The Gold standard in Scots indie music
IT TOOK 18 months to put together and many of the best-known songs by bigger acts are avoided.
Big Gold Dreams: A Story of Scottish Independent Music 1977-1989 is a sometimes eclectic but always interesting look at the music scene which burst into life across the country in the late 70s and early 80s.
And while Scots acts who became household names like Simple Minds, Edwyn Collins, Altered Images, Primal Scream and The Jesus and the Mary Chain are included, so to are bands lost in the mists of time.
John Reed, director of catalogue at record label Cherry Red, who have created the 115-track, five-CD set, doesn’t see it as the definitive bible of that era of Scottish music.
He said “We always say ‘a story’ because nothing can be ‘the’ story, as everyone’s experience of living through a musical era is different.
“But most of the landmark acts are included, we avoided many overcompiled selections by some of the bigger bands, some key tracks debut on CD...Overall, we’re very happy.”
While the list of tracks and bands evolved, the project was always going to capture the initial spark of punk going to the 80s Postcard era, then the C86 generation of bands out of Belshill.
But The Exploited, arguably Scotland’s best punk band, aren’t included, nor are Orange Juice – the country’s first successful indie band.
However, Edwyn Collins’s Don’t Shilly Shally is included, as is pre-Orange Juice band, Fun 4. John explained: “Orange Juice are difficult to license, sadly. “The Exploited are maybe too out-and-out punk. We excluded a lot of other later punk acts from Scotland.” Big Gold Dreams includes many gems such as the pre-Simple Minds band Johnny & The Self Abusers b-side and P.V.C.2, Midge Ure’s pre-Ultravox band. There are also indie classics like Simple Minds’ Chelsea Girl, Bluebells’ Cath, Primal Scream’s debut single All Fall Down. ● Big Gold Dreams is out now. RICK FULTON