From Abba to Zamballarana, and from Mozart to Eminem, one of rock’s finest talents has identified 500 albums essential to a happy life. It was a long, tortuous undertaking, but the man knows music (and his aim is true) BY Elvis Costello. 

The KVB "White Walls" / Mickey Dread "Break Down The Walls" / James "Goverment Walls" / Elton John "Border Song" / Madonna "Borderline" / Eagles "On The Border" / Al Stewart "On The Border" / Staple Singers "Bridges Instead of Walls" / Calexico "Crystal Frontier'...

O Brother, Where Art Thou? (Original Soundtrack)

Train "Drops Of Jupiter (Tell Me)" / Pharrell Williams, Snoop Dogg "Drop It Like It's Hot" / Massive Attack "Teardrop" / Henry Mancini "Rain Drops in Rio" / Van der Graaf Generator "Drop Dead"

The Hollies – “He Ain’t Heavy, He’s My Brother” David Bowie – “The Bewlay Brothers” Simon and Garfunkel – “He Was My Brother” Dire Straits – “Brothers in Arms” Elton John – “Daniel” War – “Me and Baby Brother” George Jones – “Brothers Of A Bottle” Avicii – “Hey...

The opening track from their fourth album Mysterious Traveller, released this month in 1974.