Tag Archives: Golden Discs

Every week, we give away to a ‘sheet reader a voucher for Golden Discs worth 25 Euros on the open market.

All we require from you is a tune we can play next week.

This week’s theme: Nick Cave

To mark the release of Lovely Creatures; The Best Of Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, what song from the three decade Cave canon stands apart from the rest (probably smoking French cigarettes)?

To enter, please complete this sentence:

‘The Nick Cave track that has left the most indelible mark on me is________________________because____________________________’

Lines Must close at 6.25pm MIDNIGHT.

May include solo work, Grinderman, soundtracks, etc.

Golden Discs

Last week, with a Golden Discs voucher worth Twenty Five euro on offer,  we asked you to choose a cover of a Beatles song that improves on the original.

You entered in your Beatlemaniacal dozens.

But there could be only one winner.

In reverse order then…

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C-blaYP-0Ug

Kermit and Robin – Octopus’s Garden

Daily Chainsaw writes:

Why? It’s the Mupppets, you muppet!

Jeff Lynne, Tom Petty, Dhani Harrison and Prince – While My Guitar Gently Weeps

Leopold Gloom writes:

From 3.30 on Prince takes over…There are times when the others on stage don’t look as if they can believe what he is doing, and what he is capable of. In those few minutes he snatched the solo from Clapton’s bigoted hands and made it his own. A masterpiece of a song, improved by a genius.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rIYQr-a0ktA

Ramsey lewis – Cry Baby Cry

f_lawless writes:

A real slce of funky moogy coolness! Great arrangement and production by Charles Stepney. It’s off a covers album of White Album tracks – loads more gems on it – made all the more impressive considering Lewis recorded the album (called “Mother Nature’s Son) just a few weeks after the White Album was released…

Joe Cocker – With A Little Help From My Friends

Cool Hand Lucan writes:

Because it’s soulful, clawing, desperate and despite Joe Cocker’s appearance, it’s a damn sexy tune.

Dangermouse and Jay z – Long, Long , Long/Public Service Announcement

Baron Von Botter

Not strictly a cover, but DJ Dangermouse’s meshing of The White Album’s Long, Long, Long and Jay Z’s Public Service Announcement from his Black Album highlights the quality of this generally overlooked track. Supposedly a hymn to Harrison’s spirituality, Dangermouse somehow manages to make Jay Z recollecting his coke dealing days (“I used to move snowflakes by the O-Z”) fit like a glove.

Aimee Mann and Michael Penn – Two Of Us

Bertie Blenkinsop writes:

She’s class…It’s a good album (I Am Sam soundtrack] actually

Winner:

The Cure (featuring James McCartney) – Hello Goodbye

Harry writes:

a glorious joyous version,most importantly the always wonderful Robert Smith gave it a straightforward treatment respecting the original song, watch out for Macca’s son playing keyboards!

Thanks all

Golden Discs

Last week: Better Than The Beatles

Every week we give away a voucher worth TWENTY FIVE euros to use at your LEISURE at any of the 14 Golden Discs stores nationwide.

All we need from you is love (and a tune).

This week’s theme: Beatles covers

To celebrate the 50th anniversary of Sgt Pepper’s, what original song from John, Paul, George and Ringo was significantly improved upon by another artist/band?

To enter, please complete this sentence.

‘The best example of a Beatles cover sounding better than the original would  have to be_________________________by___________________________’

Lines MUST close at 6.15pm MIDNIGHT! Deadline extended until Midnight Sunday due to popular demand.

Golden Discs

Mudhoney (top) the happy grungsters

Last week, with a tasty voucher worth 25 big ones to spend at any of the 14 Golden Discs stores nationwide on offer, we asked you to name the most defining song of the grunge era.

You entered in your dozens.

But there could be only one winner/loser, baby.

