Lulu

Speaker 30:00

Hello, I'm Kirstie Young, and this is a podcast from the Desert Island Discs Archive. For rights reasons we've had to shorten the music. The programme was originally broadcast in nineteen eighty seven, and the presenter was Michael Parkinson.

Presenter0:30

Our Castaway started life in a Glasgow tenement and went on to become one of our most versatile and popular stars. She survived the fickle hip parade mentality of the sixties to mature as an actress and entertainer equally at home on stage, screen and television. She's Mary MacDonald McLachlan Laurie, better known as Lulu.

Presenter0:49

Yeah.

Lulu0:49

Yeah.

Presenter0:49

Lulu, where was a lot of music in your life uh as a child?

Lulu0:49

Uh

Lulu0:53

Oh, a lot. I mean, where I come from they have parties at the weekends.

Lulu0:58

Because they work like dogs all during the week. I mean, that is if you've got a job, of course. Well, in those days, when I was a wee girl, they did have jobs.

Presenter1:02

But

Lulu1:06

And um

Lulu1:08

So they'd spend a lot of their money drinking and singing and having a good time at the weekends. But the part is you did you didn't stand around, you'd go saying, Hello, darling, how are you? Obviously they said Hello Jamet, you know, but they would also

Lulu1:19

sing. Everybody would have to do their wee bay, have to do their ton.

Lulu1:23

Right, come on, do your turn, Hen, it's time for you to do your turn. And um

Lulu1:27

Most of my family thought they were Frank Sinatra wh whether they were male or female. They all used to sing, Come fly with me, let's fly, let's fly away. You know, the girls would sing like that. And um so and I was w with listening to Ella Fitzgerald and all the standard singers. My father particularly liked Perry Coma.

Lulu1:49

But there was a lot of music. My father, even to day, has got the most fantastic voice. I mean, he really should have been a a singer. He's got a beautiful voice, sort of similar to Mario Lanza.

Lulu2:00

That's not bad, is it?

Presenter2:01

Or similar to money black.

Presenter2:03

Somebody should discover him, perhaps.

Lulu2:04

Yeah, well he's he's just a bit shy, I think.

Presenter2:07

Let's have your first choice of record on Love. What's it to be?

Lulu2:09

Well, this, funnily enough, you know, it makes me think of my dad too because when I was about thirteen I really got into Ray Charles, especially when he was singing the blues and it was all moaning and wailing and all that sort of stuff. And my father used to come in and I would say exactly what he would say to me, but say, what the rhyme with that geezer, is he sick or something? Get him off, what a terrible noise. This is not one of Ray Charles's blues numbers, but one of his hit songs and one of my favourites.

Speaker 42:38

Hit the roll, Jack. Don't you come back no more, no more, no more

Speaker 42:43

No more hit the road, Jack, and don't you come back no more What you say hit the road, Jack, and don't you come back no more No more, no more, no more Hit the road, Jack, and don't you come back no more

Lulu2:49

Real.

Speaker 43:00

Whoa woman, oh woman, don't treat me so mean You're the meanest old woman that I've ever seen I guess give you a sense

Presenter3:09

Ray Charles and hit the roadjack.

Presenter3:12

I mean, people like Charles and Fitzgerald, they're essentially black singers with a very definite style.

Lulu3:17

Yeah.

Presenter3:18

Were they your heroes? I mean, did you model yourself on that?

Lulu3:20

Yes, I I think um I leaned towards preferring black American soul music to um anything else. I mean even the the singers in this country that I liked, you know, se seemed to like that sort of music too. But I always went for American music and I never ever sung with a Scottish accent. Always sang with a with an American accent because I would mimic them, I suppose.

Presenter3:40

But in America, of course, uh they they did believe you were a black singer, didn't they?

Lulu3:43

Well, yes, when I first uh when To Sear With Love came out,

Lulu3:47

There was a lot of, uh, you know, talk about the fact that I sounded uh black. Yeah.

Presenter3:52

Yeah.

Lulu3:52

I was flattered.

Presenter3:52

I was flattered. Let's go back to the to the very start. You were talking about, you know, being at home and your dad and all that sort of thing. If you if you say of somebody that they they were born in a tenement, immediately a sort of a grotty picture comes into mind, you know, very sort of down at heel. Was it like that at all?

Lulu4:04

Yeah.

