Guardian Music — Warm, effortless and instantly familiar, Rumer's Radio 2-friendly debut is hard to resist, says Alexis PetridisAround the 25th anniversary of the release of Sgt Pepper, a journalist asked David Mellor, then the national heritage secretary, for his fa... more info

Undercover, Australia — Peter Allen was almost struck off the Oscar nomination for the song ‘Arthur’s Theme’, by Burt Bacharach, Carole Bayer Sager and Christopher Cross because the three writers didn’t feel Allen contributed enough to the song. more info

Popdose — In 1962, Dionne Warwick began her historic collaboration with Burt Bacharach and Hal David. Two years later she had the first in a long string of Top Ten hits. more info

Guardian Music — After a decade of struggle, singer-songwriter Rumer explains how a childhood love for musicals put her on the right trackIf dedication can be measured by the number of odd-jobs a musician is willing to undertake to keep his or her career dreams alive... more info

Guardian Music — Four new songs prove that forthcoming single, Slow, isn't just a beautiful fluke for this soulful, Karen Carpenter-esque vocalistHometown: London.The lineup: Rumer (piano, vocals).The background: Rumer has been a rumour for a while now. We heard one ... more info

Guardian Music — An Anglo-Pakistani singer-songwriter in the classic 1970s soft-rock mould of Karen Carpenter and Carole KingWho is she?A singer-songwriter in the classic 1970s soft-rock mould of Karen Carpenter and Carole King. To hear her, you'd never guess she wa... more info

Totally Fuzzy — arthurfromholland said... Cuby & The Blizzards, Groeten uit Grollo(with regards from Grollo 1967)is the second album from the great dutch bluesband. and... C&B are still going strong ,see my weblog. more music with The Kinks(Peter Quaife R.I.P.) Bob ... more info

Guardian Music — Last week was all about the bossanova backbeat, this week we're stalking robbers, moustache-twiddlers and the truly evilI think Pairubu had it right. The South American topic was limiting and we did end up heading down a road where the signposts larg... more info

Guardian Music — Ebullience rules in this pick of the best songs about, and from, a continent that – from Britain at least – feels exotic and alluringFor those of us whose lives are largely confined to the British Isles, the idea of South America is an exotic one... more info

Guardian Music — These Home Counties lads play grandiose music with a rustic charm, like Coldplay jamming with Mumford & SonsHometown: Wheathampstead.The lineup: Will Baguley (drums), Simon Palmer (guitar, piano), Paddy Smith (vocals).The background: You won't gather... more info