Ryan. Marion Ryan had a string of hit singles even recording the UK’s first stereo 45rpm in 1958 and became a household name through hosting the TV show ‘Spot the Tune’.

Want to challenge your computer to ‘Name That Tune’? Go here and click on the ‘Click and Sing or Hum’ button.

I’ll Be Waiting
The Pigeon Detectives
Emergency
2008

With three top 40 albums to their name and an ever-growing national following, The Pigeon Detectives are one of Leeds most high profile bands of the moment. The first decade of the Millennium has been one that has solidly put paid to the image that Leeds doesn’t produce good rock bands. The Pigeon Detectives share a link with another band celebrated in the Song Tunnel: Soft Cell – both have covered the song ‘Tainted Love’.

The Pigeon Detectives website is here.

Just Don’t Understand
The Cresters
1964

Some people say that rock ‘n’ roll didn’t reach Leeds. Obviously it did, so much so that night clubs as we know them (where you danced to the latest records rather than a live band) were pretty much invented in the city. But it is true that Leeds cannot boast a string of successful 60s ‘beat’ groups like Manchester, Liverpool or Birmingham can. A few groups did break out however to do the national tour circuit and release a few records. The Cresters were one such group, touring in 1963 as support for The Beatles.

Cresta, it’s frothy man.