Desert Island Discs

Just in case you're wondering, the idea behind Desert Island Discs is that you must choose the ten discs that you would take with you if you were to be stranded on a desert island (with a CD player and electricity).

The Ten Discs

Jethro Tull - Minstrel in the Gallery

Pips out Heavy Horses and Thick as a Brick because it could keep me interested for longer. Highlights include "Cold Wind to Valhalla" and the title track.

Pink Floyd - The Wall

Not just an album (or double album for that matter), but an experience. Although this is mainly a vehicle for Roger Waters' ideas Dave Gilmour's guitar has some fine moments too.

Genesis - Trespass

An old old Genesis record here. Features Peter Gabriel in fine voice and includes some real gems including Stagnation, White Mountain and The Knife.

Marillion - Script for a Jester's Tear

Highly emotive debut album by Marillion. Narrowly beats "Clutching at Straws" for my pick from Marillion. Incidentally Marillion were originally called Silmarillion, but were forced to change their name by the Tolkien foundation.

Sky - The Best of Sky Volumes I & II

I'm usually not fond of best of albums, but this contains almost all of Sky's first album (probably their best) as well as a lot of other great tracks including Dies Irae.

Steeleye Span - Below the Salt

Features the only song sing in Latin to get into the British top 5. A great piece of folk rock featuring liberal amounts of sex and death. Oh, and spotted cows.

The Beatles - Sergeant Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band

Beats the White Album because I refuse to take Revolution 9 onto a desert island with me. My favourite track on here is Within You Without You.

Yes - Close to the Edge

An absolute classic from the title track to Siberian Khatru. Progressive rock's finest hour. Not as pretentious as Tales from Topographic Oceans, but still lots of great virtuoso work.

Robbie Robertson - Robbie Robertson

Unlike the other discs I wouldn't call myself a big fan of the artist. I just think this is an absolutely brilliant album. Showdown at Big Sky, Broken Arrow and Sweet Fire of Love (featuring U2) are all classic tracks, and none of the other songs are anything but inspired.

Ensemble Clément Janequin - Fricassée Parisienne

My sole early music disc in this selection, this is a wonderful collection of complex sixteenth century chansons with one or two lute pieces thrown in for extra measure.

Things I'd Miss

Some of the artists that I'd miss include Dire Straits, Queen, Fairport Convention, Led Zeppelin, Clannad, Billy Joel, Allan Stivell, Van Morrison and World Party. I'd also miss my early music, especially John Dowland's pieces, stuff by the Broadside Band and the Musicians of Swanne Alley and anything produced by David Munrow.