What a fascinating thread. I still haven't read it all but I would like to make a contribution even though I am not a musician. However, I am a vinyl/CD addict and own loads and loads or recorded music and I would like to cite those that have influenced my taste.

First of all there is Alexys Korner whose Blues and Soul show in the late 70s (when I was a teenager-I am 45 now) introduced me to a wide range of blues music from Charlie Patton to Muddy Waters, the jazz of Charles Mingus, Roland Kirk and Oliver Lake, and to traditional African music. I respect this man more than anyone else. I even brough a single re-released from the early 60s that he recorded with Davy Graham called 34/AD, which in turn introduced me to Davy Graham and to the folk boroque guitar in general.

Second, there was Charlie Gilliett's Honky Tonk which played a variety of rock 'n' roll, r'n'b, country and some of the best of 70s rock music: Graham Parker, Costello, Ian Dury, Southside Johnny, etc. Sad to see him peddling this phoney so-called World Music nowadays, but in the 70s he was a major influence on my ears.

Thirdly, there was the Melody Maker. I intially bought this to read about rock music but it incidentally introduced me to folk music and Jazz. Reading an article on John Coltrane encouraged me to risk £2.99 on Africa/Brass and I have never looked back. Where else would I have discoved Martin Carthy, Bob Davenport, Nic Jones, etc if it wasn't for Colin Irvin writing every week about them.Other journalists I respected were Karl Dallas, Richard Williams, and, although writing for the NME, Charles Shaar Murrey.

Forthly, Eric Clapton. It was Clapton who opened my ears to the blues. My first blues album was John Mayall's Bluebreakers featuring Eric Clapton which I bought because of Clapton's name on it. From there, and with the help of Alexis and Charlie, I have built up a considerable knowledge of the blues and a collection of blues CDs and records.

Lastly, Greil Marcus, whose book, Mystry Train, opened my ears specifically to Randy Newman, The Band and Robert Johnson, although I thought his chapter on Elvis was ridiculous.His other books are shite!