We all know the format, so let’s share the 8 tracks, a book & a luxury item to keep us busy whilst marooned on a desert island. Also mark which track is the one you would save from the waves..
As a bonus, if you are a fan of the radio show then please share your favourite episode
1 – Tonight We Fly by The Divine Comedy
2 – Atmosphere by Joy Division
3 – Toluca Stars by Underworld
4 – Topaz by The B52’s
5 – Wandering Star by Portishead
6 – Just A Girl She Said by Dubstar
7 – Virile by The Blaze*
8 – On Melancholy Hill by Gorillaz
Book – Vernon God Little by DBC Pierre
Luxury – A 1973 Fender Telecaster Deluxe & amp
Favourite Episode – Nick Park. He introduced me to Fleece The World by John Shuttleworth & if I remember this correctly, I felt that Kirsty Young seemed a little bit smitten with him
My favourite episode is of course Elizabeth Schwarzkopf the hairspray heiress and soprano, who chose 7 of her own recordings. Googling has also revealed the Humperdinck chose his own autobiography as his book.
This has been somewhat distorted so that it appears the ultimate ego-trip.
Schwarzkopf’s picks were not so that she could listen to herself, but to remember specific musicians who had accompanied her.
However to outdo Elizabeth Schwarzkopf pianist Moura Lympany chose eight of her own pieces when she was cast away for the second time in July 1979.
Off the top of my head…
1 Hit the Road Jack – Ray Charles
2 Willin’ – Little Feat
3 A Day in the Life – Beatles
4 Such Life – John Coltrane (save from the waves)
5 Four Last Songs – Richard Strauss
6 Clarinet Quintet – Brahms
7 Art of Fugue – Bach (piano, not harpsichord).
8 String Quartet no. 8 – Shostakovich
Book: Stories and Early Novels (Raymond Chandler)
Luxury: A Kindle with a couple of thousand of books on it, plus solar charger, obvs.
I suspect Roy Plomley might have a word or two about your luxury item, @mikethep – not quite within the spirit of the rules? Or am I wrong?
Roy would refuse to acknowledge that such things as Kindles existed, so what does he know? If not allowed, then Yamaha electric piano, also with some sort of solar gizmo.
In 2003 Nick Hornby chose an iPod, dazzling Sue Lawley with his bleeding edge tech knowledge (“a what?”), him saying it blew the whole DID concept out of the water with its 4000 songs (!), and that she would have to ban it for everyone after him.
That was supposed to be Lush Life 🙄
A Day in the Lush Life?
1 – Into The Mystic by Van Morrison
2 – It’s Only Mystery by Eric Serra
3 – Rock On by David Essex
4 – Geneva by John Otway
5 – Street 66 by Linton Kwesi Johnson
6 – Wondrous Place by Billy Fury
7 – Even After All by Finley Quaye
8 – The Earth Dies Screaming by UB40 (12″ version)
Book – Absolute Beginners by Colin McInnes
Luxury – Acoustic guitar (or macbook if there’s wifi)
no Macbook – it could be used to help you escape.
Then I hope the island’s natural flora includes marijuana.
From the soundtrack, I always assume it’s meant to be somewhere in the south Pacific. What if it is Canvey Island (evacuated after nuclear fallout) or one of the Faroes?
If the former, then you just need some seeds. If the latter, you’d have ask Roy/ Michael/ Sue/ Kirsty/Lauren for some hydroponics and a heat lamp or two *with a generator)
If it’s Canvey, should it be called Deserted Island Discs
And what if it was called Dessert Island Discs?
Then my luxury would be a Knickerbocker Glory (with Belgian Waffles on the side)
Silly me, I absolutely should have included The Köln Concert Part 1 somewhere. At number one in fact, the one I’d save from the waves.
Vernon God Little is an interesting choice of book.
I choose Absolute Beginners as my book choice, not because it’s the best book ever written. There are plenty of other books I’d recommend to anyone above that (Brideshead Revisited and Bury My Heart At Wounded Knee spring immediately to mind) but because it’s a novel I’ve found I can read again and again and again and still find it delightful every time..
Here’s one I did 10 years ago, don’t play squash anymore though
8 records that meant a lot to me at various stages of my life, not my favourite 8.
1. The Laughing Policeman – Charles Penrose
Favourite from my pre-teen years.
2. The Scottish Trip – Max Boyce
Comedy record, listened with my dad early 70s.
