I like music by Marvin Gaye, Stevie Wonder, Fats Waller, Smokey Robinson, Ice T, Ice Cube, Billie Holiday, Al Green, Bobby Womack, Dobie Gray, Charlie Parker, Gil Scott Heron, Bob Marley, Lee 'Scratch' Perry, Aswad, Sharon Jones & The Dap Kings, Johnny Osbourne, Candi Staton, Bettye Swann and Aretha Franklin.

I like reggae, soul, soca, disco, funk, jazz, jazz-funk, hip-hop and r&b. As well as Joni Mitchell, Bob Dylan and Steely Dan.

Why do you not write about them in your magazine?

With Carol Smillie.

Sheesh, but my life has ended up weird.

They are though, aren't they?

And everything seems to end in an argument.

I bet this does too.

Merry Christmas x

Have any other readers noticed the fabulously selective use of James Medd's review of the new Hope Sandoval & The Warm Inventions album (p.95 November issue) in the ad for the same on p.60?

Our James writes that the track 'Trouble' is "utterly magnificent" but "sadly...the only truly magic moment on this album" and goes on to give the whole caboodle a fairly lukewarm review.

But the ad screeches that the album is - "Utterly magnificent" - The Word.

This sort of thing used to be widespread in theatrical promotions, but has now, I see, been banned - http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/stage/....

Tut tut, and indeed, tut.