A Dozen for the Desert Island

[ROBERT M.]

Thanks for your list Marian

Jeff, the lead singer of the Blue Nile is Paul Buchanan, who has a very distinctive voice. He sang the duet with Sharleen Spiteri, maybe because they are both Scottish have you listened to Sharleen Spiteri's latest solo album Melody ?? my partner has the album, which I rate highly, some excellent songs

You may have heard of The Korgis single Everybody's Gotta Learn Sometime, before. It was a top three hit over here, and charted in the US too, in the early eighties

[jon]

Hi Paul

Well, I wouldn't claim that "September" is necessarily E, W and F's best track, I just choose it for variety and because I ...well, like it. But there could have been others (as is the case with most of the other artists/composers I chose, but I guess that goes for everyone). Looking forward to seeing your own list, hopefully soon.

Thanks for your list, Marian. "Oh that Feeling" is an interesting, slightly surprising, JM choice but I guess the exercise is all about what the music means to you, and this clearly means a lot to you. I like "Time After Time" as your other choice.

Is the Carpenters' "The Rainbow Connection" the same song that comes from Sesame Street?

[paul jh]

Here is my (baker's) dozen:

All Woman - Lisa Stansfield (my favourite Lisa song from my all time favourite album)

Another Star - Stevie Wonder (will definitely get me moving ... how can one go to a desert island without Stevie?)

Concerto in F - George Gershwin (any pianist and orchestra) (more powerful than the indigo piece)

Enigma Variations - Elgar (any orchestra) (incredible work, perfect for pondering the lovely green English countryside)

Ethel Baby - Matt Monro (not my very favourite Matt Monro song, but it's one that continues to leave me breathess ... it's all about the matchless phrasing, emotion, vocal range, and understated instrumental backing)

Feel - Robbie Williams (perhaps the best produced pop recording ever made)

It's Too Late - Carole King (the instrumental interlude never fails to stop me in my tracks)

The Look Of Love - Dusty Springfield (the most sensual recording ever)

My Mistakes Were Made For You - The Last Shadow Puppets (I have to take my favourite song of 2008 with me, and it will remind me of Yorkshire!)

On Bended Knee - Boyz II Men (the only song that makes me cry every single time I hear it)

Over You - Gabrielle (the greatest soul recording ever made)

Riders On The Storm - The Doors (sublime ... I've just recently begun to appreciate this song and the band)

We're Gonna Change The World - Matt Monro (again, not my favourite Matt Monro song, but I could spend hours thinking about the lyrics and hearing new aspects of the vocals and instrumental arrangement)


It's impossible to choose just one as I love them all, so I will choose the song that broke all records (#1 for five months) on my monthly survey of favourite songs:

Feel

[paul jh]

Oh no, I forgot Doris Day. How could have I done that? I must bring along:

In The Still Of The Night by the best interpreter of Cole Porter songs, Doris Day

[mariana44]

Very interesting choice Paul--not what I would have expected from you-so it just goes to show !!

Jon--I am like you, and I really love "September" by EWF---I also love "Boogie Wonderland" and "After the love has gone" and "Let's Groove". If my top 12 had been my top 20, I would definately have included at least one of those tracks.

I do not know if "The Rainbow Connection" came from Sesame Street---I know it was written by Paul Williams---I have it sung by Kermit the Frog, from the Muppet Movie--and also JM recorded it just recently--but Karen;s version gets me every time'

I found a web-site once, that dissected every line of "The Rainbow Connection"---which was interesting , as some of the lyrics are quite strange---
eg "Why are there so many songs about rainbows--and what's on the other side" so this website was saying---just how many songs about rainbows are there--I got to about 6.

I chose "Oh that feeling" by JM for reasons stated earlier, also it was on the back of one of the 1st JM 45's that I bought, and I have never, ever heard it on radio.

Oh---and Paul--I have noticed that your Top 12 actually included 14 tracks!! Very clever how you did that

[john]

I am pretty sure "The Rainbow Connection" did come from Sesame Street.

[Marian]

Interesting selection Paul. I had expected more Classical tracks.
Marian

[mariana44]

I can see no sign anywhere on the internet, that suggests "The Rainbow Connection" was ever involved with Sesame Street--although it first appeared in the Muppet Movie sung by Kermit, which is the version I have, plus on Youtube Debbie Harry duets with Kermit on this song.

I guess that is no different to Johnny Mathis singing along with Kermit and Miss Piggy, on a "Wuthering Heights" spoof---which sounds strange--but I have it on dvd--a beautiful song and a lovely story between Kermit and Miss Piggy, that is really very, very moving. I have not heard the song anywhere else, but I think it could be called "Never before, and never again".

[keithgood838]

Mariana
Don't mention The Rainbow Connection in my presence;
although I love the song, whenever I listen to it I can't
stop myself from singing it ad nauseam. Talk about an ear-worm ...
Keith

[ROBERT M.]

Thank goodness for "bakers" as I too needed an extra slice when adding my top 12 (13) pleased you added Ethel Baby, Jeff, as it hardly get's a mention on here, but it is a superb rendition by Matt...............definitely underated

[mariana44]

Actually, it is not a song that is often heard on the radio--perhaps more so, since Karen Carpenter's version was released.

[ROBERT M.]

Still waiting for the pesky Londoners top 12 tunes

[mariana44]

We are indeed--and I think we will be getig 24 tunes as Harry and Lena are doing a list each .

[Lena & Harry Smith]

Sorry about the delay, all due to family distractions.
Well here's a list from one half of the Pesky Londoners, and like you've said it's tough picking just Twelve, but here goes, and the other half should follow quite soon.

1. If Love Were All....from Alma Cogan, who gave so much in so short a time.
2. Over The Rainbow.... The Mormon Tabernacle Choir. my favourite version that holds a special memory.
3. Well Gather Lilacs, Sinatra doing perfect justice to this Ivor Novello song.
4. Strike Up The Band..., Matt Monro, showing that combined with the Great Nelson Riddle he could swing with the best.
5. Sanctuary Of The Heart....Albert Ketelby.. beautiful melody from British Light Music.
6. .Al Di La...... Al Martino.. meaning Beyond ( a 1961 Eurovision entry by Betty Curtis.--- but this is better.
7. It's Magic, ....Doris Day. -An early favourite for me and with servicemens regular requests on "Two-way Family Favourites."
8. I'll See You Again....Mario Lanza. Composer Noel Coward, and never sung better.
9. Let's Fall In Love.....Noel Coward --so clever, so funny.
10. Softly As I Leave You.... Matt Monro. perfect phrasing and meaningful lyrics.
11. Danny Boy....David Hughes Tenor, beautiful song, beautifully sung.
12. Fascination .....Al Martino... regarded as our song.
My First choice from this list I think would be "We'll Gather Lilacs" I adore Ivor Novello's music.
My memory goes back some years to a hotel in Jersey one evening when a pianist who was present had previously been pianist for Gracie Fields, Diana Dors and Vera Lynn.
He asked me what i would like him to play, and he played all Ivor Novello's classic numbers one after the other.

[mariana44]

Great list Lena---but don't forget you have still to pick just ONE out of that list..