Desert Island Discs

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0><tr> <td valign="top" colspan=2 height=90 BGCOLOR="#006699" TEXT="#080000" bgproperties="fixed" background="002285a1erlcgo.gif"> <div> <FONT SIZE="5" COLOR="#FFCC66" FACE="Arial" ><B>www.chapmansfriend.com</B></FONT><B>     |     </B><A HREF="default.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="www.chapmansfriend.com"><U><B>home</B></U></A></div> <div>                                                   </div> <div> </div> </td> </tr><tr> <td valign="top" width=210 BGCOLOR="#FFCC66" TEXT="#080000" background="001d2c00dkelyh.gif"> <div> <A HREF="id2.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Music"><U>Music</U></A></div> </td> <td valign="top" height=390 BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" TEXT="#080000"> <div> <B>Desert Island Discs</B></div> <div> <IMG SRC="01701010.gif" border=0 width="1" height="1" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> <B>Desert Island Discs (Part 1)</B></div> <bR> <div> It's an easy space-filler on personal web sites, isn't it? The "desert island discs" section. Where you advertise what ten (usually) records you think are the best or essential or your favorites or whatever...</div> <div> I'll confess, I have always thought of the concept as fairly arbitrary. Why limit yourself to 10 instead of 6 (some of you may remember the "Saturday Night Classic 6-Pack" on WLPX in Milwaukee) or 12 or some other figure? And while we're at it, why are they "desert island discs"? Couldn't they just as well be "saved from a burning building discs" or "Antarctic weather station discs" or "waiting out the call from the governor on death row discs"? If you really <I>were </I>on a desert island, would finding enough electricity or battery power to play music really be on your list of priorities?</div> <div> But, who am I to question tradition? So I have my list... or more accurately <I>lists</I>. I'm going to make up two lists of 10 because if I made up only one list, nearly all would be from before 1990. I think in different ways about albums on LPs vs. albums on CDs. But to leave the list like that would completely slight anything done since then. So I'm going to have one list of 10 for the pre-1990 years, and then one for the "CD era". Even though some of the records on the "older" list, I only have on CD anyway. So I'm inconsistent...</div> <bR> <div> <B>Part 1:</B></div> <div> Let's start off with people who <I>have </I>to be represented on a list like this. There was this group from the 60's called the... Beatles, was it? If I'm going to restrict myself to one selection per artist, the Beatles' album is <I><B>The Beatles</B></I>, otherwise known as the "White Album". My favorite Beatles' period is the <I>Revolver</I>/ <I>Rubber Soul </I>era, but the best thing about the White Album is that it has examples of nearly all of the group's musical styles. You might call that fractured or unfocused, but whatever it is you like about the Beatles, chances are you can find it on <I>The Beatles</I>. </div> <div> <B><U>Best Three Songs:</U></B> <I>Dear Prudence</I>; <I>Happiness is a Warm Gun</I>; and <I>Julia </I>(okay, so John was my favorite Beatle)</div> <bR> <div> There has to be a Springsteen record on here. Rather than <I>Born To Run </I>or <I>Born in the U.S.A.</I>, I've always thought that <I><B>Darkness on the Edge of Town </B></I>was the record I'd want to take with me. Maybe because it was my first Springsteen record, or maybe because it takes material that could be dark and depressing and gives it some optimism. Well, okay, <I>Factory </I>is depressing however you look at it.</div> <div> <B><U>Best Three Songs:</U></B> <I>Badlands</I>; <I>The Promised Land</I>; and <I>Darkness on the Edge of Town</I></div> <bR> <div> Bob Dylan certainly deserves a spot here, but I always associate him more with songs than specific albums. If I were picking the record with my favorite Dylan songs, it might be <I>Bringing it All Back Home</I>, with <I>Subterranean Homesick Blues</I>, <I>Maggie's Farm</I>, <I>It's All Over Now, Baby Blue</I>, ect.... but there are also some relatively inconsistent songs too. So I'll select <I><B>Blood On The Tracks</B></I>, whose songs aren't too shabby either and is more consistent.</div> <div> <B><U>Best Three Songs:</U></B> <I>Tangled Up In Blue</I>; <I>If You See Her, Say Hello</I>; and <I>Shelter From The Storm</I></div> <bR> <div> Elvis. (Costello, that is.) No list could be complete without one of his... but which one? I have almost equal regard for <I>Armed Forces</I>, <I>Get Happy!!</I>, and <I>Imperial Bedroom</I>, and which one I pick might just depend on my daily mood. Today, I'll pick <I><B>Get Happy!!</B></I>, if for no other reason-- 20 songs! Check back, though, and I might change my mind.</div> <div> <B><U>Best Three Songs:</U></B> <I>New Amsterdam</I>; <I>High Fidelity</I>; and <I>Riot Act</I></div> <bR> <div> The rest of the selections are from artists not necessarily on the "must be represented" list, but... they're all <I>real good</I>, and these records are just about perfect. In chronological order, the first <I><B>Cheap Trick at Budokan</B></I>, by none other than the Talking Heads... kidding. I was a big Cheap Trick fan, and this one combines all their best songs from that period <I>and </I>is one of the best live records ever made.