Just to make you sick of 100 best lists...100 best Scottish records.

[Wat_Tyler]

From The Scotsman, you have to register, so here's the list. I, arrogant editor that I am have made snarky and/or mindless comments after certain selections.

http://news.scotsman.com/topics.cfm?tid=1021&id=1145212003

1 SCREAMADELICA
PRIMAL SCREAM
Genius.

2 THIS IS THE STORY
THE PROCLAIMERS
Distinctly not genius.


3 AWB (AKA THE WHITE ALBUM)
AVERAGE WHITE BAND
Never heard it, never want to.


4 A WALK ACROSS THE ROOFTOPS
BLUE NILE
Good, but massively pretentious.

5 BANDWAGONESQUE
TEENAGE FANCLUB
Genius.

6 SOLID AIR
JOHN MARTYN
Genius.

7 PSYCHOCANDY
JESUS AND MARY CHAIN
Genius.

8 BERT JANSCH
BERT JANSCH
Genius.


9 THIS IS THE SEA
THE WATERBOYS
Obviously. Utter genius.

10 THE 5000 SPIRITS
THE INCREDIBLE STRING BAND
My dad loves them. That gives me the terrors.

11 RATTLESNAKES
LLOYD COLE AND THE COMMOTIONS
OK, but pretentious in a quite tedious manner.

12 HIGH LAND HARD RAIN
AZTEC CAMERA
Near-genius.

13 SULK
THE ASSOCIATES
Utter genius.

14 WHITE ON BLONDE
TEXAS
Utter pish.

15 TIGERMILK
BELLE AND SEBASTIAN
It was great when it hadn't been released and everyone could fantasize about how great it must be. Bit of a let down, still good, though.

