The haunting voice of Clannad’s Moya Brennan has been stilled.

The band’s first hit was the theme from the TV Series Harry’s Game, set during the Troubles in Northern Ireland. The song was doubly notable to be the first song sung in Irish to reach the UK top ten.

Clannad: Theme From Harry’s Game

Máire Philomena Ní Bhraonáin (Moya Brennan): 4/8/1952 – 13/4/2026

As I said before The Stranglers were – are – my brother-in-law’s favourite band. I doubt he could tell you the number of times he’s seen them play live.

Anyway, here’s one of theirs from 1986.

The Stranglers: Always the Sun

I realised last week that I haven’t featured any Kate Bush tracks beyond Wuthering Heights.

So let’s make up for that. This one only reached no 20 (in 1985.)

Kate Bush: Cloudbusting

I haven’t done a Marillion track in a while.

This was the second single from their first post-Fish album Seasons End, but it barely scraped the charts. I find it lyrically interesting, though.

The news of this came too late last Friday for me to post this then, but Mani, the bassist for The Stone Roses, died last week.

The late 80s were a musical era I kind of missed as my children were infants then and time for listening to music was limited. There is no doubt, though, that The Stone Roses were an important influence on later bands – not least Oasis.

Mani’s playing is the propulsive force behind this track, a no 8 in 1989.

The Stone Roses: Fool’s Gold

Gary (Mani) Mounfield: 16/11/1962 – 20/11/2025. So it goes.

I’ve posted a song from Blancmange before – 14 years ago! – with their version of ABBA’s The Day Before You Came. Sadly co-founder of the band, Stephen Luscombe, died last week.

They had seven Top 40 hits in the 1980s.

This one got to no. 8 in 1984.

Blancmange: Don’t Tell Me

Stephen Luscombe: 29/10/1954 – 13/9/2025. So it goes.

Carly Simon’s biggest hit, instantly recognisable from that bass line burble at its start and subject to much interpretation over the years. Warren Beatty has been pointed to as the object of Simon’s lyric and Simon has said the second verse is indeed about him but the others aren’t necessarily.

I knew that Mick Jagger had been an uncredited backing singer on this but it wasn’t until one day it was on in the background in a shoe shop in Kirkcaldy that I made out his voice. Now I can’t stop hearing him every time it plays.

Carly Simon: You’re So Vain

Last week, James Prime the keyboardist of Deacon Blue, died.

He was integral to the band’s sound, adding depth and colour with his playing and there is that wonderful piano instrumental break in the middle eight of the band’s anthem Dignity.

This is Raintown, the title track from the band’s first album.

Deacon Blue: Raintown

Jim was co-writer of this one, a song dear to my heart. (“This is my country. These are my reasons.”)

Deacon Blue: Fergus Sings the Blues

James (Jim) Jim PrimePrime: 3/11/1960 – 19/6/2025. So it goes.

One of those quirky singles that occasionally hits a chord with the public. A UK no 16 in 1980.

Jona Lewie: You’ll Always Find Me In The Kitchen At Parties

Mike Peters of Welsh band The Alarm died earlier this week.

As far as I can see the band only hit the top twenty twice, with this song achieving their highest chart placing at no 17.

The Alarm: Sixty Eight Guns

Michael Leslie (Mike) Peters: 25/2/1959 – 28/4/2025. So it goes.