Morrissey- Desert Island Discs (2009)

Sorry for the delay in bringing you this -

Okay nostalgia lovers, who remembers the heady days of November 2009 when the world was a better, safer place? We used to leave our door unlocked in them days...

For those of you who don’t know (i.e.- those who are not from Britain) Desert Island Discs is a long-running radio programme. It was first broadcast on 29 January 1942 .
Imagine that you are obsessed with pop music from a young age- it is your all consuming passion- you become an aficionado.You enjoy a successful 26 year music career in which your work is rich in pop culture references, all influences reverentially eulogised. Then at the age of fifty, after 45 years of obsessive pop fandom you are invited onto Desert Island Discs and have to choose eight records.
Eight.
Practically impossible.
When he appeared in November last year I thought that Morrissey might include: Sandie Shaw, Jobriath, some Rockabilly, Ludus, Patti Smith, Joni Mitchell.
Here’s what he did choose:
• New York Dolls - (There’s Gonna Be a) Showdown (overall choice)
• Marianne Faithfull - Come and Stay With Me
• Ramones - Loudmouth
• The Velvet Underground - The Black Angel’s Death Song
• Klaus Nomi - Der Nussbaum - The Walnut Tree
• Nico - I’m Not Saying
• Iggy & The Stooges - Your Pretty Face is Going to Hell
• Mott the Hoople - Sea Diver

Included here are the eight records in their entirity and the complete programme.
For a more comprehensive insight into Morrissey’s tastes and formative influences see the LP Under the Influence .

Nico- Chelsea Girl (1967)

I still cannot listen to it, because everything I wanted for that record, they took it away. I asked for drums, they said no. I asked for more guitars, they said no. And I asked for simplicity, and they covered it in flutes!
They added strings and – I didn't like them, but I could live with them. But the flute! The first time I heard the album, I cried and it was all because of the flute.
Nico- 1981

Line Up:
Nico – vocals
Jackson Browne – acoustic guitar (tracks 1,2, 7,9, 10)
Lou Reed – electric guitar (tracks 3, 5, 6, 9)
John Cale – viola, organ, guitar (tracks 3,4,5)
Sterling Morrison – electric guitar (tracks 6,9)

Songwriting credits:
Nico (5)
Jackson Browne (tracks 1, 2, 8)
John Cale (tracks 3,4,5)
Lou Reed (tracks 3,5,6,9)
Stirling Morrison (track 6)
Tim Hardin (track 10)
Bob Dylan (track 7)

A collection of songs that have been covered by R.E.M.

Just for fun...
R.E.M have knocked out some great cover versions over the years, both live and on record. Here are the original versions of ten songs the boys from Athens have covered.

Aerosmith- Toys in the Attic (1975)
Suicide- Ghost Rider (1977)
The Velvet Underground and Nico- Femme Fatale (1967)
The Velvet Underground- Pale Blue Eyes (1969)
Syd Barrett- Dark Globe (1970)
U2-One* (1991)
Wire- Strange (1977)
The Troggs- Love is All Around (1967)
Pylon- Crazy (1981)
The Clique- I am Superman (1969)

* I know! U2 comes to Burning Aquarium- I never thought I’d see the day.

The Velvet Underground and Nico- Sceptre Studios Acetate (1966)

It’s April 1966 and at the Sceptre Studios The Velvet Underground are working on what will be the most influential record in the history of rock music. On 25th April a rough version of 9 of the albums’ 11 eventual tracks was committed to acetate. Each track is either a different mix or a different version of the completed work. It turns up in a New York flea market in 2002. The story goes that it was bought for 75cents. It later sold on e bay for $ 25,000… I didn't win it.
If you are familiar with the album this is a refreshing change. Obviously there’s a lot of surface noise but some of my vinyl copies of The Velvet Underground and Nico became equally crackly through overplay.
If you don’t know the album I suggest you buy it as soon as possible.

Artistes:
Lou Reed – vocals,lead and ostrich guitar
John Cale – electric viola,piano, bass, backing vocals
Sterling Morrison – lead & rhythm guitar, bass, backing vocals
Maureen Tucker – percussion
Nico – chanteuse