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I've ground to a halt in the NW. Can't think what the first word in 5d might be. 4d and 8a also not done.

A couple unparsed. How does 20a work> Where is the Canadian singer in 15d?

Hi Chris,
20a is a reverse clue for “notes” expressed cryptically.
The Canadian singer (I only know two and it’s the female one) is on the outside.

Thanks jono. Didn't know he was Canadian, so that didn't help - "singer" would have been just as good.

OK, done now. I was thinking of the wrong sort of analysis for 5d

I think the singer is a she ChrisE but I daresay you have the right answer.

All good from Brummie. Hard to pick a COD as there is so much good clueing and misdirection here. I didn't really get 20a either so thanks Chris and Jono. Had also never heard of 26a but was annoyed with myself for not 'weeding' it out sooner! Oh dear I've turned into Brendan.

ChrisE for the first word in 5d focus on the last word of the clue.

You'd already got there! My post was redundant - sorry ChrisE.

rocky @25
I was thinking of a much older singer - who turns out not to be Canadian! I hadn't heard of this one.

Agh, stuck on the very last clue - 26a (and therefore 22d ... ) Can anybody help please?

thanks, jono, for the heads-up on 24 - not that I ever submit Guardian Prizes. (I had already puzzled over the "way" bit ...) I took prom to be the American high-school graduation kind - where that form of dress is de rigueur ...