I was having a pissed conversation with someone the other day about which Desert Island Discs I'd choose. Here they are - they're not necessarily the best songs in the world, or even by the artiste (though some are), but are the ones that mean the most to me right now, looking back at things, and why...
Copperhead Road - Steve Earle.
This song is the reason I bought a mandolin. I saw it on CMT when I was in my dodgy country phase and it snapped me right out of it. I think I saw it on Going Live once too, but I might have imagined that. The first real gig I went to (other than Richard Marx, which, great as it was, doesn't really count) was Steve Earle at the Shepherd's Bush Empire the night they filmed the "Johnny Too Bad" video, and it was incredible. As often happens with gigs, I was deaf for about a week, not because of the music, but because of some wanker whistling in my ear the whole time.
16 Miles - Boo Hewerdine
"Did you ever see London at night and not want to go home?" The first time I saw Boo at Glastonbury in 1998 this song blew me away. I went out and bought "Ignorance", and I don't think he's bettered it.
7 Day Mile - The Frames
The first time I saw The Frames was at the Boat Race in 1999 with about 3 other people. That gig was the benchmark I hold everyone else up to. It's why I don't like all that much music. The more recent albums have been a bit Coldplayesque, and they've been lacking something since Dave Odlum left to pursue Gemma Hayes, but if you don't love "Dance the Devil..." I have no time for you when it comes to music...
The Perfect Gentleman - The Broken Family Band
"I threw all my friends in the river, metaphorically, but with ugly concrete shoes". Beat that. The first time I heard this was also the first time I realised that The Broken Family Band were properly "top ten favourite band ever" good rather than a local band that I liked watching.
A Thing Well Made - The Mutton Birds
The Mutton Birds are another one of my favourite bands - they always had a sinister undercurrent, and this song demonstrated that more than any other, though "White Valiant" runs it close. I miss them a lot. I saw them a fair few times, but not enough.
February - Dar Williams
Dar's written a lot of amazing songs, but I think this is my favourite. Not sure why, it just resonates with me. "If It Wrote You" is also right up there.
Mercedes - Joseph Arthur
The first gig I ever went to at the Boat Race was Ron Sexsmith supported by Joseph Arthur. I'd just spent a day hanging about in HMV in Edinburgh listening to the Mutton Birds and Joseph Arthur on listening posts and getting inspired to write a song (guess which one), and it was dead cool seeing him in the flesh, especially as he was still really humble and grateful to have the chance to travel round playing to people. Not like when I supported him a few years later (and, frankly, kicked his arse). His Junkyard Hearts EPs are really cool, but none of the later albums have the innocence and passion of the first one.
The Church of John Coltrane - St Jude's Infirmary
Just cos it reminds me of what a great time I had in Glasgow in January with Small Town Boredom, and is pretty darn atmospheric ("I don't want you BACK, I dont' want YOU back, I don't WANT you back"). I considered putting something by Bon Jovi or Guns 'N' Roses or Bryan Adams or Skid Row or Logan in last, because of the huge effect they all had on my development as a guitar player, but that was a long long time ago now, or Tori Amos or Elbow just because of how bloody good they are, but you're only allowed 8... and I can't believe I've not put any Counting Crows in.
The book is "A Moveable Feast" by Ernest Hemingway, because, despite the fact that it's the most totally full of lies autobiography in the history of the world, it makes you want to make some kind of sacrifice to be an artist. Shame I've never been brave enough.
Dunno about the luxury. Maybe a squash court and robotic player that was programmed to always be just slightly less good than me...
Anyway, enough of this jollity. Just got back from playing at the Boathouse Open Mic. It was a good night. I played Watertight and Soaked to the Skin with the help of Rob Jackson and then a few of us somehow ended up at the Rose and Crown watching the karaoke.
I seem to have some kind of eye problem that makes it look like I've been crying all the time. Seems a bit unfair, as I've only been crying a bit of the time. I'm going to try and get the doctor to give me an appointment tomorrow, but I don't fancy my chances as they've got a bloody stupid system these days that means you have to phone within about a 30 second window to get in. I think it's so that they don't actually have to see anyone but hypochondriac old women with nothing wrong with them who know exactly when to call.