Ruby Trax - The NME's Roaring Forty

A temporary stray from punk and new wave singles with this triple CD that was available only through the NME, and if I remember right the profit went to charity the Spastic Society. The CD consists of 40 covers songs by different bands.

I believe this is no longer commercially available and has got some real gems on it.

The picks for me are the excellent cover of the Rolling Stones 'Little Red Rooster' by The Jesus and Mary Chain, although being a big JMC fan, and in my eyes they can do no wrong, covering the excellent original was a risk.

A cover of Lonnie Donnegan's 'Cumberland Gap' turns a classic skiffle track into a real rocking tune.

The Shadows 'Apache' covered brilliantly by the 'Senseless Things.

Listening to Teenage Fanclub you would think that this song had been written for them, the cover of Bob Dylan's 'Mr Tambourine Man' which was made more famous by the Byrds, has been reclaimed by 'The Fannies'

I know I shouldn't but I love Rod Stewart's 'Maggie May' but Blur have done a sterling job recreating it in their own style.

Any version of Enio Morricombes 'The Good, The Bad and the Ugly' is good in my books. and Johnny Marr doesn't let us down. I love this song, and if you like it check out the Pogues version as well as the chart topping version by Hugo Montenegros Orchestra.

You can never get enough of the Fall, and again Mark E Smith has made the Legend of Xandadu his own.

Last recommendation is the ridiculous (but expected) version of Vienna by Vic Reeves, this one should make you smile.

So which track do you like best, leave a comment.

Disc 1

1. Coz I Love You -The Wonder Stuff
2. When Will I See You Again - Billy Bragg
3. Little Red Rooster - The Jesus and Mary Chain
4. Atomic - The Misson
5. (Everything I Do) I Do It For You - The Fatima Mansions
6. Stranger In Paradise - St Etienne
7. Cumberland Gap - The Wedding Present
8. (If Paradise Is) Half As Nice - Aztec Camera / Andy Fairweather Low
9. Show You The Way To Go - Danni Minouge
10. Where Do You Go To My Lovely? - Welfare Heroine
11. Bad Moon Rising - Blue Aeropalces
12. Apache - Sensless Things
13. Mr Tambourine Man - Teenage Fanclub

Disc 2

1. Another Brick In The Wall - Carter USM
2. Maggie May -Blur
3. Ashes To Ashes - Tears For Fears
4. Rock Your Baby - The House Of Love
5. I'm A Believer - Frank and Walters
6. Shaddap A Your Face - EMF
7. Brass In Pocket - Suede
8. Ring My Bell - Tori Amos
9. Lady Madonna - Kingmaker
10. Like A Prayer - Marc Almond
11. Don't You Want Me? The Farm
12. I've Never Been To Me - Ned's Atomic Dustbin
13. My Sweet Lord - Boy George

Disc 3
1. Voodoo Chilee - Jesus Jones
2. Sunny Afternoon - Bob Geldolf
3. The Good, The Bad and the Ugly - Johnny Marr & Billy Duffy
4. Down Down - Cud
5. Legend Of Xanadu - The Fall
6. Secret Love - Sinead O'Conner
7. World Without Love - World Party
8. Tainted Love - Inspiral Carpets
9. Baby Come Back - Electric Music
10. The Model - Ride
11. Vienna - Vic Reeves
12. Go Now - Tin Machine
13. I Feel Love - Curve
14. Suicide Is Painless - Manic Street Preacher

Ripped from inferior CD: 

As this CD was meant for charity, if you download it, why not make a donation to the Spastic Society?