You're stranded on a magical desert island that gives you access to the entire catalog of just 5 musical acts. Who are you picking? Do you go with a band you like a little less but has a ton of songs for more variety? Or do you still pick one of your favorites that only has an album or two?

I was going to make it 10 acts, but I think that makes it a significantly easier exercise.

Beatles

Dylan

Radiohead

Pink Floyd

Dire Straits

posted by justincredible

You're stranded on a magical desert island that gives you access to the entire catalog of just 5 musical acts. Who are you picking? Do you go with a band you like a little less but has a ton of songs for more variety? Or do you still pick one of your favorites that only has an album or two?

I was going to make it 10 acts, but I think that makes it a significantly easier exercise.

You gotta post yours.

Yes, but I gotta think it through.

Steely Dan
Pink Floyd
John Prine
Willie Nelson
Dire Straits

This gives me plenty of volume and quality.

I tried to combine quality, quantity and variety.

Fleetwood Mac

Eagles

Chicago

Zac Brown Band

Phil Collins/Genesis (this might be cheating, not sure) 

posted by Fred Garvin

I tried to combine quality, quantity and variety.

Fleetwood Mac

Eagles

Chicago

Zac Brown Band

Phil Collins/Genesis (this might be cheating, not sure) 

I'll allow it. I'm banking on having access to Fagan's solo stuff in the Steely Dan catalog.

That also reminds me I have about 5 old Chicago albums that my in-laws gave me that I have yet to listen to.

posted by Fred Garvin

I tried to combine quality, quantity and variety.

Fleetwood Mac

Eagles

Chicago

Zac Brown Band

Phil Collins/Genesis (this might be cheating, not sure) 

I’ll quietly slip you Dylan’s Christmas album to supplement your stuff since I won’t be listening to it  

Eagles is an easy #1 for me. Tons of songs, different lead vocals, different  sounds per album — and I like basically all of them.

• Eagles
  
• Tom Petty

• Michael Jackson
• O.A.R.
• Jack Johnson

Pearl Jam

The Beatles

Garth Brooks

Billy Joel

George Strait

There is variety and tons of music to choose from in their collective libraries.

posted by brutus161

Pearl Jam

The Beatles

Garth Brooks

Billy Joel

George Strait

There is variety and tons of music to choose from in their collective libraries.

Listening to Yield on vinyl right now. My wife would probably be happy with just Billy Joel.

Pink Floyd

Pearl Jam

Beastie boys

Skynard 

Limp biz kit

posted by Fletch

Pink Floyd

Pearl Jam

Beastie boys

Skynard 

Limp biz kit

I love four of your choices.  But Limp Bizkit, really?

posted by Dr Winston O'Boogie

I love four of your choices.  But Limp Bizkit, really?

People knock on them but their music is actually really good.  One of the best concerts I have ever been to.

Megadeth

Slayer

Metallica (Black album and before)

Ozzy Osbourne/Black Sabbath (may also be cheating)

Led Zeppelin

Not many people going with the active acts. I weighed that heavily...imagine the delight of new music dropping after listening to the same stuff for 17 years!

posted by Laley23

Not many people going with the active acts. I weighed that heavily...imagine the delight of new music dropping after listening to the same stuff for 17 years!

Didn't really think of that, but it's a good point. If they're still making music you'd get access to it whenever it was released, so your catalog could potentially grow quite a bit over the years with a newer act.

Red Hot Chili Peppers

Chris Stapleton

Tribe Called Quest

Eric Clapton solo and any band he was in.

Black Keys

Edit, replaced Eagles with Stapleton. 

Iron Maiden

Dream Theater

Led Zeppelin

Ratt

Black Sabbath (the king of using the "solo stuff by band members included" loophole, because both Ozzy and Dio had pretty kickin' solo careers)

posted by Laley23

Not many people going with the active acts. I weighed that heavily...imagine the delight of new music dropping after listening to the same stuff for 17 years!

Same. Funny thing, I listen to the 60 songs that explained the 90s podcast and in one of the episodes he said the top played songs on today's rock, alternative radio stations are all from the 90s earlier. 

I’m going to want someone with a large volume that I know from actual airplay and definitely a variety in style among the 5.

Billy Joel seems obvious for me. 20 years of hits and great array of styles 

Bon Jovi…..I like their sound/style big hits I liked but I know I like much of their unreleased stuff.

Keith Urban

Chicago seems a great choice

Bruno Mars…..good amount already and hopefully more to come.

Considered: Alabama, MJ, Taylor Swift (huge selection but don’t like her quite enough for this) Tim McGraw, Kenny Chesney, Whitney Houston, Queen, George Michael, Hall and Oates,The Weekend (love the sound just worried they’ll go away too soon)

posted by Fletch

People knock on them but their music is actually really good.  One of the best concerts I have ever been to.

I’d be careful subjecting yourself to Fred Durst & Co. on a desert island.  You may end up voluntarily swimming with the sharks after hearing Break Stuff for the 40,000th time.

posted by Dr Winston O'Boogie

I’d be careful subjecting yourself to Fred Durst & Co. on a desert island.  You may end up voluntarily swimming with the sharks after hearing Break Stuff for the 40,000th time.

Lol

Black Sabbath
Iron Maiden
Neil Young
Rolling Stones
Lucinda Williams

posted by Ironman92

Billy Joel seems obvious for me. 20 years of hits and great array of styles 

BJ was my first thought, for that very reason.  However, I'll go with:

• Steve Miller
• Blue Oyster Cult
• The Spinners
• Alan Parsons Project
• Bob Seger