The BBC's Desert Island Disc program has been around since 1942 (https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b006qnmr). Over those 76 years, hundreds of castaways — musicians, celebrities (including five of the members of Monty Python's Flying Circus), naturalists, and even politicians, have sat down to discuss the eight albums they would bring on their hypothetical desert island. The results are wonderful. The BBC has quite a website set up for DID, with a complete database that allows you to search by "castaway," by musical piece, or by decade, starting with the original show all the way to the present. The show is made up of an interview with the "castaway" about their life and occupation, interspersed with the musical picks. You could spend days listening to these shows.

My problem with the concept is that my list is a dynamic one, ever-changing as my listening evolves. That said, I have had a number of conversations with folks who read this column, and they all hunger for new music to listen to. So, here is my current list, which reflects my 2018 musical palate, hopefully, some new music for you to discover.

1) Tumbleweed Connection—Elton John.
The second record I ever bought, this Elton John concept album brings the Brit pianist to the American West, in masterpiece fashion. There's blues, country, pop, and rock, all fused together. Tunes like Burn Down the Mission, Country Comfort, and Amoreena are always in my head. It is Elton John when he was a progressive music monster that played pop music.

2) Ice Caps: Peaks of Telluride—Sam Bush.
Telluride Bluegrass is running next week, more than forty years now of great music under the blue Telluride sky. Many an album has been recorded here, but the granddaddy of them all is Sam Bush's IceCaps. The recording takes the best of Sam's sets throughout the 90s with tunes that transcend the newgrass genre. Highlights include the quintessential rendition of Dylan's Girl of the North Country; Speak of the Devil with Sam on electric mandolin; Same 'Ole River; and the newgrass tour de force, Stingray. This one never ever gets old.

3) The Tender Land—Aaron Copland.
I love Aaron Copland. His Symphony Number 3 and Appalachian Spring are sublime masterpieces. The Tender Land is an opera Copland built on those previous pieces, with a libretto that reflects the turbulent McCarthy era in the early 1950s. It is a great American opera, filled with melody, Americana, and passion for living. Cheers you up every time.

4). The Koln Concert—Keith Jarrett.
To the uninitiated, this album could be mistaken for some new age puff piece. In fact, it is one of the greatest recordings of spontaneous improvisation ever. Every note, chord, expression, phrase, and verbal hoot or holler was performed unplanned by Jarrett, who walked into the Koln Opera House, sat down, and just began to play. Every listens reveals something new, something different. A masterpiece that gains appreciation as time goes by.

5) As Falls Wichita, So Falls Wichita Falls—Pat Metheny and Lyle Mays.
With four Pat Metheny group albums under their belts, Metheny and Mays recorded this duo album of five tunes, including the 21 minute As Falls Wichita, So Falls Wichita Falls, a fusion opus like no other. The balance of the tunes is remarkable jazz compositions that reflect the exuberance the pair has for a beautiful melody, instrumental virtuosity, inspired by wide open spaces. Another set you really won't ever tire of.

6). The 1971 Fillmore East Recordings—Allman Brothers Band.
This multi-disc set captures the remarkable period in 1971 when the Allman Brothers played a series of concerts at the Fillmore East. This collection is raw, where the original, At Fillmore East, was a highly produced and edited "live" show made up of several concerts and performances that fill this collection. Southern rock, jam band, jazz concert — this one is all of the above, with Duane Allman leading the band's greatest lineup. This one would keep you busy listening for years.

7). Enigmatic Ocean—Jean Luc Ponty.
Called the first jazz violinist to play like a saxophonist, Ponty began playing jazz in Europe and was soon playing in America with Frank Zappa. When he bailed from Zappa's band, he began writing a long songbook of amazing jazz-rock fusion compositions that are best reflected with this album. A loose concept piece, the music features the omnipotent, Allan Holdsworth, who never plays better than here. I used to play this one every morning.

8). The Mothership Returns—Return to Forever.
While there are many RTF albums I could have chosen, this one, recorded in 2011, combines experience, virtuosity, and the willingness to take a fresh look at the compositions. The result is a true masterpiece of live music that tracks the songbooks of the band and of the individual members. Jean Luc Ponty joins the band for this record, and sexagenarian Lenny White plays like he is 18 again. Unfortunately, this one is hard to find, it is not on iTunes or Spotify. Well worth the search, though.

If you want to hear some cuts from my list, check out this month's Spotify playlist, https://tinyurl.com/ych63lj5, and give me a like on Spotify.

Steve Chase is listening to music, loud, in Unison.