Well, it’s the anniversary of my 39th Birthday again – the 27th to be precise.
It’s the 27h anniversary of my 39th Birthday (Thank you Mr. Benny). As always, I’m very happy you Bunkies have decided to join me in the annual review of my Desert Island Discs selections, Godzilla’s Atoll LPs, brought to you by ACME Eagle Hand Soap Radio Hour (and Toho Studios.) As I’m sure you remember, ACME’s in-house law firm, Hungerdunger, Hungerdunger, Hungerdunger, Hungerdunger and McCormick (and don’t be like Jamison and leave out the most important Hungerdunger,)
urged me to avoid copyright issues with the BBC, and encouraged this partnership.)
(In case you’ve never heard of the BBC show Desert Island Disc – people are asked what music they would bring with them if they were stranded on an island for an indefinite period of time.
Here are the rules:
1.) You make choose 8 pieces of music and tell me why you chose them.
2.) You then get to choose one book to take with you (you automatically get to take the Complete Works of Shakespeare and either the Bible or another appropriate religious or philosophical work.)
3.) You get to choose one luxury, which must be inanimate and of no use in escaping the island or allowing communication from outside. (You can cheat here – since you can listen to music, there is some form of electric, so you may have refrigeration for your luxury item.)
There is nothing profound or deep in my Godzilla’s Atoll LP choices – they’re just songs that I like (in no particular order)
Quiet Nights of Quiet Stars – Antonio Carlos Jobim
I can think of very few songs that immediately put me into a cocktail lounge mood. Being on a desert island I had better be in a cocktail mood. Also I could tell myself the joke that Bossa Nova music was clearly invented to relay technical difficulty messages by local TV stations from my childhood. (Don’t worry if you don’t get the reference, you have to be past 60 and from NYC to get it.) If this one doesn’t grab you, why not listen to Sinatra’s take on the song; I will be hearing it in my mind while I’m on the desert island. I’m not counting this as my usual Sinatra song – it’s my list. If you have a problem contact my lawyers.
Haitian Divorce – Steely Dan
My annual dilemma, choosing the Steely Dan cut. I’ve often said that I probably don’t need a Steely Dan song; I could call them up at will in my mind. I’m always amused by film reference in the middle of the song. And as usual, I won’t forget my Steely Dan tshirt!
Comfortably Numb – Pink Floyd
This year, I remembered Pink Floyd and this is one of my favorite songs – but I think that choosing your favorite Pink Floyd cut is like choosing you favorite kid. As it is mentioned on many websites, the song contains the greatest guitar solo ever – I will enjoy blasting this on the beach.
God Only Knows – The Langley Schools Music Project
I used to say that Caroline No (or Carol I Know) was the saddest Beach Boy song ever recorded. But I was wrong – this obscure recording from the 1970s of Canadian middle school music class is the saddest and most pure recording of any of Brian’s music. (I will admit that I had to stop listening the the entire CD because I was weeping so hard. Seek it out the The Langley Schools Music Project.)
Shangri-La – Electric Light Orchestra
I loved ELO as a kid. I saw them play twice at Madison Square Garden. It was as close as I was ever going to get to seeing the Beatles. I could only imagine blasting this on a beach at sunset.
If You Are But A Dream – Frank Sinatra
I’ve once again gone with the earlier Sinatra this year, although as I’ve gotten older, I’m more and more appreciating the older Sinatra – his voice nearly gone but full of emotion. And since we’re going with the Capital years, why not go with the full out heartbreak one.
Shipbuilding – Elvis Costello
I always needs a 5 pm song, especially on a desert island. This is a perfect one particularly with the addition of Chet Baker. Please check out this cover version of the song by the great British musician Robert Wyatt.
A Salty Dog – Procol Harum
This was the hardest choice because only had one more choice. So I went to this choice. It’s the first appearance of Procul Harum on the list – (this might be the most under-rated epic song from the 60s,) – and it seems to be keeps with this year’s somewhat nautical theme.
The book I’d take with me would be Julia Child’s Mastering the Art of French Cooking (both volumes)
I’d have something to do every day, reading about the 781 recipes the two books contain (which works out to about 2 recipes a day).
As always, the luxury item would be a refrigerator full of Bombay Sapphire (and maybe, tub or two of kalamata olivies.)
So that’s eight songs (and that’s all you’re allowed.) Once again, I felt very conflicted with my choices. There are so many artist I didn’t go with this year. I’ll try to get marooned again next year for my birthday, and see how I do.
Demand Euphoria!
The Haus of Dcaligari 