- G - Girl, Goldblade

Back to the late 70's and glam rock band Girl. Their debut Sheer Greed is the must have although it looks like the Amazon prices have got a bit silly so the recommendation is My Number: the Anthology which at the time of writing also looks to be unavailable. I first caught the band supporting Kiss and strangely getting a hard time for the way they looked. Hollywood Tease, Lovely Lorraine, Heartbreak America and Wasted Youth are just some of the essential tracks.

Only three albums and a few live cuts before the band broke up, former members however re-appeared in Def Leppard and LA Guns plus Man Raze.

Goldblade hail from Manchester. I first caught the band live in Liverpool as part of the not to be missed Mathew Street Festival. I bought the back catalogue straight afterwards.

Start with Do You Believe in the Power of R 'n' R the standout tracks are the opening title track and AC/DC. 2002's Strictly Hardcore continues the rock guitar and punk vocals with their anthem Strictly Hardcore, Do you believe in the power of rock ' n' roll and Black Elvis.  A great live band who also manage to capture the excitement on disc.

- I - Iron Maiden

Sure there's no need to go into much detail about this lot although have to say all of the albums aren't to the same standard. I'd definitely start at the beginning with the raw Iron Maiden and lead vocals from Paul Di'anno stand out tracks Iron Maiden, Sanctuary and Phantom of the Opera, swap vocalists for Bruce Dickinson and make sure you get The Number Of The Beast including Run to the Hills and The Number of the Beast.

There are a few compilations to chose from I'd recommend Best Of The Beast make sure it's the two disc version.

If you've got deep pockets Eddie's Archive - Anniversary Box Set is a fantastic, lavish collection spread over 6 discs including rare tracks and concerts. Essential for collectors (but you'll already have it).

There are quite a few live albums to pick as well, I'd go for Live After Death and Rock In Rio (Live)

- H - Ian Hunter

Ian's glory years have to be with Mott the Hoople however dipping into his considerable catalogue after going solo, start with the excellent From the Knees of My Heart: The Chrysalis Years (1979-1981) which includes You're Never Alone with A Schizophrenic, Short Back n Sides, Ian Hunter Rocks and the essential Welcome To The Club.

The live Welcome to the Club includes Once Bitten Twice Shy, All the Way from Memphis and Cleveland Rocks.

- H - Helloween

Across to Germany for Helloween. When I first discovered them it was quite hard to get hold of their music with German only releases, the first introduction and still a recommended starting point is Walls Of Jericho which brings together the early mini LP and EP's. Ride the Sky and How Many Tears stand out but only just.

Next essential is the double Keeper Of The Seven Keys (Deluxe Edition) which brings together part one and part two and classic tracks Halloween, Dr Stein, I Want Out and Keeper of the Seven Keys.

An album of covers? Metal Jukebox is crazy but excellent including Heavy Metal Abba (I kid not) Lay All Your Love on Me. Fellow Germans; The Scorpions He's A Woman - She's a Man gets a slight overhaul. Throw in All My Loving (Beatles), Faith Healer (Alex Harvey) and Dutch masters Focus - Hocus Pocus.

Also look out for Treasure Chest (Box Set With Bonus CD) an excellent three disc box set. Only word of warning, they did loose the plot a bit with Pink Bubbles Go Ape and Heavy Metal Hamsters.

Happy Happy Halloween everyone :-)

- H - Half Man Half Biscuit

The Wirral's greatest treasures and one of the world's greatest un-hyped bands. You'd be hard pressed to know they were still going if it wasn't for the odd (yep very odd) release escaping from Probe records.

Not ones to blow much of a trumpet for themselves either, whilst most bands hit the road on gruelling world tours to promote the latest disc, the Biscuits find a remote club for a one off appearance. Although 2013 is looking positively hectic with four gigs already announced.

I've no idea what the rest of the world would make of the Biscuits, understanding them and their song references is the first challenge but all that should change with one listen to The Trumpton Riots.

First pick from the catalogue is Back in the D.H.S.S. every track is raw, funny and bonkers - Fuck'n' 'Ell it's Fred Titmus, I Hate Nerys Hughes, The Trumpton Riots and Time Flies By. Acd brings together a compilation of tracks plus live takes and is just as infectious, with a nod to Ian Dury - Reasons to be Miserable (part 10), Dickie Davies Eyes and Sealclubbing.

If these two get you hooked then start on the rest, Some Call It Godcore brings you Sensitive Outsider, £24.99 From Argos and the epic Tour Jacket With Detachable Sleeves. Voyage To The Bottom Of The Road has Bad Review and Paintball's Coming Home. Four Lads Who Shook the Wirral includes Four Skinny Indie Kids and You're Hard. This Leaden Pall Running Order Squabble Fest and  4AD3DCD

- H - Alex Harvey

So this is how it all began. The first two albums I ever bought all those years ago couldn't have been more different. The Beatle's Yellow Submarine and The Sensational Alex Harvey Band, Tomorrow Belongs to Me. So the first recommendation has to be The Impossible Dream / Tomorrow Belongs To Me. The back catalogue is available as double disc packages making it even easier to collect.

The rasping vocals and driving guitars make Alex and the band instantly recognisable, there are no weak tracks on Tomorrow, from Action Strasse and The Tale of the Giant Stone Eater, Give My Compliments to the Chef and the haunting Tomorrow Belongs to Me .  The Impossible Dream includes Vambo, Sergeant Fury and Tomahawk Kid.

Framed / Next present another classic pairing. Every rock fan needs the title tracks Framed and Next.

There are a stack of compilations for putting a  toe in the water and an excellent selection of Live albums, check out Live At The BBC .

For a taste of Alex prior to and after SAHB try Considering The Situation. There's a step back to The Alex Harvey Soul Band, his Hair period and solo work plus a second disc of SAHB and even a nod to the frankly odd The Loch Ness Monster (I can't really recommend this one unless you track down the real collectors gem original vinyl version)

Whilst Alex can never be replaced, the vocals are handled well by Max Maxwell on the live double collection THE SENSATIONAL ALEX HARVEY BAND/ZALVATI which includes all of the classics including Delilah and the Boston Tea Party

- F - Flash Bastard

Thanks to Classic Rock Magazine for this lot.

Both albums are excellent sleaze rock, glam rock - ahh just get em. Rock n' Roll Must Be Destroyed and Bastard Radio. Let's face it, with track titles like Rock n Roll must be Destroyed, Slut and Bastard, Radio Bastard and You Can't Touch Me how can you go wrong?