TOP 200 DESERT ISLAND TRACKS
An interesting diversion. My Top 100 or so CDs have been nutted out over the years - refer Desert Island Discs. Now my old friend Len has provided me with a disc of his Top 100 "songs" so I felt that I had to attempt something similar. 100 or so, I thought, then perhaps 150, nahhhhh.....maybe 200... could have kept going, but then there's the write up, the accompanying reasons for choice, which I must get started on.....world's yer oyster son, get into it. Is this final? Not likely - I could add another couple tomorrow. Only 1 classical?? Well I could have added more but then we're up to 300...this one had to go in.
Collectors are orderly creatures and jump at the chance of classifying and banging things into their appointed boxes - refer Saturday Morning Ashwoods and Collectors. But what is the basis of choice - nostalgia, artistic merit, lyrics, musical innovation, classic status, da groove mon, aesthetically appealing, dig the beat, cool man, tickles my ivories, absolutely fab, "oooh, ah like it"?
Well these are discs which I would hope to have with me, should I be stranded on a desert island (with a sound system and electricity, a fabulous tsunami proof island hideaway..... and maybe one or two mermaids....I didn't say that!!) Some have nostalgic value eg Cliff Richard's live version of "Move It" which I recovered from the lifeboat platform after a wind gust blew it over the side of the "Fairsea" in the Indian Ocean 1962. So, that had to be included didn't it? Nonetheless, it is a superb example of early British, pre Beatles rock - check out Hank B Marvin's lead and Jet Harris' bass. Edith Piaff's "Les Mots D'amour" has romantic attachment, but of course it is a great performance by a chanteuse magnifique.
Looking through the list I realise I'm a traditionalist, a roots aficionado. There is little from recent years and yet modern eclecticism does appeal. I love the use of technology, particularly when it incorporates indigenous music, as for instance with Mustt Mustt by Nusrat Farka Ali Khan, Amadou et Miriam, Lo Jo, Susheela Raman, Mercan Dede, Omar Sosa.
The final list, like the list in Nick Hornby's very amusing book High Fidelity, is a moveable target, subject to whim, nostalgia, vacillation, further listening and discoveries. If only one had more ears, and time.....! The record that gave you a glow back then and put a smile on your dial, your secret song, has now been flogged mercilessly by those two cent stations and one cent jocks. But that's pop music, instant glow.......or is it art where further listening reveals depth? It turns like a diamond and each face reveals another aspect......Mmmm sometimes - "Madame George" but perhaps not "Papa Oom Mow Mow". It depends on your memory and imagination. This is not high art and was not intended to be so, initially. It was intended for dance, excitement and foreplay, intimacy and instant glow. And along the way the moneymakers shook the roots out of it and tried to cabaret, homogenise and codify. But the roots prevailed, yea on back streets bro, porch and dance halls and independent small labels kept it alive. In writer Tim Winton's expression, "dirt music". Real music. The best of it sounding spontaneous, exciting and unpredictable.
This is the list, thus far ..... :
Were You There Soul Stirrers (with Sam Cooke)
Laudate Dominum Mozart - K 339 Vesperae Solennes Phillips edition soloist Dame Kiri
Madame George Van Morrison
Mystery Train Elvis Presley
I Am The Walrus The Beatles
All Along The Watchtower Jimi Hendrix
Moonlight Mile The Rolling Stones
Drown In My Own Tears Ray Charles
Gimmie Shelter The Rolling Sones
Elvis Presley Blues Gillian Welsh
A Change Is Gonna Come Sam Cooke
Tomorrow Night Lonnie Johnson
Al Bowley's In Heaven Richard Thompson
Les Mots D'Amour Edith Piaff
Come On In My Kitchen Robert Johnson
Canned Heat Tommy Johnson
Dark Is The Night Blind Willie Johnson
A Strange Affair Linda and Richard Thompson
Oh Well Pts1&2 Fleetwood Mac (with Peter Green)
Lucille Little Richard
