Going for Gold (album)
Encyclopedia
Going For Gold is a singles compilation album by the British
rock
band, Shed Seven
, released in May 1999 via Polydor Records
. The album features sleevenotes written by Mark Sutherland, the former editor of Melody Maker
, who refers to the LP as the band's "Best Of Album", whereas the album artwork itself carries the sub-title The Greatest Hits.
-era hit for the band when issued as the album's lead single, two weeks prior to its release, whereas the follow-up single, "High Hopes", was never issued.
Like "Disco Down", the song was initially included in the album's tracklisting with the intention for it to be issued as a single, but was sidelined post-album release by the band's record label in favour of a proposed re-issue of their 1996 single, "Going For Gold". Following the band's refusal to comply, Shed Seven and Polydor Records
parted company in late 1999, as "High Hopes" became the only track featured on the compilation which was not a 'hit' single, and Going For Gold became the band's final album release during their time with the label.
A limited edition 2 CD set was issued at the same time as the regular album and featured a bonus disc of four newly recorded session tracks - one song from each of their four studio albums to date (including Going For Gold itself) - two cover versions and a previously unreleased demo. To coincide with the release of the album, the band went on an 8-date 'Greatest Hits' tour of the UK, beginning at Bristol University
on May 12 and ending in a hometown gig at York's Barbican Centre on June 4.
gave praise to the band's "epic sweep", but found fault with Witter's vocals, noting that;
NME
s Victoria Segal, however, was less impressed with the LP, stating that the album "is a flooded engine of a record". Caroline Sullivan of The Guardian
surmised that Going For Gold showed Shed Seven's "real talent" to be "persistence" and thought that the album lacked diversity; "Few of the tracks diverge from the doggedly catchy guitar rockin' model set by their first hit, Dolphin".
, peaking at number 13 on June 5.
, unless otherwise stated.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
rock
Rock music
Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...
band, Shed Seven
Shed Seven
Shed Seven are an English indie rock band from York and were one of the groups which contributed to the Britpop music scene that evolved during the 1990s, yet never received the degree of mainstream success achieved by bands such as Oasis and Blur...
, released in May 1999 via Polydor Records
Polydor Records
Polydor is a record label owned by Universal Music Group, headquartered in the United Kingdom.-Beginnings:Polydor was originally an independent branch of the Deutsche Grammophon Gesellschaft. Its name was first used as an export label in 1924, the British and German branches of the Gramophone...
. The album features sleevenotes written by Mark Sutherland, the former editor of Melody Maker
Melody Maker
Melody Maker, published in the United Kingdom, was, according to its publisher IPC Media, the world's oldest weekly music newspaper. It was founded in 1926 as a magazine targeted at musicians; in 2000 it was merged into "long-standing rival" New Musical Express.-1950s–1960s:Originally the Melody...
, who refers to the LP as the band's "Best Of Album", whereas the album artwork itself carries the sub-title The Greatest Hits.
Background
As well as compiling the band's singles from 1994 to 1998, Going For Gold featured newly recorded versions of two previous releases, "Dolphin" and "Ocean Pie", alongside brand new material in "Disco Down" and "High Hopes". "Disco Down" went on to become the last BanksPaul Banks (Shed Seven)
Paul Banks is a musician, songwriter and lead guitarist with the rock band, Shed Seven.-Professional career:...
-era hit for the band when issued as the album's lead single, two weeks prior to its release, whereas the follow-up single, "High Hopes", was never issued.
Like "Disco Down", the song was initially included in the album's tracklisting with the intention for it to be issued as a single, but was sidelined post-album release by the band's record label in favour of a proposed re-issue of their 1996 single, "Going For Gold". Following the band's refusal to comply, Shed Seven and Polydor Records
Polydor Records
Polydor is a record label owned by Universal Music Group, headquartered in the United Kingdom.-Beginnings:Polydor was originally an independent branch of the Deutsche Grammophon Gesellschaft. Its name was first used as an export label in 1924, the British and German branches of the Gramophone...
parted company in late 1999, as "High Hopes" became the only track featured on the compilation which was not a 'hit' single, and Going For Gold became the band's final album release during their time with the label.
A limited edition 2 CD set was issued at the same time as the regular album and featured a bonus disc of four newly recorded session tracks - one song from each of their four studio albums to date (including Going For Gold itself) - two cover versions and a previously unreleased demo. To coincide with the release of the album, the band went on an 8-date 'Greatest Hits' tour of the UK, beginning at Bristol University
University of Bristol
The University of Bristol is a public research university located in Bristol, United Kingdom. One of the so-called "red brick" universities, it received its Royal Charter in 1909, although its predecessor institution, University College, Bristol, had been in existence since 1876.The University is...
on May 12 and ending in a hometown gig at York's Barbican Centre on June 4.