16 NEXT
THE SENSATIONAL ALEX HARVEY BAND
Alex Harvey was a comic genius.

17 RAINTOWN
DEACON BLUE
Pish. Utter pish.

18 HEAVEN OR LAS VEGAS
THE COCTEAU TWINS
Genius, obviously.

19 THE MAN WHO
TRAVIS
Feh. OK, I guess.

20 NEW GOLD DREAM
SIMPLE MINDS
No, really, they actually were good once, honest! No! Come back!

21 GRAND PRIX
TEENAGE FANCLUB
Semi-Genius.

22 HATS
THE BLUE NILE
Actually not bad.

23 THE ORANGE JUICE
ORANGE JUICE
Genius.

24 SUNSHINE ON LEITH
THE PROCLAIMERS
No. Please, God no.

25 FISHERMAN'S BLUES
THE WATERBOYS
Semi-Genius.

26 CAN'T STAND THE REZILLOS
THE REZILLOS
Comic Genius.

27 TOUCH
THE EURYTHMICS
Feh.

28 DARKLANDS
JESUS AND MARY CHAIN
Overshadowed, but great.

29 POPPED IN SOULED OUT
WET WET WET
Not so much.

30 DOGS IN THE TRAFFIC
LOVE AND MONEY
Huh?

31 SUNSHINE SUPERMAN
DONOVAN

32 THE THREE EPS
THE BETA BAND
Genius.

33 BE BOP MOP TOP
DANNY WILSON

34 SURF
RODDY FRAME

35 EN-TACT
THE SHAMEN

36 POSTED SOBER
MICHAEL MARRA

37 UP FOR A BIT WITH THE PASTELS
THE PASTELS

38 GARBAGE
GARBAGE
Distinctly not-Scottish.

39 GRACE AND DANGER
JOHN MARTYN

40 XTRMNTR
PRIMAL SCREAM
Genius.

41 CITY TO CITY
GERRY RAFFERTY

42 KELVINGROVE BABY
THE BATHERS
Actually rather good.

43 SKIFFLE
LONNIE DONEGAN

44 EMPIRES AND DANCE
SIMPLE MINDS

45 FOURTH DRAWER DOWN
THE ASSOCIATES
Genius.

46 A PAGAN PLACE
THE WATERBOYS
Genius. Utter genius.

47 SOUTHSIDE
TEXAS

48 CHANGE EVERYTHING
DEL AMITRI

49 THE REMOTE PART
IDLEWILD

50 HAPPY BIRTHDAY
ALTERED IMAGES

51 UH! TEARS BABY (A TRASH ICON)
WIN
Huh?

52 THE GREAT EASTERN
THE DELGADOS
Great.

53 THE CROSSING
BIG COUNTRY
No. Do not torment me, my lord.

54 THE ROCK
FRANKIE MILLER

55 LOVE
AZTEC CAMERA

56 IF YOU'RE FEELING SINISTER
BELLE AND SEBASTIAN
Genius.

57 DIVA
ANNIE LENNOX

58 THE CUTTER AND THE CLAN
RUNRIG

59 GARLANDS
COCTEAU TWINS
Genius.

60 YOU CAN'T HIDE YOUR LOVE FOREVER
ORANGE JUICE
Genius.

61 ALEX HARVEY AND HIS SOUL BAND
ALEX HARVEY AND HIS SOUL BAND

62 THE AFFECTIONATE PUNCH
THE ASSOCIATES
Genius.

63 MAINSTREAM
LLOYD COLE AND THE COMMOTIONS

64 MIRMAMA
EDDI READER

65 LUBRICATE YOUR LIVING ROOM
FIRE ENGINES
Actually great.

66 THE WHITE ROOM
THE KLF
Genius.

67 SONGS FROM NORTHERN BRITAIN
TEENAGE FANCLUB
Genius.

68 THE HANGMAN'S BEAUTIFUL DAUGHTER
THE INCREDIBLE STRING BAND

69 DUM-DUM
THE VASELINES
Kurt Cobain liked them. Feh.

70 HIPSWAY
HIPSWAY

71 THE WEEK NEVER STARTS AROUND HERE
ARAB STRAP
Genius. Scary genius.

72 THE DREAMING SEA
KAREN MATHESON

73 MORNING DOVE WHITE
ONE DOVE
Utterly fucking brilliant. Utter, utter genius.

74 SONGS FOR A TAILOR
JACK BRUCE

75 AUTHOR! AUTHOR!
THE SCARS

76 LOSS
THE MULL HISTORICAL SOCIETY
Good.

77 OUTERNATIONAL
BILLY MACKENZIE
Good. Ish.

78 REMOTE
HUE & CRY

79 MUSIC HAS THE RIGHT TO CHILDREN
BOARDS OF CANADA
Cool.

80 THE ONLY FUN IN TOWN
JOSEF K
Genius.

81 ROCK ACTION
MOGWAI
Neat.

82 MEET DANNY WILSON
DANNY WILSON

83 VANISHING POINT
PRIMAL SCREAM
Semi-genius.

84 SHOP ASSISTANTS
SHOP ASSISTANTS

85 SISTERS
THE BLUEBELLS

86 EASY PIECES
LLOYD COLE AND THE COMMOTIONS

87 SCARED TO DANCE
THE SKIDS

88 BLUE
BLUE

89 CAKE
TRASH CAN SINATRAS

90 GEORGOUS GEORGE
EDWYN COLLINS
Cranky genius.

91 ONCE UPON A STAR
BAY CITY ROLLERS
The Horror! The Horror!

92 STRAWBERRY SWITCHBLADE
STRAWBERRY SWITCHBLADE

93 PERSEVERE
THE PROCLAIMERS

94 HOWDY!
TEENAGE FANCLUB
Yes. You like Big Star. We get it.

95 RAZAMANAZ
NAZARETH

96 SOMETHING TO SHOUT ABOUT
LULU

97 WHEN THE WORLD KNOWS YOUR NAME
DEACON BLUE
Worst band ever.

98 PUNK'S NOT DEAD
THE EXPLOITED
Genius.

99 TEENAGE LICKS
STONE THE CROWS .

100 SPARKLE IN THE RAIN
SIMPLE MINDS

[JimmyJazz]

1. You forgot Sandinista!

:7

<runsaway>

[Wat_Tyler]

24. Yeah. How could I forget Joe McStrummer?

[AP]

31. Every Delgados, Pastels, Belle & Sebastian, Captatin America/Eugenius

album could be on that list.

