1. Mo’ Horizons – Hit the Road Jack (Pe Na Estrada)

File under B for Boom, Brazilian and Banker-tracks – a full-force Latin refit and sure-fire floor filler whipping up a tropical cocktail of swishy, slinky, sassy-jazz.

2. Shirley Scott and the Soul Saxes – Get Back

An unrelenting belter, thundering along like a joy-riding juggernaut – heavy on the horns and Hammond, although it’s possibly a touch too fast ‘n’ furious for shaking a leg.

3. Una Valli – Satisfaction

Satisfaction’s honking riff had originally been written with horns in mind – this version booms out a brash, brassy snap, almost as Keef had originally intended.

4. Rod Stewart – Cigarettes and Alcohol

I’ll forgive Sir Roderick of Epping any of the soppy nonsense – for the Faces, his solo Mercury work, and this mic-swinging take on Oasis. For those about to Rod, we salute you.

5. Wild Billy Childish – Who Do You Think You Are Kidding Mr Hitler?

From the southern side of the Thames Delta, the militarily moustachioed Billy Childish reggaes up a Brit-com classic.

6. Milky Edwards and the Chamberlings – Starman

This and two other Bowie covers surfaced on the internet last year, supposedly taken from a lost Seventies soul LP reworking the whole of the Ziggy album. Almost certainly a hoax, but Motown Bowie works for me, fake or real!

7. William Shatner – Common People

Shatner’s style of talking his way through a cover version is a bit onedimensional. Yet there is something truly inspirational about his Pulp cover. Builds to such a fever pitch that it leaves you breathless.

8. The Third Degree – Mercy

Duffy’s 2008 monster hit reworked as a Northern Soul-style floor-filler. Whenever I play it, someone always asks if it’s the original version!

9. Mae West – Great Balls of Fire

So delightfully bad, it’s genius! She was 79 when she recorded it, but it rocks along at a lively pace. Can raise a smile and also empty a room, often at the same time!

10. Etta James – Welcome to the Jungle

On paper this sounds like a terrible idea, but this Hammond-laced bluesy reinvention of the Guns ‘n’ Roses classic is actually a little gem. Turned out to be one of the last songs she recorded.

  • You can catch the Podrophenia duo on Ship Full of Bombs radio next Thursday. Their next live gig is on April 26 at the Railway Hotel, in Southend.

Listen to all ten recommendations here: