60th Birthday PlayList

Milestones are never really recognised, so said Bob Newhart. Well, that’s not always true. We do celebrate many things in life, events, anniversaries and more. Some we just let pass by, but this one for myself is one of those milestones I will approach with mixed feelings.

April 29th is my 60th birthday and I have decided to create a playlist. I gave this some thought before deciding to attempt this idea. First, I thought of 60 albums, but that would be quite a playlist. My next idea was 60 songs, again that sort of limited me. Given the vast range of music I enjoy I came upon a plan.

Plan A

I first went for 10 TV themes, 10 pop songs, 10 musical themes, 10 soundtracks, 10 instrumentals and 10 albums. What do you fit in? What could or would make into any of the top 10? Take John Williams. He could fill the soundtracks and instrumentals alone.

This was going to be a bigger task than I thought. But it was my list and I had one rule to be governed by. Any list will be subjective, but it’s my list; deal with it.

Plan B – Pick 10 sort of

How to pick 10 of anything? To be fair, that depended on which group it came under as musicals were easier than TV themes. Even trying 10 detective themes would be tough, British or American. So, time to write a list. First one TV Themes.

TV Themes

TV is hard to ignore and neither are the themes. As I said in The Music of Star Trek  part one, some themes are instantly recognisable but I know too many. So how to pick just 10?  Memories of course help but in this group I had too many. That led me to the first album, a TV compilation. So now pick the ones that have deeper meaning. A few stood out that had the meaning I was looking for, but which one to start?

In my youth, I watched many great shows, Joe 90, Captain Scarlet and more. A couple would appear in my list. The very first was a TV theme about a Film show. In fact it was the theme to a very successful BBC show called Film (and a year). ‘I Wish I Knew How it Would Feel To Be Free’ by the Billy Taylor Trio is very memorable for me. Watching Barry Norman helped me understand  what films to enjoy and this has stayed with me as did the song. It was the perfect opening.

9 to add

Nine more to go. Star Trek had to be in the list as did Doctor Who. Thunderbirds brought further memories of surprises on holiday and Hill Street Blues is by a favourite composer of mine Mike Post. It is a gentle theme for a cop show which in episode one ends violently. Miss Marple the BBC version was a favourite, in my view the best and fits the gentle detective viper so well. Two other themes in the list, Lovejoy and Warship both for me good television shows. How to end the first group?

The final two themes came quickly to mind, The Navy Lark and Journey of the Sorcerer by the Eagles used for The Hitch Hikers Guide to the Galaxy. Both radio shows were comedies which pushed the imagination and held such warm, humorous delights for the mind.

Film Music

Film music, had to feature in my play list. But given the vast range, yet again, how to pick just a hand-full. Some stood out head and shoulders, Enterprise Clears Moorings from Star Trek 2 The Wrath of Khan and The Space Fleet from Silent Running for example. Both of these I know so well, majestic scores with deep emotions. The opening to Enterprise Clears Moorings is bold, dramatic and impressive just like the Enterprise herself. Similar can be said of The Space Fleet from Silent Running. Three huge space ships carrying the last of Earth’s forests, plants and flora out on deep space needed its own huge sound.

This is where my original plan slightly went off the rails. Ten became twelve. Oh well, its my list. In fact trying to stick to 10 just became a waste of time. Pick what I wanted. The rest of the soundtrack choices covered many of my favourite films but it was still difficult. I knew adding albums would help of course.

Classical

If I thought soundtracks were difficult, classical was harder. Think about it. A lot of classical tracks could be over 5 minutes long. Classical music has been in my life for many years. I believe some played when I was very young. The Planet Suite for example would have filled seven tracks so that became one of my albums. To be honest the classical became classical and musicals. Both of these genre have such meaning for me, not just for the amazing compositions but they do form the bed rock of todays music.

Musicals come from my Mum and Dad really. Watching movies with them like Paint Your Wagon, Kiss Me Kate and High Society just brings golden thoughts. There was one song from each of the movies that meant a lot to me. It did mean leaving out some amazing songs from some amazing films. That was my choice as I approached my final section, Pop.

Pop

My playlist could not be complete without some pop songs and yet another headache. These were the most difficult to sort out. First of all, what were my thoughts on pop? Popular music that covers such a lot. For me, it covers everything I like and that’s all that matters. A couple of songs I included because of Mum and Dad. They helped me find my songs and showed me my path.

Albums

My ten albums were the simplest of all. How could I pick the odd one or two from composers like John Williams, Ron Goodwin, John Barry or Ennio Morricone? I decided I would select no more than 10 from each. Then there was ELO. A band I have enjoyed and finally got to see live a couple of years ago. Tangerine Dream Encore Live had to be a pick. I heard the first track on American Forces radio late one Sunday night and it just blew my mind. Never stop listening to them. 

The Planet Suite was another simple choice as was War of the Worlds. That album was or is one of those moments for me that just grab you and make you listen, really listen. Again, I got the chance to see this live on another birthday and it was stunning.

My final album is a bit of a con to be fair and it’s just a few, ok a lot, of good old TV shows I like. Take or leave it, I don’t mind.

Playlist Completed – Maybe

It has taken me three months to sort out, consider, re-consider and finally stop messing. So, here is my playlist warts and all. My 60th birthday and some very difficult choices. If I waited any longer I would most likely change them again. And again. There is always next year.

Tagline – Play it again Sam (he never really said that you know).