By Isle of Wight Observer
When the great and the good are invited onto Radio 4’s ‘Desert Island Discs’ they can only choose eight songs. Of all the soul-stirring music you’ve ever heard, by your favourite artists, how could you possibly pick just eight tracks? Which of your all-time favourites would you be forced to leave out?
Music is a huge part of most people’s lives. When we were little, my Mum always had the radio playing in the background; I became obsessed. In the late ‘60s, we heard Tony Blackburn spinning the discs on BBC Radio 1. Whenever I hear those golden oldies now, good and bad memories come flooding back. In those days everyone tuned to Radio 1 because there were no other legal music stations. Their audience numbers were incredible, but still they went off air early evening. To satisfy the insatiable demand, those desperate to hear more tuned to Radio Luxembourg or the pirate stations. There was no FM then, and that AM reception was truly terrible as the signal faded in and out.
I was only 11 or 12 in 1973, and the legendary Johnnie Walker had the lunchtime show on R1. Every Tuesday, it fell to Johnnie to recap the Top 20 chart and infamously, one lunchtime, he was very rude about the Bay City Rollers. In those days the weekly chart rundowns seemed vitally important; who was up, who’s down and crucially, was there a new number one? Did you tape record your favourite songs off the radio too; I certainly did! The ‘60s, ‘70s and ‘80s were the glory days of Top of the Pops too; music lovers had little else.
Many people think the best music was made back then, but I’m not quite that blinkered. Much as I love the Beatles or Motown, some of my favourite music was created far more recently.
Twenty-five years ago, Johnnie Walker became a friend and, since then, we’ve enjoyed some great times together. We’ve seen some incredible artistes live and had a few memorable back-stage experiences. A couple of weeks ago, Johnnie had an idea. Not for broadcast; he offered to do a sort of private Desert Island Discs interview with me. All I need do, was pick eight of my favourite songs to play between the chat. I was thrilled; what a lovely thing for my nearest and dearest to have when I’m gone. He added,“Trust me, you’ll have a terrible time picking just eight songs.”
I’ve often wondered which tunes would make my all-time top 10 or 20. I do have a few funeral song ideas, but that’s not quite the same thing. I love Elvis and the Beatles; everyone knows their music will be heard 100 years from now. So, I immediately chose ‘A day in the life’ or ‘In my life’, but in the end, the Beatles haven’t made my list at all, and nor has Elvis! I’m a massive Kate Bush fan, but she hasn’t made it either. My favourite live performer is Bruce Springsteen, but which track? ‘Thunder Road’ is my favourite, but I love the sentiment of ‘Waiting on a Sunny Day’.
Having once been a radio person, I’ve chosen ‘W.O.L.D’ by Harry Chapin; it’s the sad story of a divorced disc jockey drifting from station to station, trying to keep his career alive. I definitely wanted Jackson Browne, ‘In the Shape of a Heart’. The Quo of course and the Eagles, ‘Hotel California’. I can’t possibly leave out Wet Leg, but which track? And what about Steely Dan’s ‘Haitian Divorce’?
I’m meant to be recording the interview any day now, provided I can ever make my mind up about what to pick!