Desert Island Discs

On a Music forum for musicians in my local area, we have been trying to sort out our Desert Island Discs.

It's an interesting thread, and seems to confirm for the musicians that they really got into their particular instruments because of albums that had a great influence on them.

This was a bit of a labour of love for me as a player. I'm going to copy and paste the post I made that covers the material I cherish as a keyboard player and songwriter, and wonder if any of you want to add your Desert Island Discs in so we can see if one day we might form a gorgeous, world-conquering band.

Here's what I wrote over the weekend:

I can't post these chronologically or in order of greatest influence, and am not sure if I'll make ten, but some of the albums/CDs that have had the greatest effect on my emotions and on my playing over the years are:

Elton John - Tumbleweed Connection
The awesome piano playing. The wonderful voice. The fantastic songs.
Seen him live... ooh... maybe 20 times if I count...

Stevie Wonder - Songs In The Key Of Life
All of the above but add keyboards as well as piano.
Seen him live with a huge band at the O2. Astonishingly good.

Radiohead - The Bends
Beautiful. Emotional. Powerful. Crafted.
Seen them live. Seen Thom Yorke solo live. My wife is obsessed with him/them and now so am I. Superb.

The Beatles - Abbey Road
Sublime. Don't know if it can ever be topped. Emotional and intelligent stuff.

Ian Brown - Unfinished Monkey Business, or Golden Greats
Limited vocal range used SOOOO effectively lol. Seen him live at the Leas Cliff Hall (Folkestone) and it was my favourite gig ever. FANTASTIC guitarist and emphasis on tabla and other 'ethnic' percussion in his band. He had a barney with someone in the audience. Maybe par for the course. I haven't liked the last two releases but stuff from around 2000 to 2006 is wonderful... And then there's The Stone Roses, of course...

The Waterboys - This Is The Sea
Seen them live. In love with Mike Scott's singing and the pace and power of this band at best. Also adore the keyboard playing in the band. This album can make me cry.

Simple Minds - Sparkle In The Rain
I was bumped over to this band (on Walkman!) by a great A Level French class I taught in Sheffield. We went away on an exchange trip I arranged and I spent most of the fortnight with this in my ears... I love it. I like Jim Kerr's dodgy vocals... and I love the use of layered keyboards (piano plus strings, etc) over the guitarist's chunky (limited?) riffs... They are often slagged off in the press, but at their best I loved them and still do... I think Mel Gaynor's drumming on these albums is absolutely superb.

Tears For Fears - Songs From The Big Chair
I love Roland Orzabel's voice on this coupled with a lot of space in the songs and some sort of primitive autopercussion arrangements.

T.Rex - The Slider
T.Rex - Electric Warrior
T.Rex and Marc Bolan are absolute heros.
Electric Warrior is the first album I bought when I was about 11 or 12. These CDs are perfection for me.

The Who - Quadrophrenia
Absolutely love everything about this album. I am in love with it still. I love the piano/synth swells and additions to the songs, and the incidental instrumental passages. It excites me and makes me feel sad, this CD. Can You See The Real Me? Unbelievably good writing.

Professor Longhair - Crawfish Fiesta
Beautiful creole bouncy New Orleans piano/vocals. Party time!

Bruce Hornsby - Songs From The Southside
Pretty MOR, to be honest, but great guitar and beautiful swelling virtuoso piano licks over quite a good voice and some nicely crafted tunes.

Nik Kershaw - Radio Musicola
I have seen him play live twice. Fantastic ANTI fame record. This guy should be higher up this list. He is one of the most crafted British songwriters. The shifts in his songs are bloody clever. If you don't believe me, go and listen. He is a craftsman.

Clifford T Ward - Home Thoughts From Abroad
Wistful. Soft vocals. Muted arrangements. Poetic.

Talk Talk
Just about anything. The lead singer's voice brings tears to my eyes. I wish I had a voice like him. Lucky, lucky talented bastard.

This post done in a rush.

I have to say that the new Elton John / Leon Russell / The Union CD is highly likely to be on a favourite list a few years down the line. It's got so many qualities that make it a stand-out CD for me.

To conclude...
If I had to take one album away to an island, it would probably be Tumbleweed Connection... but it would be a struggle between that and T.Rex, The Slider.

What would you take?...

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