OK. I’m on a desert island with one mixtape and a CD player (and an outlet, and electricity — don’t ruin it, now). What have I chosen? Here it is, in no particular order except for the first five. Yes, there are some surprises. No, there is no Amy Grant.
1. Chain Gang, The Pretenders (Sorry, there is no better song in the world)
2. Over The Hills And Far Away, Led Zeppelin (Not a Zeppelin fan, just this)
3. Santo, Santo, Santo (Holy, Holy, Holy in Spanish — A heart-rending hymn)
4. The Tide Is High, Blondie (Auto American is the best 1980s album ever!)
5. People Who Died, Jim Carroll (Catholic Boy, the most underrated in the 80s)
6. Know Your Rights, The Clash (Relevant, even post-Bush)
7. Redemption Song, Bob Marley (We’ll be playing this at my funeral)
8. No Woman, No Cry, Bob Marley (A sort of Kindness Manifesto)
9. Green Pastures, Emmylou Harris and Ricky Scaggs (Longing for home? Play this)
10. Stumblin’ In, Suzi Quatro and Chris Norman (Why, yes, I AM embarrassed . . . )
11. I Can’t Trust No Man, The Dingees (Viva la Ska!)
12. Lord of the Dance, Various (A biography of Jesus — profoundly worshipful)
13. Changes, David Bowie (“And these children that you spit on . . . “)
14. The Times, They Are A-Changin’, Bob Dylan (Better as a poem than a song)
15. Blietzkrieg Bop, The Ramones (CBGB’s is gone, but the Ramones go on)
16. Somebody To Love, Queen (Freddie Mercury was a vocal genius . . . )
17. While My Guitar Gently Weeps, George Harrison (My favorite Beatle)
18. Death or Glory, The Clash (Joe Strummer’s voice is pure punk — a good thing)
19. Eres Tu, Mocedades (From the romantic travails of my youth)
20. Because The Night, Patti Smith (When lyrics, voice, and music all work)
21. The World’s Last Night, The Dingees (Romans 8 and a prophetic warning)
22. Dashboard, Modest Mouse (A really welcome “ear worm” you’ll hum all day)
23. Let My Love, Pete Townshend (So sweet. Who’d have thought it?)
24. Is She Really Goin’ Out With Him, Joe Jackson (It’s all in the beat)
25. Watchin’ The Detectives, Elvis Costello (His aim is always true to me)
Now, suppose there was a CD store or studio on this island, and I could pick three genre to enjoy for my entire stay. I’d go with second-wave ska, political first- and second-wave punk, and bluegrass. (Then my head would probably spin off from the dissonance of my musical choices). Three bands I’d invite over: The Clash, Flogging Molly, and, of course, the Dingees, I’d serve a crisp Viognier with an Indian buffet, and it would be a truly lovely deserted island and, perhaps, a glimpse of heaven.
Minus, I suppose, Blitzkrieg Bop . . .