Tonight I’m playing a bunch of records down at the San Fran – all female artists, mostly a 1980s set I reckon, but I have a few things that spill out either side, so we’ll see where the night goes…

So in honour of that – and the amazing PJ Harvey show earlier this week this edition of Five Songs For Friday is about female artists, five songs that made me go ‘wow’ when I first heard them. Without further adieu…

1. Lykke Li, Get Some

I’m a Lykke Li fan – but it started here. The first album didn’t do that much for me, first time around; went straight back to it after hearing this track (and its album). And her nearly perfect, finite discography to date is a joy. But this is the song that stopped me in my tracks. Great, propulsive rhythm. That usually does it.

2. Patti Smith, Rock’n’ Roll Nigger

I knew about Patti Smith, sure, but I first heard this as part of the soundtrack to Natural Born Killers. That soundtrack’s been on high rotation again just lately (magical soundtrack). And a great song this. One of so many from one of my favourite artists. The Horses album is the one, if you can only have one Patti Smith album. But of course we can have far more than just one these days – it’s the age of Far Too Much. I’ve been going back through all the Patti Smith albums lately. A fantastic catalogue. So many great songs.

3. Missy Elliott, Work It

I miss Missy. By which I mean I wish she was still knocking it out of the park like she did in the early 00s particularly. I was there for the earlier records too – but in three years she rolled out Miss E…So Addictive (2001), Under Construction (2002) and This Is Not A Test! (2003). Damn. All three are fantastic albums. That’s when I really sat up and noticed. Something really special, something fantastic. I don’t think her brilliance as a pop architect has been truly appreciated. All three of these albums. Man. Wonderful stuff.

4. Suzanne Vega, World Before Columbus

I was a Suzanne Vega fan right from when I first heard the first two albums; great records both of them. And I’ve been on board for each and every album but – almost out of nowhere – at the end of the 1990s she released what I consider her masterpiece. Not only that it was always my pick (still would be, I reckon) for the near-ultimate Desert Island Disc. And the song that blew me away on first listen was this one. Lyrically it’s just about perfect. And a sympathetic arrangement with gorgeous playing. The whole album is full of great playing and wonderful songs. And, well, really, all of her albums are…

5. PJ Harvey, The River

Funny how a gig can work. PJ Harvey, Wednesday night, magnificent! And she closes the concert off with this song. A favourite of mine from way back – but one I just hadn’t heard or thought about in a long, long time. I love how a great gig can reintroduce you to music, remind you of your favourites.

It was hard restricting this to just five – but then that’s the rule – Five Songs For Friday is just a starter-piece. You go off from there. I’m listening to Missy right now, Lykke was on before, it’ll be Patti next no doubt, and then packing the crates to take to the pub. Those crates will be jammed with Madonna and Cyndi Lauper and Kate Bush and Bangles and Eurythmics and Fleetwood Mac and, well, all sorts on from there…