3. Calon Lan – Ebbw Vale Male Voice Choir
Beautiful Welsh song, best sung by 50,000 people at Cardiff Arms Park during one of the golden eras of Welsh rugby.
4. A Hard Day’s Night – The Beatles
Summer of 1976, saw the film on BBC1 probably on a Tues or Wed evening first song I heard.
5. With God on our Side – Bob Dylan
When I first heard the album (Times they are a changin’) it changed how I felt about music, so exciting
6. When I Dream – The Teardrop Explodes
Associate it with leaving home and going to university
7. The River – Bruce Springsteen
My friends liked him, I didn’t. I saw this on TV (No Nukes concert) and thought he was pretty good. Great song too.
8. A Design For Life – Manic St Preachers
Stirs something in me.
Book : Moby Dick (so I could finally finish it)
Luxury : Squash racquet and ball
With no thought … first reaction:
1. Faces- Stay With Me
2. Slade – How Does It Feel
3. Only Ones – Another Girl Another Planet
4. The The – This Is The Day
5. Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons – The Night
6. Johann Pachelbel – Canon In D
7. Stiff Little Fingers – My Dark Places (Acoustic Demo)
8. Chas & Dave – Scruffy Old Cow
Book: Iain Banks – Espedair Street
Luxury: Rickenbacker 330 and Vox AC30 amp (I might learn how to play properly!)
Espedair Street – thanks for reminding me RD. I must dig that out again. I remember being very impressed when I read it in the eighties…
Iain Banks was a great writer and I especially loved his books when he had an ‘M’ in his name.
Off the top of my head….
1. Shine On You Crazy Diamond (parts I-V) – Pink Floyd
2. Firth Of Fifth – Genesis
3. Ecstasy of Gold – Yo Yo Ma
4. Telegraph Road – Dire Straits
5. The Ninth Wave – Kate Bush (on some releases it’s one track – if that’s cheating then Hello Earth)
6. Routine – Steven Wilson
7. Born Under a Bad Sign – Albert King
8. Starless – King Crimson
Book: whilst there are many Iain Banks, Ian McEwan etc etc novels I could go for, I will probably go with Bill Bryson’s Short History of Nearly Everything – a book that continues to give on multiple readings
Luxury: I guess an electric guitar – I might get around to learning to play!
Shine On is a good choice I didn’t think of. I didn’t really play it for many years, but have recently gotten into listening to it again. Especially when on the beach on a hot summer’s day or evening and especially with a spliff, it sounds magnificent.
I think record 2 of Aerial is one track on some releases, is that really also the case for The Ninth Wave? May need to change my selection!
Short History of Nearly Everything would probably be my choice as well, if I get around to making a list…
I’ll spare you my justifications but my answers are the same today as they were 13 years ago when a bunch of mates did the same exercise (apart from choosing our favourite episode – in case any pedants spot that the one I’ve chosen is quite recent):
1. Lily, Rosemary and the Jack of Hearts: Bob Dylan
2*. Supper’s Ready: Genesis
3. 99 Red Balloons: Nena
4. Up The Junction: Squeeze
5. In My Life: The Beatles
6. God Only Knows: The Beach Boys
7. House Of The Rising Sun (Live At Abbey Road): John Otway (with me and 999 others on backing vocals)
8. Handle With Care: The Traveling Wilburys
Book: The Lord of the Rings: J.R.R. Tolkien
Luxury: an unlimited stock of booze
Favourite episode: Kevin Sinfield, former international rugby league player, current England rugby union defence coach, MND fundraiser and inspirational human being.
And after 8 contributions, we already have 2 people selecting John Otway. That’s a strong start from him.
You were on House Of The Rising Sun – respeck!
A work friend was too – he told me about after the recording. Shame the b*gger didn’t tell me about it before
“Can I tag along please …”
A little bit of everything – Dawes
I’ll wear it proudly – Elvis Costello
American Tune – Paul Simon
King of May – Natalie merchant
Beaumont – Hayes Carll
Sweet old World – Lucinda Williams
Miami – Baxter Dury
Famous Blue Raincoat – Leonard Cohen
Motel Life – Willy Vlautin
PG Tips
I was telling @smudger about this piece of popular culture in the pub on Thursday.
Respect indeed.
Now there’s a bit of Afterword controversy – some years back someone started a thread stating that every great album had to have a clunker.
