Desert Island Discs

[Johnny Robbo]

I was listening to one of my favourite radio shows the other day, Desert Island Discs. For anyone not familiar with the show, each week a famous person chooses the eight songs they would take with them if they were marooned forever on a desert island. These are the only eight records you can listen to for the rest of your life so must be chosen wisely.

You are also allowed to take one book – the only book you can read for the rest of your life, and a single luxury – you can take multiple books if they available as a single volume, though, and it's also assumed that you're somehow shipwrecked with the complete works of William Shakespeare & the Bible (or religious text of your choice).

Sometimes the luxury item can be a bit abstract – for instance, Archbishop Desmond Tutu chose an unlimited supply of rum & raisin ice cream, and Eric Clapton chose a Versace suit (rather than a guitar). The only rule is that you're not allowed to take anything practical – like a book on raft building, or a satellite phone for example.

I thought it might be a bit of fun to see what choices we all might make, so here are mine to get things started:

1. Rock Around The Clock – Bill Haley & The Comets
2. So What – Miles Davis
3. The Prophet – Gary Moore
4. Key To The Highway – Derek & The Dominoes
5. Jupiter (from the Planet Suite) – Gustav Hoslt
6. Nimrod (from the Enigma Variations) – Edward Elgar
7. Comfortably Numb – Pink Floyd
8. Man of the World – Fleetwood Mac

My book would probably be some form of escapist fiction, so I'd take the collective works of Sir Arthur Conan-Doyle. You can't beat a good bit of Sherlock Holmes, I reckon. And my luxury? That's easy... a guitar.

So there you have it. These are my choices for a Robinson Crusoe existence, what would be yours?

Cheers,

John.

[chapperz66]

I'm up for it  - but of course this is not easy to choose.  Ask me again tomorrow and I would probably answer differently.

Music:

1.   Burn – Deep Purple
2.   Yesterday  – Beatles
3.   Polonaise in Aflat major – Chopin
4.   Tender Surrender – Steve Vai
5.   Peruvian Skies  – Dream Theater
6.   Miracles Out Of Nowhere – Kansas
7.   Black Sunday – Jethro Tull
8.   Brandenburg Concerto (No 3) – JS Bach

Books:
The Nights Dawn Trilogy – Peter F Hamilton

Luxury:
Also a guitar (assuming Ventolin inhalers are a necessity – and they certainly are for me!)

[bruno]

Well here's mine - did a FB thing a while back - tunes that have meaning/a story in your life - this is a good a list as any ...
1. Foo Fighters - The Pretender
2. Frank Turner - Get Better
3. Pink Floyd - Shine on you crazy Diamond
4. Rush - La Villa Strangiato
5. Sting - Fragile
6. Marc Jordan - The Falling Man
7. Deep Purple - Getting' Tighter
8. Asia - Heat of the moment

Thought about some classical, however so much to choose from, possibly Sibelius Finlandia or Bach Violin Sonatas and Partitas or Shostakovich's Cello Concerto No 1 or Copland's Appalachian spring (all of which I've played, but not all of the Bach, there's a lot, and they are hard! :-))

books - Well I dont read much fiction, something mathematical and difficult - probably some atomic physics. Not an enjoyable read, but will keep me occupied and thinking for a long, long time!

The luxury would be my Brook Taw - I'd bring the Tavy, but don't fancy getting sand in it!

NB I'll probably change the music list tomorrow!

B

[Johnny Robbo]

Ask me again tomorrow and I would probably answer differently.

NB I'll probably change the music list tomorrow!

Yup... the same goes for me

[Hook]

I don't really need anyone else's music, just a ukulele, a pen and a shitload of paper.
Rock on!

[SteveB]

Ask me again tomorrow and I would probably answer differently.

NB I'll probably change the music list tomorrow!

Yup... the same goes for me

Ah, naughty-naughty you lot!
Wasn't that the point - your choices are for good.
So choose v.carefully. 

[Hilary]

I don't really need anyone else's music, just a ukulele, a pen and a shitload of paper.
Rock on!

That's what I was thinking, I could listen to me all day

A notepad and pen would be good and some suncream and antihistamines I'm not good in the sun.

[ODH]

I've kind of "settled" on this list.

XTC - Senses Working Overtime
Magazine - Give Me Everything
Chameleons - Here Today (Peel Session version)
Beastie Boys - Paul's Boutique
Stranglers - Enough Time
Buzzcocks - Spiral Scratch EP
Genesis - Watcher of the Skies (or Supper's Ready)
Deerhoof - Friend Opportunity

It's missing jazz, which I would miss, and classical, which I probably wouldn't.  And there's none of my own recordings, which I would also miss (I spend an unhealthy amount of time listening to my own songs, I must admit).

For a book it's between Douglas Adams' Hitchhikers' Guide Trilogy and Michael Moorcock's Dorian Hawkmoon History of the Runestaff.

I would also take a guitar as my luxury item.  A nice acoustic with a hard case and unlimited strings.