Phil Mison
needs little introduction. Over the last two decades, the DJ, producer and songwriter has become one of the most celebrated names on the Balearic chill-out scene. Phil was a resident at the «Cafe Del Mar» in Ibiza before he started several projects; Reverso 68 (together with Pete Herbert), Frontera and Cantoma to name just a few.
This record was huge when I was at junior school. I remember buying this at «Our Price» in Ilford, then going to the school disco and doing really ridiculous dancing to «Antmusic».
I remember buying my dad «The Beatles Ballads» when I was about 11 and listened to it loads. I really liked «Across The Universe» even though I had no idea what John Lennon was singing about, I liked the trippyness of it and the sound effects of the birds taking off at the beginning.
At Dingwalls. I first heard «Listen Love» on one of the «Jazz Juice» compilations and really loved it. In the mid 90's he played at Dingwalls, a fairly small venue in London. His voice was great that night, he seemed a nice bloke, funny and amiable in his shiny suit. He's sadly since passed away, so I'm glad I went along that night.
Certainly not the best record in the world, but at the time I liked it and had to have it. I first heard Danny Rampling play it on his KISS radio show, and eventually tracked one down in the «Blanco y Negro» record shop in Barcelona. Years later I leant it to someone who managed to snap it in half. Cheers.
I have really vivid memories of hearing this, and seeing «Ziggy» written in massive white letters on a wall in Romford, the town near where I grew up. I had no idea what «Ziggy» meant when I was 6, but it was still there years later!
This is a cheery one! In reality it doesn’t matter because you won’t hear it! If there’s one song I’d like to shuffle off too it would be Seigen Ono’s «Julia». A really exceptional, beautiful piece of music. I first heard it in Ibiza and have loved it ever since.
I spent the summer of 94 dj'ing in Ibiza. I was 23, skinny and without a care in the world. We went to a party on a small fishing boat where Jose Padilla was dj'ing. It was a full moon, we drifted up to Es Vedra, the music was turned off, then the clouds parted and Jose Played «Aqua Marine». Everyone was shouting and going nuts, a magic moment!
I loved watching Laurel and Hardy when I was young (still do now). This song is from «Way Out West». When Laurel gets hit on the head and sings in a high pitched voice, I thought it was the funniest thing ever (well I was about 7). I still have this record and it still brings a smile to my face.
When I was young I always liked getting up and putting on quite full on loud music. These days I've mellowed and would rather hear something more gentle like «A Map Of The World». I must be getting old!
There are so many brilliantly written songs it’s hard to choose one, but I'll go for «Witchita Lineman». It’s got fantastic string arrangements and Glen Campbell really sings it from the heart. It’s basically a song about a man who puts up phonelines, so to make that into a classic song is quite something.
