Desert Island Discs: Molony

Molony

Desert Island Discs: Molony

Postby Molony » 17 Jun 2011, 06:27

As I will be otherwise engaged with all matters JU this weekend, here is my slightly early contribution to the BCB Desert Island Discs project:


I was born in Ashington in the north east of England back in December 1974. Ashington was a mining town which would be decimated by the closure of the pit after the Miners' Strike, and its only claim to fame beyond a capacity to produce copious amounts of coal was that it was the birthplace of Jackie Milburn and Bobby and Jackie Charlton.

My father's family came from the border region of north Northumberland, but my maternal grandfather is French. The Second World War had brought a member of the Free French Navy into contact with a girl from Walker and my grandparents remained in the north east, running a small business and raising a family. My Grandpere played accordion and violin in a band during the war and his love of music was passed down to me from a young age. I was always encouraged to sing or make music.

One of my earliest musical memories is of my Grandpere recording me singing a bunch of nursery rhymes. The cassette is still in existence and there is something about the loving interaction between a boy and his grandfather that makes me teary every time I hear it. Anyway, one of the songs I was obsessed with at this very young age was 'Figaro' by The Brotherhood of Man. It's an appalling record really, but it reminds me of that golden part of early childhood:



My father left us when I was six years old, and it would be quite some time before any real contact would be established. There's a whole other story here which is too personal to enter into here, but I have two musical memories which remind me of the initial six years of nuclear family that I experienced. The first memory involves my father listening to 'Nightingale' by Clifford T.Ward and pointing out the sound of the bird. I would discover the wonderful 'Home Thoughts From Abroad' later on. However, the record that can transport me back to the late 70s is Andrew Gold's 'Never Let Her Slip Away'. It is McCartneyesque in its brilliance and, unlike The Brotherhood of Man, I feel no shame in cherishing it:

[youtube]DNCx7LDv7Ng&feature=related[/youtube]

The early 80s were spent getting to know a new step-family. At that time, there weren't so many other children at school whose parents were divorced and I found it all rather unsettling. My step-father would record videos from Top of the Pops and make VHS compilations that I would watch incessantly. I discovered that I had the knack of memorising the words of songs, and I always aimed to phrase them accurately. The stuff I was listening to was mainly chart pop, but I had cassette recordings of albums by Queen, Wham and Michael Jackson. I started going to the library with my mother on a Friday night and she would let me borrow three LPs so I could record them on the Hi-Fi. Around this time, my mother bought my step-father 'Tug of War' for Christmas. We listened to it again and again in the car and here began my love of Macca. Interestingly, I had no knowledge of The Beatles at this time. This track is the one with particular resonance:



My mother would never allow me to stay off school. I would need to be unable to stand before she would consider allowing me to stay at home. One day in September of 1987, I was permitted to remain in bed because I had the flu. The truth was, I wasn't as bad as I was making out and the worst was over. I was home alone and I was bored. I started to pick through the records in my parents' collection. Another musical Christmas present had been a Beatles box set of compilation albums. I hadn't ever bothered with 'old' music before but I gave it a go. On that golden afternoon I worked my way through the best part of the eight LPs and I can remember being unable to reconcile the mop-top Beatles with the later stuff. I still don't think I can do it. How could they be the same people? It's magic. Anyway, I'd have to take a Beatles record to my island, and this would be my choice at the moment:



Like many people I was taken with the psychedelic Lennon stuff first. It sounds like technicolor. Later, I would begin to appreciate the classical stylings of tracks like this. It really is nigh-on perfect and it never fails to transport me somewhere special. Every note counts. This is the supreme McCartney moment for me.

In my later teenage years my interest in music really blossomed. I started to teach myself the guitar at sixteen and I began writing songs pretty much straight away. I moved away from the more 'poppy' music of my early childhood and used my limited pocket money to buy albums by The Velvet Underground, Frank Zappa, The Doors, Prince, REM and so on. I remember the Sixth Form as being a particularly happy time of playing in a band and finding out about music from other people in those pre-internet days.

I spent an abortive three month period at Durham University before re-applying for the University of Liverpool. I had a decent time but had so little money. I regret not being able to enjoy the social side of things a little more whilst I was there. Nevertheless, I continued to write songs and obsess over music. This song was (and still is) my party piece. I get lost in it, and think it is a beautiful song. This represents my Sixth Form/University period:



After University my parents divorced again. I moved into a shared house with some other young 'professionals'. It was here that I met the woman who would, for a very brief period, become my wife. We were together for seven years but the marriage lasted four months. Once again, there's personal stuff that I won't get into here, but this song reminds me of happier times during that relationship. I would play this haltingly on the piano to her and it remains a favourite of mine:

[youtube]W9sem05RHnM&feature=related[/youtube]

The end of that relationship was a defining moment for me. A great deal changed. I started to play my music live and lived a single life for a few years. I started exercising, eating well and so on. I hardly recognise who I was in my twenties.