Lulu4:07

Well, I I I suppose i i in retrospect, I mean, the fact with taking into into consideration that I have traveled so much, I have, um, you know, moved into a salubrious area in London, etcetera, you know, all that stuff.

Lulu4:21

It was a grey place, but when I was there, it didn't seem grey. I mean,

Lulu4:26

People also like to sort of paint a picture by explaining how and where you came from, what w what it was like. So it's sort of they like to, I think, especially journalists, like to sort of make it look like you were Cinderella, you know?

Speaker 44:38

Mm.

Lulu4:39

And in a sense it's true.

Lulu4:41

But um

Lulu4:42

When I was a kid, uh we were lower working class and we didn't have much, but we didn't think we were poor. We would never have thought we were poor, you know, we had everything we needed.

Lulu4:52

And uh

Lulu4:54

It was my whole world, and I didn't ever feel downtrodden or anything like that. But singing, I think, has got a lot to do with.

Speaker 44:59

But

Lulu5:02

people who live in Glasgow, I think the music means an awful lot to people there because obviously things are tough when you're lower working class and when there's not a lot of money.

Lulu5:12

But uh in Scotland, or in Glasgow particularly, they express themselves through music.

Presenter5:18

They're kind of blues, in a sense.

Lulu5:19

That's right. I I do I do think that's true. And I think it's true of places like Liverpool as well.

Presenter5:20

I'm

Presenter5:23

Mm.

Lulu5:24

And funnily enough they're both ports.

Presenter5:25

Was there a was there a sense also too in in this sort of background you came from that that singing was a way of making it away from it?

Lulu5:32

Yes, I think places like like uh Glasgow and environments l you know, th this this where I came from, they are bo guys try to be boxers, I think.

Lulu5:43

A lot of them actually try to be hard men and fight, you know, and uh.

Lulu5:48

Have gangs and things like that to make a name for themselves, get their name in the paper. But of course.

Lulu5:54

If you can sing. Although I would never have imagined I would ever have made it. I mean, I never dreamed that I was going to have a hit record one day and be in an inverted commas show business.

Speaker 46:05

Uh

Lulu6:06

But singing was a way of expressing.

Lulu6:08

Whatever it was that that we felt, that I felt. I just love music. I don't know, it it was in me before I was born, I think. I mean, as soon as I hear music, I just can't keep still. I'm still the same.

Presenter6:21

Next choice of records.

Lulu6:22

The next one is by a group called the Doobie Brothers, in fact they're not together anymore.

Lulu6:27

And the lead singer of the Doobie Brothers is a guy called Michael MacDonald, who is one of my all time favorites too. I mean, they all are I shall repeat myself constantly. But it was difficult to choose, as th it was this whole programme was difficult to choose eight songs. But here's the Doobie Brothers and minute by minute.

Speaker 46:46

Come in.

Lulu6:46

Uh

Speaker 46:48

Uh

Speaker 46:50

Somehow that sounds nice. You can count

Speaker 46:55

Be just be right.

Speaker 47:03

Then I keep holding on.

Speaker 47:08

Yes, I will be

Presenter7:15

The Doobie Brothers Minute by Minute

Presenter7:18

Lulu, you said there that that you know that that music was almost in your very soul and that I mean therefore it I suppose it argues that your ambition must always have been to have been a singer.

Lulu7:25

Uh

Lulu7:26

Here

Presenter7:26

Is it

Lulu7:27

Well, at one point I wanted to be a hairdresser, Michael.

Presenter7:30

Do you?

Lulu7:30

Yeah.

Lulu7:32

Well, it's because I think, although you'll be able to tell by listening to me, you'll be more objective about it, but I think from.

Lulu7:40

The fact that I have mentioned this before.

Lulu7:44

When you don't imagine you're going to become

Lulu7:47

I mean, that never I don't think that ever entered my mind that I was going to be famous or anything l near it.

Lulu7:53

And I'm I think it's because I'm quite down to earth and I don't dream.

Lulu7:57

So

Lulu7:58

What I imagined I would do is a I would have a day job.

Presenter8:02

Singing hairdresser.

Lulu8:03

I'd be a hairdresser in the daytime and it if I could get a job singing at night with bands, which I was sh I was I mean, I wasn't I was had quite a bit of confidence, I thought that's what I would do.

