On Song :: Jon Boden

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His main job is Bellowhead’s ring leader, but in his spare time he crafts some fine solo material as well. Jon Boden’s most recent album, Songs From The Floodplain, was a folk-concept album about the end of the world. However, in a recent interview, he showed his lighter side…

What was the first song that really caught your imagination?
Love Me Do by the Beatles. Which is odd because I’m not much of a Beatles fan at all. But I remember absolutely loving the harmonica riff aged 4 or something like that.

What was the music your parents liked and do you think it’s influenced you at all?
My Mum was always quite into Steeleye Span and Jethro Tull which certainly influenced me. By Dad was always good at impulse buying CDs that he read about in the paper, so he introduced me to some good stuff that way. I think all I’ve parents’ record collection influenced me to some degree

What posters did you have on your wall as a kid?
Led Zeppelin, Annie Lennox.

Which songs or albums would you play at a party?
I tend to play lots of Tom Waits albums Not sure why. Not very appropriate really. I’ve also got quite into playing 78s on my miniature gramophone at parties. Probably also ‘Eternal Flame’ by the Bangles at some point. Or ‘I Want To Know What Love Is’ by Foreigner. I could go on.

Which songs remind you of a rainy day?
West Coast of Clare by Andy Irvine, all of Miss America by Mary Margaret O’Hara

Which album do you seek solace in when you are feeling sad?
Heart of Saturday Night (Tom Waits)

Which album would you play when you wanted to get down to some lovin’?
No comment

What music was, or would be, the “first dance” at your wedding?
We’d probably have a ceilidh so maybe Oranges in Bloom.

What was the first gig you went to as a paying customer?
Possibly The Levellers in Portsmouth, mid nineties, looking very middle class. Managed to avoid getting beaten up (just).

Name the one song you think everyone should hear.
‘One Hundred Years Ago’ sung by Louis Killen on Peter Bellamy’s ‘Live in Norwich’ album with invited audience singing the chorus

Which one artist do you think not enough people know about?
Peter Bellamy

What’s the best thing you’ve heard recently?
A lad called James Findlay who was busking in Bath yesterday. Fiddle-singer. Marvellous.

Dead or alive, what 5 acts would you have play with you at a festival?
Tom Waits, Peter Bellamy, Led Zeppelin, Mary Margaret O’Hara, Frank Sinatra

We’d like you to make us a mix-tape. Pick five tracks with a theme of your choice.
Songs featuring Napoleon:
Bonny Bunch of Roses, Barry Dransfield
Warlike Lads of Russia, Nic Jones
Who Are You? Tom Waits
Time, Tom Waits
Bonny Light Horseman, The Watersons

And finally, who would win in a fight: a stoat or a goat and why?
A goat due to its demonic powers. Also it’s bigger.

Jon Boden on Myspace