Jacks Desert Island Lists……..



I know that strictly speaking I should only select one of each, but I’m going to choose ten to lessen the restriction. Here goes….



Albums:



Wish You Were Here – Pink Floyd – a masterpiece of understated rock

Remasters – Led Zeppelin – effectively a “best of” album

Is there anybody out there? – Pink Floyd (The Wall done live)

Rattle and Hum - U2 (the gospel version of “I still haven’t found...” is possibly the most uplifting song ever)



This is my Truth, Now tell me yours – The Manic Street Preachers – superb in every detail

Diamond Dogs – David Bowie – futuristic nightmare vision of society – 1984 in song

Never Mind The Bollocks – The Sex Pistols – sums up the era of punk perfectly

The Story of The Clash Volume 1 – The Clash – intelligent music with interesting street and black influences



Abba Gold – Abba - how can this not lift your mood?

OK Computer – Radiohead – Depressing but brilliant



Films:



Pulp Fiction – the best film ever - never ever get tired of watching this

The Godfather Pts 1 & 2 – timeless gangster/family story, chillingly violent

The Truman Show – a very clever story – how far are we from actually doing this?

Full Metal Jacket – the best war film ever, eat your heart out Platoon

The Bounty – a little poetic licence but a fascinating subject and well acted by Mel Gibson and Anthony Hopkins

Notting Hill – for sheer feel good factor

Muriel’s Wedding – great Aussie film. There is barely a character in this film with a single redeeming feature

Schindlers List – should be part of the National Curriculum

The Fisher King – another eventual feel good movie, weird in parts

The Shawshank Redemption – an understated masterpiece



Books:



Inconceivable: Ben Elton – brilliantly written from male and female perspective

Popcorn: Ben Elton – satire of the Oliver Stone/Tarantino films

Dead Famous – Ben Elton – superb satire on and damning indictment of “reality” TV

High Society: Ben Elton – damning indictment of the war on drugs

High Fidelity – Nick Hornby – the life I could have had

Fever Pitch – Nick Hornby – astute observation of life and football

The Hitch-hikers Guide to the Galaxy books – Douglas Adams - a trilogy in 5 parts, a classic

The Dirk Gently Omnibus - Douglas Adams – more from the great man

Wilt – Tom Sharpe – even the film was funny

The Jonah – James Herbert





TV Programmes:



Holding On – 90’s edgy contemporary London based drama – critically acclaimed

Our Friends in the North – as above but based in the North of our country

Conspiracy – the meeting that decided the fate of the Jews in WWII - chilling to the bone

The Day Today – ground breaking comedy – one series only

Blackadder – all superb, a 20th century man in different periods of our history

GBH – Alan Bleasdale – the best of the contemporary playwrights and this showed what a classy actor Robert Lindsay is.

Phoenix Nights – superb piss take on Northern night clubs - unfortunate to be eclipsed by…

The Office – This is brilliantly observed as well

Fawlty Towers – timeless classic

Friends – always watchable, always funny, no slapstick, characters you feel you know, warm



Food:



Chips – they’re NOT fries

Chicken Jalfrezi

Korai Chicken

Brie

French Bread

Smarties

Wine Gums

Bacon rolls

Italian pizza

Haagen Dasz Rum and Raisin Ice cream



Drink:



Guinness

Red Wine

Glen Moray 16 year old single malt

Earl Grey tea

Tizer

Pepsi Max

Gin and Tonic

Marsdens Pedigree

Espresso

Capuccino



Later, Grocerjack