My "Desert Island Discs"

Desert Island Discs is a programme on BBC Radio 4 (the best talk radio in the world, by a huge margin), that has been running since forever. On it, various celebrities and luminaries from all walks of life are asked to name the eight pieces of music they would take if they were marooned on a desert island. It is presumed a suitable playing mechanism survives the shipwreck. During the program the guest is interviewed and asked to explain their choices. They also get to pick a book, and a luxury item. It is all supposed to provide an insight into the guest. Famously, one opera singer chose eight of her own recordings!

Since many of the choices are works such as Beethoven's 9th, it is a grey area whether one chooses albums or  individual songs (one could argue Beethoven's ninth is four songs for example), so I have compiled two lists. 

Note that these are not lists of what I think are the best songs or albums, just the ones I would take to the desert island. Please feel free to criticise, agree, pour scorn or congratulate; but remember, this is a moveable feast, and I reserve the right to change it arbitrarily.

Individual Songs

This is a very difficult list to make. All of the songs give me the "tingle factor"; that sensation when something really good happens in the music. They are presented in order of preference.

1. Bridge Over Troubled Water - Simon and Garfunkel - 1970

A fantastic performance and a fantastic song. It's been a companion forever, and never fails to give me a tingle in the final verse, even after a million listenings. Here is Art doing his thing in Central Park. Breathtaking!
Bridge Over Troubled Water

2. Money - Pink Floyd - 1973

I think this is the perfect rock song; thoughtful, intelligent lyrics, an unusual and yet unforgettable backing rhythm in 7/4 time, and the most perfectly constructed guitar break imaginable. The first link is the studio version, and the second link is them as old men playing recently at the Live8 concert.
Money
Money (Live8)

3. Black Dog - Led Zeppelin - 1971

A fantastic, complex, original and influential song that defines what is to come in the best sequence of songs in rock (on Led Zep IV). Not everyone's favourite Zep I am sure, but for me it sums up beautifully how they changed the game. No three chord tricks here!
Black Dog

4. Let It Be - The Beatles - 1970

A difficult choice, but I had to have a Beatles song. Although I often think "Across the Universe" is my favourite, this timeless melody ultimately wins it for me. Such a simple song, so beautifully performed. It will always remind me of Rose, who was/is a much bigger Beatles fan than me; she is my "Mother Mary".
Let It Be

5. Life On Mars - David Bowie - 1971

I found it hard to choose a Bowie album, but it was easy for me to choose this as his best single song. This is a recent performance showing the man could still sing!
Life On Mars

6. One - U2 - 1991

Bono could be quite poetic when he wanted, and he succeeds here in some style I think. I love the rolling rhythm of the song, as well as the metaphors in the lyrics. Elsewhere on "Achtung Baby" Bono writes the (in our house) immortal lines "I gave you everything you ever wanted; it wasn't what you wanted". It reminds me of our time in France in the early nineties, in Saint Wandrille, Normandy. According to Wikipedia, U2 have played this song at every gig since they first performed it. There are many, many videos on YouTube. This one is not bad.
One

7. Set The Fire To The Third Bar - Snow Patrol & Martha Wainwright - 2006

An obscure duet with beautiful lyrics and a haunting melody. It represents the most settled time of my life, where mostly Rose and I do what we like (luckily, I like to work!).
Set The Fire To The Third Bar

8. Diamonds Are Forever - Shirley Bassey / John Barry - 1971

I suppose this reveals the camp side of me, but who cares! When she sings "they lustre on" it is fantastic. It has to be the original recording of the film soundtrack, but this is also a great early performance of it on YouTube.
Diamonds Are Forever

Albums

This list is much easier to compile than individual songs! Compilation albums are of course banned! They are ordered by date, not preference. No 80's work made it, but "The Queen Is Dead" by The Smiths came close, and would be in the top ten.

1. Bridge Over Troubled Water - Simon and Garfunkel - 1970

I suspect this choice is neither surprising nor controversial, and needs little explanation or justification. It is marvellous in every respect.

2. Led Zeppelin IV - Led Zeppelin - 1971

This is included despite only half the album being outstanding. But side 1 (how quaint that sounds now) of this album is quite simply the greatest series of work in the entire rock canon. Black Dog is totally innovative and musically complex, followed by old fashioned three chord rock-and-roll, a folk song and the peerless Stairway to Heaven. 

3. The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars - David Bowie - 1972

There has to be a Bowie, but which one? On balance, I think Ziggy wins, for its kitsch and cleverness, and because it has more classic songs. The other contenders were Hunky Dory and Aladdin Sane, but ultimately I think Ziggy defines Bowie best. I was 13 when this came out. All my friends were fans, some ridiculously so. My best friend was called Jonathon, and he first played me the album. At first, he did not have a record player at his house, and we went to his uncle's house to listen to it - but maybe that was a little earlier i.e. Hunky Dory. Still, it is a nice memory (later they got a really nice B&O system).

4. Wish You Were Here - Pink Floyd - 1975

I had to have some Floyd, and this just pips Dark Side. It reminds me of being 17, passing my driving test, and having a whale of a time at school, in what we called "the sixth form" in those days. I was lucky enough to see them perform this album on their Animals tour (my brother Les took me). The set was Animals, Wish You Were Here, with an encore of Money. What a gig!

5. Joan Armatrading - Joan Armatrading - 1976

Another unsurprising choice perhaps. Not only are the songs timeless and fantastic, but the band playing with her are amazing. And to top it all, the recording quality is outstanding. It is amazing that they were able in the 70's, using magnetic tape and vinyl, to produce a record of such high fidelity. For me, one of the best recordings of all time.

6. Dog Man Star - Suede - 1994

Suede are perhaps relatively obscure, but this album captures them at their peak, and very good they were. What makes the album stand out is the arrangements of the songs, which are also cleverly written (although not the same league as Led Zep IV). There is a good video on YouTube of them playing The Asphalt World (maybe other songs too, I have not looked). I keep coming back to this album time after time, testament to its quality and durability. I just have to include it.

7. The Bends - Radiohead - 1995

I came relatively late to Radiohead, starting with OK Computer, but I think this is their magnum opus. The melodies are fantastic, and the song structures a joy (as they are on OK). Although we have some of their later albums, for me they never managed to regain the heights of this one. There is no single standout song, but the ensemble, and the band's influence on the noughties, merits its inclusion in my list.

8. How To Save A Life - The Fray - 2005

The noughties make a surprise entry with The Fray. It is a great selection of songs with strong melodies whose appeal does not fade been with many listenings. An album I turn to when sifting through my iPod listings looking for something to listen to.