</div> <div> <B><U>Best Three Songs:</U></B> <I>Come On, Come On</I>, <I>Need Your Love</I>, and <I>Surrender</I> </div> <bR> <div> Of all the "angry young men" records of the late-70's/early 80's, <I><B>Squeezing Out Sparks </B></I>by Graham Parker stands up better than any non-Elvis release.</div> <div> <B><U>Best Three Songs:</U></B> <I>Discovering Japan</I>; <I>You Can't Be Too Strong</I>; and <I>Passion is No Ordinary Word</I></div> <bR> <div> The Clash had a lot in common with Elvis and Graham Parker, but they were punk and therefore even angrier. <I><B>London Calling</B></I>, though, wasn't just an angry record, it was one that went beyond just "punk" and mixed in a bunch of musical styles.</div> <div> <B><U>Best Three Songs:</U></B> <I>London Calling</I>; <I>Spanish Bombs</I>; and <I>Lost in the Supermarket</I></div> <bR> <div> The irony of putting together these "pre-CD era" records is that I only discovered a few of them in the last few years... and so have them on CD anyway. <I><B>Shoot Out The Lights </B></I>by Richard and Linda Thompson is the one I have gotten most recently, and it kills me that it was in the public domain for 18 years without being able to enjoy it. Basically, it's a concept album about a disintegrating marriage, written and performed by a couple whose marriage was disintegrating. Song for song, it may be my favorite record, because to my ears, only one song is less than perfect, and even that one has its moments.</div> <div> <B><U>Three Best Songs:</U></B> <I>Walking On A Wire</I>; <I>Did She Jump Or Was She Pushed?</I>; and <I>Wall Of Death</I></div> <bR> <div> It won't come as any surprise that the post-90 list will have Aimee Mann representation, but even on this list I can't ignore 'Til Tuesday's <I><B>Everything's Different Now</B></I>. Really, it was the first Aimee solo record, as the "band" existed in name only. With just an exception or two, these songs could easily fit on any solo records.</div> <div> <B><U>Three Best Songs:</U></B> <I>Why Must I</I>; <I>(Believed You Were) Lucky</I>; and <I>The Other End (of the Telescope </I>(it kills me to have to leave off <I>"J" for Jules</I>)</div> <bR> <div> And finally, a record that really feels more like it should be on the "other" list because I have had the CD for over a decade, but I made the rules. James McMurtry's <I><B>Too Long In The Wasteland </B></I>is just a fantastic collection of songs, one that cursed him with a "new Dylan" label and only set the stage for record label disappointments in later years... but that's their problem, not ours. </div> <div> <B><U>Three Best Songs:</U></B><I> Painting By Numbers</I>; <I>Terry</I>; and <I>Too Long In The Wasteland</I></div> <bR> <div> <B>Part 2:</B></div> <div> Remember, this list is for CDs since 1990... Let's get it out of the way. There <B>must </B>be an Aimee Mann selection on this list. But which one? I could wimp out and say "it's whichever one I feel like on any given day"... but no, I will make an actual choice. There really is no way I can go wrong. My preference, whenever possible, is in favor of records that are as consistent as possible, and I guess <I><B>I'm With Stupid </B></I>is the most consistent <I>and </I>of course, has some of my favorite songs ever written. I just hate to leave any record with <I>Ghost World </I>or <I>4th of July </I>off this list!</div> <div> <B><U>Three Best Songs:</U></B><I> Long Shot</I>; <I>Ray</I>; and <I>It's Not Safe</I></div> <bR> <div> There are a few more obligatories... <I><B>Hollywood Town Hall </B></I>by The Jayhawks would probably be the one non-Aimee CD I have listened to most through the last 10 years. The band has evolved some since 1992, both in membership and in music style, and has continued to be great. Sometimes, though, you just can't beat the first time you heard somebody. Interesting note: I have actually <I>been </I>to the Hollywood Town Hall, the building on the CD cover.</div> <div> <B><U>Three Best Songs:</U></B><I> Waiting For The Sun</I>; <I>Crowded In The Wings</I>; and <I>Martin's Song</I></div> <bR> <div> If Mary Chapin Carpenter was recording 25 years ago, I doubt whether she would be categorized as a "country" singer-- she'd be thought of as a contemporary of Joni Mitchell and Carole King. Even today, I don't see her as having a lot in common with, say, Shania Twain, but that's how music is compartmentalized these days. <I><B>Come On Come On </B></I>is her best collection of songs, I think. Just one question: When this was recorded in 1992, it was "Mary-Chapin"... now it's just "Mary Chapin". What gives with the missing hyphen?</div> <div> <B><U>Three Best Songs:</U></B><I> Rhythm Of The Blues</I>; <I>I Am A Town</I>; and <I>Come On Come On</I></div> <bR> <div> When the aforementioned Aimee Mann was asked for <I>her </I>list of essential CDs, one of her selections was Elliott Smith's <I><B>XO</B></I>. I don't think I have to add too much except to say that I agree...