By Ravi Raman
Welcome to the Reunion. The playlist kicks off with one of Gregg Allman's finest songs, Melissa. Gram Parsons, in Return of the Grievous Angel, and then Bert Jansch pick up the thread about the strong pull of going Back Home:
"Twenty thousand roads I went down, down, down
And they all lead me straight back home to you."
It's a mass homecoming. John Sebastian, Lene Lovich and Viv Albertine tell differing tales of reunions at home, from the wholesome to the disappointing.
Next up is one of the most famous reunion tales as the Rolling Stones rework the Rev. Wilkins song into their take on the Prodigal Son.
Tony Carey's uncle has come home from prison and nothing is going to spoil this Fine, Fine Day for his reunion. For his part John Mayer can't wait for his ten-year reunion, though he's still in school now. Perhaps there'll be No Such Thing. Hmm.
Robert Earl Keen is Feelin' Good Again as he gets back with old friends and thinks how nice it would be if his wife were there also. He looks up and yes – she's there!
We're all feeling good too for Thin Lizzy's The Boys Are Back In Town and are also hoping, along with Dar Williams, that the Christians and Pagans would just work things out and let peace reign.
The Homecoming A-List Playlist:
Melissa - The Allman Brothers Band
Return of the Grievous Angel - Gram Parsons
Back Home - Bert Jansch
Welcome Back - John Sebastian
Home Is Where The Heart Is - Lene Lovich
Home Sweet Home ( ... at Christmas) - Viv Albertine
Prodigal Son - The Rolling Stones
A Fine, Fine Day For A Reunion - Tony Carey
No Such Thing - John Mayer
Feelin' Good Again - Robert Earl Keen
Boys Are Back In Town - Thin Lizzy
The Christians and the Pagans - Dar Williams
Back Together Again B-List Playlist:
The Lemming Family Reunion - Mrs Ackroyd Band
Cast of Thousands - The Adverts
Bell Boy - The Who
Bonny May - June Tabor
When We Meet Again - G. Love and Special Sauce
Coming Back To You - Jennifer Warnes
Andrew Eldritch Is Moving Back To Leeds - The Mountain Goats
Questioningly - Ramones
I Drove All Night - Roy Orbison
Hello Dolly - Louis Armstrong
When The God of Love Returns - Father John Misty
Most Beautiful Widow In Town - Sparklehouse
Disco 2000 - Pulp
Blue Jean Blues - ZZ Top
Guru's Wildcard Picks:
Road To Cairo - David Ackles
Class of 57 - The Statler Brothers
These playlists were inspired by readers' song nominations from last week's topic: We'll meet again: songs about reunions. The next topic will launch on Thursday at 1pm UK time.
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