If you’re familiar with BBC radio you’ll already know what the title refers to, if you’re not, its a radio show where celebrities are asked to pick their top 8 records they’d take to a desert island.
So, what are your top eight (or ten) records (albums or singles) you’d take to a desert island. if you can say why, it will be so much more interesting. (I’m still compiling mine will post tomorrow)
Brilliant topic ;D
Could have picked lots more and on a different day I would have chose differently but here’s my 10…
Nirvarna - Nevermind
I was 18 in 1992 when I saw this band literally tear up the stage at the reading festival, this is indelibly imprinted in my mind,
This band and album instantly take me back to my mis-spent but fun youth.
The Beetles - White Album
This is a timeless album from a timeless band, nothing I can say about this that hasn’t already been said. Favorite track gotta be Dear Prudence.
David Gray - White Ladder
This album inspired me to actually pick a guitar up and learn. From the first track to the last It’s sheer brilliant music.
Roger Waters - Amused to death
Political, magical and emotional.
Symphonix - Acid Winter Jazz set
Couldn’t be stranded without some deep throbbing relentless trance, gotta be heard to be believed good quality sound system required.
Johnny Cash - American IV: The Man Comes Around
A true hero and legend, his music makes me smile and cry.
The Small Faces - The Autumn Stone
Happy music from a lost era, songs full of feeling, joy, sorrow and love, guaranteed to make me smile.
The Stone Roses - The Stone Roses
Growing up in 90’s England You couldn’t avoid the culture and feeling of somethings changing, this album encapsulates that feeling for me.
Every time I hear I wanna be adored I’m transported back to early 90’s, Spike Island with goose bumps and my hair stood on end.I have arrived I’ve come home.
Massive Attack - blue lines
Full of Trip, funk, soul and groove, another album that captures a time and feeling for me. This is my late night smooching sound track ;)))
Beth Orton - Day Breaker
Acoustic and upbeat, a voice to fall in love too, I hear Beth Orton and it stops me in my tracks.
doh want more choices 
Queens of the stone ages… lols
After your post treefrogs I need time to rethink LOL! 
lol me too 
awesome thread
It’s tough to narrow things down to 8 or 10 records, but here is my attempt.
Toy Matinee - Toy Matinee
The songwriting and musicianship on this record is just phenomenal. It’s a partnership between the late Kevin Gilbert and Pat Leonard.
Standout track - Last Plane Out. Toy Matinee - Last Plane Out - YouTube
Propaganda - A Secret Wish
I love everything about this record. It was the very first CD I ever bought, back in 1983 when you would go to a record store and the meager selection of CD’s were kept over in the corner.
Standout track - Dr. Mabuse. - YouTube
This is the “radio edit” of the much longer version on the record.
Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark - Dazzle Ships
Critically acclaimed, yet a commercial flop. Definitely their most experimental record, and on of my perennial favorites. The dissonance in the song The Romance Of The Telescope gives me chills.
Standout track - The Romance Of The Telescope. OMD - The Romance of the Telescope - YouTube
ABC - Beauty Stab
Kind of a genre busting record. I don’t know if I can say anything to do this effort justice.
Standout track - That Was Then, But This Is Now ABC - That Was Then And This Is Now. Top Of The Pops 1983 - YouTube
Art Of Noise - (Who’s Afraid Of?) The Art Of Noise!
The Art Of Noise has always been at the forefront of sampling technology, and has always been a guilty pleasure of mine to listen to.
Standout track - Close To The Edit Art of Noise - Close (To The Edit) Version 1 (ZTPS 01) - YouTube
Midnight Oil - Red Sails In The Sunset
A surprising amount of studio wizardry going on in this record, but it doesn’t detract from the fact that this is a great band, and some of their best songwriting takes place on this record. (In my opinion, of course)
Standout track - When the Generals Talk Midnight Oil - When the Generals Talk - YouTube
China Crisis - What Price Paradise
I was never sure why these guys were not more popular. Great musicians and clever songwriting. Perhaps the unique sounding vocals?
Standout track - Arizona Sky. Arizona Sky Video (China Crisis) - YouTube
Freur - Doot Doot
Such a great record. Nothing more to say.
Standout track - Doot Doot. Just a beautiful song. - YouTube
Guano Apes - Proud Like A God
Can be both heavy and tasteful. A difficult combination.
Standout track - Lords Of The Boards. - YouTube
Kate Bush - Hounds Of Love
This is one of those records that you just can’t stop listening to.
Standout track - Cloudbusting. Kate Bush Cloudbusting - YouTube
There are so many more, but if this is all I could have it would help to keep me sane.
Can I name 9 albums instead of 10 but bring a generator with me to power the audio thingy?
