What music would you have with you if stranded on a desert island?

Please welcome Brian Swisher, Contributing Music Columnist for NJ Social Media!

Desert Island Discs
By Brian Swisher

Today’s NJ Social Media music column will discuss Desert Island Discs, a term used to describe an album or music that you would want to have with you, if you were stranded on a desert island.

I know that this is a topic that is repeatedly found on the Internet but, as the lead music columnist for the NJ Social Media Music and Entertainment section, I would like to get an idea of what everyone is listening to, past and present. Let us know what album or song resonates with you on either an emotional or spiritual level.

So, to start things off, I’ll share with you my Top Five Desert Island Discs (in no particular order) from a bass player’s point of view (me).

1. Abbey Road – The Beatles – This album blew me away. Up to that point in my sheltered youth growing up in suburban Midland Park NJ, I was listening to The Monkees Greatest Hits and Multiplication Rock on my parent’s old record player in our living room. When one of my older brothers played this album, I was sent on a journey like nothing else before. The harmonies, the melodies and, oh yeah, amazing songs. Paul McCartney took pop bass playing to a new level; just listen to ‘Come Together’ and try to imagine no bass playing. You can’t.

2. Tapestry – Carol King – My  mom played this album a lot in my house when I was growing up and still, to this day, when I hear ‘So Far Away,’ I am taken back to the house I grew up in, more specifically the living room with the ugly green carpeting and fake panel flooring. Hey, it was the 70s after all.  Charles Larkey was the bass player and he played every track with grace.

3. All the Worlds A Stage – Rush – When you grow up the youngest of three boys, who are both musicians as well (I am a bass player, and the others are a guitar player and a drummer), hard rock makes its appearance. Sure, there was the live Deep Purple album, some Alice Cooper and some Black Sabbath, but when I heard the inventive Geddy Lee play his bass and sing (albeit a very high screamer) at the same time, I knew I stumbled upon some very influential bass playing. I love the track ‘Lakeside Park’, it tells a great story.

4. Songs in the Key of Life – Stevie Wonder – There was a Latino family who lived around the corner from my house and their youngest and I were best friends growing up. The kid’s name was Gerald Gerard – haven’t seen or heard from him in about twenty years now.  When I went to their house, his older sisters would play lots of R&B and Funk – this is where I first heard ‘Living for the City’ and it hit me like a ton of bricks. If Geddy Lee of Rush taught me how to be fearless, Stevie Wonder’s left hand taught me how to hold a groove.

5. Living with the Law – Chris Whitley – For some unknown reason, this album resonates with me on an emotional level and I couldn’t really tell you why. Hearing the spacious ‘Big Sky Country’ and the haunting ‘Phone Call from Leavenworth’ have left an indelible mark on me and honestly, I could not tell you why. I just love this album. Do yourself a favor and listen to this album with headphones. It takes you away.

Let me know what your favorite “can’t leave home without’ em” albums are! We want to hear from you. Leave a comment below or on our Facebook Page

Contributing author,

Brian Swisher
www.totallywink.com

Brian is a full time music lover, thirty year bass player, part time blogger, dad and husband.

Photo courtesy of Brian Swisher, listening to music in the living room of his parent’s house with headphones on, back in the day.