Sunday, November 8, Governor Tom Ridge airs as the castaway. With much candor, he presents his chosen elements, utilizing them not only as tools of entertainment but also as vehicles for motivation, remembrance and self-actualization. He and Hughes taped the show in July, and the air date was delayed until after the elections to prevent any connection between the show and his political campaign.

“I was surprised by the amount of thought he had put into his music,” says Hughes. “He didn’t pick the music as a politician or a man would. He chose the music that he would really want on a desert island.”

Gov. Ridge’s choices stretch across the spectrum of musical genres, from classical to show tunes to rock ’n’ roll. “They say music is food for the soul,” he says. “Well, I’m confident the songs I picked would constitute a well-balanced meal.”

He includes Dvorak’s intense New World Symphony because it is “uplifting and conveys a sense of excitement and creation. And I suppose if I’m stranded alone on a desert island, I better have along something to give me a sense of hope and possibility.”

Gov. Ridge’s second choice, “Fanfare for the Common Man” by Aaron Copeland, features powerful brass supported by deep, thundering kettle and bass drums. It “is majestic,” he says, “and so is the common man.”

“Stairway to Heaven” by Led Zeppelin places third on his list. “It is a true rock anthem by one of the best British bands of the ’60s and ’70s. We all want to get there, we just don’t want to die to make the trip.”

Because it reminds him of his wife, Michele, Roberta Flack’s “The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face” would also accompany Gov. Ridge if he were marooned. “Roberta Flack is one of our favorite performers, and this song brings back memories of when I first met Michele in Erie — obviously a pivotal moment in my life,” he reminisces.

Chosen not only as one of his eight selections but also as the theme song for the 1994 campaign, “Simply the Best” by Tina Turner resonates with vitality and force. He states that Turner “is just an amazing performer.”

Celebrating the power of individuality, Gov. Ridge chooses to bring “My Way” onto his island. “Frank Sinatra didn’t just sing a song — he lived it,” he says. “You can really feel that sense of personal ownership when he sings ‘My Way.’” He also enjoys Broadway productions, with Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Cats being among his favorites. From that musical, he chooses “Memory.” “It’s just a beautiful piece,” he says. “Through the years, that’s all we have — our memories.”

As a final selection, “Dancing in the Dark” by Bruce Springsteen packs energy and fire into Gov. Ridge’s musical suitcase. “Springsteen personifies the spirit of American rock ’n’ roll.”

To accompany his vast variety of aural stimulation, Gov. Ridge would bring a copy of Ernest Hemingway’s The Old Man and The Sea. “This book tells the story of humanity’s struggle,” he says of the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel. “It’s not just man against beast, but the internal struggle between man and his own self will. I’ve read the book many times, and I remain in awe of the fortitude and perseverance of Santiago, the old man. And I’m a great admirer of Hemingway’s narrative style — clear, concise, and compelling sentences that pack a lot of emotional punch. It’s a great book.”

Gov. Ridge’s last item — a luxury item — would be a laptop. Of all the wondrous capabilities and functions a computer possesses, he would use it for perhaps one of its simplest — writing. “I’ve always wanted to write,” he divulges. “It’s sort of my secret passion. But it’s not the Great American Novel I’m itching to write. Instead, I’d want to pen stories for children.”