Going Underground's Soundtrack...

"Do you listen to music when you write?  Anything you would recommend?"

This was one of the interview questions the lovely Michele Fogal asked when I featured on her blog the other day. 

In brief, the answer I gave was no; to have music playing in the background whilst I'm working would be too much of a distraction.  But that doesn't mean I don't hear music when I write.  In fact, I often hear a song playing in my head that feels relevant to what I'm trying to say.  Music's a great way to give a book that extra dimension. 

With Going Underground though, I took this one step further and gave it a definite soundtrack.  A playlist of songs that reflect each chapter either lyrically or in tone.  An element of the book that most readers have picked up on, can see why it works and ultimately rather enjoyed.

Anyways, chatting with a fellow author and twitter friend the other day, he suggested I publish the playlist here.  And I thought why not? 

Some of the songs you should recognise, some you might not... either way, it'll be a trip down memory lane and I hope you enjoy the journey as much as I did.

And yes, the book is set in the Mod/Scooter scene!

So, in order of play, here goes:

1. Funeral Pyre - The Jam
2. News of the World - The Jam
3. Too Much Too Young - The Specials
4. Ghosts - The Jam
5. I've Had Enough - The Who
6. Boy About Town - The Jam
7. Behind Blue Eyes - The Who
8. March of the Gherkins - Madness
9. Going Underground - The Jam
10. Making Time - The Creation
11. Time for Action - Secret Affair
12. Driving in My Car - Madness
13. Doesn't Make it Alright - The Specials
14. Tales From the Riverbank - The Jam
15. My World - Secret Affair
16. Keep Moving - Madness
17. It's Hard - The Who
18. Down in the Tubestation at Midnight - The Jam
19. Save it for Later - The (English) Beat
20. All I knew - Madness
21. 21. It's Up to You - The Specials
22. Town Called Malice - The Jam
23. Runaround - The Lambrettas
24. Faith in Something Bigger - The Who
25. House of the Rising Sun - The Animals
26. Turning Blue - Madness
27. One Step Beyond - Madness
28. I Can't Explain - The Who
29. The Seeker - The Who
30. Walls Come Tumbling Down - The Style Council
31. I'm One - The Who
32. Night Boat to Cairo - Madness
33. Itchicoo Park - The Small Faces
34. James Bond - The Selecter
35. Shout to the Top - The Style Council
36. There's a Ghost in My House - R. Dean Taylor
37. All or Nothing - The Small Faces
38. Poison Ivy - The Lambrettas
39. Dreams of Children - The Jam
40. Summer Nights - The Circles
41. Zoot Suit - The Who
42. And Your Bird Can Sing - The Jam
43. Shut Up - Madness
44. Ghost Town - The Specials
45. Thick as Thieves - The Jam
46. The Bitterest Pill - The Jam
47. Happy Days Toy Town - The Small Faces
48. Don't Push Me - The Lambrettas
49. Walls Come Tumbling Down - The Style Council (Take 2)
50. Time for Truth - The Jam
51. The Young and the Old - Madness
52. Move on Up - The Style Council
53. One's Second Thoughtlessness - Madness
54. Sole Salvation - The (English) Beat
55. Enjoy Yourself - The Specials
56. Leap Before You Look - The Lambrettas
57. Anyway, Anyhow, Anywhere - The Who
58. All Out to Get You - The (English) Beat
59. Substitute - The Who
60. Jackpot - The (English) Beat
61. Yesterday's Men - Madness
62. Is it in My Head - The Who
63. Lip Up Fatty - Bad Manners
64. Watch Out I'm Back - The Lambrettas
65. Things Are Going to Get Better - The Small Faces
66. Batman - The Jam
67. The Doors of Your Heart - The (English Beat)
68. Long Hot Summer - The Style Council
69. Maybe Tomorrow - The Chords
70. A Message to You Rudy - The Specials
71. Angel - The Style Council
72. Bank Robber - The Clash
73. The Sun and the Rain - Madness
74. Music Must Change - The Who
75. English Rose - The Jam
76. The Communicator - Madness

Phew! 

So, Guys, do any of you develop a playlist to go with your work?  And would you like to share a few tracks with the rest of us?

Until next time... x

My most in-depth interview so far!

I'm featuring over in Canada today thanks to the lovely Michelle Fogal. This is probably the most in-depth interview I've done yet and it would be great if you could head on over... Please feel free to comment and I hope you enjoy the read x

http://michelefogal.com/blog/author-interview-suzie-tullett#comment-4402

Are You Beautiful Too?

Instead of just my blog receiving an award, I'm pleased to announce that I, too, have finally been bestowed...

Oh yes, it would seem the lovely Suzanne over at http://thetalesofmissusp.blogspot.co.uk/2012/05/beautiful-blogger-award.html has nominated me for the Beautiful Blogger Award - although I'm guessing this is for an inner beauty, having just caught a glimpse of my somewhat dodgy exterior in the mirror!

As usual there are certain conditions attached to any acceptance, which are:


1. Write seven facts about yourself:

• My birthsign is 'Pisces' which apparently means I'm shy, romantic, trustworthy, aloof, dreamy, creative, understanding, unrealistic and impractical... These obviously explain why I'm a writer.
• I have a strong dislike for the colour yellow but don't ask me why, I've just never liked it.
• I didn't learn to swim until I was eleven years old and am still not a very strong swimmer to this day.  In fact, I can only do breast stroke, at which I'm very neat but very slow.
• My oldest son once asked me why all my favourite songs of the day were by bands with handsome lead singers...  I told him it was just a coincidence!
• After belting out a rendition of Atomic Kitten's 'Whole Again' as it played on the radio once, my youngest son (about five years old at the time) exclaimed how beautiful my singing was.  Of course, me being tone deaf I did know better and I actually felt physically embarrassed when accepting his compliment... Although to be fair, he did eventually realise his mistake as well and now when I try to sing he pleads with me to stop on account of his ears bleeding.
• Me, Robert, Adam and Ben were once snapped poolside when holidaying in Corfu and (much to my horror) the resulting photograph appeared in a Manos travel agent brochure for about three years running!
• At secondary school I was in every sports team going.  Hockey, netball, rounders... you name it, I was there.  I know, I can't quite believe it myself, especially considering the nearest I get to exercise these days is walking the dog.

2. You link to the blog of the person who nominated you:

Just in case you didn't see it before, here it is again - http://thetalesofmissusp.blogspot.co.uk/2012/05/beautiful-blogger-award.html


3. You link to seven bloggers whom you think deserve the award too:

http://itswhatigotnotwhoiam.blogspot.com/  The lovely Kate Rigby

http://ramblingindulgences.blogspot.com/ The fabulous Sarah Tranter

http://donna-lostandfound.blogspot.com/ The gorgeous Donna Trinder

http://clraven.wordpress.com/ The wonderful CL twins

http://mummymisfit.blogspot.com/ The sensational Amanda Egan

http://spookymrsgreen.wordpress.com/ The fantastic Catherine Green

http://gonnabepublishedoneday.blogspot.com  The adorable Debbie White

http://paulamartinpotpourri.blogspot.com The perfect Paula Martin


4. Finally, you let your nominated bloggers know you have given them the award...

Which is what I'm off to do now x