[BlueJazz]

2. My favorite is #101

.."Bagpipe Abortion" in Eb Minor

[BlueEyedSon]

3. AWB is one of the greatest white funk bands ever.

Have a listen before you criticize!

[TheDebbieDee]

62. I agree, #3, Average White Band was one of the best groups...

of the 70s. I've got their greatest hits CD at home, gonna play it tonight - good sounds. :-)

[Wickerman]

4. Interesting

for the Fanclub, for my money, A Catholic Education beats anything listed. Blue Nile Rooftops IS prententious, but most worthwhile. What the hell ever happened to those Jesus MaryChain folks?

[Wat_Tyler]

9. Psychocandy and Darklands are in there somewhere.

[Wat_Tyler]

30. The Blue Nile are good, unfortunately, they're all too aware of that fact.

[Wickerman]

36. Were they, though, with that Freshman record?

I've paid no attention to their personalities, and only really enjoyed the first record, so this is a real question, not a challenge. Have they always been obnoxious pricks?

It did take them a long time to make a followup, I think.

Was there any PreFab Sprout on that list? Are they Irish and should I shut the fuck up?

And, Wat, what about my Catholic Education thesis? I still believe that is a better LP than anything that followed. Maybe its a case of where you come in, the other stuff isn't ever going to be good. :shrug:

[Wat_Tyler]

42. I love A Catholic Education.

But I think Bandwagonesque edges it out. As far as pretentiousness and the Blue Nile go, like I say, they are basically good, but are let down by the lyrics - to wit

I walk across the rooftops
I follow a broken Thread
Of white rags falling slowly down
Flags caught on the fences
I am in love, I am in love with you
I am in love, I am in love with you
I walk across the rooftops
The jangle of Saint Steven's bells
The telephones that ring all night
Incommunicado

and of course, the classic -
Do I love you ? Yes I love you
But it's easy come, and it's easy go
All this talking, talking is only bravado

Prefab Sprout were from Newcastle-upon-Tyne, and belong in any best 100 English records list.

[Wickerman]

49. I have to admit that BN is one of the few bands I give a pass to on

lyrics. I've never bothered to listen for them nor have I looked them up. What you posted frightens me. The first LP was all atmosphere and that was enough. I never gave Hats much time as it wasn't as atmospheric.

Yeah, the first six songs on Catholic Education, taken as a whole are fantastic, the rest is spotty. Bandwagonesque is consistently great.

[indigobusiness]

5. Big Country couldn't crack the top 100?

Huh?

[JimmyJazz]

6. I love Big Country!

[indigobusiness]

14. Yeah...but you're easy.

-duck-

[JimmyJazz]

16. but not cheap

so there!

[indigobusiness]

18. LOL

Never accused you of that.

[JimmyJazz]

21. Nor has anyone else n/t

[Tom Kitten]

8. see #53

[indigobusiness]

15. Thanks. Tragic story, that.

Drank himself to death. What was his name?

[Tom Kitten]

20. Stuart Adamson

and actually he hanged himself and was an alcoholic. He was 43. They were my sister's favorite band.

[indigobusiness]

27. I remember he went on the wagon after

nearly self destructing on booze. Then he cleaned up, was making a come-back in the US, then disappeared and turned up dead. I'd forgotten, or didn't realize he hanged himself.

edit-This says he was found in a hotel room, cause of death undetermined. Seems like they wouldn't've said that if he had hanged himself.

http://www.rollingstone.com/news/story/_/id/5919477

[Wat_Tyler]

10. They're in there somewhere.

[no_hypocrisy]

7. Where's "Mull of Kintyre"? One of the best Paul McCartney ever did.

[Wat_Tyler]

11. a) it's a single and b) he's English.

[no_hypocrisy]

13. Points well taken. I concede.

[Wat_Tyler]

22. Don't worry. I was over-snarky there. My apologies.

[indigobusiness]

19. With a name like his, I'm betting he's Scottish

rootwise.

[Wat_Tyler]

23. Irish, I imagine.

A lot of the Mc's are Irish. Scots and Irish come from the same Celtic root.

