Main content
This programme will be available shortly after broadcast

4 Extra Debut. From Nick Drake to James Brown. Musician Paul Weller makes his music castaway choices. With Kirsty Young. From 2007.

Kirsty Young's castaway is the musician Paul Weller.

As the lead singer of The Jam, the founder of The Style Council and a hugely successful solo artist, he is one of the most revered music writers and performers of the past 30 years and is cited as an influence by countless other singers.

In a rare interview, he describes the chronic shyness he had to overcome; how he is still gripped by fear before each performance and how, after he had been dumped by his record label, he was unable to write songs and found that even picking up a guitar felt alien to him. His father has been a constant support to him - as his mentor as well as his manager - and has always believed that his son had something special.

DISC ONE: Small Faces - Tin Soldier
DISC TWO: Dinah Washington - September in the Rain
DISC THREE: Charles Mingus - Better Get Hit in Yo' Soul
DISC FOUR: James Brown - Don't Be A Dropout
DISC FIVE: Branford Marsalis with The English Chamber Orchestra - Claude Debussy鈥檚 Arabesque No. 1
DISC SIX: Declan O鈥橰ourke - Galileo (Someone Like You)
DISC SEVEN: Nick Drake - River Man
DISC EIGHT: Roscoe Robinson - That's Enough

Favourite track: Tin Soldier by The Small Faces
Book: Absolute Beginners by Colin MacInnes
Luxury: A settee to sit on

Producer: Leanne Buckle

First broadcast on 成人快手 Radio 4 in 2007.

Release date:

45 minutes

On radio

Next Sunday 06:00

Broadcasts

  • Next Sunday 06:00
  • Next Sunday 11:00
  • Next Sunday 17:00
  • Next Monday 01:00

The Desert Island Discs podcast

Subscribe or download individual episodes.

Listen to over 2,000 programmes

Click above to browse castaways, from 1942 to today.

Articles

Read the surprising things we've learned about some stand-out castaways.