Desert Island Disco - September 2017

25 Aug 17

We're whisked away to the Middle East for today's 'Sundowners' Desert Island Disco from castaway Chris Hughes. Born in Leeds but raised in Quatar, Chris spent a spell as Lava's resident DJ playing full five hour sets, before moving back to the UK to pursue a career in media. Producing and remixing records in his spare time, he’s currently using his knowledge of Arabic influences to put together a live performance which he says "will take people, who have no idea what's out there, on some sort of Arabic music journey that's relevant to a modern audience".

"People ask me what music I'm into and it is literally everything. Trip-hop, jazz, house, disco, world music, you name it. I like to think there is a little bit of goodness in all genres if you're willing to give it a taste... you only have to look in my record bags.

Growing up in Qatar in the Middle East, I was lucky enough to venture out to a few 'desert islands' in the Gulf, not to mention spin a few records at some with various groups of friends. So sticking entirely with the theme of the show, this selection comes from a Sundowners playlist and contains some timeless classics of mine (and of friends of mine, without whom several of the tracks I wouldn't know). They go perfectly with sunsets, hot weather, cold drinks, and good friends.

Enjoy, and love to all."

Sundowners To Get a Little Loose To

Cheryl Lynn - Got To Be Real
Roy Ayers - Running Away
Ed Wizard & Disco Double Dee - Straight Up
KC & the Sunshine Band - I'm Your Boogie Man
Chic - He's the Greatest Dancer
Whitney Houston - What Have You Done for me Lately
Belle Epoque - Miss Broadway
George Michael - Everything She Wants
Prince - Erotic City
INXS - I Need You Tonight
Central Line - Walking into Sunshine
Cathy Dennis - Everybody Move
Electra - Jibaro
Chaka Khan - Ain't Nobody (Late Nite Tuff Guy Re-edit)
Marvin Gaye - If This World Were Mine (Claes Rosen Remix)
Hot Chip - Boy From School
Lindstrom - I Feel Space
Tony D - Erase the Pain

18 Aug 17

Today's Desert Island Disco arrives courtesy of East London DJ Roger Clapham. Part of the Eastern Front Soundsystem collective, he's whisking us away to the Balearic Islands for a truly groovy disco party that's bound to get those hips moving. Often found throwing parties at his local brewery and battling his friends to the decks, here's Rog telling us about his chosen tracks:

"Musically we have two real loves: Balearic gear (which is of course whatever you want it to be), and disco. Preferably full tilt weapons grade disco with bells on.

To be fair though, we play quite a mixed bag of stuff alongside our Balearic and disco bits - soul records, world stuff, the occasional house record, the odd guilty pleasure / yacht rock outing, etc.

So here's some selections we have played over the past couple of years that we all love and could make a desert island disco (or start a party/argument in an empty house round our way at least)."

Grace Jones - La Vie En Rose (extended 12" version)
Sonya Spence - Let Love Flow On
Fuga Ronto - L’Uomo Invisible
The Staple Singers - Slippery People (12" version)
Dedication - Let Me Rock You
Tullio De Piscopo - Primavera (Stop Bajon) (12" club mix)
Logg - Dancing Into The Stars
Sylvester - Over and Over
Ian Dury & The Seven Seas Players - Spasticus Autisticus (Extended 12" Version)
Kiki Gyan - Disco Dancer
T-Connection - Do What You Wanna Do
Idris Muhammad - Could Heaven Ever Be Like This
Q - The Voice of Q
Don Ray - Standing In The Rain
Ten City - That's The Way Love Is (Underground Mix)
Sly Mongoose - Snakes and Ladder (Rub N Tug Remix)
Charles Maurice - Never Gonna Let You Go (Black Cock Sax Tribute Version) (AKA Black Cock - Juicy Sushi)
William Onyeabor - When The Going Is Smooth & Good

11 Aug 17

When we were told that we were celebrating all things Hip Hop, we felt there was only one person we could call. And his name is Mr Scruff and he's today's Castaway. The DJ, producer and cartoonist, who loves his tea and his hip hop, didn't just send through one list, but two. What a dude.

