Fun
Kaffe’s Favorite Music
Dear Kay,
Kaffe Fassett is a great listener—he writes in his memoir Dreaming in Color that he listens while he works. No TV, because he needs to pay full attention to the colors in front of him.
A great moment for him, 30 years ago, was when the venerable BBC Radio 4 series Desert Island Discs (a series that has run since 1942) asked him to come do an episode.
The question the series host Sue Lawley asks: what are the eight pieces of music you would want with you if you landed on a desert island?
His answers are surprising. Have a listen right here.
What better thing to listen to while getting started on Kaffe Fassett’s designs in Field Guide No. 16: Painterly?
And of course, I’m curious what your desert island discs would be. It’s such a great question.
Love,
Ann
Thanks so much. This was wonderful. Loved the music.
Everytime I read his name I have to say it in my mind 4 different ways before I can go on. How is it pronounced?
Rhymes with Safe Asset!
Thank you! I always thought it was like coffee with an a. British names…. so tricky! I knew Ralph was Rafe, but this…
Actually, he’s American-born!
What a peaceful and kind way to start my Saturday; knitting and listening to Kaffe AND his favorite music.
My desert island discs (which are my road trip standards):
Best of Dolly Parton
ABBA: Gold
Bright Morning Stars by The Wailin’ Jennies
Courage by Celine Dion
Jekyll & Hyde, Zac Brown Band
Bonus album: 12 Stories, Brandy Clark (a new favorite)
Now, THAT’S great music for a Saturday morning! Kaffe has great taste.
My own desert island discs:
1. Kraftwerk, “Europe Endless”
2. Lizzo, “Good as Hell”
3. Lizzo, “Juice”
4. Supergrass, “Road to Rouen”
5. Teenage Fanclub, “What You Do to Me”
6. Rilo Kiley, “Breakin’ Up”
7. Victoria Spivey, “The Rising Sun”
8. Franz Ferdinand, “What She Came For”
9. Redbone, “Come and Get Your Love”
10. Badfinger, “No Matter What”
My nephews wedding song was Redbone’s “Come and Get Your Love”. It was brilliant!
Apparently I plan to spend a lot of time dancing on said island.
What a treat. Thank you for sharing.
LOVED LOVED this. He’s one of those people you’d love to invite over. I wonder if he’d like to join me in Kauai for some mai tais and puupuus? Anyone have his phone number?
Etta James…and anything sung by Caro Emerald
Okay I’m in. I’m doing albums instead of single songs because that’s how I roll. I no specific order:
David Bowie: Changes One Bowie
Elton John: Goodbye Yellow Brick Road
Prince: Purple Rain (Last year I was Purple Rain for Halloween. I dressed all in purple and carried a spray bottle. It was fun.)
The Clash: London Calling
George Michael: Listen Without Prejudice (In my opinion this is one of the most underrated albums of all time.)
David Bowie Narrates Prokofiev’s Peter and the Wolf (Sigh)
The Soundtrack to The Big Chill
Yaz: Upstairs at Eric’s (ahh my misspent 1980s youth)
k.d. lang: Dealer’s choice–either Ingénue or Drag would be just fine.
Bonnie Raitt: Luck of the Draw
Janis Ian: Between the Lines (for those sad rainy days)
The Ramones: Ramones
Lenny Kravitz: Let Love Rule (I ran a gala for a non-profit back in the day and he was our musical guest. Lenny at rehearsal is a lovely man in jeans and a t-shirt. Lenny on the red carpet in his leather and sunglasses made me swoon–especially when he said “Hey Karen. Suffice it to say, I have a “thing” for him.)
Terrence Trent D’Arby: The Hardline According to Terrence Trent D’Arby
Macy Gray: On How Life Is (If Eartha Kitt and Mick Jagger had a baby.)
Tracy Chapman: Tracy Chapman
Everlast: Whitey Ford Sings the Blues
Okay, I’ll stop now. This was really fun. Yeah, yeah, I know I went waaaaay over eight but I’m channeling Kaffe and just kept adding more colors! I think I see a playlist with all the lists in my future.
Yaz U at E is definitely on my list!
1 Love love love the Purple Rain costume idea.
2 This list will be my Spotify listening for the next couple of days. Haven’t listened to The Big Chill in years.
3 Lenny said, “Hey Karen.” Squeeeeeee!!!!!
Thank you for the link to this episode of Desert Island Discs. What an utterly charming gent Kaffe is! I thought Sue Lawley was a bit waspish in places, but he handled her questions with such amiability. I always feel humbled that this amazing artist has chosen to make our islands his home, despite our manifold shortcomings, bless him.