Help Me Make It Through The Night

Today's playlist is pretty much entirely about self-preservation. I'm heading into a week of nocturnal activity which will play havoc with my already largely mythical sleep pattern. I'm going to need a little help to make it through the night, every night.

So here are 10 of my favourite songs of the early hours, each and everyone of which is going to be needed to help me last until next Sunday on the barest amount of sleep. We open with CCR, pausing only to ask whether any band was ever any better at choosing covers to complement their own work, and race through to Neil Young's timeless classic by way of sinister goings-on in REM's garden and Scott Miller's advice for songwriters - remember, the best material is in the Bible.

Enjoy. And remember, sleep is for the weak. Good night.

Creedence Clearwater Revival - The Midnight Special (Willy And The Poor Boys, 1969)


Gram Parons - Sleepless Nights (Sleepless Nights, 1976)


Scott Miller - Good Morning Midnight (Are You With Me? 2000)


Kris Kristofferson - Help Me Make It Through The Night (Kristofferson, 1970)


Whiskeytown - Excuse Me While I Break My Own Heart Tonight (Stranger's Almanac, 1997)


Lucinda Williams - The Night's Too Long (Lucinda Williams, 1992)

R.E.M. - Gardening At Night (Dead Letter Office, 1987)


The Kinks - All Day And All Of The Night (Kinks-Size, 1965)


Bruce Springsteen - Prove It All Night (Darkness On The Edge of Town, 1978)


Neil Young - Tonight's The Night (Part II) (Tonight's The Night, 1975)