The votes are in.
Last week, with a McTacular €25 Golden Discs voucher on offer, I asked for your favourite song by a Scottish artist.
The competition brought another generous response from our readers so that any number of entries would have been worthy winners.
Having mulled it over, I thought it would make sense to share the voucher between Rosette of Sirius and Slightly Bemused for their shared love of ‘Year Of The Cat’.
Their interaction showed the enduring emotional bonds we can form with a piece of music down all the days and also how this little corner of Broadsheet seems to bring out the best in our readers.
FIGHT!
Third Place:
Paul Buchanan – Mid Air
Specific Gravity writes:
‘Impossible to select just one of his/Blue Nile’s masterpieces, but this needs no justification.’
Runner-up:
The First Weekend by Arab Strap
Clampers Outside writes
‘A song that takes you, gently at first…Then the music kicks in… and you’re off on a hedonistic weekend of booze, parties and drugs…t’s a track you can listen to before going out, when out, or chill to when you get home after a night out :)
Sets you up for the story as it unfolds, just like those “roll over” weekends from my own twenties in the 90s when the moment was all that mattered…. And I cannot let this go without mentioning Aidan Moffat’s beautiful accent. As the song is pretty much spoken, its easy to appreciate it …’
Winner:
Year Of The Cat by Al Stewart
Rosette Of Sirius writes:
We’ll, let’s go with one of the greatest opening lyrics of all time…. in my opinion that is….
“On a morning from a Bogart movie
In a country where they turn back time
You go strolling through the crowd like Peter Lorre
Contemplating a crime
She comes out of the sun in a silk dress running
Like a watercolor in the rain
Don’t bother asking for explanations
She’ll just tell you that she came
In the year of the cat.”Al Stewart’s masterpiece.
Slightly Bemused replied:
That was my now dear departed brother’s favourite song. My sister and another brother were with him as he slipped away, and had this on for him so he would go to his favourite music.
I remember once this was on the radio as I studied in my room (amusingly on a portable radio cassette player he had given me) and he came storming in thinking I had pinched his record. He was immediately apologetic, but would not leave until the song was over.
I cannot hear this without thinking of him, and for that I do thank you.
Rosette replied:
I did not grow up in a house gifted with musical ability. My dad could play the piano but the rest of us were tone deaf as they say. Save for one thing. We all love music. And between us we grew up In a house what was open to new ideas, genres, sounds, artists and that in turn left an indelible mark on me. On my taste, appreciation and desire to grow as large a repertoire of artists as I could.
My father was an opera and classical buff. He also appreciated the great crooners and jazz musicians of the last century. My mother lived for the Beatles and 60’s pop. I possess today most Beatles original singles releases and all all their albums as heirlooms. Not all in the best of shape, but none the less original. And mine.
My two older sisters were the most influential. One consumed by pop – Bay City Rollers, the Jackson Five, the Osmonds, Abba and later the sounds of Disco.
The other, and the biggest musical influence was more artsy. It was Bowie, bolan, Roxy Music and later punk and early new wave that was my foundation and her record collection that I treasure.
She died about fifteen years ago now from cancer.
It’s a very, very strange thing when a sibling dies so young. It’s a thing you’ll perhaps never come to terms with. I haven’t. It really affected me in many ways and I’m humbled that a simple song I suggested from the 70s evoked such an emotion because I get it. I really do…
Nick says: Thanks all.
Last Week: Win Nick’s Voucher
well done you two
+1.
You both have a great way with words, and I got a little teary reading your comments last week.
Thankyou both.
Was quite emotional typing it!
Thanks Nick…. Slightly, You suggest an album – vinyl – and I’ll use the voucher for it, How about that?
I remember the debate when CD was taking over from vinyl, digital from analog. Which was better? Occasionally a radio DJ puts on a vinyl again, and while as a technical person I have to admit the better purity of the CD, I feel there is something warmer about vinyl. And a wonderful experience just putting it on.
I think a vinyl is a good idea. From your own comment, I would say, though, do not go back. Go forward, and continue your sister’s legacy of exploring. When you can go into the shop, talk with the staff.
My favourite was the Golden Discs on Grafton Street when in college. There were two in particular. A lady with the most wonderful arm tattoo, and a gent who was ancient (I am probably older now than he was then). But between them, their knowledge of music was encylopaedic. I spent many an hour as I asked them questions, but they asked them back. And about once a month (all I could afford as a student) I would arrive, and a record would be taken out from behind the counter for me. They never steered me wrong.
I stopped buying CDs ages ago but never stopped buying vinyl. The thing I love about its renaissance is the quality in pressings has dramatically improved since since the 90s. I also subscribe to Tidal’s hifi tier for lossless and high resolution audio. I don’t mind sharing that I’ve probably spent waaaay more money on hifi equipment over the years, but I do really enjoy good sound quality. I will however say this, the argument that vinyl is better than digital is kinda a facile one – always was. It’s just different. Vinyl can sound amazing but can also sound dreadful. Same with digital. Both are there to be enjoyed!
My record player is an old Bush portable (or luggable, more realistically) that was my aunt’s (she of the escaped Teddy). She toted it around to places where she taught ballet. For all of that, the tone is wonderful.
It was a mono when I got it, but the stylus was for stereo. I managed to find another of the same make, but not in good condition. I nabbed the circuit and the speaker, and I turned it into stereo. On of the few adaptions I ever did I was proud of.
I have yet to do the digital adaptation so I can keep the warmth of the speakers set in wood
Fair play.