The thread took as its paradigm Blood On The Tracks and the author suggested that LRATJOH was the clunker.
Polarised debate followed, with some agreeing with the author and, I’m sure, many more disagreeing.
I disagreed as it’s my favourite track on the album.
That person had a point, other examples:
Revolver – Yellow Submarine
Beggars Banquet – Dear Doctor
Pet Sounds – Sloop John B
VGPS – Last of the Steam Powered Trains
Automatic for the People -Ignoreland
However I struggle to find a clunker on Astral Weeks, Forever Changes or Odessey and Oracle
Astral Weeks has Like Young Lovers Do! That’s the clunker for me.
Doesn’t quite fit possibly, but I love it nevertheless
Nope!!
The Clunker on “Astral Weeks” is quite clearly “Ballerina”.
Hunky Dory has Song For Bob Dylan
And again nope!!
I *love* Sloop John B! And only quite like the rest of the album.
Not only the best track on BotT, but one of Bob’s best evers.
Better than Tangled up in Blue, Idiot Wind, You’re a Big Girl Now, If You See her, Say Hello etc? Noooooooo
Yeeeeeeeeeeees
@Dai
3. Calon Lan – Ebbw Vale Male Voice Choir
Beautiful Welsh song, best sung by 50,000 people at Cardiff Arms Park during one of the golden eras of Welsh rugby.
It’s called Desert Island Discs, not Desert Island Wax Cylinders
Well 4 Grand Slams this century, level with France in first place and 2 ahead of England ….
Nation Grand Slams Grand Slam winning seasons
England 13 1913, 1914, 1921, 1923, 1924, 1928, 1957, 1980, 1991, 1992, 1995, 2003, 2016
Wales 12 1908, 1909, 1911, 1950, 1952, 1971, 1976, 1978, 2005, 2008, 2012, 2019
France 10 1968, 1977, 1981, 1987, 1997, 1998, 2002, 2004, 2010, 2022
Ireland 4 1948, 2009, 2018, 2023
Scotland 3 1925, 1984, 1990
Italy 0
Enjoy the Silence – Depeche Mode
Tomorrow Never Knows – The Beatles
Isolation – Joy Division
My Name is Ruin – Gary Numan
The Romance of the Telescope – OMD
The Boy Who Came Back – Marc Almond
Europe Endless – Kraftwerk
Sunday – Bowie
Book – Roger’s Profanisaurus
Luxury item – fully plumbed and functional bathroom featuring large jacuzzi-type bath in it.
Arf. Roger’s Profanisaurus!
The latest version is enormous. I can barely read a page without having to put it down for a while – so on a desert island I think it would be a boon.
1. Easter Theatre – XTC *
2. Superstition – Stevie Wonder
3. Northern Sky – Nick Drake
4. America – Simon and Garfunkel
5. Dark was the night. Cold was the Ground – Blind Willie Johnson
6. Heebie Jeebies – Louis Armstrong and his Hot five.
7. Dirty Boy – Cardiacs
8. Sea Song – Robert Wyatt
Book – Revolution in the Head
Luxury Item – Soft Bed with Egyptian cotton sheets
America is a great choice. Fabulous song.
Records:
Sam The Sham & The Pharaohs – Wooly Bully
Chic – I Want Your Love
Oliver Nelson – Stolen Moments *
Charles Mingus – Boogie Stop Shuffle
Frank Zappa – Don’t Eat The Yellow Snow (live Hammersmith Odeon ’79)
King Crimson – Starless
Ella Fitzgerald – Someone To Watch Over Me
Sun Ra – Space Is The Place
Book:
Michael Chabon – The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay
Luxury Item:
Fully-plumbed chalet with shower and comfortable bed.
1. I Need My Girl – The National
2. Papa’s Got A Brand New Pigbag – Pigbag
3. Ara Batur – Sigur Ros
4. Good Vibrations – The Beach Boys
5. Fordlandia – Johann Johansson
6. Good Times – Chic
7. Kennedy – The Wedding Present
8. The Commander Thinks Aloud – The Long Winters
Book – Last Train To Memphis – Peter Guralnick
Luxury item – tea making facilities including decent tea, sugar and fresh milk. And a decent sized mug.
A good call on “Last Train to Memphis”. An absolutely incredible book.
