Desert Island Discs
Back in 2003, David chose eight songs. Songs that, should he ever be so unfortunate as to find himself stranded on a desert island with only a music-playing contraption of some sort, two books and one luxury item, he’d be glad to have with him.
- ‘Waterloo Sunset’ by the Kinks
- ‘Ballad in Plain D’ by Bob Dylan
- ‘I’m Still Here’ by Tom Waits
- ‘Dancing in the Street’ by Martha and the Vandellas
- ‘Anthem’ by Leonard Cohen
- ‘A Man Needs a Maid’ by Neil Young
- ‘For Free’ by Joni Mitchell
- ‘Rudi with a Flashlight’ by the Lemonheads
His chosen book, by the way, was the Q’oran. His luxury item, not surprisingly, an acoustic Martin D35.
Do list yours, if you wish.
No more than eight, though, no matter how hard it is to choose. And remember: that’s eight songs, not eight albums or, knowing you lot, the complete works of eight musicians, including every person they’ve ever shared a stage, tour bus, dinner table or birthday with. (I know.)
Of greater interest, I’d like to know your thoughts on the eight songs – and artists – shown here.
Continuing with the previous post’s theme, can you imagine David covering any of these?
If not David, who could?
For me, 10 songs to spend some time with on a deserted island.
– Then I Close My Eyes (TAH – I have started my guitar learning from here) this is perhaps one the most sophisticated piece of harmony that I have ever heard
– Man In Long Black Coat by bob dylan
– 117 Specials by Ron Carter
– Hurdy Gurdy Man (re-recorded Donovan)
- Zolf by Mohsen Namjoo (he is this Iranian guy who has become a musical phenomenon, he seems to be inspired by David)
- Shine On You Crazy Diamond (studio version/RAH)
- Spirit On Water by Bob Dylan
- Theme from the movie Manhole (don’t know the name) by Grace Slick
- ATOM HEART MOTHER – ive version (was it in Japan? The master piece, I mean)
- Smile by David (and Polly, perhaps?)
- Wearing The Inside Out (RIP Rick, I love you)
- Every Strangers Eyes – Roger Waters
Luxury item: Black strat + related stuff and some J.
Book: I’ll write my own.
Kasra :-)
Cheating a bit with a couple of these, but…
One – U2
America – Simon & Garfunkel
WYWH – Pink Floyd
SOYCD – Pink Floyd
Jesus of Suburbia – Green Day
On an Island – Our man Mr G.
Snow (Hey Oh) – Red Hot Chili Peppers
Little Wing / Third Stone from the Sun – SRV (From the Soul to Soul CD)
Book- has to be Lord of the Rings.
Luxury Item – an endless supply of either Gwynt-y-Ddraig or Weston’s cider. :-)
Kev
AAAAArrrrrrghhhh!!!!
I keep thinking of more songs I’d have to have in my top 8!!!! Like Jeff Buckley’s version of “Hallelujah”, Aqualung’s “Everything Changed”, Blind Melon’s “Change”, Damien Rice’s “Older Chests” to name a few.
Not a fair question!!!! :-P
Kev
[How about Blind Melon's 'Deserted'? Seems to fit. - FEd]
You are asking a lot of us this time FEd. Ten billion songs out there and only eight allowed…
Surely not my favourite 8, but might help get me through until rescue.
Layla-Derek And The Dominos
Wild Thing-The Troggs
Maybe I’m Amazed-Paul McCartney
The End Of The Innocence-Don Henley
Moonshadow-Cat Stevens
Every Breath You Take-The Police
Sonnet 18-David Gilmour version
It’s A Beautiful Day-U2
2 books: 1. A guide to observing the night sky. 2. A Superman comic book.
Luxury item: Dartboard (with darts).
