Hard indeed. In no particular order:
3 Mustaphas 3, 'Aj Zajdi Zajdi Jasno Sonce'. [url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yl9-8RudQXk"]https://www.youtube....h?v=Yl9-8RudQXk[/url] This will be played at my funeral. It's the harmony which does it.
Bonnie 'Prince' Billy, 'I See A Darkness'. [url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LAriDxTeed8"]https://www.youtube....h?v=LAriDxTeed8[/url] Though I could have found at least five songs from Will Oldham's back catalogue.
The Mutton Birds, 'White Valiant'. [url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UqFoRIj0Wzc"]https://www.youtube....h?v=UqFoRIj0Wzc[/url] Cold, spare, deeply creepy. I might have gone for 'While You Sleep' instead, but this fits my mood.
Devo, 'Satisfaction'. [url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jadvt7CbH1o"]https://www.youtube....h?v=jadvt7CbH1o[/url] Just to remind me what a cover version can be.
Talking Heads, 'Memories Can't Wait'. [url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VJu-IABeCws"]https://www.youtube....h?v=VJu-IABeCws[/url] Another compromise. The vocal, again.
Polysics' brutal cover of 'My Sharona'. [url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k6NIJ5r448A"]https://www.youtube....h?v=k6NIJ5r448A[/url] This performance, with video, please. A bit like the Devo; artful, skilful, takes the original and does violence to it and comes out with something sublime.
The Weavers, 'Sinnerman'. [url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rXA2cjPnPJ4"]https://www.youtube....h?v=rXA2cjPnPJ4[/url] The people who got me interested in music.
The Barely Works, 'Byker Hill'. [url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lmQMNEsKdTU"]https://www.youtube....h?v=lmQMNEsKdTU[/url] Brilliantly done. That's not a bass guitar, either
I regret many of the musics I've left out.
Books: The Bible would need to be a King James, for the language.
I think I might take Russell Hoban's 'Riddley Walker'. If you've not read it, treat yourself.
And a luxury. It would have to be a piano. Self-tuning In a dozen years or so I might learn to play the thing...