Desert Island Discs - AH Version

[oggbashan]

Desert Island Discs is a very long-running programme ob BBC Radio.

The premise is that a person is interviewed about their life and what they would take to a desert island. It is assumed they would have The Bible and the Complete Works of Shakespeare but they have to choose eight pieces of music and explain why. The final item they can choose is a single luxury item.

What pieces of music would you choose and why?

My list is:

1. “Brush up your Shakespeare” from the movie Kiss Me Kate.
2. Handel’s Messiah
3. Mozart’s Exsuluate Jubilate sung by Elizabeth Schwartzkopf
4. Schubert’s Die Mullerin cycle sung by Dietrich Fischer-Diskau accompanied by Gerald Moore
5. Donizetti’s L’Elisir D’Amore
6. Myfanwy sung by a Welsh Male voice choir
7. Chabrier’s Espana
8. Abba’s Thank You For the Music.

I will withhold the explanation for that choice to see what other people choose first.

 

[Lori_the_Hoosier]

My eight Desert Island Disks, all are timeless for me, these are what I could listen to endlessly in my isolation

1. Myn Lyking - Choral middle-English carol sung by the choir of King's College, Cambridge, because it reminds me of my little boy.
2. Pachelbel's Canon in D
3. Maria Callas singing 'The Queen Of The Night' aria from 'The Magic Flute'
4. Minuet in G Major by Christian Petzold played on the harpsichord
5. Te Deum Laudamus, a beautiful, haunting Gregorian Chant
6. UB40 - Kingston Town
7. The Flower Duet from Delibes 'Lakmé'
8. The Fleetwoods 'Mr Blue'

My choice for book would be Lord Dunsany's 'The King of Elfland's Daughter', and my indispensible luxury item would have to be a solar-powered Keurig and a bottomless supply of dark roast K-Cups...

 

[lovecraft68]

I guess you guys better hope you're not in earshot of my island

1-Abigail-King Diamond
2-Slayer-Reign in Blood
3-Metallica-Kill Them All
4-Iron Maiden-Best of the Beast
5-Marilyn Manson-Golden Age of Grotesque
6-Rob Zombie Hellbilly Deluxe

I'll mellow out on the last two

7-Best of Wilson Pickett
8- Any Drifters album.

Luxury item would be...the device to play the music on in case that's not assumed

 

[Blind_Justice]

Not to be uncooperative, but keep your Shakespeare and give me the collected works of Terry Pratchett. Considering my wife and I religiously read "Good Omens" at least once a year and have done so for the past eighteen or so is a testament to that book's timelessness.

As for music... Why take singles when you can have entire albums? Every pick of mine is a full-length album, for maximum value per weight unit.

Marillion - A Singles Collection (or "Six Of One, Half-Dozen Of The Other): This record nicely compiles most of my favourite Marillion songs of both the Fish and Hogarth era. The band is very special to me and got me through some tough spots in my youth. No "desert island" list of mine would be complete without them.

Genesis - Invisible Touch: There may be more iconic records by these guys, but again, I have a lot of nostalgia for this record. If I had to take only so much music with me, I'd choose this because it evokes so many fond memories.

Jean Michel Jarré: Oxygène: This record (along with Equinoxe) will always remind me of my father. He died in 2002 at only 53 years of age. He survived a heart attack, a stroke - only to be felled by pneumonia. Whenever he was in a good mood, he would either play Elvis or Jarre on his beloved turntable. Besides the memories, it's a timeless classic you can spend hours with discovering all the tiny details and filigree Monsieur Jarré has lovingly put into each song.

Bathory - Hammerheart: Another thing which got me through the hellscape which is puberty was this one, along with a metric fuckton of other metal records. Since I only have so many picks, I'll happily take the worst-produced and -played record of them all because it is living proof that you don't have to be a world-class athlete on your instrument of choice to make something truly magnificent and heartwarming.

Clannad - Legend: As a kid, I loved the "Robin of Sherwood" TV series which died an inglorious death and was over far too soon. That soundtrack haunted me for years until I finally got my grubby mitts on a CD of it. Not only did "Legend" get me into Clannad, but that particular record got me laid for the first time. If I wanted to escape that desert island, if only in my imagination, there are worse places than the mythical Forest of Sherwood.

Iron Maiden - Seventh Son of a Seventh Son: Despite my broad tastes in music, I will always be a metalhead. And no metalhead's "Desert Island" list would be complete without at least one Iron Maiden album. Most people will probably pick "Number of the Beast" or other "Golden Age" records, but I like my Maiden with a sprinkle of synthesizers in them.

