Paul Jones

Desert Island Discs

BBC

Society & Culture, Music Commentary, Music, Personal Journals

4.4 • 13.7K Ratings

🗓️ 3 September 1983

⏱️ 43 minutes

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Summary

Paul Jones first made his name as the lead singer with the group Manfred Mann. Later, he formed the Blues Band, but in the meantime he had started a second career as an actor when he appeared in the film Privilege. Since then, he has played Hamlet, Cassio in Othello and Macheath in The Beggar's Opera, and he even finds time to do session work on his harmonica.

In conversation with Roy Plomley, he talks about the many facets of his career and chooses the eight records he would take to the mythical island.

[Taken from the original programme material for this archive edition of Desert Island Discs]

Favourite track: Libiamo Ne'Lieti Calici by Giuseppe Verdi Book: Political works and music criticism by George Bernard Shaw Luxury: Harmonica

Transcript

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0:00.0	Hello I'm Kirstie Young and this is a podcast from the Desert Island Discs archive.
0:05.0	For Wright's reasons, we've had to shorten the music.
0:08.0	The program was originally broadcast in 1983 and the presenter was Roy Plumley. Our castaway this week has achieved distinction in two fields as an actor and as a singer and entertainer.
0:37.0	It's Paul Jones.
0:38.0	Now Paul, this Desert Island problem, do you find it very difficult to whittle down your choice to just eight discs?
0:45.0	I've found it impossible. I could have chosen another eight, or a third eight, or a fourth
0:51.0	and I would have been equally happy with each batch but in the end I just sort of threw my hands up in the air and said that's it it is finished.
0:59.0	Do you think in a miserable situation like this desert island one that eight discs would help very much?
1:06.0	Yes, I think they would help enormously.
1:09.0	What's your first one?
1:10.0	My first one is actually the one that I have least acquaintance with. I was introduced to it by the musical director of Guys and Dolls.
1:20.0	We were talking about various wonderful records that changed our lives, you see.
1:27.0	And he said, ah yes, but have you heard Don Sebesky?
1:31.0	And I said, I haven't even heard of Don Sebesky and I'm very glad that he introduced me to this man and to this
1:39.2	LP. It's just called three works for jazz soloists and symphony orchestra.
1:43.0	There's one very long one which is called Bird meets Bella in B-flat, which is a combination of
1:47.2	Charlie Parker, Bella Bartock and a key.
1:52.1	But the one I've chosen is the right of spring. The right of spring? Well it isn't, it's called a reconstruction
1:57.7	and arrangement of the composition of Igor Stravinsky. One of the things I like about this is that not only do I have Don Sebesky's
2:06.0	right of spring, but by listening to it, by sort of vicarious mental extension, I get the original one as well. Oh, Oh, yeah. Oh, yeah.
2:54.0	Oh, yeah.
2:55.0	Oh, yeah. Oh,
	...

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