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What a stinker! Some VERY odd words, far too many deletions, and a couple of pretty dubious definitions.

Can anyone help with 42a?

Originally, song entitled "Kiss From A Rose" was by him (4)

I have S?A?

According to Google, "Kiss From A Rose" is a song by Seal. This would indeed fit with the letters, but what in the clue means SEAL?

I can only think it's..

S(oNg) E(ntitled) then A(x)L - Axl rose (Guns'N'Roses) minus the "kiss"

Wow, I explained that so poorly!

Thanks Brendan. That does make some kind of sense, but it's very convoluted. And another bloody deletion!

I am extremely 17a...

Thanks and, again, sorry for any confusion I caused.

I don't know why I made such a pig's ear of just saying that the last 2 letters are "kiss" as in X from "A Rose" as in Axl Rose from Guns N' Roses.

I was asked recently why I don't like deletion-type clues. This one is a fine example of why I don't!

Some dreadful clues. I can only assume a Dean Mayer offering. I only complete his in the hope of winning a prize and allaying part of my subscription!!

bobbycollins, I read once (unfortunately I can’t remember when or where) that The Times was asked why it doesn’t identify its crossword compilers like The Guardian does. The answer, if I remember rightly, was that readers won’t attempt a crossword if they see that it has been set by someone they dislike.

Sorry, still don’t understand 42a (among a great many others).

Hi SB,

42a - 'Kiss From A Rose' was an international hit for the singer Seal.

To get to that answer you take the beginning letter/'originally' of S(ong) and E(ntitled), then, for the last A and L, you take 'A Rose' as being Axl Rose (the lead singer of Guns N' Roses) and take the Kiss from' with 'kiss' being X from his first name, giving you A(x)L.

In short, the whole clue definis the answer, but the wordplay to get to that is very clever because it utilises the name of a completely different pop/rock superstar.