Sweet Gene Vincent (always and forever, my Number 1)
With God On Our Side
Something In The Air
Miss Otis Regrets
In The Wee Small Hours
Michael D
Late For The Sky
Santa Fe/Beautiful Obsession
(If Roy P asks me again in five minutes, apart from my No 1, it will all have changed)
Book – Crow Road
Luxury item – a case of Penfolds Grange 82
If I promise not to complain about your music, can I come along and share your Penfolds ?
After the second bottle you’ll be saying “Know what, Lodes – your taste in music is impeccable”
Alfred Wainwright on DID.
I recall he didn’t like god or music.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p009mfrs
Here’s mine, even though I know that as soon as I post it, I’ll think of plenty of other songs that should be here:
1. Vienna – Ultravox* (greatest song of all time – any other suggestions are wrong, I’m afraid)
2. Arcana – We Rise Above
3. Kate Bush – The Ninth Wave (or Hello Earth if Plomley/Lawley/etc. is being pedantic)
4. Pink Floyd – Comfortably Numb (Delicate Sound of Thunder version)
5. Diary of Dreams – The Valley
6. Marillion – Incubus
7. Peter Gabriel – Humdrum (Plays Live version)
8. Blutengel – Reich Mir Die Hand
Book: The Lord of the Rings, of course.
Luxury: a top-of-the-line synth workstation and a solar power doodad so I can make music while waiting for my ship to come in
Top of my head, and possibly very different to the list that would result if I wrote down a few hundred and worked it down from there.
Motörhead by Motörhead
Wish You Were Here – Pink Floyd
Two Faced Love – Richard Thompson (Semi Detached Mock Tudor version)
Banks of the Nile – Fotheringay
December in New York – Thea Gilmore
Un Bel di Vedremo – Puccini
A Certain Girl – Ernie K Doe
Gimme Shelter – The Rolling Stones (Striped version)
Book – Ulysses
Luxury – A fully functioning bathroom with hot water, constantly fresh towels and so on
I had this conversation with Sharon when we courting, and I came to the conclusion I couldn’t find my 8 favourite, so I’d go with 8 that mark significant things in my life.
1. Big Country – In a Big Country. Dad got The Crossing when I were but a lad, and we must have worn the cassette out in the Renault 14 and then Mondeo. The band hailed from where he was born, so there was a hometown connection things going on.
2. We Were Promised Jetpacks – Quiet Little Voices. As my Dad did Big Country with me, so WWPJ with my son, who started singing this when he was 6 in the back of my car.
3. Dolly and Kenny – Islands in the stream. It’s the only song Sharon has allowed us “sing” together.
4. Afghan Whigs – Gentlemen. I was reading Brookmyre, and he cited ver Whigs, and then they got me through my separation/divorce.
5. Ride – Vapour Trail. As well as being a great track (it is so!), this reminds me so much of University.
6. Mark Knopfler/Emmy Lou – Roadrunning. A bit of a cheat, really. Dad got me Red Dirt Girl and Philadelphia for my birthday, and I have distinct memories of driving back home from Diss in dismal weather after being sent there on referee exchange. Sports Report had finished, and the music played, and I suddenly realized I was being An Adult.
7. Idlewild – Idea Track. I could have gone with almost anything, but chose this because it’s one of the very few tunes Sharon and I disagree about. There’s no specific reason for it, except I think they’re great and one of my go-tos.
8. The Stranglers – Heroes. Two for Dad, I suppose. JJ Burnel is an Old Boy of the same esteemed place of education, and we went to see them, more than once, at what used to be called Guildford Civic Hall.
Book: Eesh. Tough. Top of head, right now, The Wolf Hall compendium. I don’t care if it hasn’t been printed yet, that’s my choice. Remarkable books and so rewarding. I might actually force myself to read the last one, which I have been putting off.
Luxury: A gin still, with lots of available botanicals and gin necessaries, and and easy access of tonic.
Shit. I just described my retirement.
I did this a while ago and I now can’t find it. So let me try again, somewhat off the top of my head, and if I find my previous one again I can compare for differences.
There’s no way I could choose just 8 favourite songs based on merit, so will try and pair these up with significant moments in my life, musical or otherwise:
1. Tubular Bells (side one if I have to choose) by Mike Oldfield: childhood listening on my dad’s record player.
2. A Day In The Life by The Beatles: teenager, put of step with peer music trends, discovering my favourite band.
3. Echoes by Pink Floyd: more teen music, a record to lose myself in and Indulge my introversion.
4. In/Flux by DJ Shadow: early 20s, student days. A change in musical taste.
5. Job’s Years by The Incredible String Band: early 30s, working life, family, mortgage. Another change in musical taste.
