From: Stuart Borthwick
Message:
I was recently asked to do the old Desert Island Discs thing (by the
UK+Ireland branch of the International Association for the Study of Popular
Music). I always found this a bit confusing - nowadays I'd take ten 700mb
CDs with MP4s on (about 2000 tunes, I reckon), but in the spirit of the
thing, I went for following, in chronological order. Not much dance music on
it, but you ain't going to doing much dancing on a Desert Island (although
nobody's looking so why not?):
³Iıll Be Your Mirror² - Velvet Underground and Nico
For the fact that itıs one of the few Velvets tracks with both Nico and John
Cale on it. The Velvet Undergroundıs four albums are all fantastic, but the
first one stands out for its combination of light and shade thereıs sweet
love songs, Nicoıs other-worldly vocals, John Caleıs viola noise, and Lou
Reedıs outrageous lyrics.
³God Save The Queen² - Sex Pistols
For the whole package the song, the image, the management myth, the
promotional material by Jamie Reid, the filth and the fury. Nothing has
surpassed this in terms of simple outrage. Musically, itıs only rock ını
roll, but nonetheless, I like it.
³Transmission² Joy Division
For the drums. Combine Stephen Morrisıs drumming with the production skills
of the late Martin Hannett, and you end up with the perfect balance between
syncopation and regularity. Add Hookyıs bass and that utterly unique thingı
that Ian Curtis had, and you get the product of warped minds, blood, tears
and sweat.
³The Waltz² Dexyıs Midnight Runners (2003 ³To Stop the Burning² tour
version)
For the obsession. Students are often surprised when they find out that
their pop music tutors are as obsessed by music as they are. Imagine the
studentsı surprise when in 2003 their tutor goes missing to follow Dexyıs
Midnight Runners on tour! The tour started with this track, a 12-minute epic
that weaves a tale love lost, with oblique references to the Irish struggle
for national liberation.
³Mersey Paradise² - Stone Roses (as played at Spike Island)
For being in the right place, at the right time. I arrived in the North West
of England just as the Roses were breaking through, and their gig on an
island in the Mersey was epoch defining. The Roses werenıt a particularly
good live band, but they had an ability to make you believe that they were
the best band in the world, and thatıs what made them special.
³Weekender² - Flowered Up (video soundtrack)
For the video. 18 minutes and 20 seconds long, the video is a narrative
exposition of the illicit joys of acid house. It captures precisely the
euphoria of Saturday night acid-house culture, but also portrays the Monday
morning downside as well.
³Heaven² - Levellers 5 (from the album ³Springtime²)
For coming out of the blue, and disappearing without a trace. In early 1990,
I went to see local band The Boo Radleys, but left after seeing the support
act Levellers 5. I sat up all night, listening to the ³Springtime² album
over and over, but it was this one track that did it for me. I couldnıt
understand where the wracked emotion was coming from, and I still canıt.
³Nkosi Sikelele² Mzwakhe Mıbuli
For the irony of an ANC freedom fighter being framedı for an offence he did
not commit, and sent to prison in post-apartheid South Africa, where he
shared a single cell and toilet with 65 other prisoners. ³Nkosi Sikelele²
was the ANCıs rebel song, and itıs now the national anthem of South Africa.
"Murderer" - Buju Banton
For the grain of the voiceı with Bujuıs voice being more grainy than
most. Buju is largely misunderstood, due to the recording of a single
homophobic track in his youth. Since the release of thatı track, Buju has
released countless records that preach love and unity, and contain a
righteous sense of social justice. This is an exquisitely delivered protest
against the murder of his friend Panhead
³Abide With Me² by any decent Cup Final crowd.
For the lump in the back of my throat every time I hear it sung properly (en
masse). Also found on ³The English Disease² long player by the Barmy Army
a football sound/music collage. My PhD examiner, Professor Steve Redhead,
recording some of the football crowds on this album, and my colleague Stevie
Hardstaff did the sleeve.
Luckily, Nathan Wiseman-Trowse included ³Riverman² by Nick Drake in his
Desert Island Discs (Vol.21.1 2004), so I can borrow his copy when I get to
the island.
