Carl Barat’s been a very busy man recently. He’s not only just returned from a very productive trip to Thailand, writing and recording The Libertines’ belated third album with a post-rehab Pete Doherty, but he’s also releasing a new record with his band The Jackals, Let It Reign.
“Thailand was great, beautiful, heaven on earth really,” Barat says. “We recorded demos for a new track in this massive f*cking studio complex. It was cool. There’s a lot of energy, all upbeat stuff, we’re really excited to be doing it. And Pete’s great, magic, the best he’s been in years.”
Despite his busy schedule, we managed to catch up with the ex-Dirty Pretty Things frontman and ask him the music that’s influenced him the most - the songs which make up his Ultimate Playlist.
“Let It Reign” by Carl Barat & The Jackals is out on 16 February
FAVOURITE SAD SONG
“It’s a tough one. A sad song... I guess it would have to be Sad Song by Lou Reed, that’s a pretty good one. It’s really hard though, I’ll have to pick that one because we’ll be here all day otherwise, there are so many. [Sings in Lou Reed’s voice] ‘Sad Song, sad song.’ Yeah, go with that one, it’s definitely a bit of a ballad, definitely sad.”
FAVOURITE MOVIE SOUNDTRACK SONG
“It’d have to be a James Bond one, maybe Nobody Does It Better. Actually, forget that, it has to be Live and Let Die by Paul McCartney. Him, Axl Rose, James Bond - between those three it has to be the best movie song of all time!”
FAVOURITE SONG FROM YOUR CHILDHOOD
“Peaches by The Stranglers. ‘Walking on the beaches, looking at the peaches.’ [Sings the famous bass line] That one really stands out. It’s such a classic.”
FAVOURITE SONG THAT NO ONE ELSE HAS HEARD OF
“Chas and Dave aren’t really obscure but I’ll have to go with them. The song, I Wish I Could Write A Love Song. It’s so good, so English, the Cockney accents, it’s just perfect music. I’m a big Chas and Dave fan.”
FAVOURITE CLUB ANTHEM
“I think of Ibiza when you say club anthem. I’m not really into dance music. [Sings the intro to Groove is in the Heart by Deee-Lite]. That one. Actually, that probably sounds a bit too poppy. I’m not sure about that one actually! Is that even a club anthem? Nah, I’ll think of a better one. How about Ride on Time by Black Box. That’s the one. Why’s that my club anthem? [Sings] Waaaaaah! Waaaaaah! That’s why.”
FAVOURITE WEDDING SONG
“You’re All I Need To Get By by Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell. Just because it brings everyone together on the dance floor, it’s a brilliant song.”
FAVOURITE NOVELTY SONG
“I would say Star Trekkin’ [by The Firm], but I heard it the other day and it was f*cking dreadful. [Sings] ‘Star Trekkin’, across the universe.’ So I’d probably go for Mahna Mahna from Sesame Street. Mahna Mahna, ba dee bedebe, mahna mahna.”
FAVOURITE CURRENT SONG
“Probably the Sleaford Mods song, Jobseeker. ‘So Mr. Williamson, what have you done to find gainful employment since your last signing on date? F*ck all.’ It’s so familiar and honest.”
FAVOURITE LYRIC FROM A SONG
“Jamie T’s If You Got The Money. It’s just so in the moment, it’s the epitome of blues.
‘‘Cause the song birds, don't do singing on pavements, no sweet melody the sound of spit, spat orbit, spoke of lost hopes, so do what you're told man, choke on it!’”
FAVOURITE SONG FROM YOUR OWN MUSIC
“I always go back to Death on the Stairs, the Libertines song. I love that tune. It’s the story it tells, it takes me to a place so far away and yet so familiar. It’s really hard though - I don’t believe in first or best or worse, I'm into liberty and verse - as Pete once sang [in a demo for The Libertines’ The Man Who Would be King]. It’s like going through your kids and picking your favourite child.”
(Image: Rex)
