1. The Verve - Bitter Sweet Symphony - This is easily one of the most recognisable songs of all time with that superb string intro and big, big, spatial sound. The song borrowed a reversed looped sample of a symphonic recording of the Rolling Stones song The Last Time. ABKCO Records, which controls the Rolling Stones' back catalogue, and which had warned The Verve against using the Rolling Stones sample in Bitter Sweet Symphony, successfully sued The Verve for 100 per cent of the royalties for the song! Brilliant song. Sadly Richard Ashcroft and co didn't make much money from it, even though it was probably their most successful song ever. Unlucky........

2. Leya - In Our Hands - This is a superb song from a local Norn Iron band who sadly decided to call it a day earlier this year after seven years together. With a brilliant mix of piano, guitar, bass and strings, these guys had carved out a niche for themselves and a substantial fan base on the local circuit and further afield.

3. Rush- La Villa Strangiato - Canadian rock trio Rush have been a firm favourite of mine since my schooldays and out of all their albums, this track from the Hemispheres album is probably my personal favourite. It's entirely instrumental (was Rush's first entirely instrumental piece), lasts around 10 minutes (you got value for money back in 1978!), and was recorded in one take (having taken 40 takes to get it right!). It showcases beautifully the virtuoso talents of Alex Lifeson on guitar, Geddy Lee on bass and vocals and Neil Peart on kit. Bliss!

4. Black Sabbath - Live Evil - I just love this album! In the last few years, I have bought it again on double CD as the original tape recording had long since worn out along with the original CD! If I was to pick one track from the album, it would probably be Heaven and Hell, one of Black Sabbath's finest anthems. I'm a big fan of Black Sabbath, especially this era with Ronnie James Dio on vocals (can this guy do heavy metal vocals or what?). Good to see he has teamed up again with Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler and Vinny Appice in a new band which is also called oddly enough (Live Evil fans will get this), Heaven and Hell.

5. Spandau Ballet - True -The 80s was my era in music and while others at school were listening to Meat Loaf and the like, as well as Black Sabbath (see above), I was very much into the New Romantic bands and Spandau Ballet were for me the coolest thing since sliced bread! I never went as far as the frilly, puffed shouldered shirts, but I did have the copper hair, trenchcoat, trilby and winklepicker shoes (oh yes!). True is one of those songs that everyone loves or hates, but for me it was brilliant! Even had it as first dance at my wedding!

6. Robbie Williams - Angels - My favourite ballad of all time. Written by the Robster and Guy Chambers in 20 minutes!!!, and became Robbie's anthem for the masses. I love to murder it at karaoke (I have on numerous occasions - ask any of my mates!). Sadly, since Robbie and Guy Chambers went their separate ways, RW's songs since have teetered on the brink of being bland and forgettable (with the exception of Feel).

7. Van Morrison - Have I Told You Lately - Not an overly big fan of Van the Man because I don't think he's a great singer, but he definitely comes up trumps on this one. Silky smooth, sexy music with a great piano solo in the middle. Used to play this in a band I was in and loved it, especially the Major 7th chords!.

8. Coldplay - Yellow - This was Coldplay's first attempt a worldwide domination and boy was it good or what? The piano, the jangly guitar sound, the raw bass sound and Chris Martin's vocals ensured this was an instant hit with myself and millions of others. Taken from their brilliant first album Parachutes, I thought to myself "how can they beat this?". But they did, with A Rush of Blood to the Head in 2002 and X&Y in 2005. They just get better and better. Brilliant live too!

9. Duran Duran - Rio - Yes, I did like Duran Duran (and still do). What better to watch Simon le Bon, Nick Rhodes, Roger Taylor, Andy Taylor and John Taylor prancing about on some yacht in sun drenched Antigua whenever you were supposed to be doing your maths homework! These guys were huge back in the 80s and their music back then was very good also. Rio is one of my favourite tracks from the similarly named album. Duran Duran "were" (and still are) the best music video band of all time. All those beautiful girls and stunning locations... mmmm!

10. Spinal Tap - Big Bottom - This Is Spinal Tap has to be the funniest "rockumentary" ever. How those guys kept a straight face shooting it is beyond belief. Big Bottom is a very funny song... about big bottoms! I have seen This Is Spinal Tap about 30 times now, and still laugh at the lines and the song lyrics, even though I know them inside out! For those of you in the dark regarding Spinal Tap, they are a mostly fictitious heavy metal band and have had a succession of drummers, all of whom they claim have died under odd circumstances: one in a "bizarre gardening accident"; another "choked on vomit," (although it was never determined whose vomit it was, as "you can't really dust for vomit"), and a third from apparent spontaneous human combustion onstage, leaving a small green "globule" on his drum throne. BUY IT!!

How do your Top 10 songs compare? Send your favourite 10 tracks, plus the reasons behind your choices to lorna.mckay@jpress.co.uk

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