Presenter8:10

But

Presenter8:13

So, what did you do? I mean, how did you first start singing then? I mean, in public? What was it like?

Lulu8:17

In public. I can't actually remember. My memory is not that great, but I've been told that it was during the Queen's Coronation. That was officially the first public appearance when I sang on a golden coach on my father's shoulders in the street,'cause there were street parties.

Speaker 48:32

Sorry.

Lulu8:32

That was four.

Speaker 48:33

Yeah.

Lulu8:34

But uh my mother also says that I could sing before I could talk practically. And then I when we go on holiday to Rossi, I used to go up to the Punch and Judy man and ask him if I could sing.

Lulu8:46

And then

Lulu8:48

I think my mother used to encourage me. She doesn't admit it, but I can't imagine a little kid starts doing that. I mean, I just think I think she obviously pushed me a wee bit, you know. And then when I'd go to Blackpool, when I was a little bit older, I would go in for the competitions there, and I would invariably win them.

Lulu9:04

And then when I was at school, I used to go in for the poetry competitions, you know, Robert Burns and all that, Tia Moose.

Lulu9:10

And um I would win those a lot too. So I you know, it was kind of apparent that I was that way inclined.

Presenter9:16

And when did the break occur then? When were you sort of were you spotted by somebody?

Lulu9:20

Yeah, I was when I was

Lulu9:22

When I was thirteen I was singing with a group.

Lulu9:26

called the Bellrocks. And then I got another offer to go and sing with a group called the Glen Eagles, fabulous names. And my manager's husband and her brother were looking at clubs. They were going to open Discotex.

Lulu9:42

was sixty three.

Lulu9:43

and they came to the little club where I was singing on a Sunday, saw me,

Lulu9:47

And told Marion about me. She saw me and they said, you know, they'd like to try and do something.

Lulu9:52

But I don't I had lots of people. I mean, even Carol Levis said at one point when I was very, very young he'd like to put me on TV, but I was too young because in Scotland there are certain laws, or there were then, that you wouldn't be allowed to perform on television at certain ages or something like that. So I was disappointed about that when I was very young, about six or something, five or six. But yes, so then at fourteen I recorded Shout and it was released when I left school at fifteen and it was a hit and that was it. I haven't looked back.

Presenter10:20

I'm not a choice of record.

Lulu10:21

Whitney Houston, I think, is one of the great, great new talented girl singers. I mean, I think she's not only gorgeous to look at, but just divine to listen to. And I think one of the greatest pop songs ever written

Lulu10:33

was the greatest love and this is her singing it.

Speaker 410:38

I succeed.

Speaker 410:40

Peace, I live in life and live. No matter what they take from me, they can't take away my dignity.

Speaker 410:52

Because the greatest.

Speaker 410:57

Love of all is happening to me.

Presenter11:04

Whitney Houston and the greatest love. Lulu, there they were then in the early 60s when all that madness was happening, the pop boom, and Lulu and the lovers, wasn't it? I remember very well indeed, and the shout.

Lulu11:13

The

Presenter11:15

You're very, very young. I mean, it must have seemed like a dream to you. One minute there you are up in Glasgow at home, the next minute you're in this mad whirligig that was the other s

Lulu11:23

I suppose so. But everything happened so fast, Michael. And, you know, I was really doing what I wanted to do, and that was to sing. Uh, that it all

Lulu11:34

I was working very hard. I didn't stop.

Lulu11:36

And in fact, in those days I did really stop and think about an awful lot. I mean, I still don't I try anyway. But I'm one of those those animals who works totally on instinct.

Lulu11:46

and um I was doing what I wanted to do and I didn't get involved in a lot outside of my actual work because that really made me come alive. So if I was not having photographs taken, I was travelling on the road with my band in my van,

Lulu12:02

um or I was doing a television show, or I was choosing clothes to wear for stage, or having them fitted, or having them made. It was non stop, non stop. I mean, for the first ten years of my show business career, I don't think I ever stopped.

Presenter12:16

When you look back though on those it always strikes me being odd, we're looking back now the fashions particularly of those days.

Lulu12:21

Meanwhile, they're coming back. I mean, the kids in the street today look exactly like they did in the 60s. It's funny.

Presenter12:23

No, they aren't.

Presenter12:26

But when you look back, do you still cringe? I mean, what was the future?

