“If you haven't any charity in your heart, you have the worst kind of heart trouble” - Bob Hope

Seems like bands are being an extra generous bunch these days. First, Arctic Monkeys announce they're releasing the physical formats of Crying Lightning through Oxfam and then, not ones to be outdone, Radiohead release the completely new Harry Patch (In Memory Of) as a charity download.

From the Arctic's point of few, it's a nice gesture although not one likely to bring in the mega bucks for Oxfam. In a recent analysis of the midweek charts, even indie pin-up Florence + The Machine's Rabbit Heart (Raise It Up) made no. 16 on only 64 physical sales. Still, the Monkeys hold a loyal enough fanbase for the release to make a decent contribution to Oxfam's coffers.

Meanwhile, 'Harry Patch' goes beyond a fitting tribute for the World War I veteran and straight into the Radiohead A list. The sole use of a string section is such a perfect accompaniment for Thom Yorke's typically mournful voice that its almost a wonder that they haven't spun this trick before. Meanwhile the lyrics provide a rare glimpse of Yorke acting outside abstracts and in the character of someone else "i am the only one that got through / the others died where ever they fell". Truly touching stuff...

Proceeds from the £1 track go straight to the British Legion, make sure you select gift aid if you can afford to make the purchase, so here's the link again.