Rush - Moving Pictures: Usually, I would pack the "Sectors" box set, but to keep to the spirit of the list, I'll narrow it down to one album. "Moving Pictures" is far and away my favourite album of this amazing band. It covers a wide range of moods and the lyrics are so deep, you could spend weeks digging through them.

And finally there's King Diamond - Them: Most people - including myself - have venerated Lemmy Kilmister as one of the gods of Heavy Metal, alongside Ozzy Osbourne, Rob Halford (Judas Priest), Gene Simmons (KISS) or Alice Cooper. Sadly, since this is my last pick, I needed to trim down the list of which god I'd kneel to, and for me there can be none other than the undisputed master of heavy metal storytelling, the king of horror, the face-painted master of suspense, the most haunting voice this side of Ghost, King Diamond. Long before I got into Motörhead, long before I could appreciate how much of an impact Ozzy had on "my" music, I had already discovered the true king of the Danish and his particular brand of theatrics, morbid stories and incredible, almost inhuman singing voice. Most of my heavy metal peers simply shook their heads when they heard songs like "Welcome Home" or "Tea". I LOVED it. It was the perfect symbiosis of storytelling and music to headbang to and although I don't write horror stories, I do owe the King a huge 'thank you' for inspiring me to actually pick up a pen and write.

Luxury item: A laptop running on solar power so I can keep writing and make music using software synthesizers.

 

[Haulover]

I've made a desert-island list many times, for the music zines I've worked with in the past. Taking the best from the last 3 lists I've made:

• Camel : The Snowgoose. When I was 16, I picked this up in a bargain bin for about $1, and have been a Camel convert ever since
  
• Dream Theater : Metropolis Part 2 - Scenes from a Memory - Love them or hate them, Dream Theater defined - and still defines - their genre. This was the CD that first turned me onto the band
  
• Focus - Hamburger Concerto. Much better than their touted Moving Waves
  
• FromUZ - Seventh Story. Bet you've never heard of it. Definitely worth researching. This is where modern music ought to be going.
  
• Genesis : Selling England By The Pound - The ultimate Genesis, the showcase for their brilliance,
• irreverence, and very British sense of humor
• Jesus Christ Superstar
  
• Marillion : Misplaced Childhood - An emotional concept piece that leaves a lump in the throat - approachable, yet one of the best neo-prog albums ever
  
• Nextar - A Tab In The Ocean. Loved them in high school, still love them after I became personal friends with the band members. (RIP Roye )
  
• Opeth : Still Life - Probably the best album Opeth ever released - with Ghost Reveries following a close second. Their symphonic-prog-meets-death-metal is intriguing, and masterfully executed.
  
• Pink Floyd : Dark Side Of The Moon - The Floyd by which others are judged
  
• Porcupine Tree - The Incident
  
• Sleepytime Gorilla Museum - In Glorious Times
  
• Strawbs - Grave New World. Saw them play this live about 10 years ago - just as good now as it was in the '70s.
  
• Subterranean Masquerade - Suspended Animation Dreams. Another example of where modern music should be going.
  
• Symphony X : V : The New Mythology Suite Appreciated more in Europe than at home in the USA.
  
• Van Der Graaf Generator : Pawn Hearts - I grew up playing this album when it was still current. I rediscovered it recently, and was blown away all over again
  
• Wishbone Ash - Argus
  
• Yes : Yessongs - There is no finer live album.

 

[Haulover]

...wrote a lot ....

https://www.progressiveears.org/forum/images/smilies/thumbs_up.gif

 

[ElectricBlue]

I can't do individual songs because I don't listen to music that way, and besides, I always buy albums. In no particular order:

1. The Doors - The Doors
2. I'm Your Man - Leonard Cohen
3. Who's Next - The Who
4. Wish You Were Here - Pink Floyd
5. Making Movies - Dire Straits
6. Southside - Texas
7. Broken English - Marianne Faithfull
8. L.A.Woman - The Doors
9. Physical Graffiti - Led Zepellin
10. Exile on Main Street - The Rolling Stones

Why? Soundtracks of my life, and even from me, words don't describe. There's usually a girl or a women associated with each album, though.

Object: the turntable to play them on. Vinyl, obviously.