Lulu12:29

When I see the fi pictures. When I see those gorgeous photo photographs of me, oh, it makes

Presenter12:30

Yeah.

Lulu12:34

It actually, thank goodness, it's far enough away.

Lulu12:38

That I can laugh now.

Presenter12:39

Uh

Speaker 412:39

Uh

Presenter12:39

Yeah.

Speaker 412:39

Uh

Presenter12:39

Yeah.

Speaker 412:40

Uh

Lulu12:40

But you know, when you see pictures of yourself, say, a couple of years ago, you really kind of get embarrassed and hot under the collar because you think, oh God, and I thought I looked gorgeous in that dress.

Lulu12:48

It's quite amusing now, and I actually look at it with fondness and think how sweet.

Presenter12:52

Yeah.

Lulu12:54

Really?'Cause it's like a different person. Although it is me, it's like a different person. It's so long ago. I mean, it's twenty three years, I think, now.

Presenter13:02

Well it's good of you to admit it.

Presenter13:04

Let's have another choice of records.

Lulu13:06

Ah, now I've just over the past few years started to uh get into opera.

Lulu13:11

I have a very good friend of ours, he's an opera buff, he's a mad about opera, his mother's an opera singer and he's been educating me and I am completely mental about Pavarotti.

Lulu13:24

And it was difficult to choose uh one of his, I mean, because I've got Pavarotti sings his greatest hits, of course, and I could have played the whole lot and been quite happy, but I chose your tiny hand. It frozen from Pujini's Laboe.

Speaker 413:37

Like a father is a son.

Speaker 414:08

But they mara qui sier.

Speaker 414:21

That's what it is.

Presenter14:38

Pavarotti, your tiny hand is frozen.

Lulu14:40

Ah, incredible, that voice.

Presenter14:42

Yes, would you like to be an opera singer?

Lulu14:43

Do you know something, Michael?

Lulu14:45

Although my roots are in rock and roll and the blues and all that.

Presenter14:47

Blues and all

Lulu14:48

I now think

Lulu14:50

And I wouldn't like to change my life in any way. I don't say, you know, I wish I'd have done this in a different way, that in a different way, or but I would would love to have been an office singer. You know what it is, this tremendous discipline.

Speaker 415:01

Hmm.

Lulu15:01

You know in rock and roll.

Lulu15:03

It's instinctive, it's natural. In fact, the more natural, the better. You know, if you've got any training, it slightly hinders you in a sense, I would say.

Lulu15:10

But uh with opera it is such dedication and such discipline and in I find as I get older, the more discipline I have,

Lulu15:20

Freer I feel. I feel much freer. I feel like a bird if I really can discipline myself. And in that, in listening to him, I think, my God, he must have studied, although he has got a gift. I mean, that's a gift from God. That is a divine gift for sure.

Presenter15:33

Gift from God.

Presenter15:36

Have you ever had lessons? Singing lessons?

Lulu15:37

I have lessons now. You do? Oh, yes, yes. Because when you, you know, uh go into something like a musical, stage musical.

Presenter15:38

You do?

Lulu15:45

And you have to perform eight times a week. You have to learn

Lulu15:49

The technique

Lulu15:51

So different I mean tech there are different techniques to enable you to to protect your voice. Not not it's not in a sense teaching you to sing.

Lulu16:00

But it's teaching you how to protect your chords because I had a problem doing song and dance a couple of years ago.

Lulu16:07

And um that's what taught me I had to learn how to not let that happen again.

Presenter16:11

What kind of problem do you have? What was it?

Lulu16:13

Well, what happened was the sound system went. It was a little microchip went in the sound system. I couldn't hear my voice. So I started to

Lulu16:21

push harder, you know, to try and hear myself.

Lulu16:25

And of course you can't over a thirty piece orchestra, especially when you're sort of standing above them on a crane.

Lulu16:29

And I it was like somebody say at a football match. It seems I've heard it happens often.

Lulu16:35

Y your vocal cords just bang together and um I got a a blister on my vocal cords and um thank God I had an operation, it's fine. I mean I

Lulu16:45

I managed to do eight performances in Guys and Dolls for a year without any problems, without even having a night off, but

Lulu16:52

There are ways of protecting yourself. I mean, I would never force that way again, never. I learnt a very good lesson. In fact, I think that's the only way human beings really learn their lessons, is from it's the hard way.