If you can keep the “audio thingy” powered, you can name as many as you like ;D
Some great stuff here :-TU
HeffeD’s choice had me warped back in time with Propaganda, China Crisis and Art of Noise. Darn such good stuff; and I am seriously getting old…
It’s amazing to me that I never get tired of listening to some of this even after 30 years.
I was fortunate enough to see Art of Noise when they were touring for the InVisible Silence album. What a great band. But that’s what you get when you put some heavy-duty session musicians together.
I would have loved to have seen Propaganda or China Crisis, but they never came anywhere near me in the U.S.
Willie Nile - The streets of New York - Grossly underrated wordsmith
Uncle Devil Show - A terrible beauty - Brilliant, almost unknown, pop
Tonio K - Amerika - Like Dada meets punk and decides to play C&W.
Tonio K - Notes from the lost civilisation - Memorable, intelligent pop.
Al Di Meola - Elegant Gypsy - Just beautiful to listen to
Extreme - Pornograffiti - I like this for the range of styles and the guitar work of Mr. Nuno
Justin Currie - The great war - Brilliant lyrics, instantly hummable melodies
The Clash - London calling - How could I not?
Seasick Steve - I started out with nothing and I’ve still got most of it left - Toe tappingly fun
Adele - 21 - An album with no flat spots
I was going to include Alannis Morriset to offset the joy at being on a tropical desert island, but I’d neck myself if that was on a 1-in-10 rotation.
Ewen
As my formative years were the late sixties through to the mid seventies, it’s little surprise that most of my selections are from that period. Also, in the late sixties, for a time, my elder brother worked in a record shop and was constantly arriving home with something new for us hear. It was through him that I had my introduction to bands like Creedence Clearwater Revival, The Doors, Blood, Sweat and Tears and many more. My sister, on the other hand, had a penchant for Motown, so we had a really eclectic mix of music emanating from the music room.
Anyway, on to the selection. In all honesty, it’s an impossible task to narrow ones choice down to such a small number and I’m sure what ever I select today will change, to some extent, if you ask me again tomorrow.
In no particular order:
My first selection.
This comes form the Beatles. I think the song-writing talents of Lennon and McCartney are largely indisputable and as much as I like their songs, I’ve always favoured the songs of George Harrison. It’s with this in mind that I’ve chosen Abbey Road. The two songs from Harrison are:
Something
Here Comes The Sun
The album itself, released in 1969, was the bands last recorded album and of course features, probably, one of the most famous album covers ever.
Selection number two.
This takes us to a solo artist who, after ten yeas of silence, has just released a new single with an album to follow. You may know him as the Thin White Duke or perhaps Ziggy Stardust. This is, of course, David Bowie.
The album I’ve chosen is The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust. The main reason for this, is simply because I was there and part of it. I was even at the retirement concert at Hammersmith Odeon in 1973.
On to the third choice.
I’m not really not sure what to say about this band apart from, I wish I’d been there! I wish I could have been a ‘real’ Deadhead! Unfortunately, I’ve had to make do with their albums and videos. If you haven’t guessed, I’m referring, of course, to the Grateful Dead.
Picking a single album from this band is as hard as choosing one from the Beatles or the Rolling Stones but, in the end, I came down in favour of Workingman’s Dead. Released in 1970, it has some outstanding tracks and for me, the ‘stand-out’ track is Uncle John’s Band.
Number four.
The early seventies brought us some great music and some great musicians, unfortunately, it also brought us some of the most untimely deaths of the music world. Within a few weeks of each other, we lost Jimmy Hendrix and the person whose albums I’ve chosen in the number four slot, Janis Joplin.
Janis Joplin simply has one of the most amazing voices I’ve ever heard and the album I’ve chosen is I Got Dem Ol’ Kozmic Blues Again Mama! You can pick your own track, to me they’re all brilliant.
Moving on to my fifth choice.
We’re staying with solo artists and returning home to the UK. This artist has released a huge number of songs, including film scores and a tribute to a lost Princess. This is, of course, Reginald Dwight aka Elton John.
With songs like Bennie and the Jets, Candle in the Wind and Saturday Night’s Alright For Fighting, Elton was one of those artists that seemed to be playing everywhere one went. All of the songs listed above come from Goodbye Yellow Brick Road, which is a great album, however, I’ve chosen Captain Fantastic And The Brown Dirt Cowboy. I love every track on this album and the cover is amazing and completely wacky.
On to the home straight and in at number six.
The artist I’ve chosen next rose to fame in the late sixties and early seventies, as part of a duo, and had success with several albums, including Bridge over Troubled Water. However, my introduction to their music came in 1968, after sneaking into the cinema to watch a film called The Graduate. That duo was Simon and Garfunkel.
