I was wondering about the desert island scenario and what forum members would take if they were only allowed one album ... Let's make that two just in case one is damaged in transit. It would be a very tough decision for me but I would go with ...

Joni Mitchell 'Hejira'



Perhaps for the quality of the songs, perhaps for the quality of Joni Mitchell's voice or maybe for the transcendental bass playing of Jaco Pastorius.


Hatfield and the North 'Hatfield and the North'



It might not take its place in history but this album has brought me so much pleasure since I first bought it when it came out in the early 1970s.

This question comes up a lot - of course I'd want the entire Shirley Collins catalogue and every record by Half Man Half Biscuit, but lets suppose these are not available then I'd probably take

If i could only take one album, it wouldn't be one I love, because that would send me insane. Better to take a masterpiece that does nothing for me, in this case The Captain's Trout Mask Replica would have to be the one.

quote:

Originally posted by FlipTop:
If i could only take one album, it wouldn't be one I love, because that would send me insane. Better to take a masterpiece that does nothing for me, in this case The Captain's Trout Mask Replica would have to be the one.

With that album you would get to the same place!

Easy: Jeff Buckley's "Grace"!

If you are allowing 2 albums then mine would be

quote:

Originally posted by FlipTop:
If i could only take one album, it wouldn't be one I love, because that would send me insane. Better to take a masterpiece that does nothing for me, in this case The Captain's Trout Mask Replica would have to be the one.

Good fast and bulbous choice and if you listen carefully enough you can grow fins and swim home

Well, Dr Jazz, I wouldn't mind if my desert island was in audible proximity to yours, but only if it was Hejira which survived the journey. I was never that impressed with the Hatfield's first album, but the Rotter's Club is still rather enjoyable.

But for me it would have to be Solti's Ring cycle - with 15 discs of sublime music, it would keep me hooked for ages.

CB

Clive, I don't think that Solti's Ring could be described as one album, or even two!

At best, it's four (one per opera), but really it's surely 14 on CD, or more on vinyl. Hardly within the spirit of the rules, old chap!

Beethoven Piano Sonatas Op. 109/110/111, played by Maurizio Pollini.

1) Bruce Springsteen - Born to Run
2) Bruce Springsteen - Darkness on the Edge of Town

Bach's Goldberg variations played by Helmut Walcha on the harpsichord.

It has everything from deep reflection to great joy, and a human warmth that never wears thin.

ATB from George

PS: To choose a second would be much harder! Perhaps Otto Klemperer leading the Beethoven Choral Symphony live in the Royal Festival Hall in 1960 [on Testament from a BBC tape held in the National Sound Archive]. This has a great deal and is a phenomenal performance of undoubtedly transcendental music, but would be played four times a year perhaps, not each day! Or Solchany playing Beethoven's Diabelli Variation on the piano. This might be more satisfying long term than the Choral Symphony as it has more range of emotion and invention.

For me it has to be Keith Jarrett- Koln Concert. The album that started my love affair with his music.

Townes Van Zandt - Live at the Old Quarter

quote:

Originally posted by Redkev:
If you are allowing 2 albums then mine would be

Those and Disintegration

quote:

Originally posted by Doctor Jazz:

Joni Mitchell 'Hejira'

Perhaps for the quality of the songs, perhaps for the quality of Joni Mitchell's voice or maybe for the transcendental bass playing of Jaco Pastorius.

Not to mention the transcendent guitar playing (guitar swooning is more like it) of Larry Carlton. And the transcendent quality of Joni's muti-tracked finger-picked acousto-electric guitar.

I would find it nearly impossible to bring just one album, but Hejira would be as good a candidate as any!

All best,
Fred

quote:

Not to mention the transcendent guitar playing (guitar swooning is more like it) of Larry Carlton. And the transcendent quality of Joni's muti-tracked finger-picked acousto-electric guitar.

Also Jaco Pastorius on bass.

Two copies of this.

Difficult - almost impossible:

Blue Train - John Coltrane

Ray LaMontagne - Till the Sun Turns Black