So I was thinking of the old scenario - Desert Island - 10 albums.  Does it make sense that the albums on this list are not necessarily my 10 favourite albums?  Sure it does.  Here's what I would bring (in no particular order):

1) Song Cycle - Van Dyke Parks

Obviously, because I would, in fact, DIE if I did not have it.  Maybe.  I could spend so much time just trying to figure out each of the instruments' separate parts....I would have time too as well, I'm on a deserted island.

3 key songs: By The People (whoooooooooooa), Palm Desert, Public Domain

2) The Band - The Band

It's......THE BAND.  Can you imagine never listening to "King Harvest" again?  I cannot, so I'd bring this.

3 key songs: King Harvest (Has Surely Come), Rag Mama Rag, The Night They Drove Ol' Dixie Down (this song always amazes me - this young Canadian guy writing the most convincing civil war song ever....well my favourite, anyway)

3) Ryan Adams - Love Is Hell

You would have nights, and stormy days - what else would I want to listen to at these times?  Favourite nighttime album ever.

3 key songs: World War 24 (has to be one of my favourite songs of all-time), Afraid Not Scared, City Rain City Streets

4) Bob Dylan - Bootleg Series Volume 2

So I'm only taking one Dylan album - how do you choose?  What if I want to listen to earlier Dylan?  Or electric Dylan?  Or Blood on the Tracks?  In this scenario, this is the way to go.  It starts with Seven Curses - early acoustic style, becomes electrified, a bit of country (Wallflower), and ends, sadly, with Idiot Wind (this particular version being another one of my favourite songs of all-time). 

3 key songs: I'll Keep It With Mine, She's Your Lover Now, Idiot Wind

5) Gram Parsons - Warm Evenings, Pale Mornings, Bottled Blues

It has The Byrds, The Flying Burrito Brothers, The Shilohs, International Submarine Band, and solo Gram.  My favourite collection of country music ever.

3 key songs: Christine's Tune, One Hundred Years From Now, Return of the Grievous Angel

6) Leonard Bernstein - West Side Story

I'm so not kidding.  He's a genius.  The huge orchestra sounds, the attitude, the incredible use of tritone and dissonance.....absolutely perfect.  You have no idea how often I listen to "Dance At The Gym" alone.  Also, listening to it is like living the story over and over again.  It's a great story.

3 key songs: DANCE AT THE GYM, Maria, Cool

7) Van Morrison - Astral Weeks

I think this album is perfect.  It's my number 5 favourite album of all-time (I have these things numbered).  The breezy feel of it....the kind of....freewheeling instrumentation, like they were just going with it, you know?

3 key songs: Astral Weeks, Cyprus Avenue, Madame George

8) Motown 1s

So I find myself in a predicament.  I really like soul music, but I know nothing about it.  I'm clueless.  So for now, we'll go with Motown 1s.  Save the last few songs, thank you.

3 key songs: Heatwave - Martha and the Vandellas, My Girl - The Temptations (one of the best songs EVER written....EVER.  The instrumental part...I can barely stand it, it's so amazing), I Heard It Through The Grapevine - Marvin Gaye

9) Brian Wilson - SMiLE

This was hard.  As much as I love Pet Sounds.....SMiLE is just.... so interesting.  There is so much going on on this album.  And Van Dyke Parks lyrics, so...  This album would cheer me up, and blow my mind, every time I listen to it.

3 key songs: Heroes and Villains, Wind Chimes (honestly, how does one NOT love a marimba?), Cabinessence (when I heard this song for the first time when I was a kid, it was one of the 3 times in my life where I was totally blown away by music, with all my senses, almost paralyzed - powerful stuff - in the second chorus where the guy - when the Beach Boys did it, it was Dennis - sings the other part in the background....so cool.  And have you ever really listened to the chorus carefully?  The cellos are insane.  Also, "Have you seen the Grand Coolie working on the railroad....")

10) Van Dyke Parks - Moonlighting Live at the Ash Grove

How do I pick another VDP album?  I want to bring them all.  So I opt for the live album, containing songs from most of the others (poor Clang of the Yankee Reaper, always forgotten).  Plus the sound of this album is amazing - the live strings, the pop of the drum....I wish I could have been there.  Also the piano.......whoa.  AND it contains VDP singing "Orange Crate Art", "Wings of a Dove", and "Sail Away", which he should have done in the first place, if you ask me.  Also all the little bits between the songs are entertaining.

3 key songs: Wings Of A Dove, Night In The Tropics, Sail Away

5 Behind The Cut:
1) Captain Beefheart and his Magic Band - Safe As Milk
2) Grateful Dead - Europe '72
3) Frank Sinatra - Strangers In The Night
4) Kate Bush - Hounds of Love
5) Paul McCartney - Ram

The end.

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