6. Flos Campi by Vaughan Williams: Into my forties, discovering a rich seam of great 20th century classical music I had never appreciated before.
7. Supper’s Ready by Genesis: I always loved prog to an extent, but this particular tune was another later-in-life discovery.
8. Moonlight Mile by The Rolling Stones: A perennial favourite.
Save from the waves: Tubular Bells
Book: Lord of the Rings
Luxury: A piano (that magically stays in tune)
And, they always ask, how would you cope on your own with no human contact? Bliss. I’m a solitary soul at the best of times and I like my own company.
Todays 8:
Love – The Red Telephone
Waterboys – Fisherman’s Blues
Beach Boys – California Saga
Bob Dylan – Abandoned Love
Pearls Before Swine – City Of Gold
Bruce Springsteen – The Rising
Genesis – Entangled
Jimmy LaFave – Walk Away Renee
Book – Frank Herbert: Dune
Luxury – My wife
Go on then……..
Crazy Man Michael/Fairport Convention (Sandy version, obviously)
Single Father/Jackie Leven
Forever Young/Alphaville (9 minute dance version and, no, not the Dylan song.)
Holy Ground/Traffic
Touch of Grey/Grateful Dead
Country Feedback/REM (live version with BJ Cole)
As I Roved Out/Planxty (Andy Irvine and uillean pipes one)
A Ghrian/Niteworks
Perfume/Patrick Suskind
My old I-pod back in about 2010. Plus the means to play it.
I far preferred Jay-Z’s take on Forever Young to Alphaville’s original.
Theme from a Summers Place – Percy Faith
Til I Die – Beach Boys
I’ll Get You – The Beatles
Anarchy In The UK – Sex Pistols
Sea Breezes – Roxy Music
Stoned Soul Picnic – Laura Nyro
All The Young Dudes – Mott The Hoople
Young Hearts Run Free – Candi Staton
Book – I An Actor by Nicholas Craig
Luxury – Solar powered radio.
Favourite episode was a foreign gentleman whose name escapes me, who kept asking Roy Plomley to stop asking him daft questions.
Oh good thread idea.
Songs for today
Desolation Row -Dylan
A Rainy night in Soho- Pogues
Hawa Dolo – Ali Farka Toure, Toumani Diabate
I think its going to work out fine – Ry Cooder
An ending (Ascent) – Brian Eno
Woman in a bar -Lloyd Cole
Oboe concerto in D minor: Adagio – Tomaso Albinoni
Gene Clark – Teenage Fanclub
Book: The forging of a Rebel, Arturo Barea, the best book ever written about Spain.
Luxury: like others above I’ll cheat with a fully loaded Kindle.
»Way Out There« ||| The Sons Of The Pioneers
»Lake Marie« ||| John Prine
»I Dedicate My Soul To You« ||| Phillip Boa & The Voodooclub
»Considering A Move To Memphis« ||| The Colorblind James Experience
»Me Without You« ||| Webb Pierce
»The Divided Sky« ||| Phish
»Strawberry Girl« ||| Nits
»The History Of Rock’n’Roll« ||| XTC
Book: Selma Lagerlöf »The Wonderful Adventures Of Nils Holgersson« (Complete Edition)
Item: a bottle of »Agent Provocateur Pétale Noire« perfume
In the heat of the moment of posting I definitely forgot about Lake Marie. But what does it replace? Glad there’s no chance of me ever being invitied onto DID. Way too hard.
We should try this exercise with albums rather than tracks.
Air – La Femme D’Argent*
PFM – The Western
Madness – Leon
10cc – I’m Not In Love
Elbow – The Birds
Groove Armada – At The River
Veracocha – Carte Blanche
Elaine Paige – Memory
A Walk In The Woods – Bill Bryson
MPC Live with a microphone and headphones.
“Kerosene” – Big Black
“In Shreds” – The Chameleons
“Move On Up” – Curtis Mayfield
“Mexican Women” – Throwing Muses
“Fight The Power” – Public Enemy
“Sensitive” – The Field Mice
“Heavenly Pop Hit” – The Chills
“Blowin’ Up My Mind” – The Exciters
Book: This might be the opportunity I need to finally sit down and concentrate on Neal Stephenson’s “Crptonomicon”? But that’s a bit of a risk so I might just opt for “Watchmen” as that’s got proven re-readability!
