David Bowie has just left the stage and since he was a huge influence on my musical and performing life – a hero really – I’ve been obsessively listening to his music ever since. When I pack for my space station trip, I will, of course, be bringing along his Greatest Hits.
Looking out at the earth and millions of souls onboard from my tin can, I’ll also want to listen to “The Prayer Cycle” by Jonathan Elias & the English Chamber Orchestra. It has songs in twelve languages and features artists as varied as Alanis, Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, Salif Keita, and James Taylor. It’s a really moving record that feels very human. It’s the first album that came to mind for the trip.
When I need an adrenalin hit I’ll deploy the “Dogman” album, by King’s X. Heavy riffing, brilliant harmonies, the soulful singing of Dug Pinnick will be just what I need. This isn’t their most uplifting record (“Faith, Hope Love”, maybe?) but it’s the one that will dependably get me rocking the holodeck. (they’ll have one, right?)
For more relaxed/relaxing moments I’ll have along the “Jasmine” album by Keith Jarrett and Charlie Haden. This beautifully recorded album (one of two from this session) can be background music or the complete, food-for-the-soul centre-of-attention. It’s two great artists at their best.
I always like to be listening to new music, and there is, coincidentally, a new release by one of my favourite Canadian bands; We Are The City, that I can bring along. I evangelized their last record “Violent” to anyone who would listen, and the companion movie they made (also called “Violent”) has become one of my favourite “foreign films”. I look forward to spending some time in orbit getting into “Above Club”.
So .. my 5 Space Station albums, in no particular order:
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[two_third_last] David Bowie – Best of Bowie[/two_third_last]
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[two_third_last] Jonathan Elias – The Prayer Cycle[/two_third_last]
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[two_third_last] King’s X – Dogman[/two_third_last]
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[two_third_last] Keith Jarrett and Charlie Haden – Jasmine[/two_third_last]
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[two_third_last] We Are the City – Above Club[/two_third_last]
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About Ra McGuire:
Ra McGuire is a singer, songwriter, author, and founding member of the rock band Trooper.
As a songwriter, McGuire has been nominated four times for the ‘Composer of the Year’ Juno Award, nominated twice for ‘Album of the Year’, once for ‘Best Selling Album of the Year’, and Trooper won the Juno Award for ‘Group of the Year’ in 1980 after two previous nominations for that award in 1978 and 1979. In 1980 McGuire received a BC CARAS (JUNO) Award for Best Male Vocalist.