Presenter17:03

Another choice of record.

Lulu17:04

The next one is um Layla by Eric Clapton and I think it was probably recorded about or twelve years ago or something like that, vaguely.

Lulu17:12

And I just think it's one of the best things he's ever done.

Speaker 417:18

Make the best of the situation before I finally go inside.

Speaker 417:27

Please never say, I'll never fly.

Presenter17:43

Eric Clapton and Layla.

Lulu17:45

You know, it's funny, Michael, just before Eric brought out his first solo album, we were both sitting, I think, in the front row watching O Calcutta opening night, can you imagine? And we were so embarrassed to sort of like talk to each other. Well, I certainly wasn't. And Eric, you know

Lulu18:02

used to be very, very shy. I don't think he's as shy now, but

Lulu18:05

And we were both kind of like it this conversation was so stilted, but thank God I got him onto the conversation about his new album that was coming out. And he said that he was very nervous because he really didn't fancy himself much as a singer, you know

Lulu18:18

Initially, I mean, he is a great guitar the great guitarist. But uh, I love his voice. I think it's got a lot of feeling in it and and a lot of passion and a lot of

Lulu18:30

There's a lot of, um, experience in that voice, you know.

Speaker 418:33

Mm.

Lulu18:34

And um

Lulu18:35

A lot of drama in it, and I just loved it. And I said to him, Well, I'm sure it'll be successful. Of course, he has gone on to be very successful as a singer.

Presenter18:41

That's right.

Lulu18:42

Mm.

Presenter18:42

Uh

Lulu18:42

Yeah.

Presenter18:42

Going back to what you were saying earlier about discipline and about the the way that you feel better when you've disciplined yourself, I mean, in fact, that's why you've survived, isn't it? Because if you look at the sixties and look at that period you came through, and look at the victims of that time, it's a it's a fairly daunting list, isn't it?

Lulu18:45

Yeah.

Lulu18:58

Isn't it?

Lulu19:00

It it it is I mean, it's it's quite obvious in show business, isn't it, when you you know, you go back o over the charts and think of the people that you used to admire and they're not around any more.

Lulu19:10

But in life that happens too. It's it's a fascinating thing. I mean I I'm getting all phil just to get a bit philosophical then, Michael. I think you know, we're here to l I mean, I often used to wonder why the hell I was here, you know.

Lulu19:21

What was I doing in this world? You know, sometimes think, you know.

Lulu19:27

I think a lot of it has to do with learning and it we're at a school, you know, and we have to learn and as I said before, you learn from your mistakes and that's the best way to learn. It's sometimes the hardest, you know.

Speaker 419:34

This

Speaker 419:36

Yeah.

Lulu19:36

But um

Lulu19:38

And I've I I realized at school, you know.

Lulu19:40

I was not tall disciplined.

Lulu19:42

Not to put the blame on my parents, but they also didn't make me do my work. They didn't, you know, they didn't they weren't strict enough with me in that sense. They were strict with me in other other ways. But I would like to have disciplined myself a bit more at school and taken, you know, more advantage of my education. But then I don't regret it really, but just on reflection one thinks, why didn't you sit down and concentrate? Why didn't you get into those things? Because now I'd like to go to school.

Presenter20:09

Hmm.

Lulu20:09

I would enjoy it, you know. In fact, now I l enjoy learning.

Presenter20:12

But I mean there must have been a deal of steel in you because I mean a very young person a steel stainless steel in you. I mean in in in the centre of you because going back to those days they were difficult days for Even hardened street fighters, you know, and and I mean, you were particularly vulnerable, you were a a young girl on the on the road, and you didn't succumb at all, and you you weren't a casualty, you survived it all.

Speaker 420:32

Yeah.

Lulu20:32

Some

Presenter20:32

So it must mean something there that you've got from your background.

Lulu20:35

It oh, yes, I'm sure there's a lot from I got from my background, an awful lot. And in fact, you know, it it's interesting. Uh you know, I certainly haven't done too badly even though I wasn't very good at school.

Lulu20:47

I haven't suffered. I've done you know what I've wanted to do.

Lulu20:51

But um

Lulu20:52

Some people

Lulu20:54

I think it's partly destiny and partly what you make of your life, your attitude to life.

Lulu21:00

You know, it's it's having a go at things.

Lulu21:02

and when you have been hurt.

