My Desert Island Discs

I enjoyed listening to the Your Desert Island Discs programme on Radio 4 yesterday.  It  encouraged listeners to send in their Desert Island Disc choices, which I along with 10,000 other listeners did.

The choices were rather predictable, especially considering the listener demographic, but I do like the top 8 choices, although I would say that Bohemian Rhapsody is far from the best song by Queen.

I can't remember all 8 songs I selected, but if I was submitting today I would choose the following 8:

1. Casta Diva from Bellini's Norma, sung by Maria Callas



2. Drown by the Smashing Pumpkins



3. I'd Rather Go Blind, sung by Etta James



4. If It Be Your Will by Leonard Cohen



5. Symphony No.5 by Mahler



6. Wave of Mutilation (UK Surf Mix) by The Pixies



7. Estranged by Guns N Roses



8. With Or Without You  by U2



It is rather difficult whittling your choices down to 8, I could have easily picked 20 tracks.  I would have liked to have added Billie Holiday, Judy Garland, Miles Davis, John Coltrane, Billy Bragg, Chopin, Goldfrapp and Pink Floyd to name but a few.

My choice of book would be easier.  Without a doubt it would be the Tales of the City series by Armistead Maupin which I cannot recommend highly enough.

And my luxury would have to be and endless supply of wine, as that would be the only way to survive the tedium :)