Desert Island Discs

 

Do you remember the phenomenon of desert island discs? Famous people would compile lists of the (eight) records they would wish for, should they ever be trapped on a desert island.

Of course today, with the ubiquity of MP3 players and mobile phones, no one need ever be trapped with only eight records.

Still, the idea has intrigued me for decades, since I first learned of the concept. Perhaps now, with a fairly developed music collection, I am prepared to contemplate my own desert island discs.

1. Kate Bush, The Dreaming: "This album was made to be played loud," the liner notes say, and I have played it really, really loud over and over again for more than thirty years. I have performed choreographed dance routines to several of the tracks and know every word of every song. If my life were reduced to one record — if I could take only one disc to the desert island — this would be it. If you have never heard it — and how do you know me and why are you reading this post if you haven't? — it is by turns powerful, frightening, soaring, and haunting. Unquestionably the musical statement that has influenced me most.

2. Kate Bush, Hounds of Love: So much of my youth is wrapped up in this record; I have listened to it literally hundreds of times — perhaps more than a thousand times — on vinyl, cassette, CD, or MP3. The long-time-coming follow-up to The Dreaming, this record leads off with one of my very favourite KB tracks, runs through a string of singles, and then presents "The Ninth Wave," a mini-concept album that still delights me after nearly three decades. A masterpiece.

3. Tori Amos, Boys for Pele: I suppose a fan should pick Little Earthquakes, and certainly that remains a favourite, as does From the Choirgirl Hotel. But Boys is just a little more special. Tori is tied to a particular era of my life; her first several albums are musically brilliant and (for me) saturated with nuance and memory. After Scarlet's Walk, I lost the thread; but until then, I might have taken all of her discs to the island with me.

4. Simon and Garfunkel, Bridge Over Troubled Water: So difficult to choose! Part of me still thinks I'd rather have Bookends. But I simply cannot imagine never hearing "The Boxer" (in my opinion one of the most perfect songs ever recorded) again. (Maybe I'm taking this desert-island thing a little too seriously?) And by the way, there's no copping out and taking the "greatest hits" disc — though if that were an option... No, Bridge reflects the folky, lyrical, poetical me. Couldn't be without it.

5. The Pretenders, Learning to Crawl: Strangely, this is for my inner fifteen-year-old girl. Rock 'n' roll poetry. A little bit punk. Quite a lot angry. For me, this is a record about reaching for more. And if you're looking for women role models in music, Chrissie Hynde should be top of the list.

6. Joni Mitchell, Court and Spark: Could not be without this. I'd also want The Hissing of Summer Lawns and Ladies of the Canyon and Dog Eat Dog, of course, but since I'm pushed to choose only one ... shades of Sophie Zawistowska ... it has to be Court and Spark. I know, I know; the purists would choose Blue. But I imprinted on a different Joni, and C&S speaks to me like no other record. Going to listen to this one now ...

7. Film soundtrack, Jesus Christ Superstar: Can I get away with this? It's technically two discs, but in one package. Another record tied to my youth, but so formative. Comfort listening at its finest.

8. The Beatles, Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band: You know, I think Magical Mystery Tour is probably the better choice for me, but it's not really an album. Rubber Soul and Let It Be are jostling for my attention but ... no, SPLHCB it is.

Omg this was a difficult exercise. Every choice closed off half a dozen other choices — no other soundtracks? No other eighties discs? Nothing from Cat Stevens or U2 or Peter Gabriel or Heather Nova  or Sarah Slean or ...? And no ABBA? B can't believe there's no ABBA. I console myself with the thoughts that 1) I have a good memory for music and can play other records in my mind's ear and 2) I will not be on this imaginary desert island for very long.

So, that's my provisional list, subject to change tomorrow. What discs would you need? Inquiring minds and all that ...