And if you want to hear more, 6 Music is celebrating the genre with Hip Hop Hooray, a season marking Eric B and Rakim's album Paid in Full turning 30.

List 1. 1987 tunes.
PE ‘Rebel Without A Pause’
MC Shan ‘The Bridge’
BDP ’The Bridge Is Over’
Seeborn & Puma ‘They Call me Puma’
LL Cool J ‘I’m Bad’
Schooly D ‘Parkside 5-2’
Just Ice ‘Going Way Back’
JVC Force ‘Strong Island’
Ultramagnetic MC’s ‘Funky’ (12” version)
Big Daddy Kane ‘Raw’ (12” version)
Biz Markie ‘Nobody Beats The Biz’
EPMD ‘Its My Thing’
Audio Two ‘Top Billin'
Superlover Cee & Casanova Rud ‘Do The James’
Jungle Brothers ‘Jimbrowski’
Classical Two ‘New Generation’
Roxanne Shante ‘Have A Nice Day’
Coldcut ‘That Greedy Beat’
Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince ‘ A Touch Of Jazz (extended re-touch)’
Antoinette ‘I Got An Attitude’
Busy Bee ‘Suicide’
Spoonie Gee ‘The Godfather'
Latee ‘This Cut’s Got Flavor’
Kings Of Pressure ‘You Know How To Reach Us’
Alliance ‘Do It, Do it’
Mantronix ‘Sing A Song (Break It Down)’

List 2. Pre-1989 Tunes.
Younger Generation ‘We Rap More Mellow’ (Brass 1979)
Spyder-D ‘Big Apple Rappin’ (Newtroit 1980)
Kool Kyle The Starchild ‘It’s Rockin Time’ (Enjoy 12”, 1981)
Fearless Four ‘Rockin It’ (Enjoy 12” 1982)
Run DMC ‘Live At The Funhouse’ (Profile 12” 1983)
GLOBE & Whiz-Kid ‘Play That Beat Mr. DJ’ (Tommy Boy 1983)
Newcleus ‘Jam On It’ (Sunnyview 1984)
T La Rock ‘It’s Yours’ (Party Time/Def Jam 1984)
Roxanne Shante ‘Bite This’ (Pop Art 1985)
Ultramagnetic MCs ‘Ego Trippin’ (Next Plateau 1986)
Boogie Down Productions ‘South Bronx’ (B-Boy 1986)
Antoinette ‘I Got An Attitude’ (Next Plateau 1987)
Public Enemy ‘Rebel Without A Pause’ (Def Jam 1987)
Superlover Cee and Casanova Rud ‘Do The James’ (Citi-Beat 1987)
Mobski ‘Get With It’ (Zakia 1988)
Majestic Productions ‘Majestic Controls Music’ (Majestic Control 1988)
Chill Rob G ‘Wild Pitch or Chillin’ (Wild Pitch 1988)
Supreme Nyborn ‘Versatility’ (Payday 1988)
Lakim Shabazz ‘Getting Fierce’ (Tuff City 1988)
The Korperayshun ‘Mother’s Best Gumbo’ (BPM 1988)
Slick Rick ‘Children’s Story’ (Def Jam 1989)
Big Daddy Kane ‘Wrath Of Kane’ (Cold Chillin 1989)
Demon Boyz ‘Recognition' (Music Of Life 1989)
Blade ‘Lyrical Maniac’ (691 Influential 1989)

4 Aug 17

Welcome one and all to the party that never sleeps. This weeks Desert Islander is Ailsa Mclaggan, and she knows a thing or two about catering to the crowd as she works in a record store; Vinyl Exchange in Manchester. Here she is to tell all about her mix:

“I didn't give myself much in the way of time choosing the tracks because I knew I'd end up editing them and faffing for ever so I've just picked songs which have been LRDC staples in the last few years and current faves from my record bag.

The only one i really quibbled over was the last one, it’s not a cool choice but I very often end the night on it. Someone recently came up to me at the end of a set and told me they thought that I'd played good records but had ultimately ruined the night by playing that one 😂."