In reverse order

Alice in Chains – Rooster

‘Penfold’ writes:

The most outstanding song of the Grunge genre is undoubtedly Alice in Chains’ “Rooster” because the subject is treated with a gentle reverence with the choruses rising to an intense roar. (It’s a brilliant tribute to Cantrell’s Dad)…

Soundgarden – The Day I Tried To Live

Michael Holland writes:

The most outstanding song of the Grunge genre is undoubtedly The Day I Tried To Live because it sums up excellently the depressing cloud overshadowing the grunge scene and how a lot of us feel from day to day and just push on. R.I.P Chris Cornell

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hp5r9qwqpPc

Melvins- Honey Bucket

Deadly Calzone writes:

The most outstanding song of the Grunge genre is undoubtedly ‘Honey Bucket’ by Melvins because King Buzzo is a god (Kurt Cobain also co-produced). The video is also absolutely hilarious…

Soundgarden – My Wave

Scottser writes:

My Wave from album Superunknown was the song I practiced to learn how to play in 5/4 time. Soundgarden’s music meant so much emotionally to loads of different people but to me, they were exquisite musical technicians. they were the ‘bar’ when I was starting out getting halfway decent on drums. Chris Cornell, as well as being an absolutely savage singer was also a criminally under-rated guitarist.

Winning entry

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-t7SDVIZwzQ

Mudhoney – I’m Spun

Me writes:

I was too young, rural and uncool to see the 91/92 Nirvana (Sonic Youth) gigs but after a lot of negotiation with the mother it was agreed for my 17th birthday I could have a trip up the country and a ticket to their RDS gig. Like so many others here those few years were absolutely central to developing my musical tastes and my attitudes and ideas of the world.

Obviously that gig never happened (so my 1st concert experience was instead Feile ’94 which just blew my mind). After I finished my LC that year I took what is now referred to as a gap year. I lived in a chambre de bonne in Paris and had an absolutely incredible time.

Every Saturday and Sunday morning at about 7am my neighbour used to blare Whitney Houston’s I Will Always Love You, waking me and adding to my hangover damage. In return I would lean across and press play on my cassette player and reply with the song I had ready and queued up for her; Mudhoney’s I’m Spun.

Over that year I got to see Mudhoney, STP, Beck, Foo Fighters and others live and as now 40 year old it’s impossible for me to hear many of the songs from that period without a shock of nostalgia. I cannot be objective at all to say what is the best of the time but for the purpose of this exercise; The most outstanding song of the Grunge genre is undoubtedly I’m Spun by Mudhoney because nostalgia is a hell of a drug…

Thanks all.

Golden Discs

Last week: And The Band Plaid On

Every Friday, we give away a Golden Discs voucher worth TWENTY FIVE big fellas to spend at any GD branches in the country (14 in total).

All we ask from you is a tune we can play at an unspecified time next week.

This week’s theme: The Pogues

Care to celebrate the news of a musical collaboration between The Pogues and Wire creator David Simon with a song?

To enter, please complete this sentence

‘Not including Fairytale, the finest song The Pogues ever recorded is_____________________________’

Lines MUST close MIDNIGHT SUNDAY!

Golden Discs

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Last week, we asked YOU to pick and choose from the historic roster of Irish musicians, artists and wanton noisemakers to populate your dream band.

In fact, we asked the following specifically.

‘My ultimate Irish supergroup would comprise_______________ [on vocals, guitar, bass, drums, etc.] and I would call them___________________________’

On the line was a cool and crispy €25 voucher for Golden Discs, redeemable at any of its fourteen locations around the country, including the brand-new Vinyl Lounge, upstairs in their flagship Cork city location.

The lines are now closed, and the choosing of a winner was especially tough going this week. But there can only be one…

PMCD, with this absolute cracker of a line-out.

Name of band: The Psychotic Reaction.

Cathal Coughlan (Microdisney/The Fatima Mansions) – Vocals.
Kevin Shields (My Bloody Valentine) – Guitar.
Cait O’Riordan (The Pogues) – Bass Guitar.
Eamon Carr (Horslips) – Drummer.
Jeremy Hickey (RSAG) – Drummer. (I’m going for the double drummer – full on Adam & the Ants “Burundi” effect)

Donnacha Costello – Vintage Synths/Electronic effects (check out last year’s “Mouvements” if you haven’t already done so).
Brigid Mae Power, Lisa O’Neill & Katie Kim on backing vocals.

Named after “Psychotic Reaction”, one of the greatest garage rock anthems of them all by San Diego’s Count Five, fronted by Crumlin’s John “Sean” Byrne. In deference to the origin of the band’s name, The Psychotic Reaction will have to don full length high-collared vampire capes (I may have thought about this too much).

Other highlights from the running:

AMOS: “Moya Brennan on vocals, Declan O’Rourke on vocals and guitar, Neil Hannon on piano, lyrics, David Holmes on keyboards and decks, Martin Hayes on fiddle, Emmaline Duffy-Fallon (of the great Engine Alley!) on drums, Joe Wall (The Stunning) on bass. Their name: “Tonight We Fly”.”