[Imagine having a dartboard and no darts. That would be torture. Love 'Maybe I'm Amazed'. - FEd]
-Echoes, RTN Version
-Dogs, Pink Floyd
-Since I’ve Been Loving You, Led Zeppelin
-Epitaph, King Crimson
-Famous Blue Raincoat, Leonard Cohen
-Paranoid Android or Pyramid Song, Radiohead
-April, Deep Purple
-Fruit Tree, Nick Drake
I’ve finally decided on 4 Gilmour songs:
1. Wot’s… Uh The Deal
2. High Hopes
3. Comfortably Numb
4. Wish You Were Here
Then:
5. In My Life (Johnny Cash version)
6. Mediterannean Sundance (Paco de Lucia, Al de Meola etc.)
7. Layla – Clapton
8. Don’t Know Why – Norah Jones
For luxury item I might choose a toothbrush.
Book: Hmmm…maybe an exciting criminal novel by one of the great Swedish writers to take my mind of the trouble I’m in on the island?
Enjoy the rest of the weekend. :-)
I agree with Alessandra — a telescope would be the perfect luxury item.
I’m imagining myself lying on warm sand while exploring the expansive night sky, looking out over the blue waters of the ocean scanning for whales breaching the water’s surface (humpbacks would be in the ocean around my island), the smell of salt air mixed with the scent of myriad tropical flowers, and the hypnotic rhythm of waves lapping the shore would be my lullaby. An experience capable of putting things into perspective, I think.
The Blue, Fat Old Sun, Then I Close My Eyes, Echoes, A Great Day For Freedom, Comfortably Numb (all from LiG), Marooned, and Hallelujah (Jeff Buckley) would fit perfectly into my island fantasy.
My book would be The Complete Works of Maya Angelou. I’ve taken some liberty there as it doesn’t exist, but it works for my fantasy island!
Peace ‘n’ love to you!
Gabrielle
1. Sultans Of Swing – Dire Straits
2. SOYCD – Pink Floyd
3. Layla – Derek & The Dominos
4. Stairway To Heaven – Led Zeppelin
5. Hallelujah – Jeff Buckley
6. La Grange – ZZ Top
7. Little Wing – SRV
8. Gimme Shelter – Rolling Stones
Live in Gdansk is all I need.
My books would would probably be the Bible and the Complete set of Narnia.
I would like to have a piano on the island.
Why would Dave take a Qur’ān as his book of choice?
[Why not? - FEd]
Okay, I’m a bit late on this and even a bit off topic, but because this song just popped up on my MP3 player, I decided I think David could do a fine rendition of ‘I’d Love to Change the World’ by Ten Years After.
Just a thought that I had to toss in here. =)
We just need to be slightly more positive, at least we are on desert island, my list is as follows:
Coast to Coast – Scorpions
Surfing the USA – Beach Boys
Boys Of Summer – Don Henley
Sunshine Reggae – Laid Back
On The Beach – Chris Rea
Summer In The City – Joe Cocker
Sunshine Of Your Love – Cream
And we need some hope so:
Learning To Fly – Pink Floyd
[How about a little 'Summer Wind' by Frank Sinatra? Or Stereophonics' 'Lying in the Sun'? - FEd]
Pink Floyd – Wish You Were Here
The Beatles – Something
Derek and the Dominoes – Layla
Eric Clapton – Let It Grow
Cream – Badge
Dad’s Army Theme Tune
George Harrison – Her Comes The Sun
Oasis – The Importance of Being Idle
Book: Brideshead Revisited
Luxury: Martin 000-28MEC guitar
Ruan x
If you hear a knock on that barn door of ours Fed, be sure to know in all confidence that it ain’t Robbie Keane with a shovel.
Rgds Geoff Duffy ( Dublin )
[Missed another sitter on Saturday, didn't he? Shame. - FEd]
I forgot a wonderful one:
‘Je crois entendre encore’ – Bizet, but sung by David of course. (‘David Gilmour In Concert’)
“Je crois entendre encore,
Caché sous les palmiers…
Ô nuit enchanteresse,
Divin ravissement…”
Perfect!
Une perle, cette version de David… (no pun intended, eh,eh…)
Michèle
[Why would Dave take a Qur’ān as his book of choice? - Jon Parsons]
In his own words:
“I think I’ll take a translation of the Qur’ān with me, try to better my mind, understand other peoples of the world better.”
Just a note on my luxury items…
Not that I have any talent, but, with all the time in the world and no distractions, it would be nice to practice a little…or a lot.
