Got to thank my brother for this idea… what are the discs that you would have with you if you were stuck on a desert island?  Would it automatically be your favorite discs?  Would it be a catalog of your favorite artists?  How about specific genres of music?  Or something else?  (Don’t worry about how you’re gonna play them, that’s what your imagination is for)

The plan was to come up with a list of ten but that was a difficult task, so I’ve tacked on a couple of others for good measure.  I wanted to steer clear of greatest hits collections and live albums, but I have made a couple of exceptions as you’ll see below.  My collection does not include what I’d consider my personal top albums of all time; more or less, it is a list that would come in handy depending on my mood.  Also, contrary to what you might think not all of these artists would fall in my own personal top list of groups.  There may be a few surprises in here but if I’m gonna get stuck on an island it’s got to be eclectic for survival mode.

So, without further ado…  here is the twelve albums that make up my Desert Island Disc collection.  If I’m going to be stranded for God knows how long, these are going to keep me alive.

Junior Brown – Guit With It

I’ve never been a huge country fan but I love Junior Brown.  That voice, that guitar playing, those often hilarious songs…  I’d need something to put a smile on my face so I can sing and dance around like a fool.  And he’s got a little bit of slide playing on this disc that would fit that island environment perfectly.

Black Sabbath – Heaven and Hell

A dense and often doomy album thick with spirit lifting grooves, Heaven and Hell features plenty of mysticism and fantasy in overall vibe to help ease the stresses of the day.  The combination of Dio’s passionate vocal and the mighty heft of Iommi’s guitar awakens the mind, cleanses the soul, and elevates the senses.  Powerful with a capital P.

Elvin Bishop – Don’t Let The Bossman Get You Down

Speaking of hilarity, Elvin Bishop has that down pat.  I’m a blues fan and Elvin is more of the good time variety but there’s nothing wrong with that as the man writes great tunes and is a helluva guitar player.  I don’t have time to be sad on the island, I need to keep my spirits up and this disc has a ton of fun songs.

Megadeth – Peace Sells… But Who’s Buying?

Yeah!  If I need that piss and vinegar to get me fired up as I’m chopping down trees to build a fire or if I’m hunting wild boar, this disc will do.  Early Megadeth is always the best medicine if you want to hear loose ‘n manic thrash with snotty and sneering vocals.  Gets the blood pumping for a long day’s work.

James Brown – Foundations Of Funk

A bit of a cheat here as this is a collection; however, JB was always a singles guy in the early days so getting an album is tough to do.  But you want funky James Brown to get you out of the dumps and get you “feeling good” and grabbing a double disc of the Godfather’s funkiest will do the trick.  You’ll break out in a cold sweat in no time.

Pink Floyd – Wish You Were Here

I’ll need that spacey album as I’m lying on the beach at night gazing at the stars and Wish does the trick.  Sure, you coulda gone with Dark Side here but this is my fave Floyd platter and the one I’d take hands down.  Those longer cuts on here will set the mood as I’m relaxing after a long day’s work and doing some comet watching.

Led Zeppelin – Physical Graffiti

Zep is necessary and I must double my pleasure with this double disc.  Graffiti is in itself a journey; all full of the highest heights, greatest majesties, the darkest of shades and the lightest of lights.  A grand album that’s many moods are perfect no matter what I’m doing any time of day.  Remember, you’re gonna be stuck for awhile and you need some magic.

Thin Lizzy – Jailbreak

A disc full of many great rock classics and mellower but moving cuts, you need that disc where you can sing along while you’re building your own homemade beach drum kit made out of coconut shells and hollowed out palm trees.  You want songs that tell stories to relieve the doldrums and Lynott is one of the best.

The Who – The Kids Are Alright

Another semi-cheat but hey, this is a soundtrack and has most of my favorite all-time Who cuts (I gotta have “Young Man Blues” AND “Won’t Get Fooled Again!).  You’ve got the island to yourself!  Bust out the rock star poses!  Windmill to your heart’s content!  Sing with chest thumping bravado!  And that homemade drum kit you made to play Lizzy?  Better build another as you will DESTROY it listening to this one.

Cheap Trick – At Budokan: The Complete Concert

So yeah, gotta have a couple of lifetime favorites here (the other up next) and I’ve got this memorized so much that I don’t REALLY need it but…  I’m smuggling the “Complete Concert” to double my CT fun and to have a few thousand screaming Japanese fans to keep me company.  (Remind self… make homemade guitar picks out of seashells to mimic the pick-flickin’ style of Rick Nielsen and sling them at unsuspecting crabs)

Iron Maiden – Powerslave

Gotta have my favorite band and (depending on the day) favorite album of all time.  Maiden, and especially this album, is in my soul, my spirit, my blood, and is wholly me-  like a favorite pair of jeans or most comfortable shirt, it fits like a glove.  It gives me the confidence and the willpower to go into survival mode and realize that yes, there is no giving up and yes, I am going to get off this island.

Miles Davis – Kind Of Blue

I’ve got to take some jazz with me and Kind Of Blue will be that album that is great for the daily “cool down” or even to ease into the course of the day.  Nothing threatening here; just smooth goodness as I’m lyin’ on the beach perpetratin’ a tan and mentally drifting away to better times and places.  I missed that rescue plane?  Relax with Miles; another will be along soon.  What’s the rush?