10 Seconds: Olivia Cuttill
1. Joni Mitchell - The Dry Cleaner from Des Moines (0'49" - 0'59")
from Joni Mitchell - Live at the Santa Barbara County Bowl (1979)
“Whenever I need a surge of writing inspiration, I play this track. Joni’s lyricism is untouched. The way she sets the scene is both poetic and conversational. Literally every line is masterful, including the 10 seconds I’ve chosen: “He’s got three oranges, three lemons, three cherries, three plums. I’m losing my taste for fruit. Watching the dry cleaner do it, like Midas in a polyester suit” - telling the story of a dry cleaner she met in a casino, who just couldn’t lose. These words paired with the melodic lines of Charles Mingus… absolutely monster! I vividly remember a phone call I had with my dad years ago, where he sung the song to me and expressed his love for it. From then on, I thought it was the coolest tune. That kind of admiration is contagious."
2. Aretha Franklin - Why I Sing the Blues (1’51” - 2’01”)
from Aretha Franklin - Spirit in the Dark (1970)
"The Queen of Soul. Aretha is a powerhouse! There are no words to describe her sound. This version of B.B King's ‘Why I Sing the Blues’ is huge. The lyrics are so significant, but there could be no words at all and you’d know exactly what Aretha was saying. I absolutely love this arrangement. The 10 seconds I’ve chosen are just perfection! The horn lines, that phat snare on beat 2 before the stops, Aretha! Just perfect."
3. John Coltrane - I'm Old Fashioned (1'04" - 1'14")
from John Coltrane - Blue Train (1958)
“Lee Morgan’s solo on this iconic tune has to be my favourite jazz solo of all time, especially his opening line! His phrasing is simultaneously so fluid and so rhythmic. I’ve played this solo a hundred times and every time I’m just as hooked as the last. I could learn a transcription inside out, upside down, back to front, but unless I keep on it, I’ll lose it, and in a few months, it’s gone from my fingers. This solo however, has never left me. It's an absolute masterclass in speaking through your horn, ‘speaking’ being the key word. Of-course Lee Morgan makes the horn sing, but what’s so special is that it sounds as though it’s talking to us too."
4. Stevie Wonder - Love's in Need of Love Today (4'56" - 5'06")
from Stevie Wonder - Songs in the Key of Life (1976)
“Stevie Wonder is my favourite artist of all time. He is brilliant in every way; as a musician, as a vocalist, as a composer, as an activist. This is the first track on ‘Songs in The Key Life’, my favourite album. The album talks about so many important subjects, starting strong with ‘Loves in Need of Love Today.’ My favourite part of this 7-minute track is the 4 minutes of Stevie ad-libbing. 4 straight minutes of improvising and baby Olivia could sing along with every lick, Stevie is the greatest. I love the 10 second segment I’ve chosen, where you can hear the emotion so strongly in what he’s saying."
5. Stevie Wonder - It's Easier (0’07” - 0’17”)
from Stevie Wonder - The EP (recorded 1975/76, released 2026)
“Speaking of ‘Songs in the Key of Life’, ‘It’s Easier’ was released by Stevie Wonder on September 28th 2026 on an EP celebrating 50 years of SITKOL. These four tracks were originally recorded to be part of the album but were not included. I had seen somewhere that Stevie was releasing new music… when suddenly one evening I saw that the EP had been released that day. As soon as I could, I hooked up speaker and listened…on the edge of my seat. When the first track started to play, a massive wave of emotion came over me. I just couldn’t believe what was happening. It felt like a dream-come true. Never in my lifetime did I think I’d experience my idol releasing music from my favourite period. It would be one thing if Stevie had released brand new music, but being able to transport us back in time
was something else! At 00:07, when I first heard Stevie’s voice, I just burst into tears! I’d never felt like that listening to music, I was a wreck for the whole EP. I played those 4 tunes on loop for days.
My dad has told countless stories from his youth, waiting for an album to come out, getting it on vinyl and rushing home to listen to it on his record player. I felt like I was transported there. It’s a moment I’ll treasure forever."
6. George Bruns - Overture from 101 Dalmatians (0’00” - 0’10”)
from George Bruns - 101 Dalmatians OST (1961)
“I watched a lot of old Disney growing up, and still do today. My sister and I absolutely love old animation, with that scratchy/sketchy illustration style (xenography). Films like 101 Dalmatians, Jungle Book, Aristocats and Oliver and Company where practically on a loop on the TV. I frequently watch these cartoons today. Their warmth and nostalgia make me giddy every time. I also love listening to the soundtracks. The music in these films is incredible, not only the beautifully written songs but the scores too. Often while tubing around London, I listen to the soundtracks, I know the films so well that I can picture it in my head as I listen. It's a great way to feel calm and cosy in crazy London. The first 10 seconds of this Overture fill me with so much nostalgia. The feeling of watching an old cartoon at home with my sister under a warm blanket with a cup of tea nothing else to do. Bliss."
7. James Taylor - Line Em Up (3'25" - 3'35")
from James Taylor - Hourglass (1997)
"I’ve recently been falling in love with the music of James Taylor. It’s still early days and I can’t claim to know loads of his work, but what I do know I love. Something about his voice is so comforting, it’s like I’ve heard all these songs before. I love story telling and he does this so well in his writing. This particular tune, ‘Line Em Up’, had me hooked. The 10 second segment I’ve chosen is just pure groove, so laid back but still so perfectly in the pocket. Those rolling congas into the groove get me every time! The bass, the snare, the tempo alone, beautiful and cool! It’s simple and genius."
8. Donny Hathaway - For All We Know (2’35” – 2’45”)
from Roberta Flack & Donny Hathaway (1972)
“This tune is so beautiful. The words (written by Sam M.Lewis) are gorgeous. So simple and striking. The song, much like Loves in Need of Love Today, puts things into perspective. Donny Hathaway is another voice I’ve listened to for all my life, one of the greatest voices I’ve ever heard! This particular moment of the song, with its brilliant orchestration and Donny’s soulful voice leaving us with one last woeful “For all We Know”, feel likes a release… a sad release so be it. But it’s a great reminder to love now."
Comments