 

[Blind_Justice]

https://www.progressiveears.org/forum/images/smilies/thumbs_up.gif

I'm sure customs would like a word with you for bringing about triple the allowed number of records.

 

[jaF0]

"It is assumed they would have The Bible and the Complete Works of Shakespeare"

You know what they say about assuming things, right?


I have several collections of random tracks from different performers:

100 Classical Overtures
100 Classical Piano
200 Chillout Jazz

and so on. 8 of those would give quite a lot of playing time and variety.



Plus some heavy metal.

 

[GroverLang]

My tastes run from the Chorus of the Hebrew Slaves by Verdi to Rockin’ All Over The World by Status Quo and many more. Too many for a list for Desert Island Discs.

As I would be miserable alone on a desert island I would want music which, as with those two, would make me happy.

A luxury item? Chocolate, chocolate and more chocolate.

 

[Haulover]

I'm sure customs would like a word with you for bringing about triple the allowed number of records.

LOL

 

[Bramblethorn]

I can't do individual songs because I don't listen to music that way, and besides, I always buy albums.

Same here, mostly. Besides, technology has advanced considerably, so it should be possible to hollow out either the Bible or the Shakespeare and stash a digital player inside with days and days of music.

Mine, in no particular order:

1. Peter Gabriel, "Passion", by way of apology for hollowing out that Bible.
2. Marina and the Diamonds, "The Family Jewels".
3. Lord of the Lost, "Thornstar" or maybe a best-of. Or, hell, let's hollow out the Shakespeare too and fit in their entire back catalogue.
4. ASP, "Zaubererbrüder".
5. David Bowie... hard to choose, probably a best-of.
6. Sinéad O'Connor, "The Lion and the Cobra".
7. In This Moment... one of "Blood", "Ritual", or "Black Widow".
8. Roxy Music, "Flesh and Blood".
9. Umbra et Imago, "Dunkle Energie".
10. Siouxsie and the Banshees, "Peepshow".

Hon mention: Sisters of Mercy, "Floodland"; Tom Holkenborg, "Mad Max: Fury Road soundtrack"; Tom Waits (just about anything); Type O Negative "Bloody Kisses"; Roxette "Look Sharp!"; most of Garbage; and large chunks of my ambient collection. I love it all.

And Handel's "Messiah". Probably wouldn't listen to it again, I've heard a lifetime's worth, but it has sentimental value for personal reasons.

 

[Blind_Justice]

Same here, mostly. Besides, technology has advanced considerably, so it should be possible to hollow out either the Bible or the Shakespeare and stash a digital player inside with days and days of music.

Mine, in no particular order:

1. Peter Gabriel, "Passion", by way of apology for hollowing out that Bible.
2. Marina and the Diamonds, "The Family Jewels".
3. Lord of the Lost, "Thornstar" or maybe a best-of. Or, hell, let's hollow out the Shakespeare too and fit in their entire back catalogue.
4. ASP, "Zaubererbrüder".
5. David Bowie... hard to choose, probably a best-of.
6. Sinéad O'Connor, "The Lion and the Cobra".
7. In This Moment... one of "Blood", "Ritual", or "Black Widow".
8. Roxy Music, "Flesh and Blood".
9. Umbra et Imago, "Dunkle Energie".
10. Siouxsie and the Banshees, "Peepshow".

Hon mention: Sisters of Mercy, "Floodland"; Tom Holkenborg, "Mad Max: Fury Road soundtrack"; Tom Waits (just about anything); Type O Negative "Bloody Kisses"; Roxette "Look Sharp!"; most of Garbage; and large chunks of my ambient collection. I love it all.

And Handel's "Messiah". Probably wouldn't listen to it again, I've heard a lifetime's worth, but it has sentimental value for personal values.

Love your selection. Extra kudos for "Floodland". Gets a lot of plays at the moment. Also, very easy to play along to. "Dominion/Mother Russia" is basically just four notes for the guitar, four for the bass and two chords for the chorus, the drum machine does the rest.