Aside from The Beatles, my other greatest musical loves are Bob Dylan and Marvin Gaye. As I'm restricted in my choices, I would probably have to prioritise Dylan here because so many of his songs can be approached from different angles. They're like cubist paintings or something. Anyway, there are better Dylan songs than this one, but listening to it on my desert island, I could make the lyrics fit my past life in a whole bunch of ways (YouTube doesn't have the recorded version):



So here I am, in a 'new' relationship and ready to get married again. I would take this last song because it reminds me of my wife to be. It's as simple as that:



An odd assortment of music, but these are the songs that (today at least) have particular sentimental resonance for me. If I had to choose just one, it would probably be 'Penny Lane'.

The book I'd take would be Proust's 'Remembrance of Things Past' because I've read the first part and want to get through the rest of it. It's certainly rich enough to repay repeated readings.

My luxury would, of course, be a guitar.

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Re: Desert Island Discs: Molony

Postby Magilla » 17 Jun 2011, 07:06

An outstanding write-up Molony, you really evoke the key moments of your life and the relevant songs so very well. Have a good time at the JU !
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Re: Desert Island Discs: Molony

Postby Diamond Dog » 17 Jun 2011, 08:51

No photos of your Mum? :x
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Re: Desert Island Discs: Molony

Postby Moleskin » 17 Jun 2011, 09:03

Nice write-up. :)
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Re: Desert Island Discs: Molony

Postby Belle Lettre » 17 Jun 2011, 09:35

Well written and very touching.
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Re: Desert Island Discs: Molony

Postby Fireplug » 17 Jun 2011, 09:39

Molony wrote:I was born in Ashington in the north east of England back in December 1974.


All the best people were ;-)

Very good write up, Spen. Robust, even.

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Re: Desert Island Discs: Molony

Postby Leg of lamb » 17 Jun 2011, 10:06

Thanks for that, Spen. A beaut.
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Re: Desert Island Discs: Molony

Postby Hugh » 17 Jun 2011, 10:20

Diamond Dog wrote:No photos of your Mum? :x


Yeah. B minus. Could do better. See me.

A really nice write up Spen.

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Re: Desert Island Discs: Molony

Postby king feeb » 17 Jun 2011, 10:22

Another good one. Nice job, Spen.
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Re: Desert Island Discs: Molony

Postby TG » 17 Jun 2011, 13:37

Yet another good one. Thanks for that.
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Re: Desert Island Discs: Molony

Postby never/ever » 17 Jun 2011, 13:48

Liked the remembrance of Grand-Pere very much! And a fine set of tunes.
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Re: Desert Island Discs: Molony

Postby Jock » 17 Jun 2011, 13:58

Very nice Spen. If only I had the words :oops:
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Re: Desert Island Discs: Molony

Postby Thesiger » 17 Jun 2011, 14:36

Interesting stuff. Good musical choices and nicely rooted in personal history.

Not sure I'm with you on The Brotherhood though. ;)
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Re: Desert Island Discs: Molony

Postby BlueMeanie » 17 Jun 2011, 14:40

Nice read, and good choices. I'd better get on with mine. I think I'm due to be shipwrecked in a couple of months.
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Re: Desert Island Discs: Molony

Postby Billybob Dylan » 17 Jun 2011, 15:03

Belle Lettre wrote:Well written and very touching.

Ditto. Nice job, S.
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Re: Desert Island Discs: Molony

Postby Seymore Porn » 17 Jun 2011, 16:04

Very evocative writing, and mostly nice tunes. Job done.
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Re: Desert Island Discs: Molony

Postby quix » 17 Jun 2011, 18:48

oh molony! we have some overlap in the marvin gaye and stevie wonder department! however i'll be choosing different songs...

lovely stuff. really lovely.

i really am enjoying these threads.

thank you!

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Re: Desert Island Discs: Molony

Postby harvey k-tel » 18 Jun 2011, 18:01

Nicely done, Molony.
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Re: Desert Island Discs: Molony

Postby Corporate whore » 19 Jun 2011, 16:39

Great choices and write up - I had totally forgotten about the Andrew Gold, which was a tune I never owned, but liked a lot when it came out.
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Re: Desert Island Discs: Molony

Postby ConnyOlivetti » 19 Jun 2011, 18:14

nice one!
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