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Again, apologies for being a week late with this. I couldn't find a pen that worked.

It was a complete coincidence that 'Gloria' is played on the same day that Radio Ulster begins the quest to find the best song ever written by someone from here. There's no point in dragging this out, though, while the existence of Van Morrison's punk rock classic is there for all of us to hear. What is it about a basic three chord love song that puts it above all others, that encourages every cool band to try it at least once, and that is impossible to do badly ? I don't know, although I am sure Patti Smith would have an answer. To be fair, she does take it places where others have feared to tread - her opening line 'Jesus died for somebody's sins but not mine' is cleverer than Van's original 'I wanna tell you 'bout my baby' but lacks the primal urge at the heart of every great punk song. Did I really use 'primal urge' without being sarcastic ? I must be getting old.

Real Kids - All Kindsa Girls
Modern Lovers - Dignified And Old
Ex Producers - Newer Wave 79
Go Betweens - Was There Anything I Could Do ?
Radiators From Space - Sunday World
Glaxo Babies - Burning
Feelies - Forces At Work
John Otway - Racing Cars
48 Hours - Back To Ireland
Monochrome Set - Jet Set Junta
Livingstones - Fastest Car Around
8 Eyed Spy - Diddy Wah Diddy
Patti Smith - Gloria