Unchained Melody The Righteous Brothers
See Emily Play Pink Floyd
The Green Manalishi Fleetwood Mac (with Peter Green)
Gimmie A Pigfoot Bessie Smith
Paint It Black The Rolling Stones
Future Blues Willie Brown
Pain In My Heart Otis Redding
Any Day Now Soul Stirrers (with Sam Cooke)
Give A Man A Home Five Blind Boys
Little Wing (live) Jimi Hendrix
I Can't Get Next To you Al Green
Bring It On Home To Me Sam Cooke
Masters Of War Bob Dylan
Tomorrow Never Knows The Beatles
St James Infirmary Louis Armstrong
Desolation Row Bob Dylan
What's Goin' On Marvin Gaye
Rain The Beatles
Angel Band Stanley Brothers
The Feeling Begins Peter Gabriel
Serves Me Right To Suffer John Lee Hooker
Ring Them Bells Bob Dylan
Jesus Wash Away My Troubles Soul Stirrers (with Sam Cooke)
The Well Below The Valley Planxty
London Calling The Clash
Mona The Rolling Stones
Down The Road Apiece Amos Milburn
Green Onions Booker T & The MGs
Temptation The Everley Brothers
Bitch The Rolling Stones
I Heard It Through the Grapevine Marvin Gaye
Chain Of Fools Aretha Franklin
So Long Big Maybelle
Shake Otis Redding
Hard Times McGarrigle Family
Dear Prudence The Beatles
Smokestack Lightnin' Howlin Wolf
Cool Cool River Paul Simon
Blackbird The Beatles
Bert's Blues Donovan
Paper Sun Traffic
Dance The Night Away Cream
Dixie Fried Carl Perkins
Bernadette Four Tops
Hear My Train A Coming (live) Jimi Hendrix
I Can See For Miles The Who
The Passenger Iggy Pop
Don't Look Back The Remains
Inside Looking Out The Animals
Big Legged Woman Jerry Lee Lewis
Sad Dark Eyes The Loved Ones
How To Make Gravy Paul Kelly
Solsbury Hill Peter Gabriel
La Triste Realite Amadou et Miriam
Mercy Street Peter Gabriel
Maralinga Paul Kelly
Slip Sliding Away Paul Simon
I'm Not Like Everybody Else The Kinks
Sally Zu Zas Big Joe Turner
Trying To Get To You Elvis Presley
Gone Gone Gone Carl Perkins
Why Do Fools Fall in Love Frankie Lymon & The Teenagers
Susie Q Dale Hawkins
Talahassie Lassie Freddie Cannon
Big Hunk O' Love Elvis Presley
Having A Party (live at Harlem Square Club) Sam Cooke
For Ireland I'd Not Tell her Name Boys of the Lough
John O' Dreams Christy Moore
Speedo The Cadillacs
Little Darlin' The Diamonds
I'll Never Smile Again Daddy Cool
I Only Have eyes For You The Flamingoes
Honey Hi Daddy Cool
So Sad The Everley Brothers
That's How Strong My Love Is Otis Redding
In The Pines Bill Monroe
RM Blues Roy Milton & His Solid Senders
Move It (live) Cliff Richard & The Drifters (pre Shadows)
Barbershop Tom Waits
I'm A Man Spencer Davis Group
Heat Treatment Graham Parker
Virgo Clowns Van Morrison
Changing Of The Guard Bob Dylan
Rank Stranger Stanley Brothers
Ballad Of Hattie Carrol Bob Dylan
Nadine Chuck Berry
Dearest Buddy Holly
He'll Have To Go Ry Cooder
Tuxedo Junction Erskine Hawkins Big Band
Blue Rondo A La Turk Dave Brubeck Quartet
Uncloudy Day Staple Singers
I Shall Not Walk Alone Ben Harper
Lake Charles Lucinda Williams
The Pretender Jackson Browne
Kimiad Alan Stivell
Raggle Taggle Gypsy Planxty
It's Better To Have Don Covay
You Really Got A Hold On Me The Miracles
Will Ye Go Lassie Go Dick Gaughan (w.McGarrigles, Emmylou Harris
John Willie's Ragtime Band The Oldham Tinkers
Dr Feelgood Aretha Franklin
Mess Around Ray Charles
I Don't Mind James Brown & The Famous Flames
Between You and Me Graham Parker
Spooky Girlfriend Elvis Costello
Uptown Toprankin' Althea and Donna
Wang Wang Doodle Howlin' Wolf
A Mon Like Thee Oldham Tinkers
Mustt Mustt Nusrat Fatah Ali Khan
Madan (Gekko remix) Salif Keita
Ye Ye Ye Geoffrey Oryema
Surfin' (from Below the Baseline) Ernest Ranglin
Deportee Nanci Griffith, Gillian Welsh, John Prine, Guy Clarke, Steve Earle, Emmylou Harris etc
God Put A Smile on my Face Coldplay
Litanie Des Saintes Dr John
The Magnificent Seven The Clash
Too Much Monkey Business Chuck Berry
Battle of Evermore Led Zeppelin
Junco Partner Dr John
Crawlin' King Snake John Lee Hooker
Soul On Fire Lavern Baker
Get Up Stand Up Bob Marley
My Time After Awhile Buddy Guy
A Sort of Homecoming (live) U2
Saints and Sinners David Francey
Bring 'em All In Wailin' Jennys