Lulu21:05

For

Lulu21:06

When you've been disappointed?

Lulu21:08

You know, not

Lulu21:09

Sitting and enjoying your misery, it's getting up and doing something else. But I've also also was very, very protected and guided.

Lulu21:17

By my manager Marion, you see. So I was very fortunate, probably fortunate the most.

Presenter21:23

Another choice of record, please.

Lulu21:24

Captain

Lulu21:25

The next one is Phyllis Nelson's Move Closer. I think this is the sexiest, most sensual record I have ever heard. I just love it.

Speaker 421:36

When we're dancing.

Speaker 421:41

Slooting and sway.

Speaker 421:47

Tender love song

Speaker 421:53

Something praise me.

Speaker 422:01

Uh

Presenter22:03

Phyllis Nelson and moved closer.

Presenter22:05

Lulu, you're talking there about attitudes to toward work and and towards life. I mean, your career's blossomed. I mean, you you're not just a pop singer, but you became an actress and uh you've starred in on the West End in musicals and that sort of thing and played on television. I mean was that planning? Or was it good luck?

Lulu22:16

That's what I'm doing.

Lulu22:20

Well, I think a lot of it is planned by Marian. I am not.

Lulu22:26

So much a planner.

Lulu22:28

But, you know, we are very much a team, Aaron and I. It's a very good partnership.

Lulu22:32

And she's one of those people I suppose it it is a good partnership because she's careful, she thinks about things and she will plan, where I will just feel my way there and go along with it and adjust to the moment, you know, and

Lulu22:45

That's the kind of person I am. But then I suppose from her point of view working together, I'm ready to try anything, you know. I will have a go. I'm not afraid. Or even if I'm afraid, I'll still have a go. So she can maybe suggest things to me, which is what she has been doing for the past 23 years. And she's always said to me, I think you should be an actress. I think you'll be a great actress. I said, She's mental. I could never although my father always said I was a great actress, but not in the sense we're talking. When he went to smack smack me or something, I'd start crying.

Lulu23:14

And you say, Well, you'll win a bloody Oscar one of these days for that But um so she would plan she's really planned my career, but obviously she discusses it with me and she we talk about it together and I think we inspire each other.

Presenter23:28

Of all the avenues that have opened up to you, um, which has been the the most attractive ones? Did you enjoy, for instance, the musicals, guys and dolls and

Lulu23:35

I love them all, Michael. That's the thing about me. It's quite interesting.

Presenter23:36

My cup.

Lulu23:38

Somebody in um

Lulu23:40

Funnily enough, the BBC in a very high position in the BBC won't mention names, right?

Lulu23:46

said to Marion that I diversified too much. I changed my hair too much, my style of clothing, I sang too many different styles of songs and I tried to do too many things. And he thought it was bad, it would be bad for my career. And Marion said, I'm sorry I disagree with you and and she said Lulu loves it, loves all that, you know, that's that's something about me that I I really do like a change and I like to stretch myself.

Lulu24:09

And I think today it's becoming more and more important to be that way. Although I didn't plan to do it, that wasn't a strategy. That's the way I've always felt. And I love all of them.

Lulu24:22

And I like, you know, to I wouldn't like to do the same thing all the time. I mean, I'm sure you agree.

Presenter24:26

Yeah.

Lulu24:27

Have a retained

Presenter24:28

It certainly is.

Lulu24:29

Uh

Presenter24:30

Another choice of record.

Lulu24:31

One thing I do love is to dance. I mean, I really I never had any training uh for dancing either, but whenever I get a chance to play a part where I can dance or when I get up on stage, I don't stand still. I like to move around. And um I've always admired Bowie, David Bowie, and I was fortunate to work with him once, and we had a great working relationship and became very good friends. This is the best record he's made over the past few years, I think. And it just happens to be called Let's Dance.

Speaker 425:02

Put on your red shoes and dance the blows

Speaker 425:09

To the song they're playing on the radio

Speaker 425:18

Wow, colour lights up your face.

Speaker 425:24

That's what you

Speaker 425:26

Sway through the crowd to an empty space.

Presenter25:34

Debbie Boy, let's dance.

Presenter25:37

Lulu, finally, I mean what's what's the future to be then? I mean you like looking forward rather than looking back. I mean what's what's it to be? Is it more pop songs, more musicals, more television, films perhaps all right?

