It started with 'the question' and ended with the 'list'. If you were about to go on tour and had to choose just eight tracks to put on your Walkman, what would they be and why?

The List department stumbled in its amiable way upon a very busy character in the shape of one A Sayle, who seemed dead keen on assaulting all manner of media even as we spoke. Although about to finish the nicest of British tours, Mr Sayle is still due for a London date on June 3rd at the Dominion.

Fans of the written word may care to catch his travelogue based on a nice enough jaunt from Liverpool to Rome, undertaken (a) in order to take in the European Cup Final, and (b) to cash in on a novel about the whole thing.

The more visually aware among us may be pleased to know that the tireless Alexei has finished a new series of "The Young Ones" and later in the year will be yelling, "Hello boys..." from screens across the nation. On a nicely serious note, there's always "Gorky Park" on a wide screen.

The aural medium is not forgotten, for Sayle did win the 1982 Pye Radio Award, whatever that may be, for his Capital Radio series, now cut into finest black vinyl and stamped "The Fish People Tapes". We like a nice fish.

Once In A Lifetime

Talking Heads

"I like this record because it's a very nice record and a very nice video."

Instinction

Defunkt

"I like this record because it isn't very nice. Defunkt probably aren't very nice, but that's the kind of guy I am. Complicated. I have a nice side and an un-nice side."

Relax

Frankie Goes To Hollywood

"I met Holly the other day and he seems very nice."

Night Nurse

Gregory Isaacs

"I've never met Gregory Isaacs, but if I did he'd probably be very nice."

Six Months In A Leaky Boat

Split Enz

"I like this record because it reminds me of Australia, which is a very nice place as long as you're not an Aborigine."

Your Love Is King

Sade

"I chose this record so everyone will think I'm trendy and be nice to me."

Mac The Knife

Berliner Ensemble

"I prefer this version to the King Kurt record, though I'm sure they're very nice."

Shipbuilding

Robert Wyatt

"I like this record because I know everyone involved in it and they're all very nice."