The Subeditor’s Playlist 1: From Floyd to Freddie King

Here's a list of ten songs I've been listening to this week and why.

I’ve been a subeditor for a few months now. If you were to ask me what I do, I would say that I essentially check all the stories for mistakes and put the raw text and images onto the pages.

There’s a lot more to it than that, and perhaps a bit less, too. For example, my job also involves writing captions, and uploading stories onto the website. It does not, however, fall within my remit to design the pages – this is entrusted to one of our talented designers.

I shall spare you the laborious specifics about what sort of grammatical and stylistic errors I look out for; I imagine the repeated use of phrases such as "past participle" may tease readers into a weary slumber. Or perhaps even cure insomnia. So maybe it would be worthwhile: The Insomniac's Guide to English Grammar.

This is not to say I do not enjoy what I do. As is true with most jobs – much of it is fun, some of it is laborious. However, such laborious tasks – the ones that follow learned guidelines – allow me a tiny bit of spare room in my brain to listen to music. This is a welcome perk, I usually use my commute to listen to audiobooks and podcasts, rather than listen to music.

I thought it’d be fun to start sharing the songs I’ve been listening to this week, and maybe give a few reasons for why they are particularly worthy of praise. Please forgive my use of offensively vague adjectives.

1. Pink Floyd - Take it Back

I've been listening to this one every day for weeks. For some reason, I never got round to listening to the Division Bell. Take it Back is a really wonderful ballad, the lyrics are profound and the writing is masterful. Everything, as usual, flows magnificently and they use a gadget that makes a guitar sound like it's being played by a violin bow to great effect. Think Jimmy Page, but much less threatening.

I've started using this as an introductory song for people unfamiliar with Floyd, rather than the 20-plus minute long epic Echoes, or Shine On You Crazy Diamond.

2. Emerson, Lake & Palmer - Tarkus

Speaking of prog rock, this 20 minute song is an insane barrage of art, imagination, poetry, virtuosity and imagery - the sound of the concrete jungle apocalypse. It’s not for everyone – it may in fact not be for anyone. It’s by far the least accessible song on this list, but brilliant art nonetheless. And humbling. Though, if you find Pink Floyd hard to follow, you’re going to be lost with this one. Essentially, ELP were the anti-Bieber.

3. Mighty Joe Young - Drivin’ Wheel

It seems I never will be familiar with every single great Chicago bluesman. I don’t know how I’ve never come across Mighty Joe Young before, he’s an incredible bluesman. A man of many riffs, licks, styles and tricks. This one’s a real gem.

4. Stevie Wonder - He’s Misstra Know-It-All

I remembered encountering this years ago, I believe an acquaintance of mine introduced me to Misstra Know-It-All. I later explored the rest of the Innervisions allbum. Its a fairly poetic song and I really relate to the atittude towards the song's subject, Misstra Know-It-All. Stevie's vocals on the second half of the track are thunderous, and he played almost every instrument on the track. He even did the background vocals. I find the sum of all Mr Wonder's parts to be remarkable.

5. The Cure - Just Like Heaven

This one’s super fun.

6. Nick Cave - Jubilee Street

Nick Cave. No more need be said.

7. Bruce Springsteen - Down

I’ve never truly understood why the pedastal Springsteen is placed on is set quite so high. At his best, he’s pretty good and his band are awesome, but I don’t think he’s good enough to deserve a nickname as authoritative as ‘The Boss’. Perhaps its the over-enthusiastic fist-pump dancing that makes me take him a little less seriously. Or, it could just be that I don’t find his work world-changing. Having said that, this song rules. I heard a cover of it in a film recently, and recalled the original from the deepest reaches of my cluttered, dimly lit subconscious memory bank. Win.

8. Bob Dylan - Changing of the Guard

See #5, but replace the words ‘Nick Cave’ with ‘Bob Dylan’.

9. Thelonius Monk and John Coltrane - Blue Monk

A bit of cool jazz, or is it bebop? Either way, two masters laying it down on an amazing song written by Monk himself.

10. Freddie King - Living On the Highway

It really doesn’t get much better than Freddie King - one of the best singers, and guitarists, of all time. Incalculably influential to many future generations of guitarists.

• Follow Hareth on twitter @harethb