Item: A football – I could amuse myself for hours with that.
‘ Cryptonomicon’ has to be one of my most enjoyable reads ever.
Beware however, because if you become enthralled by it, you may have to embrace Stephenson’s monstrously sized Baroque Trilogy!
I thought about doing this like Arthur and others, relating musical pieces to significant points in my life. Maybe next time – cos I ended up going with eight straight off the top:
VdGG – Pilgrims (saving this one from the waves)
Yes – Close to the Edge
King Crimson – Fracture
Jethro Tull – Life is a Long Song
Man – Spunk Rock (Greasy Truckers’ Party recording)
Sibelius – 4th symphony
John Coltrane Quartet – Say It (over and over again)
Ella Fitzgerald – But Not For Me
Book – Lord of the Rings
Luxury item – a Fender Rhodes and a solar power unit (I’ve never played keyboards before – but plenty of time to learn while marooned).
I’ve never listened to an episode of DID. Are you allowed a whole symphony?
Um…don’t know…
If I’m not allowed the symphony, I’ll swap for The Swan of Tuonela, also Sibelius.
No, no, no. It’s either the symphony by Sibelius or Damn by Kendrick Lamar. Symphony or Damn. That’s the choice.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/articles/26v4KfMLDfnJQ8n4mB2fWr0/facts-and-figures
You are indeed.
Thanks, Hubes – now I can spurn Gary’s Kendrick Lamar notions with a clean conscience…
Glad to be of service.
In that case, don’t the whole of the LPs Close To The Edge and In A Silent Way count as symphonies?
Having looked at them side 1 of each would probably count, but I don’t make the rules.
No wonder there are so many riots. So much bloodshed.
Never listened? Wow! Why?
Oh, I would say something like
Beatles – Twist and Shout
Creedence Clearwater Revival – Up Around the Bend
Rory Gallagher – Bullfrog Blues
Bob Dylan – Visions of Johanna
Van Morrison – St Dominic’s Preview
Emmylou Harris – Boulder to Birmingham
Lucinda Williams – Sweet Old World
Pato Banton – Groovin’
Book – Great Expectations
Luxury – a solar powered laptop I can write on (I’ll be screwed if its an island off Norway or somewhere)
Favourite episode – not favourite, exactly, but I remember the sheer chill of hearing Diana Mitford talking about what a charismatic man Adolf Hitler was, and how the numbers killed in the holocaust were exaggerated.
Here’s my current choices:
House of Love – Love in a Car
The Passions – I’m in Love with a German Film Star
Chris Sievey – Camouflage
The Church – Reptile
Nirvana – Ain’t it a Shame
Crown Heights Affair – You Gave Me Love
Elton John – Grey Seal (either version)
Moderate Rebels – Higher than the Hierarchy
Book: Faithfull – Marianne Faithfull
Luxury – my cat
Good call on “Grey Seal”.
I’d take the earlier b-side version that has the rocking coda at the end!
Camouflage, excellent choice, enjoyed a few evenings watching him, a bass and some backing tapes preforming it during his Denigration Now show.
And in the last couple of weeks I have been listening to to albums from 1986 for one of those Twitter thingy’s and Sievey’s Big Record from that year has got a fair of number of plays, I’d forgotten just what a great record it is.
Ooooh @sarah , you’re a Church fan!
Reptile was my introduction. I don’t have much of their stuff, but I like what I’ve found so far.
Ooooh, @sarah. Fantastic disco choice!
Cheers Tiggerlion.
A very good introduction from their most popular/well known album. The one with the “hit” on it. Pretty much where I came on board.though had just heard Seance i think.
What else have you discovered ?
Starfish, The Blurred Crusade and The Church at the moment. Always on the lookout for more.
First two you can’t go wrong with. The debut (Also known as Of Skins and Hearts has its moments I would say.
Would recommend Heydey and Priest = Aura myself. Seance is also good but had a fashionable drum sound.
Will seek them out – thanks Freddy Steady.
A please @sarah . I’ve tried to convert many people onto their mercurial brilliance over the years but it seems cloth ears prevail:l.
My answers are not the same as 13 years ago, with the same bunch of mates that Steve Walsh mentions above. I rather like that my eight would include music that is still relatively new to me, as would my ‘save from the waves’.
