Main content

Jarvis Cocker

From Joy Division to Scott Walker. Pulp's singer and musician, Jarvis Cocker, share his choices with Sue Lawley. From 2005.

Pulp's singer and musician, Jarvis Cocker is castaway by Sue Lawley.

Jarvis formed the band Pulp in the late 1970s and says that as a gawky, self-conscious teenager he felt pop music did not properly inform him about the disappointments and miseries of growing up - and he was determined to write songs that included "the messy bits and the awkward, fumbling bits".

He had to wait more than a decade to find success - but Pulp went on to become one of the most popular bands of the 1990s, with hits including Do You Remember the First Time? Sorted For Es And Wizz and Common People.

The band's crowning glory was its performance of 'Common People' at the Glastonbury festival in 1995.

The following year, Jarvis Cocker made headlines again - this time the tabloid front pages after he invaded the stage while Michael Jackson was performing at the pop industry's annual awards ceremony. Fans were thrilled, but it marked the beginning of a difficult time in the singer's life.

Now he is married with a young son and living in Paris and has recently written songs for Nancy Sinatra and Marianne Faithfull as well as writing the music for the film Harry Potter And The Goblet Of Fire.

DISC ONE: Theme - Robert Mellin
DISC TWO: Transmission - Joy Division
DISC THREE: Mouldy Old Dough - Lieutenant Pigeon
DISC FOUR: Ten Guitars - Engelbert Humperdinck
DISC FIVE: The War is Over - Scott Walker
DISC SIX: Lady With the Braid - Dory Previn
DISC SEVEN: I See a Darkness - Johnny Cash
DISC EIGHT: Sailing By - Ronald Binge

BOOK CHOICE: Sombrero Fallout - Richard Brautigan
LUXURY CHOICE: A bed with a mosquito net
CASTAWAY'S FAVOURITE: Sailing By - Ronald Binge

Desert Island Discs was created by Roy Plomley.

Producer: Leanne Buckle

First broadcast on Â鶹ÊÓƵAV Radio 4 in April 2005.

Available now

45 minutes

Last on

Mon 4 Sep 2023 04:00
Â鶹ÊÓƵAV Radio 4 Extra

More episodes

Previous

Patrick Stewart

Next

Katharine Whitehorn

See all episodes from Desert Island Discs

Music Played

  • Robert Mellin

    Theme

    Artist: Gian-Piero Reverberi

    • The Adventures of Robinson Crusoe - Original TV Soundtrack.
    • Silva Screen.

  • Joy Division

    Transmission

    • Permanent.
    • London Records.

  • Lieutenant Pigeon

    Mouldy Old Dough

    • Dancing on a Saturday night - Dance hits of the 60s and 70s.
    • Old Gold Records.

  • Engelbert Humperdinck

    Ten Guitars

    • This Is My Life: Greatest Hits 1967-1969.
    • Decca.

  • Scott Walker

    The War is Over

    • 'Til the Band Comes In.
    • BGO Records.

  • Dory Previn

    Lady With the Braid

    • Mythical Kings and Iguanas.
    • Liberty.

  • Johnny Cash

    I See a Darkness

    • Cash - American III: Solitary Man.
    • American Recordings.

  • Castaway's Favourite

    • Ronald Binge

      Sailing By

      Orchestra: Â鶹ÊÓƵAV Concert Orchestra Conductor: Handley

      • The Essential British Light Music Collection.
      • Classic FM.

  • Book Choice

    • Sombrero Fallout - Richard Brautigan

  • Luxury Choice

    • A bed with a mosquito net

Credits

Presenter Sue Lawley
Interviewed Guest Jarvis Cocker

Broadcasts

  • Sun 24 Apr 2005 11:15
    Â鶹ÊÓƵAV Radio 4
  • Fri 29 Apr 2005 09:00
    Â鶹ÊÓƵAV Radio 4
  • Sun 3 Sep 2023 10:00
    Â鶹ÊÓƵAV Radio 4 Extra
  • Sun 3 Sep 2023 15:00
    Â鶹ÊÓƵAV Radio 4 Extra
  • Sun 3 Sep 2023 21:00
    Â鶹ÊÓƵAV Radio 4 Extra
  • Mon 4 Sep 2023 04:00
    Â鶹ÊÓƵAV Radio 4 Extra

Featured in...

The Desert Island Discs podcast

The Desert Island Discs podcast

Subscribe or download individual episodes.

Listen to over 2,000 programmes

Click above to browse castaways, from 1942 to today.

Articles

Read the surprising things we've learned about some stand-out castaways.

Podcast