Maybe I'll bring... 'How to Build a Boat.'

Last year I came up with the best way to avoid copyright issues with the BBC, I teamed up with Toho Studios and renamed Desert Island Discs, Godzilla's Atoll LPs, brought to you by ACME Eagle Hand Soap Radio Hour.

(In case you've never heard of the BBC show Desert Island Disc - people are asked what music they would bring with them if they were stranded on an island for an indefinite period of time.

Here are the rules:

1.) You make choose 8 pieces of music and tell me why you chose them.
2.) You then get to choose one book to take with you (you automatically get to take the Complete Works of Shakespeare and either the Bible or another appropriate religious or philosophical work.)
3.) You get to choose one luxury, which must be inanimate and of no use in escaping the island or allowing communication from outside. (You can cheat here - since you can listen to music, there is some form of electric, so you may have refrigeration for your luxury item.)


Once again there is nothing profound or deep in my Godzilla's Atoll LP choices - they're just songs that I like (in no particular order)


Life on Mars - David Bowie



I'm going to start with the toughest. Choosing you favorite Bowie cut is like choosing you favorite kid. After I boiled it down for the purposes of Desert Island Disc, I mean Godzilla's Atoll LP, again ACME doesn't want a problem with the BBC, I had two possible picks. I could go with either Heroes or Life on Mars. After much soul searching, since I went with Heroes the last time, I'll go with Life on Mars. Hopefully, I'll be able to get though it before I start crying.


Gold Dust Woman - Fleetwood Mac



I so clearly remember when Rumours came out, back when the earth cooled and formed a hard crust. I've mentioned before, that my sister and I wore the needle on the record player out playing the album. Currently, my daughter loves Fleetwood Mac and enjoys this cut.


I loves you Porgy - Nina Simone



This is a fantastic version of a Gershwin song performed by a phenomenal artist. Listening to this would wipe away any drab thought I might have while on the island; the music will carry you away.


Downtown Trains - Tom Waits



Why wouldn't you want to listen to Tom Waits? I don't think I trust anyone who doesn't like Tom Waits.


Crying - Puddles Pity Party



It's a very good dry martini of a song.


Gaucho - Steely Dan



Ah, the ever present Steely Dan cut. I probably wouldn't need a Steely Dan song; I could call them up at will in my mind. But this is the perfect song to have with you while stuck on a desert island.


If You Are But A Dream - Frank Sinatra



I can't have every Sinatra song, so this year I picked one of early Sinatra hits; one could listen to this and imagine the Sinatra songs to come while you're on a desert island.


Johnny Strikes Up The Band - Warren Zevon



I had to have only one Warren Zevon (and I picked Mohammed's Radio last year,) I figured I go with one of the 'cheerful' ones. Also it's rumored to be about the band Queen.


Everyday Is Like Sunday - Morrissey



Even on a desert island, you need songs about how miserable it is to be in a nice place. And why not have Morrissey ask you to await Armageddon


The book I'd take with me would be War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy (the 2007 Richard Pevear and Larissa Volokhonsky translation)

It was a difficult choice between this and Anna Karenina, but I've already read the later two other times and I think I am old enough to better understand Pierre's journey throughout the novel.

As always, the luxury item would be a refrigerator full of Bombay Sapphire (and maybe, tub of kalamata olivies.)

So that's eight songs (and that's all you're allowed.) This year I feel content with my choices (although I didn't go with Elvis Costello; hopefully he is doing well.) I'll try to get marooned again next year for my birthday, and see how I do.



Demand Euphoria!