Choose wisely - It's a long trip

Let's suppose that you're chosen for a three-year mission to Mars and (hopefully) back. Space is tight. Alan Shepard couldn't even bring his golf club. But you are allowed to take along three CDs to entertain yourself on the long, long flight. You can pick a soundtrack album, a greatest hits package, a live album, even a CD of a Broadway show. The only restriction is that the album have no more than two CDs. In other words, no 200-song boxed set. Also, no homemade compilation CDs. So, out of the millions of CDs in circulation, you have to pick just three. Let's hear your choices, your thought process in choosing them and even some of the CDs that almost made the cut. My picks are "The Very Best of Elvis Costello and the Attractions, 1977-86." It's the very best of Elvis Costello. Who could ask for anything more? You've got "Alison," "Oliver's Army," "(What's So Funny About) Peace, Love and Understanding," "Watch Your Step" and assorted other goodies. Choice No. 2 is "The Last Waltz," the live CD of The Band's last concert (It's the original two-CD version, not the bloated, four-disc reissue). You get The Band performing "The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down," "The Weight," "Stagefright" and more, plus Van Morrison, Eric Clapton, Bob Dylan and others. My third pick is Neil Young's "Decade" album, featuring his work from 1966 to 1976, including his stints with Buffalo Springfield and Crosby, Stills, Nash and, of course, Young. CDs that almost made the cut were Ryan Adams' "Easy Tiger" (think about downloading the songs "Two" and "Halloweenhead."), Bob Marley and the Wailers' "Gold" collection and Fountains of Wayne's "Welcome Interstate Managers." If you're lucky, your crewmates on the flight will share their music, expanding your listening options. Just hope they don't load up on Bangles CDs.