Lulu25:46

Well, I I think even even more than looking forward, I like to live in the moment. But of course, you know, one has to plan to at least to a degree, I mean, I suppose, you know, say for the next few months.

Presenter25:55

You know.

Lulu25:58

Um in fact, Michael, you know, I used to for the first fifteen years, I think, um in show business, I was always booked up for two years. Solid.

Speaker 426:06

Mm.

Lulu26:07

But not any more now.

Lulu26:09

I like to be available for something that might come along.

Lulu26:13

And to be more free in it sort of makes me more flexible. I I enjoy it that way. But obviously if I can carry on.

Lulu26:20

For the next twenty-three years, the way I've been going, I think I'll be

Lulu26:24

Blessed, truly blessed. And, um

Lulu26:28

keep stretching myself, trying to do, you know

Lulu26:31

slightly different things. But I I d you know what one ambition is that I haven't fulfilled is that I would like to have an album, to make an album.

Lulu26:41

that everybody has in their collection. That and every single track on it is like amazing. It's just ace, you know. So that's something I haven't done. There's lots of things I haven't done, but I'd like to do them all.

Presenter26:54

Final choice of record.

Lulu26:55

This is another great dance record, and this guy, Michael Sembello.

Lulu27:00

really hasn't had any success in this country apart from this song, and it's because this record was in the film Flash Dance. But the whole album is brilliant, and it's one of my all time favorite albums. This is Michael Sembello singing a track

Presenter27:11

This is my

Lulu27:13

From Flash Dance. And I'm not talking about the album Flash Dance, I'm talking about his album. The track is called.

Lulu27:20

No.

Speaker 427:20

Amy.

Speaker 427:21

But can't hold it.

Speaker 427:24

You work all your life for that moment in time. It could come or pass you by. It's a push of the world, but there's always a chance. If the hunger stays the night.

Speaker 427:37

There's a coconut to heat, strongly stretching on the beat.

Speaker 427:43

Never stopping with her head against the wind

Presenter27:51

Michael Sambello and Maniac. Lulu, you're now on your desert island. You're going to enjoy it, do you think?

Lulu27:57

I don't know. I'm really not used to being on totally on my own. But I think as I get older I do like my own space.

Lulu28:05

and I'd be willing to try it out.

Presenter28:06

Well, you've eight records, but seven have been washed away in some sort of tidal wave. One left. Which would it be?

Lulu28:09

So

Lulu28:11

Which would it be? Which would be what am I gonna have a record player?

Presenter28:14

Oh, all this.

Lulu28:15

To play it. That's very important because the record doesn't mean a thing. If you can't play it, I thought Whitney Huster's the greatest love because.

Lulu28:23

Of the content of the lyric. It's about being on your own, really. It's about I mean, I believe that you come into this world on your own and you leave you go out on your own and really.

Lulu28:33

You have to find satisfaction inside yourself, from yourself.

Lulu28:37

Not from anything external.

Lulu28:40

Or I mean, not to rely on it from anything external or anybody.

Lulu28:44

Else other than yourself. And this is what this says, this this song, and that would remind me of it. And she sings it so sweetly, you know.

Presenter28:51

What about the book, then, assume you've got the Bible and the works of Shakespeare?

Lulu28:56

I would still choose a book that that really is on philosophy, and it's by a man called Swami Muktananda.

Lulu29:02

And it's called Where Are You Going? I mentioned before that I wondered why I was here at times. And

Lulu29:08

This book sort of changed my life in a way. When I read it, there was a point in the book where he says happiness comes from within, which is I'm just repeating what I've just said to you before about that song, The Greatest Love. So it proves that I go back to the same point each time, don't I? This book um I would take with me wherever I go.

Presenter29:26

And what about the the luxury object, inanimate?

Lulu29:31

Can I only have one? Can I not have a few, Michael? Oh, don't be mean.

Lulu29:36

I think a telephone.

Lulu29:39

Just in case I got lonely.

Presenter29:41

Cordeless telephone you shall have.

Lulu29:42

A cordless telephone. Thank you very much.

Presenter29:45

Lulu, thank you very much indeed.

Lulu29:46

It's been delightful.

Speaker 329:55

You've been listening to a podcast from the Desert Island Discs Archive. For more podcasts, please visit bbc.co.uk slash radio four.