- C - Nick Cave

Back to Australia and Nick Cave who started out fronting the Birthday Party; since 1984 he's been lead singer with the Bad Seeds plus his Grinderman project.

Possibly the most unlikely collaboration to date was with Kylie Minogue whose track Where the wild roses grow  features on the essential purchase Murder Ballads that has just had the re-release treatment including a bonus dvd.

I doubt you will find a more miserable and blood thirsty collection of songs delivered with such a menacing growl that is so utterly addictive. I've collected a few of Nick Caves's albums over the years but none has required as many plays as these Ballads.

- C - Les Claypool

Having listened to a little Primus, I have to admit that Les Claypool was a name I didn't recognise so it's a thanks to the record shop (remember them) that produced Live Frogs: Set 1 from under the counter. A live album and part one of a set by Colonel Les Claypool's Fearless Flying Frog Brigade. Glad to say this isn't anywhere near as daft as the title sounds and is a tight rock set recorded in 2000.

Starting with a King Crimson cover Thela Hun Ginjeet and ending with Pink Floyd's Shine On You Crazy Diamond. Which of course means you now need Live Frogs: Set 2 which is even better and even stranger as the band cover Pink Floyd's Animals album from start to finish.

 I will be giving a few highly recommended mentions for covers of other peoples albums when I get to 'D' and the un-missable Dream Theater.

- C - Wayne/Jayne County, Julian Cope

Wayne County and the Electric Chairs first came to the notice of the UK Rock press with the understated Blatently Offensive Ep and tasteful gold vinyl onslaught featuring F*** off,  Night Time / Toilet Love,  Mean Mutha F***in Man. I think you get the idea. The first two albums The Electric Chairs and Storm The Gates of Heaven may be a challenge to find. To sample Wayne's World I'll point you in the direction of Rock N Roll Cleopatra which has all the classics including the ep tracks and the all telling Man enough to be a Woman.

Which neatly leads us to Jayne County and the Electric Chairs, Rock'n'roll Resurrection and Let Your Backbone Slip. Backbone is an excellent compilation, uncovering live performances from the BBC vaults plus demos.

If you were compiling the list of rocks great eccentrics then up in the top ten will be the legendary Julian Cope. Finding initial fame with Liverpool's The Teardrop Explodes, Julian's solo debut was World Shut Your Mouth in 1984 but for the first slice of commercial success turn to 1987's Saint Julian that featured World Shut Your Mouth and hit single Trampolene. There have been a few deluxe issues including the double disc version of Peggy Suicide (Deluxe Edition) and expanded Jehovahkill.

Julian's later releases get slightly harder to track down, being released on independent labels but Dark Orgasm and You Gotta Problem with Me are worth a search for.

Once again, the problem with writing this blog uncovers more music that I'm missing in my collection and Mr Cope is no exception. There is also a list of side projects that I haven't even started on yet so this is an artist I may have to return to.

- C - The Cross, The Cult

You would be forgiven for thinking Queen were Freddie Mercury, Brian May and the other two. However John Deacon fronted the Immortals (a side project to produce the soundtrack for the 1986 Biggles film) and Roger Taylor was lead singer for the excellent The Cross in addition to releasing his own solo albums.

Only producing three albums, good luck getting your hands on all three. the debut from 1986 Shove It stand out tracks are the title track Shove it and Heaven For Everyone (later covered by Queen). The best Cross album is Mad Bad & Dangerous to Knowhighlights Top of the World Ma and Breakdown. The third and final album Blue Rock was never released in the UK and remains either hard to find or just expensive. There is a cd containing Blue Rock and Mad, Bad & Dangerous to Know on the Royalty Music Label (despite the excellent packaging I suspect this is a pirated version).

Starting out in the early 1980's as Southern Death Cult, then Death Cult and finally The Cult releasing their debut Dreamtimein 1984. The follow up Love (Omnibus Edition) contains the essential She Sells Sanctuary. The excellent compilation Pure Cult: for Rockers Ravers Lovers & Sinners 1984-1995 is also a recommended release.

- C - The Clash

The Clash were amongst the selected few punk bands that brought a knew excitement to music, hearing White Riot and Remote Control on 7" was the first time music felt edgy and dangerous, following prog rock, glam rock and disco. Here was a band (along with the Damned, Pistols, Stranglers) that felt new and different. Granted the edge has long since faded and returning to the early punk bands in the shadow of grunge, death metal etc they sound positively 'pop'.

But, don't miss the debut The Clash (UK Version) featuring Remote Control, White Riot and I Fought The Law. Most of the Clash releases are worth a listen but the other essential purchase is London Calling 30th Anniversary Edition, Vinyl Replica Packaging, CD/DVD a classic spread over two albums on release. For the collector also look out for The Clash - Singles [Box Set] 19 cd singles reproducing the original artwork from the 7" releases.