A Better List
Time to take the plunge again.
For some years now I've belonged to an informal book-group-style music thing where every few months along with three wonderful guys I sit down with CD's, vinyl, wine and cheese and we play each other what we've been listening to lately. They are long and delicious nights.
Sometimes there's a theme, sometimes not. One one occasion last year, however, we each agreed to come up with a top 10 list of "desert island" discs. The only stipulation was that they be post-1950. It caused agonies for us all. For no reason in particular, I thought it might be fun to reproduce my list here, together with the written rationale we were asked to provide. It's an odd little collection, but I don't think I'd change too much even a year on. See what you think:
[nb: For those of you who don't know it, "Pastoral" is from the soundtrack to "O Lucky Man". If you haven't heard it, please hunt it down - truly brilliant.]
DESERT ISLAND TRACKS: EXPLANATION / JUSTIFICATION / PRETENTIOUS WAFFLE
These are my choices. They don’t necessarily represent those I think are “the best” or artistically the most worthy or interesting. When choosing them it was tempting to go for musical or lyrical complexity to keep me interested in the same pieces, but ultimately it had to be about what ‘does’ it for me – not just the music itself, but that special place certain pieces can take me. Heap on the scorn if you like, but here goes …
The Dave Brubeck Quartet: Blue Rondo a la Turk.
The coolest. Apparently a momentous piece from a pure jazz structure perspective, but for me it simply encompasses the best of what I love about good jazz. A tempo for every mood, with the music unfolding rather than appearing to have been actually composed. It also reminds me of being in bed listening to my parents’ dinner parties when I was little. Gotta have it.
Aretha Franklin: Respect. Aretha Franklin’s is a voice I couldn’t bear never to hear again. She’s done so much great work it’s impossible to pick the best, so this is simply my favourite in terms of vocal performance and Attitude. Wonderful.
The Mamas and the Papas: Dream a Little Dream of Me. Whooooaaa…. No, it’s not so weird. This one is in here just for the simplicity and purity of melody, harmony and voice, and because it’s one of my favourite sing-alongs. And to prove I’m not the bigot you all think I am.
The Who: See Me, Feel Me. I really tried to cut down my Who selections, but they were always my band, and this is the one that literally changed my musical life. Although this version is from the Leeds recordings, it’s very close to the Woodstock version which I first saw and heard in the school hall as an earnest 13-year old member of the CHS cinema club. Visually and musically it was a revelation to me. Not going to let this one go.
The Beatles, The Long and Winding Road
Very dangerous choice. Bordering on overly-sentimental, with quite a schmaltzy orchestral arrangement, but if I need a Beatles song (and I do), this is the one. Ambitious, cinematically-grandiose structure, weepy lyrics, wonderful PMcC melody. There are songs that typify the Beatles better, but I would need this one for all the big moments in life.
Derek and the Dominos, Layla.
Predictable choice, but there’s a reason it’s so well-regarded. The agony which comes through the vocal, the incredible searing slide guitar from Duane Allman, and that beautiful piano section. It’s just so perfectly crafted.
The Who: Won’t Get Fooled Again. How could I not? Almost picked Baba O’Riley, but this is the one … This for me is the ultimate rock song; real weak-at-the-knees stuff. Nuff said.
Pete Townshend: Face the Face. I had to have a solo PT track, as he’s my favourite writer, and I’m probably doing him a disservice with this choice, as there are many more interesting songs I could have chosen. However, I just love the whole sound, feel and structure of this one, and the brass is brilliant. It’s also my favourite dance track, and no party is complete without it. There are a couple of great live versions around, but I think it would need to be the original. Loud.
Oasis: Morning Glory. It was really hard to pick one from this CD. It was the first entire album I’d heard in middle-age that genuinely did to me what a great rock album would do when I was a teenager, and it was quite a shock to realise I’d been missing that real passion for so long. “Morning Glory”, however, simply sounds so good, and just pipped “Don’t Look Back in Anger”. Either way, this exposes me as cheap victim to a powerful song with a truly great chorus.
The Corrs: Toss the Feathers
Possibly a cheat, as there’s some traditional fiddling in there which of course pre-dates 1950, but this was written and recorded in 1995, and doesn’t credit “Trad.”. For me it’s a fantastic combination of celtic fiddling, smashing guitar chords and percusssion – sort of rock-fiddle fusion. Just love it. However, if the pedants win, I have a reserve choice.*
* Alan Price: Pastoral. This one is about the ability of a perfect, simple and beautiful melody to evoke emotion. I would have loved to fit it in my top ten in its own right, but it’s here as a reserve (see “Toss the Feathers”.)
______________
Ok - I've just re-read it, and it's a little weird, but how do you choose the only ten songs you'll ever hear again? The following meeting we chose the next 10, and that was even harder (I remember Joe Jackson's "Real Men" was in there.) It's an interesting exercise to go through if anyone out there feels inclined ...
Back in my box now.
