MUSIC MY SIX BEST ALBUMS
Cheryl baker
CHERYL BAKER, 64, was a member of pop group Bucks Fizz who won the Eurovision Song Contest in 1981 with Making Your Mind Up. Their other No.1s were The Land Of Make Believe and My Camera Never Lies. She is now in The Fizz, whose Christmas With The Fizz album is out now.
JONI MITCHELL: Court And Spark (Rhino) The most influential artist in my life. She puts her poetry to music and I tried to emulate her voice standing in front of the mirror.
I’ve done an album of her songs that I sell when I work on cruise ships. And our Christmas album includes her song River, which was a thrill for me.
STEVIE WONDER: Songs In The Key Of Life
(Tamla Motown)
This saw me through a period when I was singing but also working as a secretary in the City. I would play this to keep me awake because I was getting home from the Playboy Club at 3am. His album tracks are so clever and he puts a message out.
PAUL SIMON: Graceland
(Sony)
This came out when I was engaged but falling out of love rapidly. We were invited to bassist Steve Stroud’s flat and heard this. Steve eventually became my husband and he said I would love the harmonies.
With all the South African guest artists, it blew me away. I admired the fact that Simon was making a stand against apartheid.
LUTHER VANDROSS: Give Me The Reason
(Sony)
The album I fell in love with my husband to, in particular So Amazing. That’s our song. When we renewed our vows I walked down the aisle to it. Steve has introduced me to music I wouldn’t have listened to otherwise.
JOHN BARRY: The Beyondness Of Things
(Decca)
I melt as soon as this plays. I love lyrics but sometimes music just speaks to you and you don’t need them. We play it all the time.
DAVE GRUSIN: Cinemagic
(GRP)
Grusin wrote music for films such as On Golden Pond and this includes tracks relating to different parts of the film. It expresses the sadness of the fact that the family aren’t getting on then the jollity of being out on the lake. You can feel the emotion.