Top 5 songs to listen to in the Desert

Put these on your iPod, turn the volume up to 11, get on your camel and ride…

I wanted Fools Gold, but "Sony Music has blocked this in your area". Racists. Never mind, they're both class tracks that'll keep you going in your search for cactus juice.

One of my favourite songs regardless of what terrain I'm traversing. The solo that starts at 1:19 is particularly good. It's pretty windy in Saudi, but I'm pretty sure the wind cries Allah here. If it cried Mary it would probably be in big trouble with the Mutawwa'în.

I love the video for this song - robbing a bank with guitars, stealing music instead of money. I had to have one song on this list that mentioned fire, it was either this or Johnny Cash. Apparently it can hit 50 degrees here in the summer, can't wait for that..

A relatively unknown classic from Sam Cooke. This tune doesn't appear on many of his popular compilation albums, but it's probably my favourite. "I might as well be ship wrecked in the middle of the sea", life isn't that bad in the compound, but it is remote.

An obvious choice. "I've been to the desert on a horse with no name, it felt good to get out of the rain". It sure as hell does! I despise the English winter. Although I'm sure by the height of summer here I'll be singing a different tune, gagging for rain and living in the swimming pool. 10 points for anyone who can guess where I first heard this.