Click onto the picture to the left to launch the compilation. 

Thousands Are Sailing - The Pogues.

It seems a bit counter-intutive to start an American compilation with a song from an Anglo-Irish band.

There is a method in my madness though. This song is about emigrating to America. Rarely for a classic Pogues song its written by Phil Chevron rather than Shane Macgowan.

A slightly more obvious choice for an American themed compilation. I'm not a huge Beastie Boys fan but this is a great tribute to their native city.

Fogtown - Michelle Shocked 

I was keen to include songs related to the places that I visited on my trip to the States. Songs about New York are easy to find. However San Francisco is slightly trickier.

Then I remembered this song by Michelle Shocked. Fogtown is one of the nicknames given to San Francisco.

Whilst in New York we took the opportunity to go and see some live music. The venue was Bowery Electric which is a little cellar on the Bowery and the artist was Jesse Malin.

Malin plays traditional rock n roll but does it with aplomb and plenty of stage presence.

53rd & 3rd - The Ramones

Time for a classic New York song from a classic New York band. The Ramones created the template for the entire UK punk scene with their 3 chord 3 minute anthems.

This one is written by Dee Dee Ramone. The location in the title was an infamous place for picking up male prostitues in the seventies.

Oh Mary - Ty Segall

Ty Segall is a San Francisco based artist. I first came across him whilst reviewing myspace bands (see here for more information).

Shine On You - The Duke and The King

The Duke and the King get on this compilation by virtue of the fact that they are talented, American and we spotted them in the check-in queue ahead of us

I used to wonder where Marin was when I listened to this great tune by the Dead Kennedys. Thanks to my trip over the Golden Gate Bridge I've now actually been to Marin. Turns out its a county in California which borders San Francisco.