Songs on the desert tannoy Feb. 5, 2008

FAVOURITE SONGS FAR FROM A DESERT ISLAND INDEED HERE & NOW WHILST BEING INTERVIEWED ABOUT MY FESTIVALS PHOTOGRAPHY BEING TURNED INTO A BOOK & AHEAD OF THE COMING FESTIVALS SEASON. Songs which would melt me particularly if heard over a tannoy, approaching a windswept football match of an evening. Probably cold.

Sweet Caroline, The Northern Ireland Football Supporters but not committed to a tame recording – one can hear them sing it live at any home match.

Sarah, Bob Dylan – The dream of perfect happiness, in a family way, on the beach “the children with their buckets to fill”.

When Will I See You Again, The Three Degrees – I live for that next hit. People have mistakenly thought I live in the past and in remembering things.

The Power of Love, Frankie Goes To Hollywood – Approaching Xmas, about the time they start filling up the shops with junk, I get the warmest of feelings coming at me out of the darkness.

Fields of Gold, Sting – For the rest of the year it’s all about summer, or the loss of.

A Different Corner, George Michael – When I arrived in The Lakes I soon met the vicar’s daughter and fell head over heels in love with her and the entire holy place. Then we were forced apart and I waited for her, for months on end.

Babylon, David Gray – At Selsey, where we always holiday, and go on all the rides and bumper cars, I was gobsmacked by this song on the radio when buying Cadbury’s Cream Eggs in The Spar.

Long & Winding Road, The Beatles – I married an old teenage sweetheart at Selsey, with high hopes, but came to regret it.

The River, Bruce Springsteen – I walked too far from my father’s shadow – I know that now – we should have worked together on something – he was slogging his guts to provide and I was filling myself with the University of Life. Then he died and to my surprise I found I was a father.

Lakelands, Dean Friedman – I am married to The Lake District. No one has come close. Who is Sarah you sing about in Lakelands? I asked Dean Friedman before his set at a festival. I wouldn’t say, I can’t remember and I’m not playing it anyway, he insisted. Then during sound practice I heard him teasing (me) with some of the verses.

Roll Away The Stone, Ian Hunter & Mott The Hoople – We lack the social functions like barn dances to meet and greet people (and not just potential partners) PROPERLY.

Do Anything You Wanna Do, Eddie & The Hot Rods – people in cities haven’t got a hope in hell. They need to get out to the countryside.

In The Garden, Van Morrison – It start and ends in the garden, I feel. There must be some sort of judgement of us and our lives. Or what’s the point?