If in doubt, consult the Howarth Hundred.

My friend Paul Howarth is as knowledgable about music as any human being I have ever met. We meet up every now and again to discuss our three favourite topics: Music, football and why so many so-called “liberals” are in fact illiberal. Over Christmas, for no apparent reason, Paul posted his 100 favourite singles on Facebook, and I sometimes have a browse through for inspiration. His tastes are much broader than mine, so I’d never heard of most of them. But at no.40, I found this underrated gem. It’s a track I loved, forgot and had forgotten how much I loved. It’s simple, plaintive and absolutely heartbreaking. So if future tracks lean towards the obscure, you’ll know I’ve been raiding the Howarth Hundred.