Looking back, there you were and here we are

I , unexpectedly, find myself in, as Otello says ... in a melting mood. Time, like a bandit in the night, has crept up upon me -



It’s the 26h anniversary of my 39th Birthday (Thank you Mr. Benny). This was very strange year for me (those of you who know me, know why. Among other things, I'm facing yet another surgery.) As always, I'm very happy you Bunkies have decided to join me in the annual review of my Desert Island Discs selections, Godzilla’s Atoll LPs, brought to you by ACME Eagle Hand Soap Radio Hour (and Toho Studios.) As I'm sure you remember, ACME’s in-house law firm, Hungerdunger, Hungerdunger, Hungerdunger, Hungerdunger and McCormick (and don’t be like Jamison and leave out the most important Hungerdunger,) urged me to avoid copyright issues with the BBC, and encouraged this partnership.)

(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.)

There is nothing profound or deep in my Godzilla’s Atoll LP choices – they’re just songs that I like (in no particular order)


Us and Them – Pink Floyd



I'm repeating myself - but what the hell, it's my birthday, I remembered Pink Floyd and this is one of my favorite songs – but I think that choosing your favorite Pink Floyd cut is like choosing you favorite kid. This is one of the first songs I ever slow danced with Mrs. Dr. Caligari (and I knew that I loved her,) a very long time ago. Do kids still slow dance? They should. So why wouldn't I remember that.


Werewolves Of London – Warren Zevon



This year I chose a different Zevon song. I think this could be one of the first songs I recognized as his. SOS and Godzilla are getting me a Lee Ho Fook's t-shirt for my birthday but I'm not supposed to know that.


Innocent When You Dream - Tom Waits



I love Tom Waits but some of his songs really hit me very hard. I now know that when I'm drunk, Tom Waits is playing in my head, so I assume I'll be hearing this a lot if I'm stranded on an island.


Every Day is Like Sunday - The Smiths



Usually I feel like The Smiths is the band I go to to energize myself, but this year this is the perfect song to express my feelings. I would listen to this every day but I know when I stood


Autumn Leaves – Rickie Lee Jones



Without realizing, I almost picked last years choice, Don't Let The Sun Catch You Crying. This is a favorite song of mine (please check out Iggy Pop's version,)and she is one of my favorite performers. While she has many fantastic original songs, she is a wonderful interpreters of other people's material. This song put me into a cocktail lounge mood. Being on a desert island I had better be in a cocktail mood.


Gaucho – Steely Dan



My annual dilemma, choosing the Steely Dan cut. I’ve often said that I probably don’t need a Steely Dan song; I could call them up at will in my mind. Just thinking about the title of this song brings the entire album mind.


Watching the Detectives – Elvis Costello



I have so much trouble with this choice: I nearly went with my old stand by Shipbuilding (I can’t believe Elvis actually wrote this with Sinatra in mind,) but switched gears and decided to go with a big early hit. It’s nearly impossible to appreciate the long lasting career of the brilliant Mr. MacManus.

Concerto for a Rainy Day – ELO



I was going to pick Billy Joel's Scene's from an Italian Restaurant but at the moment that's just a little too on the nose for some. I love ELO and I actually don't think I've picked on of their songs before. I can remember when I saw them as the opening act for Boston. I've always loved this song and it will remind me of their entire catalogue.


The book I’d take with me would be Gravity's Raibow by Thomas Pynchon.

Once again, it would be the second time I would have read the book in almost 40 years. I will be curious to see how it strikes me all these years later.

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 ok with my choices. I’ll try to get marooned again next year for my birthday, and see how I do.


And so it goes