M x
For some years now I've belonged to an informal book-group-style music thing where every few months along with three wonderful guys I sit down with CD's, vinyl, wine and cheese and we play each other what we've been listening to lately. They are long and delicious nights.
Sometimes there's a theme, sometimes not. One one occasion last year, however, we each agreed to come up with a top 10 list of "desert island" discs. The only stipulation was that they be post-1950. It caused agonies for us all. For no reason in particular, I thought it might be fun to reproduce my list here, together with the written rationale we were asked to provide. It's an odd little collection, but I don't think I'd change too much even a year on. See what you think:
[nb: For those of you who don't know it, "Pastoral" is from the soundtrack to "O Lucky Man". If you haven't heard it, please hunt it down - truly brilliant.]
DESERT ISLAND TRACKS: EXPLANATION / JUSTIFICATION / PRETENTIOUS WAFFLE
These are my choices. They don’t necessarily represent those I think are “the best” or artistically the most worthy or interesting. When choosing them it was tempting to go for musical or lyrical complexity to keep me interested in the same pieces, but ultimately it had to be about what ‘does’ it for me – not just the music itself, but that special place certain pieces can take me. Heap on the scorn if you like, but here goes …
The Dave Brubeck Quartet: Blue Rondo a la Turk.
The coolest. Apparently a momentous piece from a pure jazz structure perspective, but for me it simply encompasses the best of what I love about good jazz. A tempo for every mood, with the music unfolding rather than appearing to have been actually composed. It also reminds me of being in bed listening to my parents’ dinner parties when I was little. Gotta have it.
Aretha Franklin: Respect. Aretha Franklin’s is a voice I couldn’t bear never to hear again. She’s done so much great work it’s impossible to pick the best, so this is simply my favourite in terms of vocal performance and Attitude. Wonderful.
The Mamas and the Papas: Dream a Little Dream of Me. Whooooaaa…. No, it’s not so weird. This one is in here just for the simplicity and purity of melody, harmony and voice, and because it’s one of my favourite sing-alongs. And to prove I’m not the bigot you all think I am.
The Who: See Me, Feel Me. I really tried to cut down my Who selections, but they were always my band, and this is the one that literally changed my musical life. Although this version is from the Leeds recordings, it’s very close to the Woodstock version which I first saw and heard in the school hall as an earnest 13-year old member of the CHS cinema club. Visually and musically it was a revelation to me. Not going to let this one go.
The Beatles, The Long and Winding Road
Very dangerous choice. Bordering on overly-sentimental, with quite a schmaltzy orchestral arrangement, but if I need a Beatles song (and I do), this is the one. Ambitious, cinematically-grandiose structure, weepy lyrics, wonderful PMcC melody. There are songs that typify the Beatles better, but I would need this one for all the big moments in life.
Derek and the Dominos, Layla.
Predictable choice, but there’s a reason it’s so well-regarded. The agony which comes through the vocal, the incredible searing slide guitar from Duane Allman, and that beautiful piano section. It’s just so perfectly crafted.
The Who: Won’t Get Fooled Again. How could I not? Almost picked Baba O’Riley, but this is the one … This for me is the ultimate rock song; real weak-at-the-knees stuff. Nuff said.
Pete Townshend: Face the Face. I had to have a solo PT track, as he’s my favourite writer, and I’m probably doing him a disservice with this choice, as there are many more interesting songs I could have chosen. However, I just love the whole sound, feel and structure of this one, and the brass is brilliant. It’s also my favourite dance track, and no party is complete without it. There are a couple of great live versions around, but I think it would need to be the original. Loud.
Oasis: Morning Glory. It was really hard to pick one from this CD. It was the first entire album I’d heard in middle-age that genuinely did to me what a great rock album would do when I was a teenager, and it was quite a shock to realise I’d been missing that real passion for so long. “Morning Glory”, however, simply sounds so good, and just pipped “Don’t Look Back in Anger”. Either way, this exposes me as cheap victim to a powerful song with a truly great chorus.
The Corrs: Toss the Feathers
Possibly a cheat, as there’s some traditional fiddling in there which of course pre-dates 1950, but this was written and recorded in 1995, and doesn’t credit “Trad.”. For me it’s a fantastic combination of celtic fiddling, smashing guitar chords and percusssion – sort of rock-fiddle fusion. Just love it. However, if the pedants win, I have a reserve choice.*
* Alan Price: Pastoral. This one is about the ability of a perfect, simple and beautiful melody to evoke emotion. I would have loved to fit it in my top ten in its own right, but it’s here as a reserve (see “Toss the Feathers”.)
______________
Ok - I've just re-read it, and it's a little weird, but how do you choose the only ten songs you'll ever hear again? The following meeting we chose the next 10, and that was even harder (I remember Joe Jackson's "Real Men" was in there.) It's an interesting exercise to go through if anyone out there feels inclined ...
Back in my box now.
M x
posted by MargieCM at 8:54 pm
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