Michael Holland: “My ultimate Irish supergroup would comprise Cormac Battle on vocals; Andy Cairns on guitar/vocals; Mark Hamilton on bass; Graham Hopkins on drums and I would call them “Kings of Tragedy”.”

Stephen: “Kevin Shields on guitar, Aphex Twin on drum machine, Enya on keyboards, Richard Egan on bass and Dustin the Turkey on Vocals. The band would be called That Poultry Emotion.”

Penfold: “My ultimate Irish supergroup would comprise: vocals, Tim Wheeler; guitar, has to be Rory Gallagher, just a genius. Can switch roles with Wheeler who’s a better than decent guitarist, Bass: Richie Egan (he could switch it up and do keys), on drums: Keith Lawler from Giveamanakick. Just mental on drums. And they would be called: Enjoy Your Hearing While It Lasts.”

Mark1: “Vocals: Sinead O’Connor and Luke Kelly. Guitar: Rory Gallagher. Bass: Phil Lynott. Drums: Larry Mullen Jr. Name: The Gaelic Aesthetic Association.”

Thanks all.

Golden Discs

goldendisc

Every Friday, we give away a TWENTY FIVE Euro Golden Discs voucher to use at any of the record giant’s 14 branches throughout Ireland.

All we ask from you is a tune we can play at some unspecified time next week.

This weeks theme: Ultimate Irish supergroup.

What fantasy line up of quality, home made musicians would constitute your ultimate Irish supergroup? And what would they be called?

To enter, please complete this sentence.

‘My ultimate Irish supergroup would comprise_______________ [on vocals, guitar, bass, drums, etc.] and I would call them___________________________’

Lines MUST close at 5.45pm Midnight SUNDAY!

Golden Discs

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From top: Bill Graham;  BP Fallon; Dave Fanning; NPR‘s Bob Boilen; Lester Bangs; from left: Huw Stephens, Annie Mac, MayKay of Other Voices, and Donal Dineen

Last Friday  we asked you to request a piece of music as a shout out to your favourite rock writers, jocks and other evangelists.

In fact, the specific sentence that needed filling was:

‘I would like to dedicate__________to ___________for sharing with me his/her impeccable taste and love of decent music.’

In the balance was a newly-minted  voucher for twenty-five euro, redeemable at any of fourteen Golden Discs locations, including the brand-new Vinyl Lounge , upstairs in the chain’s flagship Cork location on Patrick Street.

The running was tough, but there could only be one winner…

Specific Gravity, with the clincher:

I would like to dedicate New Grass by Talk Talk to Donal Dineen for sharing with me his impeccable taste and love of decent music. Insight, foresight, more sight, the clock on the wall reads a quarter past midnight… And so would begin a few hours of nightly magic. Dineen’s shows remain the pinnacle of musical broadcasting in this country.

He just let the tracks do the talking and despite his obvious breadth and depth of knowledge, was never preachy or arch about introducing lesser known but massively talented artists from around the globe. It was like a muso mate sharing some recommendations they thought you’d like to hear.”

In other highlights:

OUCH: “I would like to dedicate Henry McCullogh by BP Fallon and David Holmes to both BP Fallon and David Holmes, for sharing with me their impeccable taste and love of decent music and this amazing tribute to a legend of Irish music. They’re two men whose recommendations have help me discover some amazing music, it was an interview with David Holmes that first made me seek out Histoire de Melody Nelson by Serge Gainsbourg, easily in my all time top ten!”

MCGENIUS: “I would like to dedicate this beer I’m supping to Bob Boilen of NPR’s All Songs Considered podcast for sharing with me his impeccable taste and love of decent music. And for introducing me to Puddles’ Pity Party and his unbelievably awesome Johnny Cash/Pink Floyd tribute.”

SCOTTSER: “I would like to dedicate Nobody’s Hero by Stiff Little Fingers to Lester Bangs for sharing with me his impeccable taste and love of decent music. “A hero is a goddamn stupid thing to have in the first place and a general block to anything you might wanna accomplish on your own.”

LIAM DELIVERANCE: “I would like to dedicate American Townland by Interference to the producers and researchers, and indeed the hosts, of Other Voices for sharing with me their impeccable taste and love of decent music. The series which has been running for fourteen years, continues to introduce music of a high quality from artists old and new, and to do so in a warm and reliable format. Great music, knowledgeable hosts, beautiful scenery and moments of pure magic.”