</div> <div> <B><U>Three Best Songs:</U></B><I> Waltz #2 (XO)</I>; <I>Independence Day</I>; and <I>Everybody Cares, Everybody Understands</I></div> <bR> <div> And this might seem like an odd choice, since it's not made up of "current" material, but I love listening to <I><B>Ten Easy Pieces </B></I>by Jimmy Webb. These are his acoustic performances of songs which he wrote but were made famous by other singers... little tunes like <I>By The Time I Get To Phoenix </I>and <I>MacArthur Park</I>. Nothing you ever would have heard before :)</div> <div> <B><U>Three Best Songs:</U></B><I> Galveston</I>; <I>Wichita Lineman</I>; and <I>All I Know</I></div> <bR> <div> There is one more "obligatory" choice, but I'll save that for last...</div> <div> The rest of the list, in chronological order, starts with Tom Petty's <I><B>Wildflowers</B></I>. A few years ago I drew up a list of my 100 favorite songs of the 90's, and someone called me on the fact that there were no Tom Petty songs included. But, I tried to say in my defense, if I picked my top CDs <I>Wildflowers </I>would be there-- and here it is. </div> <div> <B><U>Three Best Songs:</U></B><I> Wildflowers</I>; <I>Only A Broken Heart</I>; and <I>A Higher Place</I></div> <bR> <div> James McMurtry's debut CD made my first list, and while <I><B>Where'd You Hide The Body </B></I>isn't quite up to that level, I have no problem listing it here. (Yes, it may not seem right for McMurtry to have 2 selections out of a combined 20, and the Beatles only one... what can I say, the Beatles haven't recorded for a while.) This is another CD where there are a lot of great songs, and my "three best songs" selections are <I>real </I>difficult.</div> <div> <B><U>Three Best Songs:</U></B><I> Iolanthe</I>; <I>Off And Running</I>; and <I>Levelland</I></div> <bR> <div> It seems to be a consistent opinion among Michael Penn fans that <I>Resigned </I>is his best work, and I love songs like <I>Try</I>, <I>Out Of My Hands</I>, and <I>I Can Tell</I>... but I still would have to pick <I>MP4 </I>for this list. </div> <div> <B><U>Three Best Songs:</U></B><I> Lucky One</I>; <I>Perfect Candidate</I>; and <I>Bucket Brigade</I></div> <bR> <div> "Ryan Adams? Gee I didn't know you liked <I>Cuts Like A Knife </I>so much!"</div> <div> No. It's <I>Ryan</I>, not <I>Bryan</I>. </div> <div> They say he writes something like two songs a day, but hopefully he will be spared the curse of being our generation's Steve Allen. I mean "his" generation, of course... sometimes I still think I'm 20 years younger than I am... Anyway, <I><B>Gold </B></I>is his latest, and he should be able to stay more renowned for his music than for his revolving ring of girlfriends. An aside: If you get a chance to see him play live don't miss it-- he is a true raconteur!</div> <div> <B><U>Three Best Songs:</U></B><I> New York, New York</I>; <I>La Cienega Just Smiled</I>; and <I>Nobody Girl</I></div> <bR> <div> And finally, the most recently-released CD on the list as well as being one of my obligatory choices... <I><B>Yankee Hotel Foxtrot</B></I>, by Wilco. Even though it was only released a month ago, I'm going to give it a pass onto the list. </div> <div> No. Of course, it's only been <I>officially </I>released since April 2002, but I've been listening to a bootleg copy semi-obsessively since September. I'm convinced that not only is is the best CD of last year, in 20 years' time it may well be considered a landmark recording.</div> <div> Roger Ebert once wrote how curious it was that film was a visual medium, but that 95% of our discussion of movies concerns plots, dialogue, ect., instead of how things <I>look </I>on the screen. I could turn this around to say that it's curious that most of our discussions of music are really about lyrics and the emotions they generate, instead of the sonic quality of the instruments and how they mesh together. Which brings me back to <I>Yankee Hotel Foxtrot</I>. The songs are very well-written, and some of them are brilliant-- but in terms of being a collection of songs, any Aimee Mann record is still superior. But it's the way that Wilco plays around with the instrumentation and arrangement that makes it memorable. Some will call me crazy, but the one record it reminds me most of is the Beatles' White Album... if not in cultural significance, at least in the way so many different musical styles were blended together to create a single musical offering, and in the way the band wasn't afraid to get weird-sounding in order to do what it wanted. If you will, check out <I>Revolution No. 9 </I>on the White Album... and then listen to <I>I Am Trying To Break Your Heart </I>or <I>Poor Places</I>.</div> <div> Greil Marcus dismissed Wilco recently as the latest band to remake <I>Revolver </I>and think they were special. With all due respect to the author of <I>Mystery Train </I>(still one of my favorite books), I think he's become a warped, frustrated old man.</div> <div> In case you haven't guessed, I like the CD quite a bit.</div> <div> <B><U>Three Best Songs:</U></B><I> I Am Trying To Break Your Heart</I>; <I>Jesus, etc.</I>; and <I>Ashes of American Flags</I></div> <bR> <div> Of course I reserve the right to change these selections at any time without warning!</div> <bR> </td> </tr></table></body>