This is truly difficult…
EIGHT SONGS:
1. WYWH-ANY VERSION
2. SOYCD-ACOUSTIC W/ DAVID CROSBY & GRAHAM NASH
3. HIGH HOPES
4. A SONG FOR YOU-LEON RUSSELL
5. INTO THE MYSTIC-VAN MORRISON
6. IMAGINE-JOHN LENNON
7. ACROSS THE UNIVERSE-THE BEATLES
8. FLOWERS DUET-DELIBES
TWO BOOKS:
1. BEING AND NOTHINGNESS-JEAN PAUL SARTE
2. DRAWING DOWN THE MOON-MARGOT ADLER
LUXURY ITEM: PHOTOGRAPH OF MY DAUGHTERS
Well, I’m sorry I missed the chatroom today. Long time, no chat…I hope you’re doing well FEd.
Penny
[Very well, thank you. Yourself? - FEd]
[Actually...if FEd will indulge me...Procol Harem did sing the original, but Justin Hayward of The Moody Blues also did a cover of this song on his album "Classic Blue." I wanted to somehow work in a joke about Radiohead here, but it's too late and I'm short on caffeine.... - Lynn]
Hmmmm, yes I checked Justin’s discography on wikipedia and OK COMPUTER was right.
Rgds Geoff Duffy ( Dubliner who likes the Bends album but that’s it regarding Radiohead)
[I like the fact that even thought the rules state that you are alone on the island plenty of guys are bending that with the luxury item being a female companion/s. At least I stuck to the rules - Howard]
I assumed we were all off to the Seychelles and could share our goodies. Nice of David’s people to want to send us all to a desert island.
ash X
Hey FEd,
This is off topic and someone else may have said something already (maybe you) but VH1 is showing a Pink Floyd day on Nov. 27. It’s “VH1 Gives Thanks for Pink Floyd”. It is supposed to start in the morning and run documentaries and music all day ending with “Live in Gdansk” that night.
I’ll be watching that instead of the usual Thanksgiving line-up.
Hope it’s a good week for you.
Meg
[Thanks, Meg. Enjoy. - FEd]
1. Pink Floyd; Echoes
2. Leonard Cohen; So Long, Marianne
3. Madonna; La Isla Bonita
4. David Gilmour; On an island
5. Paul Mc Cartney; Hey Jude
6. Zucchero; Baila Morena
7. Dire Straits; Brothers in Arms
8. Pink Floyd; Marooned
Luxury items; water….
My Diary
Pink Floyd – Dogs
Pink Floyd – Echoes
Pink Floyd – Marooned
Bob Dylan – Shelter From The Storm (A Hard Rain, version)
Creedence Clearwater Revival – Born On The Bayou (reminds me of my dad)
Merle Haggard – Rainbow Stew
Waylon Jennings – I’ve Always Been Crazy
Creed – What’s This Life For
For my book choice, I would like to have whichever one contains all of the answers.
For my luxury item, I’d like to have a dog.
My list:
Castellorizon (I love it)
On an Island (of course)
High Hopes (I love it very much indeed)
Echoes (it ‘s a masterpiece)
Message in a Bottle – The Police (Help me!!)
Every Breath You Take – The Police (simply I like it)
Billie Jean -Michael Jackson (perfect to dance!)
Take the Long Way Home – Supertramp (dreaming of home)
Books:
“The Divine Comedy” written by Dante Alighieri , because it is widely considered the central epic poem of Italian literature, and is seen as one of the greatest works of world literature.
The Odyssey of Homer – the perfect poem to be read on a desert island.
Luxury item: sunscreen lotions set (there it’s always summer).
I’ve joked.
Very nice question.
Have a good evening
Bye/ciao
My first post…
1. Dogs – PF
2. Hey Jupiter – Tori Amos
3. Paranoid Android – Radiohead
4. Knights of Cydonia – Muse
5. Marillion – The Invisible Man
6. Genesis – Supper’s Ready
7. Jethro Tull – Thick As A Brick
8. Mark Spiro – Drop In The Ocean
Book: The Ingmar Bergman Archives
Luxury Item: My Mah-Jong cabinet
[Thanks for giving it a go, Nithrin. Welcome. - FEd]