Paul Weller

Kirsty Young's castaway this week 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.

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

Choices

1.

Castaway's favourite

Small Faces

Tin Soldier

Others who chose this artist

2.

Dinah Washington

September in the Rain

Others who chose this artist

3.

Charles Mingus

Better Get Hit in Yo’ Soul

Others who chose this artist

4.

James Brown

Don't Be A Dropout

Others who chose this artist

5.

Claude Debussy

Arabesque No. 1

Soloist: Branford Marsalis Orchestra: The English Chamber Orchestra

Others who chose this artist

6.

Declan O'Rourke

Galileo (Someone Like You)

Others who chose this artist

7.

Nick Drake

River Man

Others who chose this artist

8.

Roscoe Robinson

That’s Enough

Others who chose this artist

Book

Absolute Beginners by Colin MacInnes

Others who chose this author

Luxury item

A settee to sit on

Others who chose a similar luxury