Under The Volcano by Malcolm Lowry (1947) - A bottomless fall into alcohol, rendered in gorgeous, spellbinding prose. A simplistic explanation of a complex work.

Dust Bowl Ballads by Woody Guthrie (Victor/1940) - A folk-rock concept album 30 years ahead of its time, though perfectly of its own time as well. Woody uses the phrase rockin’ and rollin’ in one song. Huh.

Lady Bird b/w Sand by Nancy Sinatra & Lee Hazlewood (Reprise/1967) - Two more divinely odd sides from this divinely matched duo. A whole lot of sexual metaphor and longing in both songs, and langourously shifting arrangements to keep you guessing. It’s a hit.

Venus b/w Hot Sand by The Shocking Blue (Colossus/1969) - Really a pretty bitchen tune when heard in its original format. Nice driving acoustic rhythm guitar (is it acoustic, or clean electric?), with crunchy electric guitar and keyboard. And Mariska Veres’ vocals deliver those lyrics on the money: “Goddess on a mountain top…” Beat that. Flipside ain’t bad, either.

Baby It’s You b/w The Things I Want To Hear (Pretty Words) by The Shirelles (Scepter/1961) - A girl group classic, one of Burt Bacharach earliest hit arrangements. Yes, that’s him you hear, getting in a sha-la-la at the beginning of the song.

Silhouettes b/w Daddy Cool by The Rays (Cameo/1957) - Vocal group ballad with comic twist plot point on top. Up tempo rhythm ‘n’ blues on the over. A solid and genuine slice of the fifties.

Which Way You Goin’ Billy? b/w Endless Sleep by The Poppy Family (London/1970) - Sad, dark-hearted pop with terrifically yearning lead vocal by Susan Jacks. Yeah, Terry Jacks went on to financial security with Seasons In The Sun.

Town Without Pity b/w Air Mail Special Delivery by Gene Pitney (Musicor/1961) - A ballad and a popper. David Lynch really should use Mr. Pitney on a film soundtrack, if he hasn’t already.