Known more for his taste in fashion, Britain’s top designer Paul Smith has recently collaborated with Apple Music to create a series of playlists for the exclusive music streaming service. The playlists celebrate Smith’s own eclectic music taste and the significant part that music has played within his own career.
Containing three separate playlists, entitled ‘Around the World in 20 Tracks’, ‘Something old, something new…’, and ‘From Herbie to Holiday’, these musical selections reflect Paul Smith’s own famous mantra that ‘you can find inspiration in everything’. The playlists are also accompanied by a short film, shot across various locations around Notting Hill, that includes a glimpse into Paul’s favourite record shop Rough Trade, and a visit to Paul’s very own office in Covent Garden.
Songs That Got Me Around The World
The following soundtrack is one Paul curated across his constant global travels, containing a mix of genres and great selection for anyone who finds themselves stuck in Terminal 1 with a lot of time left on their hands.
1. Astral Weeks, Van Morrison
2. London Calling, The Clash
3. Starman, David Bowie
4. Layla, Eric Clapton & Derek & The Dominos
5. Redondo Beach, Patti Smith
6. Take Me To The River, Talking Heads
7. Hallelujah, Jeff Buckley
8. Stairway to Heaven, Led Zeppelin
9. A Day in The Life, The Beatles
10. Blowin’ In The Wind, Bob Dylan
11. Black Magic Women, Santana
12. I’m Waiting For The Man, The Velvet Underground & Nico
13. Picture This, Blondie
14. Piece of My Heart, Big Brother & The Holding Company
15. Space Cowboy, Steve Miller Band
16. Marrakesh Express, Crosby, Stills & Nash
17. Living For The City, Stevie Wonder
18. Mercedes Benz, Janis Joplin 19. Your Love Is King, Sade
20. (You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman, Aretha Franklin
Something old, something new
Here we have a playlist supposedly separated into four parts – though we’re not sure where the parts begin or end – that blends the past and present influences on Paul Smith’s fashion throughout the years. Who’d have thought Paul was a Jake Bugg kind of man?
1. You Can’t Always Get What You Want, Rolling Stones
2. Move On Up, Curtis Mayfield
3. Walk Like An Egyptian, The Bangles
4. Addicted To Love, Robert Palmer
5. On The Road Again, Canned Heat
6. Lightning Bolt, Jake Bugg
7. Ophelia, The Lumineers
8. Feel You, Julia Holter
9. I Love You Honey Bear, Father John Misty
10. Tilted, Christine and the Queens
11. Jamming, Bob Marley
12. 54-46 That’s My Number, Toots & The Maytals
13. Pretty Thing, Bo Diddley
14. Dreams, Fleetwood Mac
15. Touch Me, The Doors
16. John Lee Hooker, Dimples
17. Sonny Boy Williamson, Help Me
18. Muddy Waters, Hoochie Coochie Man
19. Howlin’ Wolf, Smokestack Lightnin’
20. Green Onions, Booker T. & The M.G.’s
From Herbie to Holiday
Finally, we have a tribute to some of Paul’s favourite jazz musicians, many of whom the designer was lucky enough to see in the flesh throughout his lifetime. Unsurprisingly, the playlist begins with Herbie Hancock and ends with Billie Holiday.
1. Herbie Hancock, Maiden Voyage
2. Thelonious Monk Trio, Blue Monk (1952 version)
3. Charles Mingus, Wednesday Night Prayer Meetin’
4. Art Blakey & the Jazz Messengers, Moanin’
5. Wayne Shorter, House of Jade
6. Stan Tracey, Starless and Bible-Black
7. Chet Baker, I Fall in Love Too Easily (1953 version)
8. Gerry Mulligan Quartet, Line for Lyons (1952 version)
9. John Coltrane Quartet, My Favourite Things
10. Miles Davis, Milestones
11. Donald Byrd, Cristo Redentor
12. Jimmy Smith, Midnight Special
13. Horace Silver Quintet, Song for My Father
14. Jimmy McGriff, All About My Girl
15. So What, Miles Davis
16. Billie Holiday, I’m a Fool to Want You
Paul Smith’s playlist is available now exclusively on Apple Music