Sayonara Pogues
Political Science Randy Newman
Double Trouble Otis Rush
Everybody Knows Leonard Cohen
I Don't Want to Go To Chelsea Elvis Costello
Happening Times Ten Years Ago The Yardbirds
Papa Oom Mow Mow The Rivingtons
At The Hop Danny & The Juniors
I'm So Young The Students
Trouble No More Muddy Waters
Saint Behind The Glass Los Lobos
Needles and Pins The Searchers
Lord Mayo set Lunasa
Mustang Sally Wilson Pickett
Sweet Little Sixteen Chuck Berry
Get Down Moses Joe Strummer
De Timbuktu a Essakane Lo' Jo
Gimmie Some Lovin' Spencer Davis Group
Joy Lucinda Williams
Pioneer/Six Months in A Leaky Boat Split Enz
Willow Joan Armatrading
Mr You're A Better Msn The Yardbirds
Arthur McBride Paul Brady
15 Feet of Pure White Snow Nick Cave
Morning Dew The Chieftains
Sea of Joy Blind Faith
Jersey Girl Andy Cowan
Waiting On The Cards To Fall Guy Davis
Three Hours Nick Drake
Billericay Dickie Ian Dury & The Blockheads
Auschwitz Australia Final Warning
Jerusalem Steve Earle
Truck Driver's Two Step Taj Mahal
Wars or Hands of Time Masters Apprentices
Many Waters Rise Archie Roach
Blue Guitar Fred Smith
King Henry Steeleye Span
Young Ned of The Hill Pogues
Hand of Kindness Richard Thompson
Six and the Seven Books Toots & The Maytals
Bonde Ali Farka Toure
Midnight To Six The Pretty Things
Rhiannon Fleetwood Mac
A Sailor's Life Fairport Convention
I thought I heard Buddy Bolden Say Jelly Roll Morton
Coming Home Anthony McGloin
Into The sun Joseph Arthur
Days The Kinks
Watching The Detectives Elvis Costello
Bird on A Wire Jennifer Warnes
Pleasure and Pain The Divinyls
Bold Doherty Waterson Carthy
Pourtown Jackie Leven
I'd Rather go Blind Etta James
Dark End Of The Street James Carr
Lonesome Tears In My eyes Johnny Burnett Trio
Rawhide The Chaps
Help Me Sonny Boy Williamson
Tell Yo Mama John Butler Trio
Killer Queen Queen
Tell It Like It Is Neville Brothers
Si Tu Savais Django et Stephane
Someday Baby R L Burnside/Lyrics Born
Rivers of Babylon The Melodeans
Where Would I Be Emmylou Harris
Sail On Sailor The Beachboys
Sunnyland Elmore James
Oh Death Stanley Brothers
Bo Diddley Bo Diddley
Shout Isley Brothers
I Believe to My Soul Ray Charles
Respect Aretha Franklin
Dr Jazz Jelly Roll Morton's Red Hot Peppers
Sanctus David Fanshawe
Sympathy for The Devil Rolling Stones
Voodoo Neville Brothers
Last Writes Final Warning
Juicebox The Strokes
Tezeta Mulato Astatqe and Ethio-Jazz
On the Wall Louise Johnson
Dying Crapshooter’s Blues Blind Willie McTell
Blind Willie McTell Bob Dylan
I Never Loved A Man Aretha Franklin
Washable Ink Neville Brothers/ John Hiatt
Street Spirit (fade out) Radiohead
Hallelujah Jeff Buckley/Leonard Cohen
Dominion of The Sword Martin Carthy
The Grey Funnel Line Trio
Come Together The Beatles
Special Rider Blues Skip James
Papas Got A Brand New Bag James Brown (early extended version)
Warm and Tender Love Percy Sledge
Stay Maurice Williams and The Zodiacs
Valentine's Day Bruce Springsteen
See My Friend The Kinks
C'am ye O'er Frae France Steeleye Span
Can you hear me knockin’ Rolling Stones
Baby Won't you Come Out Tonight Buddy Holly
My Baby Left Me Elvis Presley
Prisoner of Love James Brown
God’s Song Randy Newman
Monte Adentro Ry Cooder & Manual Galban
I'm Bad like Jesse James (live) John Lee Hooker
Something Inside Me Elmore James
AB-I-Hayat Mercan Dede
War Bob Marley
Sina Salif Keita
I Wanna Holler But the town's Too Small Detroit Cobras/ Gary US Bonds
Mannish Boy Muddy Waters
Spanish Caravan The Doors
Soldier's Poem Muse
Tumbao No 5 (para Charlie Mingus) Orlando Cachaito Lopez
Just Like U Said it Would be Sinaed O’Connor
We Love you Rolling Stones
Yellow Moon Neville Brothers
Pinball Brian Prothero
I Knew The Bride Nick Lowe/ Dave Edmonds
Ticket To Ride The Beatles
Haayo Ernest Ranglin
I'll Go Crazy James Brown
Moanin' Art Blakey & The Jazz Messagers
It Hurts Me Too Elmore James
Topsy Count Basie Orchestra
Fever Little Willie John
Rocky Road To Dublin The Dubliners
String of Pearls Glenn Miller
Topsy Count Basie
Rocky Road To Dublin The Dubliners
42nd Street Ruby Keller