It occurred to me to write this post when I most recently listened to what to me is the greatest cover version of all time, David Bowie covering himself with the version of Cat People on the Let’s Dance album, featuring the epic production of Niles Rodgers and even more epic spare solo-ing of Stevie Ray Vaughan. At that time I mused to someone in the USA that “this would definitely be on my list of Desert Island Discs”. They had no idea what I meant.
For readers outside the UK (the UK is a distant #2 in terms of readership to the USA), Desert Island Discs has been broadcast on the BBC for nearly 80 years, with a simple format. Guests are asked what they would take with them if stranded on a desert island, with their limits being:
- 8 tracks
- 1 book
- 1 luxury item
So here is a list from me, created instinctively in the moment, each with a link to a live performance (where possible), though the original album tracks often even better to listen to. Each of these I have and could listen to over and over again.
Tracks:
- Cat People – David Bowie – the live version from the 1983 tour (I saw him live then), the album version way better, three words. Stevie. Ray. Vaughan.
- Black – Dave – the live version from the Brits 2020 – majestic, one of the greatest live performances and mic drops I’ve ever seen, with extra lines dropped in at the end that was absolutely of that political moment. Music has often been a vehicle for social and political change, the optimist in me hopes for change in this arena.
- No woman, no cry – Bob Marley – no-one has done more for his country through his music and being. The live 1975 lyceum version is simply breathtaking.
- One World – John Martyn (my favourite individual musician, brings back fond memories of gigs in Scotland in the late 80s. Listen to the album version for the geese. Seriously)
- Thunder Road – Bruce Springsteen – the greatest live track ever from the greatest live performer I’ve had the pleasure so see play.
- My Wanderings in the Weary Land – The Waterboys (track from 2020 that had me pounding around parks in lockdown, Mike Scott blending his “big music” years into the present)
- Casta Diva – Maria Callas – La voix du siècle. I love this track simply for the way the goosebumps grow stronger when the choir builds in behind her (the La Scala version here)
- Bye Bye Blues – Oscar Peterson – the genius jazz pianist at the height of his powers live at Montreux in 1977. The crowd erupts in ecstasy as he ends his solo.
That was an instinctive list, and also tough to cut out so many great musicians and tracks. Editing is harder than writing for sure. Still, each of these is so brilliant that they bring a reminder to be humble enough to acknowledge that there are powers in the universe greater than humans can comprehend, evidence by these performances.
My one book? The Alchemist, by Paolo Coelho. Every time I read it, I take something new from it.
My luxury? An aeropress and a magical bag of dark roast coffee beans that replenishes itself 🙂