• James Brown - People Get Up And Drive Your Funky Soul
• Ann Lewis - Alone In The Dark
• Esther Phillips - Home Is Where The Hatred Is
• Betty Adams - Make It Real (Ride On)
• Sylvia Striplin - You Can't Turn Me Away
• The Gap band - Oustanding
• Jones girls - You're Gonna Make Me Love Somebody Else
• Milton Hamilton - Crystalized
• Idris Muhammad - Could Heaven Ever Be Like This?
• The Joubert Singers - Stand On The Word (Larry Levan mix)
• Dee Edwards - Why Can't There Be Love
• Gloria Ann Taylor - Love Is A Hurtin Thing (12in version)
• T-connection - Do What You Wanna Do
• Norman connors- Once I've Been There
• Merry Clayton - Gimmie Shelter
• Brainstorm - We're On Our Way Home (Pts 1 and 2)
• Lionel Ritchie - All Night Long

21st July

Today's castaway Matt is heading off for a Desert Island Disco with a good time summer vibe. He's got your playlist for this summer's, and probably rainy, BBQ's with a soundtrack inspired by his teenage years, London days, and right through to his current favourite tunes. Matt's summer time Desert Island Disco has got a bit of everything from hip hop to rock to electronica, so you'll definitely be tapping your feet to all sorts of beats.

Elvis was King in my parent’s house when I was younger, my dad is a big fan of rock 'n' roll and that era of music certainly rubbed off on my sister and I at an early age. I wish I'd picked up a guitar at primary school, even just to mimic Presley's snake-hips, maybe I could have learnt as many chords as him. Instead I decided I was a listener rather than a performer. My sister and I would tape the top forty every Sunday, it was the late 80s, the rave scene and native tongues were in full effect, and we developed our own tastes.

In the ‘90s at secondary school my musical appreciation and tolerance extended even further, through friends I developed my love of hip-hop, as well as the musical genres it took its breaks from, funk & reggae, jazz & soul. As bonds established to my records, so they did with my school & college companions during the moodier, temperamental teenage years came grunge & the indie bands, the Judgement night soundtrack and an exploration of the darker side of music.

With employment came the opportunity to move away from house parties of leafy suburbia to the London clubs, where anything goes and it usually does. Fabric and Turnmills were regular haunts for a good decade along with Glastonbury and other festivals. My wife and I moved away from The South a few years ago to beautiful Derbyshire. I still get to a good many gigs and club nights that I can – either nearby or further afield.

My Desert Island Mix will be playing (when 6Music isn't) at Summer BBQs and gatherings. These tracks remind me of family & friends, the ups, the downs, the good times.

A Good Summer

The Clash – Guns of Brixton
A$AP Rocky Four Tet Mura Masa mix – Love$ick
Jo Ann Garratt - Walk on By
Ottawan - D.I.S.C.O (French version)
Phoenix - If I Ever Feel Better (I’d Go To The disco) Buffalo Bunch Mix
Faith No More – EPIC (UTAH SAINTS MIX)
801 – Tomorrow Never Knows
Bjork - Come To Me
Deodato - Also Sprach Zarathustra
Mbeat - Sweet Love
Nas & Damian Marley - As We Enter
Joey Bada$$ - Paper Trail$
ATCQ - Scenario
Alan Braxe & Fred Falke - Most Wanted
Womack & Womack - Teardrops
Van Morrison - I’ve Been Working (Alternate Version)
Elvis - If I Can Dream (Live'69)

Love the show, have a good summer

Thanks

Matt

14 July 17

Today's Desert Island Disco comes from author of the The Gender Games Juno Dawson. Ahead of our Loud and Proud season at the end of July, marking the 50th anniversary of the Sexual Offences Act, Juno has very kindly given shared the tracks that help her write, remind her of the times both good and bad, and tracks to make you move. Everything a Desert Island Disco should be:

“The tracks are a mixture of reliable go-to songs I deploy when I'm DJ-ing at Club Silencio, but mostly they're landmark tracks from key moments of my life. Each one reminds me of a time, a friend or a significant ex. In my book The Gender Games, I talk at length about how I had to 'learn' womanhood through my musical icons - Madonna, Debbie Harry, Shirley Manson, The Spice Girls. It's a strange way to learn gender, but those women, and so many more, feel like part of my DNA now.”

