Backtracking Forward: Desert Island Disc(s)
posted in: Features
The bags are being packed sooner than expected and it’s time to make some quick decisions about the records I am being stranded with on a deserted island. This will be my second to last “Backtracking Forward” post on OurStage.com. I am not going off to live on an island in seclusion for infinity nor am I even leaving the state for that matter”life’s turbulent journey has led me to end this column indefinitely. So with that being said, I offer you, faithful reader, a rundown of 5 LPs that would be pulled from my shelves at the last minute were I to be suddenly whisked away. I previously wrote about 2 others that would make the cut and based on a conversation the other day, my list would really need to encompass at least 100 records in order to maintain sanity while in hibernation. But let’s not get carried away. Here’s the cream of the crop from a guy who has more records than you can shake a stick at (believe me, I tried!!)
Kruder and Dorfmeister- The K&D Sessions
This 4 vinyl set was long ago my introduction into the world of electronic music. Rather than being exposed to the fast-paced club electronica my peers were keen on, the dubby, trippy, jazzy downtempo remixes from Kruder & Dorfmeister opened my eyes to a world where one did not need instruments to create captivating music. From the reworking of Depeche Mode’s Useless to the hard spits and pounding bass found on the Bug Powder Dust remix, the K&D Sessions is a soundtrack that is ingrained into my memory note for note, beat for beat.
Blood, Sweat & Tears- Child is Father to the Man
There is so much to be said about this disc and not enough words in the English language to cover it. The debut LP by Blood, Sweat & Tears (long before the commercial success of Spinning Wheel) is a smorgasbord of harmonious horn arrangements, soulful vocals, jazzy interludes, bluesy connotations and a powerhouse lineup of incredible musicians adding their own genre-specific talents to a cutting edge rock band. The concept was the dream child of one Al Kooper”the most underrated 1960’s icon still alive”and still stands the test of time over 40 years after its arrival.
Leonard Cohen- Songs of Love and Hate
The dark and sometimes morbid crooning of Leonard Cohen is not for everyone. Something about this Canadian performer though struck a chord in my life at the right moment and this LP was my introduction into Leonard’s mind and soul. It’s a very gentle yet coarse album that is truly exposed when the right environment is in place” that being pain, darkness, rain, and sorrow. Hey, life isn’t always a pretty picture!
Isaac Hayes- Hot Buttered Soul
Isaac Hayes stands out as one of the few musicians whose work and efforts contributed to the commercial advancement of funk, soul and R&B in the commercial music scene. This ground breaking album introduced concepts like extended 12-minute tracks with talking and rapping behind lush and heavy arrangements of horns and strings caked throughout luminous jams from the almighty backing band, The Bar-Kays. Hot Buttered Soul was my first step into a world of music that was not The Grateful Dead, Jimi Hendrix, and countless other rock ‘n’ roll legends. Its rich and sensuous tone is blended with hard rhythm and heartfelt songwriting, resulting in a LP that leaves countless goose bumps on my body as the needle rides the grooves.
Thelonious Monk- Criss-Cross
Unlike rock and funk, where picking out my favorite albums turns into a day long endeavor, I never had a strong and personal attachment to jazz music. Beyond experimenting with Miles Davis’ Kind of Blue and Coltrane’s Blue Train, it took some time for a jazz artist to make it into my desert island suitcase. Once I heard Monk’s Criss-Cross”his second LP for Columbia Records”I knew my search was over. Recorded at a time of great creativity and stability in his career (his later years were influenced by heavy drug use and psychological problems), Criss-Cross is a beautiful LP of original and traditional material. With the simple ingredients of bass, piano, drums and sax, this quartet offers up a platter of straightforward American jazz music riddled with Monk’s brilliant ivory tickling.
You might be surprised at some of the choices appearing in my carry-on luggage. All of these selections are foundational records from my formative years of digging for wax and listening to them now unleashes a flood of emotions and memories from my past. That’s the beauty of record collecting and true music appreciation” it’s personal. When those goose bumps appear while listening to a certain song or album, you know that disc is spending an eternity with you.