[indigobusiness]

26. Pauly did buy a farm in Scotland.

And I seem to recall himm taking about his Scottish roots, but you might be right.

[Wat_Tyler]

28. It's all the same thing, really.

Lennon had Scottish cousins, IIRC, and Stu Sutcliffe was Scottish.

[indigobusiness]

17. Great song, what record is that on?

That song sort of haunts me, for some reason.

[Tom Kitten]

12. feh...

"Happy Birthday" by Altered Images makes it but not "Pinky Blue" ?

"New Gold Dream" and "Sparkle in the Rain" by Simple Minds make it but not "Life In a Day" ?

ack!

and what, no Nazareth? :)

[Itchinjim]

25. "Fit?"

Old Blind Dog. No better Scottish/Celtic group in the world today. I know they're not a very well known band, but you would do yourself enormous favor by giving them a listen. Traditional Scottish folk fused with modern influences such as American Blues. Also their interpretations of Robert Burns poems are truly inspiring. I had no idea that Robert Burns was such a radical until I heard Old Blind Dog's version "Is There For Honest Poverty?" Check them out. Seriously.

[Wat_Tyler]

29. Actually, Jonny from the Old Blind Dogs taught me guitar.

Well, some guitar, he is a fiddler after all. I knew him quite well, I used to live in the same part of Aberdeenshire as them.

[AP]

32. Where's Finley Quaye's Maverick A Strike? Even if you don't like the album

you'd think you'd give a fellow Aberdeenian (Aberdon? Aberdeenwegian?) a few points just for being a local.

[Wat_Tyler]

33. He isn't from Aberdeen. He's from Edinburgh.

I'm not really from Aberdeen either, I just lived there for a few years.
He's alright. It's an OK record, as was the follow-up. Of course, I didn't compile the list.
It's Aberdonian, btw. God knows why.

[AP]

50. He must have relatives in Aberdeen. I remember seeing a picture of him

with his aunt from Aberdeen. She worked for the City Council, or something like that, on some youth project and Quaye was at some event with her.

[Wat_Tyler]

51. Ah. Sounds like you know more about it than I do, then.

[XNASA]

34. Where's "The Scotsman Song"?

My paternal Grandfather was a McWilliams so I have more than a passing interest in knowing.

[Wat_Tyler]

35. You've lost me there.

What do you mean?

[XNASA]

37. Ring ding diddle diddle i o.

A Scotsman clad in kilt left one evening fair
And one could tell by how he walked he'd drunk more than his share,

He stumbled 'round until he could no longer keep his feet,
Then he stumbled off into the grass to sleep beside the street.

Ring ding diddle diddle i o
Ring di diddly i o
He stumbled off into the grass to sleep beside the street.

About that time two young and lovely girls just happened by.
One says to the other with a twinkle in her eye,

"See yon sleeping Scotsman so strong and handsome built.
I wonder if it's true what they don't wear beneath the kilt."

Ring ding diddle diddle i o
Ring di diddly i o
I wonder if it's true what they don't wear beneath the kilt."

They crept up on that sleeping Scotsman quiet as could be,
Lifted up his kilt about an inch so they could see,

And there, behold, for them to view beneath his Scottish skirt,
Was nothing more than God had graced him with upon his birth.

Ring ding diddle diddle i o
Ring di diddly i o
Was nothing more than God had graced him with upon his birth.

They marveled for a moment, then one said, "We must be gone.
"Let's leave a present for our friend before we move along."

As a gift they left a blue silk ribbon, tied into a bow,
Around the bonnie star the Scot's kilt did lift and show.

Ring ding diddle diddle i o
Ring di diddly i o
Around the bonnie star the Scot's kilt did lift and show.

Now the Scotsman woke to nature's call and stumbled toward the trees.
Behind the bush he lifts his kilt and gawks at what he sees.

And in a startled voice he says to what's before his eyes,
"Och, Lad, I don' know where ye been, but I see ye won first prize."

Ring ding diddle diddle i o
Ring di diddly i o
"Och, Lad, I don' know where ye been, but I see ye won first prize."

