Desert Island Discs

You really called your eldest daughter Lynard Skynard?  Respect! 

Music is such a subjective thing though isn't it? I mean, I'm such a music geek that I'm able to argue with myselfas to the merits of one tune over another......but, there's always a number 1 and 2 for me, though others can vary and new ones appear.

1) Diamond Sea (Album version) - Sonic Youth. My favourite band of all-time and they also produced what has become my favourite song of all-time. 20 minutes of utter utter genius.....(yes,even the squally bits).
2) Fairytale of New York - The Pogues & Kirsty MacColl. I don't care if it's a Christmas song, I could listen to it any day, any time. Just beautiful.(And I won a $50 bar tab in a pub in Auckland when I won a Karaoke competition singing that with an old girlfriend)
3) Hyacinth House - The Doors. Shamefully, I've only just discovered this song. I love The Doors, but my catalogue ran as far as an extended 'Best of..'. This track shows Morrisons grasp on poetry and applying that to a rock environment. But then, most of the 'LA Woman' album is like that.
4) Close your eyes - Big Deal. An outfit that I first saw at the Jericho, Oxford. Supporting Cloud Control a couple of years back. They were a two-piece that produced amazingly sensitive, almost Lolita-esque paens to growing up. (Go get their first album, 'Lights out') Then they expanded to a full-band and produced the album of the year for me last year in 'June Gloom'. 'Close your eyes' can, in the right circumstances, absolutely break your heart.
5)Long live the Queen - Frank Turner. If there's a better song been written in tribute to a dead friend then I'm yet to hear it.
6) Pixies - Monkey gone to heaven. Visionary, meaningful. Pixies.
7) Magical Mystery Tour - The Beatles. When I arrived in Australia as a kid, my dad unpacked a record player. I saw this gloriously technicolour cover so put the record on. It was the beat and the harmonies that dragged me in. It was that record that got me hooked on music.
.....how many am I allowed?
8) Death Disco - Public Image Limited. If there's a better song been written about sitting at your dying mothers hospital bedside then I'm yet to hear it. John Lydon proving that he's no mug.
9) 24Hr party people - Happy Mondays. Just because. :-D
10) Octopussy - The Wedding Present. The whole 'Seamonsters' album has a real resonance with me. 'Octopussy' is a track that can just make me stop. Stop rushing around and just listen.

See, 'music' ....always sets me off ....All of these can be applied to life/memory for various reasons, though I'm sure that list will change over time, but the top 2 have remained the same for many years whenever I'm asked.

Edited by fleaberto - 31 Jan 14 at 4:47pm

Originally posted by JimC Dead Skunk is Loudon Wainwright III

thanks Jim

Fleaberto- nothing by the chillies with a moniker like that?

Originally posted by transient Originally posted by rogerd All chosen because they remind me of someone or something Best thing that ever happened. Style council. (Wife) Sweet home Alabama.  Lynard Skynard (Eldest Daughter) London calling. Clash  (second daughter) Slim Shady Eminem  (Son) Dead skunk in the middle of the road. Dont know who its by but it made us laugh late one night driving home. (Youngest daughter) Will you . Hazel O Connor. Baba O Reilly  The Who. And some very rude Rap that my youngest intrduced me to which made son in law blush   Oh and so many more.   Book/ Luxury Ashley book of Knots and enough string to try to tie every knot in the book. That will keep me occupied for a year or two.   Some nice ones there. Will You by Hazel O'Connor featured 3 lads from my Home Town. Wesley who played the Sax was a keen DIY woodworker / Hobbyist, he unfortunately fell onto a circular saw and chopped off some of his fingers......end of sax playing

That is such a sad story. That must be the best sax solo ever.