Way back when, in a time where there were these places called “record stores”, one of the greatest amongst them were Tower Records. Tower Records used to print a monthly magazine
noun
- 1.a periodical publication containing articles and illustrations, typically covering a particular subject or area of interest.
that was all about bands and Records and whatnot. One of the things I used to love about that magazine were the letters section where readers would send in things to the magazine – sort of a “comments” section, but it actually took effort and had to be chosen by the editor for print…
Anyhow, one of the reader driven things was called “Desert Island Discs”, essentially a list of the 10 albums you’d want to have if you were stranded on a desert island. I guess if the Professor on Gilligan’s Island could make a radio out of coconut shells, then we could figure out how to make a record player… But I digress.
I used to love that feature and it helped me discover a lot more new music. Either someone would list a record you loved, and that would pique your interests toward other albums on their list, or there would be an overwhelming amount of people that would list the same record over and over (the Dark Side of the Moon by Pink Floyd or the Beatles White Album for example)
Back then I was discovering so much new music – having discovered punk rock and new wave – that my Desert Island Discs would change from month to month, if not day by day. It was impossible to pick a Top 10 because I’d hear stuff for the first time every week that just blew me away. (Thank you college radio!!!)
But now I’m old, and while I still search out and love new music, it doesn’t generally hit me in the same way, where it just knocks my socks off. I mean back then (say from 1978 – 1990) not only were you hearing new styles of music, we were getting SOUNDS that had never been heard before thanks to synthesizers and drum machines, and then turntables were being used as instruments which gave way to digital samplers, not to mention new, wild guitar effects coming on the scene, electronic drums and sequencers. It was the Wild West of music in those days and I was captivated. Obsessed, really.
Anyhow, something I came across online recently triggered the memory of Desert Island Discs and I thought I’d put mine down for posterity. While this is a vastly different list than it would have been in, say 1982, certainly a few of these albums would have been on my list back then too. Perhaps I’ll come back and revisit this in a few years to see how it’s held up.
So, without further delay, here are my Desert Island Discs, as of January 2026. In no particular order…
- London Calling by The Clash
- Look Sharp! by Joe Jackson
- Tropical Gangsters by Kid Creole and the Coconuts
- Spring Session M by Missing Persons
- Bloodletting by Concrete Blonde
- Music by 311
- Maybe You’ve Been Brainwashed Too by New Radicals
- Ten Women by Wire Train
- Tim by The Replacements
- Dancin’ Undercover by RATT
Ok, this was considerably more difficult than expected… here are some honorable mention albums I must include:
Hippie Castle by Magic City Hippies, Diamond Life by Sade, The Knife Feels Like Justice by Brian Setzer, Who’s Next by The Who, Love by The Cult…
Who am I kidding? I could do this all day. I suffer from acute music addiction I’m afraid!
Anyhow, everything I’ve mentioned above comes highly recommended. Go check something out you’ve never heard before, who knows, you just might find a new favorite! And please, as I am a FIEND for new music, drop me a suggestion in the comments to check out. I like stuff all the way from Chick Webb in the 1930’s up to Sombr’s latest release from 2025, and tons of stuff in between. I’m all ears, so let me have it!
Thanks for stopping by!
The Boring Old Man 