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