For this selection, I chosen just one half of the duo, Paul Simon. I like a lot of Paul Simon’s albums, including, Still Crazy After All these Years and One Trick Pony, however, the album I’ve picked here, is Graceland.
I think, for a lot or people, Graceland was something really different and refreshing. It was certainly the first time I’d heard any of the South African rhythms featured on the album. On that back of this album, I went and bought albums by Ladysmith Black Mambazo and Juluka. My favourite track from the album is ‘Homeless’.
Stepping out at number seven.
For a lot of people, the early eighties was all about New Wave and New Romanticism and it brought us some great music and some great bands, such as The Human League, Depeche Mode, Duran Duran etc. In fact, I went to see the original Ultravox in concert somewhere around 1980. It was the loudest concert I’ve ever been to! For me though, it was all about Electro/Jazz-Funk, Wigan Pier, The Haçienda, all-dayers, all-nighters and being a DJ.
I was never good enough to play at the places mentioned above but I was a regular at a few clubs in the South West and I had a two hour, Sunday afternoon show on a small pirate radio station.
Picking an album to represent this time of my life was surprisingly difficult as there are so many great artists to choose from. People like Herbie Hancock, Donald Byrd, Level 42 and so on could easily have filled this spot. In the end I chose George Duke - Brazilian Love Affair.
Wading in at number eight.
No selection of mine could be complete without something from Roger, Nick, Richard, Syd and David. Collectively known as Pink Floyd. Once again, choosing a favourite album from this band is really hard, I could have easily gone with something live/experimental like Ummagumma or something more commercial like Dark Side of the Moon. In the end, however, I picked Wish You Were Here. I guess I chose this album over the others, simply because it’s what the band, mostly played, at the only concert of theirs I’ve been to.
The penultimate choice.
This next artist has a special place in my collection and like Pink Floyd, would probably feature no matter when you asked me. Van the Man has been around for a long time and has albums on many peoples favourite lists.
I’m going to deviate from the norm when choosing an album from Van Morrison. Whereas Moondance or Astral Weeks a are probably the choice of most people, I’m going to choose Hard Nose the Highway and the reason for that, simply because it contains a record that my wife and I danced to at our wedding (say ahhh!)
And finally.
I started my selection with an album from the Beatles and I’m going to end with an album from my favourite of the ‘fab four’ George Harrison.
I personally think George had some great solo albums, for example, Brainwashed and Living in the Material World, however, there’s really only one album that, for me, is George Harrison and that’s All Things Must Pass.
I wish I’d been at Wooddstock!
Some good sounds landing on this island
particularly feeling China Crisis and Paul Simon…
Also getting a bit of an education (nothing new in this forum), HeffeD thanks for Guano Apes
Hmm now how can I smuggle Depeche Mode - Music for the Masses ashore ?
I always thought Art of Noise were a group of producers. May be I am misinformed.
I would have loved to have seen Propaganda or China Crisis, but they never came anywhere near me in the U.S.The name China Crisis had me listening to Wishful Thinking again (that was a single here in Europe; did that make it to the US?)
At Radaghast. The 60’s had some great music. I was born in 1968 and learned more about that music in the 80’s when being a dj on a pirate radio station.
You’re welcome. They’re really great with dynamics. They can go from delicate to rip your face off fairly effortlessly. Check these two songs out. Maria and Rain
A great album, although Black Celebration is probably my favorite. I saw them during the Black Celebration as well as the Music for the Masses tour.
They’ve been involved in production, but also worked as session musicians. Anne Dudley is a classically trained musician who did the orchestrations for ABC’s Lexicon of Love album, and has played on albums by people like: Frankie Goes To Hollywood, Paul McCartney, The Moody Blues, Pet Shop Boys, Seal, Wham!, and many more. She’s also been writing the scores to films for a couple of decades. Things like The Full Monty, and The Crying Game. She’s really the main “musician” in the band.
J. J. Jeczalik was one of the better Fairlight CMI programmers around, and played it on albums by people like: Yes, Kate Bush, ABC, Stephen “Tin Tin” Duffy, and Frankie Goes To Hollywood. In fact, the drum sound from the single Beatbox that he called the “Tack Boom” drum sound came about during what J.J. called a “particularly boring recording session” for Yes’s Owner of a lonely Heart for the 90125 album. Although he never really considered himself a musician, he’s played keyboards on some very famous records.
Gary Langan is a recording engineer/producer, and of course Trevor Horn is a well known producer. (who also plays bass guitar) I was never really sure what Paul Morely’s (a journalist) contribution to the band was, because there weren’t really any lyrics in the music. I’m not sure if he plays any instruments.