 

[A_Bierce]

How to winnow? These evoke significant emotional responses:

1. I Only Have Eyes for You — The Flamingos
2. Divertimento in D Major — Mozart
3. Twisted — Annie Ross and Count Basie
4. Flower Duet — Anna Netrebko & Elina Garanca (from the opera "Lakmé")
5. Malagueña Salerosa — Bud and Travis
6. The Parting Glass — Wailing Jennies
7. It Was a Very Good Year — Frank Sinatra
8. Can I Sleep in Your Arms — Willie Nelson

 

[litfan10]

My eight as this would keep me satisfied for as long as I am on the island:

(1.) Vivaldi - Four Seasons - Academy of Ancient Music version
(2.) Bach - Brandenburg Concertos - Academy of Ancient Music version
(3.) Yes - Yessongs
(4.) The Beatles - Magical Mystery Tour
(5.) Elton John - Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy
(6.) Pink Floyd - Meddle
(7.) Spock's Beard - Snow
(8.) Renaissance - Live at Carnegie Hall

Of course, I would desperately miss Dream Theater (Metropolis Part Two: Scenes from a Memory) and Neal Morse (Similitudes of a Dream) which would have been my nine and ten spot.

 

[litfan10]

Following in Lovecraft's footsteps my luxury item would be a decent acoustic guitar so I could play anything that comes to mind. This way I wouldn't miss anything even though my rendition of Metropolis Two would be a pathetic version in comparison.

oh, and extra strings. LOTS of extra strings.

 

[Haulover]

I'm sure customs would like a word with you for bringing about triple the allowed number of records.

My eight as this would keep me satisfied for as long as I am on the island:

(1.) Vivaldi - Four Seasons - Academy of Ancient Music version
(2.) Bach - Brandenburg Concertos - Academy of Ancient Music version
(3.) Yes - Yessongs
(4.) The Beatles - Magical Mystery Tour
(5.) Elton John - Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy
(6.) Pink Floyd - Meddle
(7.) Spock's Beard - Snow
(8.) Renaissance - Live at Carnegie Hall

Of course, I would desperately miss Dream Theater (Metropolis Part Two: Scenes from a Memory) and Neal Morse (Similitudes of a Dream) which would have been my nine and ten spot.

I didn't include any classical music in my desert island list. Should have...

 

[Handley_Page]

HP's desert Island disks (version 1)


1. Beethoven; 9th symphony.
2. Verdi: Requiem
3. Beatles; Sgt Pepper.
4. Jimmy Smith: the Cat
5. Quintet of the hot club of France: Minor Swing
6. Bix Beiderbeck: Singin' the Blues
7. MJQ: Django
8. Faces: Stay with me

 

[Lori_the_Hoosier]

Not to be uncooperative, but keep your Shakespeare and give me the collected works of Terry Pratchett. Considering my wife and I religiously read "Good Omens" at least once a year and have done so for the past eighteen or so is a testament to that book's timelessness.

Have you seen the Amazon Video adaptation with David Tennant as a rather dishy Crowley, and Michael Sheene as Aziraphel yet? It's pretty faithful to the book as far as i remember (long time since I read the book), maybe a few liberties with continuity, as Gaiman incorporated some elements from the proposed sequel into the screenplay, mainly Angel-stuff, but it still works, and Anathema Device, Adam, Dog The Hellhound, Witchfinder Sergeant Shadwell, Sister Mary, Madame Tracy, Newton, The Nice and Accurate Prophesies of Agnes Nutter, Witch are all there, I liked it a lot, maybe when I can get hold of the book I'll give it a re-read and do a side-by-side, but I'd recommend a viewing.

 

[Zeb_Carter]

Okay... let's see... I'm kind of a rock 'n roll guy so...

1. I Feel Love - Donna Summers Oringinal Track
2. Freedom! 90 - by the Bella's from Pitch Perfect 3
3. Rockstar - Nickleback
4. Piano Man - Billy Joel
5. Born to Run - Bruce Springsteen
6. Sympathy for the Devil - Rolling Stones
7. Late Nights and Street Fights - Steven Smith
8. We Came to Smash - Dev w/Martin Solveig

Only 8... so sad...

Luxury item, Computer w/everything and with built-in satellite receiver/transmitter.

And yet no mention of companionship?

 

[oggbashan]

Desert Island Discs is a very long-running programme ob BBC Radio.

The premise is that a person is interviewed about their life and what they would take to a desert island. It is assumed they would have The Bible and the Complete Works of Shakespeare but they have to choose eight pieces of music and explain why. The final item they can choose is a single luxury item.

What pieces of music would you choose and why?

My list is:

1. “Brush up your Shakespeare” from the movie Kiss Me Kate.
2. Handel’s Messiah
3. Mozart’s Exsuluate Jubilate sung by Elizabeth Schwartzkopf
4. Schubert’s Die Schone Mullerin cycle sung by Dietrich Fischer-Diskau accompanied by Gerald Moore
5. Donizetti’s L’Elisir D’Amore
6. Myfanwy sung by a Welsh Male voice choir
7. Chabrier’s Espana
8. Abba’s Thank You For the Music.