Debussy : Les Collines d’Anacapri – Three inventive minutes of utter joy.
Ravel : Le Tombeau de Couperin (piano version please)
Chris Wood : John Ball – A folk singaround staple rejuvenated with a tender, subtle, multi-layered fiddle and guitar arrangement, with Karine Polwart on BVs to boot
Joni Mitchell : Coyote – An instant reminder of the freedom of travel in the New World
Mike Oldfield : Hergest Ridge, the original recordings
Blowzabella : Black Lake and Duck – My favourite tune to dance to, by my favourite band to dance to. Written by Jon Swayne. I did once ask him why he didn’t just call this ‘The Dog’s Bollocks’ and be done with it.
Bill Caddick : Cloud Factory – My favourite song to sing. I don’t even have a recorded version of this on dry land, so who knows I will get one on a desert island. All I have is memory of hearing Bill perform it a couple of times.
Lau : Torsa * – This is the one
Book : Bradshaws 1923 Railway Guide
Luxury : my comprehensive collection of OS maps
Between the two of them, these would keep my mind fascinated and occupied.
You said ‘Hergest Ridge’, which is like rubbing a magic lamp to summon me. What do you mean ‘the original recording’? You mean the demo version (if so, then kudos to you, if a little strange) or do you mean the original 1974 mix (if so then you need to listen to the 1976 Boxed remix you poor, deluded fool… Don’t worry, it will be all right).
We can probably both agree the 2010 remix is a car crash (apart from the attraction of a 5.1 version)?
We’ve probably had this conversation before, but humour me. I don’t get a chance to rave about this album much to real people.
It’s been some years since I listened to the Boxed version – I must dig it out…significantly better, Arthur?
Deluxe issue has 2010, 1974 and 5.1 in a triple pack?
I cannot see or hear the words Hergest Ridge without thinking, “I aint got no time for intellectual music e.g. Hergest Ridge.” Which is a pity as I really have no objection to the album in itself – but I do hate the fact that my mind retains this nonsense.
On University Challenge this week, the answer to one of the questions was Henri Bergson. And so, for the rest of the episode, I had Monty Python’s Spot The Brain Cell rattling round and round my head.
Please ignore me. I’ll just sit here in the corner and mutter nonsense to myself.
I’m with you in that corner @steve-walsh
Heads down, no nonsense…
As Fitter says, it’s all about the Deluxe issue. I grew up with the Boxed version, which is lovely, of course, but the 1974 Original refreshed it all for me.
Oh, lovely hamper, by the way, that has washed up on the shore here. That’ll come in handy.
I actually quite like the Demo Recordings too.
Watch out!
He’ll be making a raft out of that hamper, once the contents are gone.
I just listened to the Richard E Grant one, that was excellent and quite moving
I’m always told I have to rush to be last, so late again and therefore will possibly not be read, but hey this is a fun thing to do….. so away we go
Schools Out – Alice Cooper
My Spanish Dad – Jackie Leven*
I Can’t Get Bouncing Babies by the Teardrop Explodes – The Freshies
Things The Grandchildren Should Know – Eels
American Patriots – The Smirks
Sally Maclennane – The Pouges
The Girl from Brownsville Texas – Jim White
Away From Home (from ‘The Adventures of Robinson Crusoe’) – Robert Mellin / Gian Piero Reverberi
Book – 500 Mile walkies – Mark Wallington
Luxury – A back scratcher
* or just about any Jackie track
I could also do a bonus 8 tracks which would be mined from tracks I have discovered from the show.
I only started listening over lockdown & have spent many a happy hour going through the archives with all Kirsty Young & Lauren Laverne ones listened to. I struggle with the Sue Lawler & Roy Plumley ones so just did a few for people i was interested in.
From a presenter point of view, i think that Kirsty Young is possibly one of our greatest interviewers, she gets a lot out of her guests & although it’s a tough one to follow, I think Lauren is a fantastic presenter & long may it continue.
1. Fred Fannakapan – Gracie Fields
2. Fleece The World – John Shuttleworth
3. Martha – Tom Waits
4. Why Don’t Women Like Me – George Formby
5. Song To The Siren – This Mortal Coil
6. No Ordinary Morning – Chicane
7. I Remember – Molly Drake
8. Along The Road To Gundagai – Slim Dusty
Link to my playlist of tracks discovered;