Hello, I'm Christy Young, and this is a podcast from the Desert Island Discs Archive.

The program was originally broadcast in 1981, and the presenter was Roy Plumley.

Yes, indeed, this evening I'm speaking to you from the ideal home exhibition at Ells Court,

which seems singularly crowded.

I'm on a sort of open stage surrounded closely on three sides by those who have paid to come

in.

The first guest is the noted Mr Russell Hartey.

Now Russell, I'm sure you're used to being surrounded by people you're a brigadeist chap.

Could you take isolation on a desert island?

This precise moment in my life, yes, surrounded by a lot of people.

I'd welcome a brief respite on a desert island, but if you're asking me seriously, could

I survive for long?

The answer is for about a day if it were a Hebridian island, and two days if it were the

Caribbean.

You're not an island man.

No, not at all an island man, totally gregarious.

We know the chore of a musical disposition because we heard you play the piano.

In fact, we've seen you play the piano.

There could have been no deception.

Now you will have to survive with just eight discs.

Did you find it hard to choose?

I found it hard to choose the eight.

...