I will withhold the explanation for that choice to see what other people choose first.

Explanations, as promised:

1. I enjoyed this song and it reminds me that I have been giving masterclasses on Shakespeare for A level students for over 50 years, initially to my own children and their friends, but recently those my eldest daughter has been tutoring.

https://youtu.be/bPduoU826ew

2. I and my family have sung in many productions of the Messiah.

https://youtu.be/JH3T6YwwU9s

3. This song and particular performance is my go-to music whenever I am even slightly depressed. I can't stay sad when I hear it.

https://youtu.be/g0_O_ZNSXbg

4. This was my father-in-law's favourite set of LPs. We still have his set, now worn, but we have the same performance on CD.

https://youtu.be/tr9TiIc1hc8

5. I know most of the standard operas- Mozart, Rossini, etc by heart, and I can play them in my head, along with most of the standard classical repertoire but I don't know this work as well and I like the music.

https://youtu.be/zx1Y5ljpmzk

6. I was born in Wales and grew up hearing Welsh Male Voice choirs. My father sang in one. My son-in-law is now part of a male voice choir (but not Welsh). I like the scene as Myfanwy is sung to Beth in the movie 'How green is my valley'.

https://youtu.be/uRtjQHTnKVY

7. When I was a child in Gibraltar I used to deliver the weekly programme for the local cinema around the official Admiralty residences in exchange for two free Saturday matinee tickets each week. The bus timetable meant I arrived at the cinema five minutes before they started the programme and every day they played this music before the screen showing. (Each performance finished with God Save The Queen and being a cinema in a garrison town, unlike in the UK where people rushed out before it started, every cinema-goer used to stay until the end, stand and sing the National Anthem.)

https://youtu.be/VvlD7XYbI_U


8. I like ABBA. This was their farewell and expresses what I feel about almost every type of music. I could have chosen many more items but I restricted myself to those with meaning for me.

https://youtu.be/0dcbw4IEY5w

 

[Bramblethorn]

Have you seen the Amazon Video adaptation with David Tennant as a rather dishy Crowley, and Michael Sheene as Aziraphel yet? It's pretty faithful to the book as far as i remember (long time since I read the book), maybe a few liberties with continuity, as Gaiman incorporated some elements from the proposed sequel into the screenplay, mainly Angel-stuff, but it still works, and Anathema Device, Adam, Dog The Hellhound, Witchfinder Sergeant Shadwell, Sister Mary, Madame Tracy, Newton, The Nice and Accurate Prophesies of Agnes Nutter, Witch are all there, I liked it a lot, maybe when I can get hold of the book I'll give it a re-read and do a side-by-side, but I'd recommend a viewing.

I loved that adaptation. The chemistry between Crowley and Aziraphale...

 

[Blind_Justice]

Have you seen the Amazon Video adaptation with David Tennant as a rather dishy Crowley, and Michael Sheene as Aziraphel yet? It's pretty faithful to the book as far as i remember (long time since I read the book), maybe a few liberties with continuity, as Gaiman incorporated some elements from the proposed sequel into the screenplay, mainly Angel-stuff, but it still works, and Anathema Device, Adam, Dog The Hellhound, Witchfinder Sergeant Shadwell, Sister Mary, Madame Tracy, Newton, The Nice and Accurate Prophesies of Agnes Nutter, Witch are all there, I liked it a lot, maybe when I can get hold of the book I'll give it a re-read and do a side-by-side, but I'd recommend a viewing.

Seen it. Loved it.

 

[Handley_Page]

Ogg. re. your No 6 (Myfanwy)
If any music brings a tear to my eye, it's this one, although I'm more used to hearing the Treorchy MVC. It's such a sad song.

 

[soflabbwlvr]

I did a similar exercise last week that was limited to four albums, so this one should be a littler easier.

My 8 pieces of music:

1. London Calling - The Clash
2. Scary Monsters (and Super Creeps) - David Bowie
3. Live Rust - Neil Young
4. Every Waking Moment - Citizen Cope
5. The Name of this Band is Talking Heads
6. Babylon By Bus - Bob Marley
7. Yessongs
8. Everything Now - Arcade Fire

I love live music. Three of my choices are double live albums.