Critical reception
Going For Gold received mixed reviews upon release. John Harris of Select felt that the album proved that the band have "always been blessed with the knack of creating admirably tidy, creditably catchy pop music" in his complimentary review, whilst Allmusic's Jason Damas labelled it "an excellent compilation of radio-ready rock & roll from one of the best singles bands of the 1990s". Howard Johnson of QQ (magazine)
Q is a popular music magazine published monthly in the United Kingdom.Founders Mark Ellen and David Hepworth were dismayed by the music press of the time, which they felt was ignoring a generation of older music buyers who were buying CDs — then still a new technology...
gave praise to the band's "epic sweep", but found fault with Witter's vocals, noting that;
NME
NME
The New Musical Express is a popular music publication in the United Kingdom, published weekly since March 1952. It started as a music newspaper, and gradually moved toward a magazine format during the 1980s, changing from newsprint in 1998. It was the first British paper to include a singles...
s Victoria Segal, however, was less impressed with the LP, stating that the album "is a flooded engine of a record". Caroline Sullivan of The Guardian
The Guardian
The Guardian, formerly known as The Manchester Guardian , is a British national daily newspaper in the Berliner format...
surmised that Going For Gold showed Shed Seven's "real talent" to be "persistence" and thought that the album lacked diversity; "Few of the tracks diverge from the doggedly catchy guitar rockin' model set by their first hit, Dolphin".
Album
Going For Gold sold 130,000 copies in the UK, spending a total of four weeks on the UK album chart, peaking at number 7 on June 12, 1999.Single
"Disco Down" was the one and only new single taken from the compilation and was the band's final single release from their six years with Polydor Records. It was released on May 17, 1999 and went on to spend a total of four weeks on the UK Singles ChartUK Singles Chart
The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...
, peaking at number 13 on June 5.
Track listing
All songs written by Shed SevenShed Seven
Shed Seven are an English indie rock band from York and were one of the groups which contributed to the Britpop music scene that evolved during the 1990s, yet never received the degree of mainstream success achieved by bands such as Oasis and Blur...
, unless otherwise stated.
- Track 4 is an alternate mix to the single version, reworked by Stephen StreetStephen StreetStephen Street is an English music producer best known for his work with The Smiths in the 1980s, as well as Blur and The Cranberries in the 1990s. Street also collaborated with Morrissey on some of his most popular work after The Smiths broke up, playing instruments and co-writing songs...
. - Track 5 is an alternate mix to the single version, reworked by Chris SheldonChris SheldonChris Sheldon is a record producer, particularly of rock music, based in London, UK. He has produced or mixed records for the Foo Fighters, Garbage, Feeder, Biffy Clyro, Oceansize and Pixies amongst others...
.
- Track 5 is a cover version of the 1981 Cliff RichardCliff RichardSir Cliff Richard, OBE is a British pop singer, musician, performer, actor, and philanthropist who has sold over an estimated 250 million records worldwide....
single. - Track 6 is an unreleased demo from the Let It Ride album sessions.
- Track 7 was recorded live at London's Riverside StudiosRiverside StudiosRiverside Studios is a production studio, theatre and independent cinema on the banks of the River Thames in Hammersmith, London, England. It plays host to contemporary and international dramatic and dance performance, film, visual art exhibitions and television production.-History:In 1933, the...
for TFI FridayTFI FridayTFI Friday is an entertainment show broadcast on Channel 4 in the United Kingdom from 1996 to 2000. The show produced by Ginger Productions, written by Danny Baker and hosted by Chris Evans, for the first 5 series. The final series was hosted by a number of Guest Presenters. It was broadcast on...
and was previously released as a b-side on the band's 1996 single, "On Standby". The song is a cover version of The Rolling StonesThe Rolling StonesThe Rolling Stones are an English rock band, formed in London in April 1962 by Brian Jones , Ian Stewart , Mick Jagger , and Keith Richards . Bassist Bill Wyman and drummer Charlie Watts completed the early line-up...
' 1968 UK Chart #1 single.
Shed Seven
- Rick WitterRick WitterRick Witter is a singer, songwriter and frontman of the York-based Britpop band, Shed Seven.He was educated at Huntington School, York.-Professional career:...
– vocalsSingingSinging is the act of producing musical sounds with the voice, and augments regular speech by the use of both tonality and rhythm. One who sings is called a singer or vocalist. Singers perform music known as songs that can be sung either with or without accompaniment by musical instruments... - Paul BanksPaul Banks (Shed Seven)Paul Banks is a musician, songwriter and lead guitarist with the rock band, Shed Seven.-Professional career:...
– guitarGuitarThe guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
, keyboardsKeyboard instrumentA keyboard instrument is a musical instrument which is played using a musical keyboard. The most common of these is the piano. Other widely used keyboard instruments include organs of various types as well as other mechanical, electromechanical and electronic instruments... - Tom Gladwin – bassBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
- Alan Leach – drumsDrum kitA drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....