It didn’t get very high on the charts here, but yes, it made it. If I remember correctly, Christian (what a fantastic song…) charted higher.
That’s the same year I was born.
I’m a fan of any good music. I made a living as a recording engineer for many years, (until health got in the way) and I don’t think you can be a very good engineer if you don’t appreciate all styles. I obviously have my favorites, but I can honestly enjoy any well crafted song.
I can even go so far as to “like” a song simply because it has a great snare drum sound.
It would drive my friends crazy in school when they’d find out I didn’t even know the words to some of my favorite songs. They’d ask how that was possible because they knew I’d heard the song countless times. I’d just answer, “I haven’t gotten around to paying attention to the vocals yet”.
You're welcome. They're really great with dynamics. They can go from delicate to rip your face off fairly effortlessly. Check these two songs out. Maria and Rain
Ha your not kidding what a voice, from soft and soothing to blisteringly powerful. These are definitely one for the car.
A great album, although Black Celebration is probably my favorite. I saw them during the Black Celebration as well as the Music for the Masses tour.
Awesome, I’m well jealous DM is first on my long list of must still to see acts, Violator, Music for the masses and Black celebration… to hard to call, this should be Desert Island 64G MP3 player
The Guano Apes rock for real (why is there no head banging smiley here?)
A great album, although Black Celebration is probably my favorite. I saw them during the Black Celebration as well as the Music for the Masses tour.
They've been involved in production, but also worked as session musicians. Anne Dudley is a classically trained musician who did the orchestrations for ABC's Lexicon of Love album, and has played on albums by people like: Frankie Goes To Hollywood, Paul McCartney, The Moody Blues, Pet Shop Boys, Seal, Wham!, and many more. She's also been writing the scores to films for a couple of decades. Things like The Full Monty, and The Crying Game. She's really the main "musician" in the band.Thank you for the detailed info.J. J. Jeczalik was one of the better Fairlight CMI programmers around, and played it on albums by people like: Yes, Kate Bush, ABC, Stephen “Tin Tin” Duffy, and Frankie Goes To Hollywood. In fact, the drum sound from the single Beatbox that he called the “Tack Boom” drum sound came about during what J.J. called a “particularly boring recording session” for Yes’s Owner of a lonely Heart for the 90125 album. Although he never really considered himself a musician, he’s played keyboards on some very famous records.
Gary Langan is a recording engineer/producer, and of course Trevor Horn is a well known producer. (who also plays bass guitar) I was never really sure what Paul Morely’s (a journalist) contribution to the band was, because there weren’t really any lyrics in the music. I’m not sure if he plays any instruments.
It didn't get very high on the charts here, but yes, it made it. If I remember correctly, [url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QElyoJinNGA]Christian[/url] (what a fantastic song...) charted higher.Thank you for this one....
That's the same year I was born. :)1968 was a good year... 8)
I'm a fan of any good music. I made a living as a recording engineer for many years, (until health got in the way) and I don't think you can be a very good engineer if you don't appreciate all styles. I obviously have my favorites, but I can honestly enjoy any well crafted song. :)Good music is good music regardless of style. The good thing about life is you recognise it across styles you would not listen to when a teenager.....
I can even go so far as to "like" a song simply because it has a great snare drum sound. :PSound does matter and is something to be enjoyed for its own qualities as well as the gear to enjoy it..... (:NRD)
It would drive my friends crazy in school when they'd find out I didn't even know the words to some of my favorite songs. They'd ask how that was possible because they knew I'd heard the song countless times. I'd just answer, "I haven't gotten around to paying attention to the vocals yet". :D:D
For me it would start with what I consider the best album ever made by anyone, Abbey Road by The Beatles. Top 8? hmm
I hate both Rap and Metal. I can’t stand either for more than 3 seconds. I like some Country, smooth instrumental Jazz, and some Classical. I like instrumental music or music with vocalists who can actually sing and not scream, yell, or recite bad poetry to a monotonous beat.
Good music is good music regardless of style. The good thing about life is you recognise it across styles you would not listen to when a teenager.....
an insight only age can provide 
wise words indeed
I agree, as a teenager, way back in the 60’s, I would never listen to any Country or Jazz. Now I’m nearly 65 and have changed some but no amount of time will make me like Metal or Rap. ;D
I agree, as a teenager, way back in the 60's, I would never listen to any Country or Jazz. Now I'm nearly 65 and have changed some but no amount of time will make me like Metal or Rap.
What worries me is I have caught myself shouting up the stairs at my daughter “turn that racket DOWN
I can’t hear myself think”
when did I turn into my parents ? :o