I'm Only Happy When It Rains - Garbage
Say My Name - Destiny's Child
Call The Shots - Girls Aloud
Human Nature - Madonna
Confide In Me - Kylie
Just A Girl - No Doubt
Celebrity Skin - Hole
Drop Dead Gorgeous - Republica
He's On The Phone - St Etienne
Say You'll Be There - Spice Girls
Then He Kissed Me - The Crystals
More Than A Woman - Aaliyah
No Scrubs - TLC
Lady Gaga - Telephone
XXXO - MIA
Hanging on the Telephone - Blondie
How Many Licks? - Lil Kim
Robyn and Royksopp - The Girl and the Robot

Friday 8 July

Underworld front man, 6 music presenter, friend of the show, and now playwright Karl Hyde is everywhere at the moment. So we thought that it was high time we caught up him to discuss everything he's up to at the Manchester International Festival, and to get him to share the perfect Desert Island Disco mix. And to be honest, he'll be playing with your eardrums moving from smooth reggae to head splitting techno via some loud guitars:

AC/DC - Back in Black

After seven weeks of rehearsing the same songs for our play FATHERLAND
I walked into the auditorium of the Manchester Royal Exchange where
it's playing to here our sound designer Ian Dickinson blasting this out on
the house sound system - my ears were in raptures!

Nolan Porter - If I Could Only Be Sure

Yep - another Ian Dickinson system sound-checker. The first time I heard it
I had to dance

Male Gaze - Keep Yr Kools

It arrived in the post - my ears loved it instantly so I couldn't argue

Fleet Foxes - Crack-up

From their latest album of the same name - another that arrived on the
door mat, jumped into my head and took up residency

Ø [Phase] - Submerged Metropolitan

I said, "Rick, what are you listening to? - And make it great!"
He laughed and sent me soul food for my feet

Afous d'Afous - Tarhanine Tegla

The music of North Africa is never far from my turn table.
In my bones since I was little. All my guitars are in tunings
that take me to the desert.

Adam Beyer & Dense & Pika - Future

A brilliant collaboration - Rick sent me last week - realising that I was
starved of groove - taking pity on my feet he packed this into an emergency
Red Cross parcel

Steely Dan - Rikki Don't Lose That Number

One of the many bands Rick and I never disagree about. Whenever they come on anywhere
in the world we both go "YESSS!" (this track always makes me think of him - kind've obvious yeah?)

Sly & The Family Stone - I Want to Take You Higher

From the second I saw them in the Woodstock movie when I was a kid at the local fleapit
they had me completely. This song will always bring me up

Dusky - Trough

He must have known how little my feet have been dancing lately,
because,
no sooner had they stopped,
Rick posted this storm of a track to send them wild again.

Toots & The Maytals - 54-46

Pick any Toots track & I go straight back to Cardiff where I first met Rick.
Guaranteed to make us both shut up & grin.

Black Uhuru - Whole World Is Africa

The best gig I've seen in my life was Black Uhuru at Cardiff Top Rank
in the 1970's - best live band ever!

Kendrick Lamar - Alright

A track that sets us back on-track
every time we get together in the studio

Booker T. & The M.G.'s - Green Onions

That scene from the film American Graffiti remains with me from the first time I saw it.
Two street rods racing on the edge of town at dawn. Steve Cropper (guitarist with Booker T)
lays down the simplest, horniest most cutting riff I've never been able to shake from my bones.

The Modern Lovers - Roadrunner

A club called 'Palms' or something - back in the 70's - Barry, South Wales.
The last dance - I went home alone again that night & with The Modern Lovers partying in my head
couldn't care.

John Martyn - May You Never

Massive John Martyn fan - always play him when I'm in my bus bunk on an Underworld tour.
This one goes out to Rick

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