It was the question that dogged the Irish music scene for years. With a brilliant album in 1991, U2 showed why it wasn't worth even asking

A few people just had the knack of properly judging a record after a couple of listens. It's a disappearing art

Okay, so there's no magic formula, but I did get some valuable advice through the years. And at least once, I even made it happen 

When I find myself in times of trouble... I'll be reaching for this revamped classic from The Beatles, originally released just after their break-up 

The ability of TV theme tunes to both take you out of this world is uncanny, and the couch you are on when it happens is part of the deal

Tom Hyland is moving on from his famous corner shop, thus closing a chapter of my own history,  and memories of the happy visits through the decades to buy music papers from him  

The emotional release you will experience at your first post-Covid live show is hard to describe... not least because it may bring some unexpected reactions 

I was nervy about being back in front of a live audience for the first time in 18 months, but it turned out even better than we could've hoped 

It was nice to hear the tale of how one of our household items was a present from Charlie Watts, but then came the story of how they wanted Audrey to sing on their record... 

Music & Me: The death of Charlie Watts hit me more than I expected, but then I've loved his band for more than 40 years