PAT WALSH: “I would like to dedicate Ballad of a Thin Man by Dylan to the late Bill Graham of Hot Press, for sharing his knowledge & passion for music with me & thousands of other readers.”

LIAM: “I’ll dedicate MBV’s Sometimes to Dave Fanning, whose evening Rock Show got me through secondary school and also introduced me to the likes of the Pixies, Primal Scream, REM and the Cure, way, way back in the day.”

Thanks all.

Golden Discs

bangsgoldendisc

Every Friday, we give away a voucher worth twenty five euros to spend wildly at any of the 13 Golden Discs Stores nationwide.

All we ask from you is a tune.

This week’s theme: Rock critics/writers

What music enthusiast operating in the media steered you in the right direction on the often hazardous contemporary music highway?

To enter, please complete this sentence.

‘I would like to dedicate__________to ___________for sharing with me his/her impeccable taste and love of decent music.’

Lines MUST close at 5.45pm  MIDNIGHT on Sunday!

Samples of writing/enthusiasm may be included.

Golden Discs

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Last Friday, we asked YOU, our Broadsheet commenters, to furnish us with your favourite tunes-you-used-to-hate, for us to pick from for playing today. In fact, we asked:

‘At one point in my life I sincerely could not listen to _____________________ but now enjoy their/his/her sounds, in particular__________________’

The competition as ever was stiff, but only one contestant could bring home the twenty-five-euro voucher courtesy of Golden Discs… Spaghetti Hoop, with a rather personal entry.

I played the album as a kid while the sister was out and I accidentally warped it by leaving it beside the radiator. The fall-out was terrible for me; I was in so much trouble and had to do so many errands to make up the price of the ‘LP’ . I never wanted to hear UB40 again. The only song that could be played after I warped it was 1 in 10; the disc was so contorted that the needle would fly off into space but would settle on 1 in 10 which was in the inside of the disc.

It was at the same sister’s funeral in 2015 that I heard 1 in 10 again; she was, coincidentally, the 1 in 10 that die of lymphoma cancer every year.

The song does not make me sad about vinyl-warping or death; I think it’s just about people who are under the radar and want to be. I want to be 1 in 10 not 9 in 10. I love the song now, for it’s darkness and eighties multi-racial band that UB40 were.

Other highlights from the running:

BROADSIDESKID: “I bought John Coltrane’s A Love Supreme (unheard) in 1990. I was so excited to play it. I put it on, and to my young ears it sounded like a full dishwasher being pushed down a flight of stairs. Cut to 2016. I bought a secondhand copy on CD purely to see if it was really as bad as I remembered. I couldn’t believe how melodic, soulful and wonderful it was. Now, it’s an album I listen to all the time.”

HAPPY MOLLOY: “At one point in my life I could not listen to Kenny Rogers as I thought he was pretty naff, as was anything country and western related (this of course being pre-my Johnny Cash awakening), but now I love a lot of his songwriting, like the heartbreaking Ruby that I never really listened to, and the wonderful Coward of the County, that confirmed for me that there are certain, quite extreme, situations when you gotta fight to be a man.”

STARINA: “At one point in my life (when I was a spiky teenager who thought all female singers were either trying too hard to butch it up or were folky fartwads, with the notable exception of Shirley Manson and Courtney Love – I also thought feminists hated men, LOL what a dumbass) I sincerely could not listen to Tori Amos but now enjoy her sounds, in particular the first three albums. You can see her moving lyrically from viscerally-relatable coming-of-age lyrics through darker story-telling to being a battle-scarred but strong woman. I love her SO much now and I really wish I had given her a chance as a teenager cos her music woulda helped.”

CHRISTOPHER CARROLL: “At one point in my life I sincerely could not listen to R.E.M. I associated them with simplistic, sentimental pop like Shiny Happy People and Everybody Hurts – but now enjoy their/his/her sounds, in particular the early albums Life’s Rich Pageant and Fables of the Reconstruction, which have a raw, raging pulse that’s completely distinct, foreshadowing the grunge movement to come.”

MARK1: “At one point in my life I sincerely could not listen to Fleetwood Mac (post-Peter Greene) but now enjoy their sounds, in particular Go Your Own Way. I think discovering in later years what a crazy bunch of people they all were when making Rumours has endeared them to me.”

Golden Discs