The votes are in.

Last week, with a Golden Discs voucher worth a blooming €25 on offer, I asked for your favourite song about or mentioning Spring.

You entered in your dozens.

But there could be only one winner.

Third Place:

Poisoning Pigeons In The Park by Tom Lehrer

Glat1 writes:

When I think of Spring, my mind turns to Tom Lehrer’s song about the delightful pastimes that Spring affords us all. This makes me smile every time I hear it. I’m sad that he gave up performing back in the 70’s, claiming that satire was dead once Henry Kissinger was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1973. On the other hand, he is still alive (aged 91), so there is still hope that he’ll do a retirement World Tour in the near future. I’ll be at the front of the line for tickets…

Runner up:

The Rain Song By Led Zeppelin

Rosette of Sirius writes:

I love the folksy ballad like feel to the start of the song that builds with intensity as Plant’s pitch and volume increases as does Page’s orchestral melody. A gorgeous and powerful song.

Winner:

Go Down Easy by John Martyn

Eamonn writes:

‘Curl around me like a fern in spring…..’

All I can say is , what an image…. oh my love. I know people judge the man – fair enough. But could he pen a tune?

Nick says: Thanks all.

Last week: Win Nick’s Voucher

Golden Discs

Goodbye January.

As we approach the start of Spring (yeah, right!), what better way to celebrate the new season than by giving away a Golden Discs voucher worth a blooming €25.

To be in with a chance to win, simply tell me below what is your favourite song about or mentioning Spring.

Here’s mine.

The winner will be chosen by my good self.

Lines close at 9.30pm

Please include video links if possible.

Nick says: Good luck.

Golden Discs

The votes are in.

Last week, with a ravishing €25 Golden Discs voucher on offer, I asked YOU to name your favourite B-side and why?

You answered in your tens.

But there could be only one winner.

Third Place:

Dun Laoghaire by The Boomtown Rats

Ringsend Incinerator writes:

“There’s only one way out of Dun Laoghaire, you know what it is? Off the mail boat piery”

B-side to Like Clockwork. Love the Irish accents done by the band in this song (it’s only on the Irish pressing of the single).

Runner up:

Unchained Melody by The Righteous Brothers

F_lawless writes:

By the 1950s and 60s, the African-American musical styles of rhythm and blues and gospel had become absorbed into mainstream American culture – and there’s a case to be made that the white artists who adopted those expressive styles didn’t have quite the same authenticity as their counterparts.

However, I would say that’s definitely not the case with ‘Unchained Melody’ (the B-side to “Hung on You” by the Righteous Brothers) which is a soul classic up there with the best of them – in my opinion!

Winner:

Green Onions by Booker T & The MGs

Scottser writes:

Booker T & the MGs released Behave Yourself with Green Onions on the B side and six months later it became their defining hit. If you’re looking for B-sides that completely outclass their As, then this has to be it. As a pervy aside, this song more than any is responsible for my fascination with watching women’s bums while they dance.

Thanks all.

Last week: Win Nick’s Voucher

Golden Discs

Last week, with a Golden Discs voucher worth a ravishing €25 on offer I asked YOU to name your favourite closing song on an album.

You answered in your tens.

But there could be only one winner.

Third Place:

Hunting The Wren by Lankum.

Fearganainm writes:

The final track on their album ‘The Livelong Day’’, a song based on the true story of ‘The Wrens of the Curragh’, a small colony of some of Ireland’s homeless in the middle of the 19th century.

The Wrens were an assortment of pregnant young women, alcoholic women, mentally frail women and ‘fallen women’ who lived in holes scooped out of the ground on the Curragh of Kildare with gorse as their covering.

At that time around one third of the British army was made up of Irishmen and some of the pregnant young women had probably made their way to the burgeoning military camp on the Curragh in search of the young men who were in part responsible for their condition but who had legged it from the small towns and villages that they came from.

Over a period of around five decades many of the women became ‘professionals’, camp followers. Denounced and castigated by local clergy the Wrens were often attacked by ‘pious’ Irishmen who burned their nests and assaulted the women.

Of course, in those days militant clerics yearned for a theocratic state and were content to whip up mobs that saw it as righteous punishment to attack the unfortunate Wrens.

So, not a happy song but a piece relating to a morsel of our history.’

Runner up:

Eclipse by Pink Floyd

Walter Ego writes:

‘The album [Dark Side of the Moon] starts with a heartbeat, brings you on an epic journey of the human soul and ends with a heartbeat. Perfection.’

Winner:

The End Medley by The Beatles

Seanydelight writes:

if the end of Abbey Road can be counted as one song, that medley is one of the most amazing pieces of music in history. Including the jaunty “Her Majesty”.

Thanks all.

Last week: Win Nick’s Voucher

Golden Discs

The votes are in!

Last week, with a tasty voucher for Golden Discs worth 25 big ones (Euros) on offer, I asked YOU to name a favourite song from the years 2010-2019 (this was mine.

You answered in your tens appropriately.

But there could be only one winner:

Third Place:

Myth by Beach House

Jonboy writes:

While there’s loads of brilliant songs, particularly from the first half of the decade, I would have to say the objectively correct answer is Beach House – Myth. It’s the kind of song where you can fall in love with someone on the drive home.

Runner up:

I Can’t Give Everything Away By David Bowie

Fez writes:

What a beautiful and sad way to say goodbye to the world. Ends the album and his life story beautifully

Winner:

Heart Is A Drum by Beck

Rosette of Sirius writes:

Midway thru the decade, Beck released what I believe to be his magnum opus. I am of course referring to Morning Phase. On that album, a track called Heart is a Drum stood out to me. As a track, it’s tight yet airy and warm. It’s melodic and has wonderful rhythm. It’s harmonies are syrupy and with its mellow but distinctive stringed bass, it’s a track (and album) I can’t stop playing. It’s also a piece of music imo that was made for vinyl. Or vice versa…Love it.

Thanks all.

Golden Discs

Last week: Win Nick’s Voucher

‘sup?

Last week, with a Golden Discs voucher worth a horse-calming €25 on offer, I asked for Your favorite song featuring the saxophone.

You answered in your dozens.

But there could be only one winner:

Third Place:

Johnny Logan – What’s Another Year

Robert writes;

It’d have to be Johnny Logan singing Shay Healy’s song with Colin Tully on sax. Starts with a sax, and has that sax solo kicking in at 2.30! The song that scored Ireland its second Eurovision victory – words that we shall never hear again: ‘Ireland – Eurovision – Victory’

Runner up:

Ezra Furman – Lousy Connection

Fez writes:

For me a sax solo has to go a bit crazy and squeaky a la Bowie sax solos, I first heard this song the day that David Bowie died and it shone a little light on that day…

Winner:

Gerry Rafferty – Baker Street

Ruille Buille writes:

It’s got to be Gerry Rafferty ‘Baker Street’. Innit!

Thanks all.

Last week: Win Nick’s Voucher

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