Desert Island MP3s

A little while ago, I was tagged by Jennie over at Jennie’s World Today

1. Name five songs or pieces of music that you would take with you to a desert island for an extended/indefinite stay;
2. Name the book you would take
3. Finally, name one luxury item that you simply couldn’t be without (this sort of assumes that you are dumped on the island with very limited resources and very little in the way of a set up camp).

This was the subject of much discussion between Mr Dancing and me.  To choose only five pieces of music is very difficult but, as it’s only an imaginary island I’m going to, I shan’t worry too much about it.  My decision depends on my mood at the time, so let’s go for it NOW.

My 5 pieces of music are as follows:

1  I just LOVE Eric Bibb and would choose his amusing Panama Hat because the lyrics are so appropriate for a desert island.  I can find neither the song nor the lyrics at the moment so, although it’s cheating, I’ll post this YouTube clip of another song I’ve seen him perform – at least he’s WEARING the panama hat!

2  One of James Taylor’s songs HAS to be included too and I’m going to choose Close Your Eyes from the 1971 album Mud Slide Slim and the Blue Horizon.  I hope he sings it when I see him in June. (The YouTube sound is not great on this rather old clip but you get the idea)

3  Mozart’s Clarinet Concerto – totally beautiful and to be listened to with closed eyes a la James Taylor’s instruction in the  previous song!

4 Something by The Spooky Men’s Chorale of Australia -  probably The Beatles’ And I Love Her… again I hope to see them in the summer.

5 Something by Bruce Springsteen …. Philadelphia would do nicely.

As I enjoy his programmes so much the book will have to be  Ray Mears Outdoor Survival Handbook

My luxury item, given that there probably wouldn’t be an Internet connection,would be a wind-up radio with which I might, with a bit of luck, be able to listen to Radio 4.

Thanks Jennie – that was good fun.

As Jennie mentioned in her post if anyone wants to take part, feel free but do post a comment so I can be nosey too!

Spirit I Am

I have spent several days clearing out clutter and junk and generally sorting out “stuff” and was going to post about it. I looked for Eric Bibb’s “Too Much Stuff” which pretty much sums up how I feel at the moment. I couldn’t find the lyrics online – they are on his CD downstairs but I am too lazy to get it and type them out! As I was searching online, I came across another YouTube clip of him singing a song which I love.

Time for a song

It’s a few months since we saw Eric Bibb at the Theatre Royal, Bath – so time for a song from him, I think, to soothe us in these troubled times.

(picture quality improves after a second or two)

Eric Bibb

We went to see the wonderful Eric Bibb at the Theatre Royal, Bath last night. What a treat to see and hear him again. He is such a delightful elegant man and a talented singer/songwriter and guitar player. He played 2 of my favourite songs “Diamond Days” and “The Cape”and introduced his daughter Yana – it is amazing to think of so much talent in one family, handed down no doubt by Eric’s father Leon, an American Folk singer and friend of Paul Robeson.

I was introduced to Eric’s music by my special friend,
Mrs Dooberydonks (another anonymity ploy!). I just loved his music the first time I heard it. We first saw him a few years’ ago at The Cheese and Grain in Frome where, like a groupie, I queued to have my CD signed. I felt I just HAD to say what a wonderful concert it had been and could I shake his hand? “No …” he said in his deep velvety voice. “Oh no” I thought “I must have offended him in some way”. He stood up, turned to me and gave me a huge bear hug “I just wanna give you a H-U-U-G”.

Unfortunately no photography was allowed last night, but I took this rather blurry photo of him last summer.

Last night he was supported by a lovely singer called Emily Maguire with a beautiful voice. I’ve been Googling to find out more about her:

“In her mid-twenties, she gave up her London flat and moved to a ‘Tin, Wood and Potato Sack Shack’ in the Australian bush, where she has been living and working ever since. The shack, which cost just under AS$1,000 to construct and furnish, is built on nine tree trunks, with walls made from wood, potato sacks and 100-year-old corrugated iron recycled from the local village post office. The furniture is either hand-made or recycled: the fireplace is made from a 44-gallon oil drum while the spiral staircase is hand carved from 200-year-old timber.” Lots more about her music on her website: http://www.emilymaguire.com/index.html