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Baker's Dozen

Batting Order: Neil Hannon's Favourite Albums
Laurie Tuffrey , July 4th, 2013 08:11

The Divine Comedy man picks out the gems in his record collection following the release of his second album with The Duckworth Lewis Method this week

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Simon And Garfunkel - Parsley, Sage, Rosemary And Thyme
I didn't give them the time of day until I was probably in my thirties. I've learnt that a lot of the records that you love are things that you grew up with and really excited you when you were a kid. But there a few things that creep in later on, when you realise the greatness. I could've put in Bridge Over Troubled Water, but I didn't at the last minute, because the back end of that record doesn't do as much for me. Whereas the clunkily-titled Parsley, Sage, Rosemary And Thyme has got a lot of more of the tunes from them - I mean I just really love Simon And Garfunkel, I couldn't quite pin down the album that I wanted to put in. I think this is the one with most of the songs on it that I love.

I'm generally quite a contrary person and I don't like to be told what I like. There's always people telling me "oh, you've got to hear this, it's really great and you'll love it". It's like, "How the hell do you know what I will love?" Music is such a personal thing, you can't tell other people what they will like and what they will love. People have given me things that they think I will love and I've just thrown them out the window of my car I've hated them so much. But this is the exception that proves the rule.

I think my favourite is 'Feelin' Groovy' - I could say one of the more arty ones, but I like that one the best [laughs]!