[Wat_Tyler]

38. Ah. Must've been one of The Exploited's later singles, eh?

[Fenris]

39. Wow. People really like the Proclaimers.

And how did "Tigermilk" get a higher rating than "If You're Feeling Sinister"? Doesn't matter. The list is invalidated by the sheer number of Stuart Adamson and the Reid brothers not named Jim and William.

[Wat_Tyler]

40. I don't understand the love people have for The Proclaimers.

They're the Scottish Bob and Doug McKenzie, but crap.

[Fenris]

44. They're considered a "one hit wonder" in America.

Humorous considering this list.

[Wat_Tyler]

46. If only they'd been a no-hit wonder.

[Susang]

55. Interesting bit of trivia

Edwyn Collins produced their last album! :o

[Wat_Tyler]

56. The mad contrary bastard!

[Magrittes Pipe]

41. They got confused.

Why did they file the best Scottish record ever (the one that laps the field) at #26? Did somebody drop the index cards or something?

[Susang]

43. Orange Juice at #23?

Fuck that, I'd have put it in the top ten!

[Wat_Tyler]

45. I'd have put 'You Can't Hide Your Love Forever' in the top 10.

Fantastic record.

[Susang]

47. That and In a Big Country

:evilgrin:

[Wat_Tyler]

48. DAMN YOU! DAMN YOU!

:evilfrown:

[Susang]

54. What do you think about The Proclaimers for the # 3 spot?

}(

[Wat_Tyler]

57. I'm hoping if I ignore them, they'll go away.

[Susang]

58. Fairy tales, can come true, it can happen to you.....

If you're young at heart! ;-)

[AP]

52. I notice Dot Allison isn't on that list.

I met the lead singer of the Bluebells. He said that he worked on one of her first albums (or it might have been an album for the band she was first in). He said that she was such a bad singer that, out of frustration, they pulled the cleaning lady into the studio to sing her part. The cleaning lady got it on the first take.

[Wat_Tyler]

53. One Dove are in there.

And Dot's record 'Afterglow' was great.

[flamingyouth]

59. I'm glad to seet the Skids listed

Surprised it's so low, but at least they're above Simple Minds.

[kitchen girl]

60. What about Johnny Cunningham...

Phil Cunningham, Martin Hayes, or Ali Bain???? Silly Wizard?? The Battlefield Band????

[McKenzie]

61. damned good analysis there Wat_Tyler

The Nazz could rock with the best of them though I generally dislike rock hero type stuff.

Big Country were really a crowd pleasing stadium band, at their best after you'd had a few drinks and wanted to boogie mindlessly. Remember Hogmany in Edinburgh many years ago? Apart from that I didn't rate them either.

Deacon Blue? Utter mawkish drivel. Devoid of anything that could be regarded as original. The sort of band that made me ashamed to be Scottish in case anyone thinks we actually like laughable crap about some dude buying a boat and sailing off into the sunset...hand me the sick bag...quick...retchhh

And the Bay City Tossers? Shome mishtake shurely (only readers of Private Eye will get that) Probably the lowest point in Scottish popular music ever. Four pretty boys (OK, two - the drummer and his brother were ugly gits) wiggling their butts in front of adolescent girls? Their concerts resembled a gigantic creche. Shaaaang a Laaaang...er right guys...like amazing lyrics.

Cocteau Twins...sigh, absolute bliss.

How about Rod Stewart? Not a blood Scot but an honorary one. The later outpourings were execrable but early albums such as Gasoline Alley and Every Picture Tells a Story were classy.

And as for...hold on, deep breaths, deeep breaths... Ah bugger it, think I'll nip down to the paper shop for a copy of the Scotsman.

ps: You must be very old by now Wat...heehee.

[fudge stripe cookays]

63. AHEM!

"11 RATTLESNAKES
LLOYD COLE AND THE COMMOTIONS
OK, but pretentious in a quite tedious manner."


After this remark, you, sir are officially OFF my Christmas card list. :P

FSC
(polishes immculately-framed photo of Lloyd and cradles it lovingly in her lap)