Scottish artists pick their all time favourite Scottish albums for SAY Award
Deacon Blue, Declan Welsh, Sacred Paws, The Snuts, Tide Lines, Vukovi and more pick their all time favourite Scottish albums for the SAY Award, with two days left until submissions close.
Article Source: Material
Last Updated: 29 July 2020 13:13
DEACON BLUE, DECLAN WELSH, SACRED PAWS, THE SNUTS, TIDE LINES, VUKOVI AND MORE PICK THEIR ALL TIME FAVOURITE SCOTTISH ALBUMS
ONLY TWO DAYS TO GO UNTIL SUBMISSIONS FOR SCOTLAND’S ALBUM OF THE YEAR CLOSE
THE SAY AWARD ALSO ANNOUNCE EXCLUSIVE YOUTUBE PREMIER WITH 2019’S WINNER AUNTIE FLO BROADCASTING AROUND THE WORLD ON 25TH AUGUST
SUBMIT ELIGIBLE ALBUMS UNTIL MIDNIGHT, 31ST JULY- sayaward.com
The Scottish Album of the Year (SAY) Award has polled opinion to highlight some of the best Scottish albums of all time, courtesy of input from SAY Alumni and 2020’s eligible artists including Deacon Blue, Mogwai, Rachel Sermanni, Sacred Paws, The Snuts, Tide Lines and more. Over 25 artists have chosen their top Scottish albums, celebrating the best of Scottish music from Biffy Clyro, Camera Obscura, Eurythmics, Frightened Rabbit, Paolo Nutini, Primal Scream, The Proclaimers, Young Fathers and more.
This year has seen an incredible record number of album submissions with over 300 eligible albums already submitted, demonstrating the incredible strength and breadth of Scotland’s music scene. With only two days to go until submissions close, fans, artists and music professionals are encouraged to submit eligible albums NOW, to be in the running for The SAY Award.
Today The SAY Award also announce an exclusive YouTube Premier with 2019’s winner Auntie Flo. Broadcasting on 25th August from 7pm, Celebrating and Exploring Auntie Flo’s ‘Radio Highlife’ will feature an in-depth discussion on the DJ’s incredible winning album ‘Radio Highlife’; filmed at the YouTube Space in London in November 2019. Subscribe to The SAY Award’s YouTube channel and stay tuned for more information on The SAY Award social channels Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
SAY Alumni including Honeyblood, Kobi Onyame and Sacred Paws have come together with artists who have submitted eligible albums for this year’s campaign like Bossy Love, Callum Beattie, Deacon Blue, Declan Welsh and the Decadent West, Mogwai, Nova Scotia the Truth, Rachel Sermanni, Sacred Paws, The Snuts, Tide Lines and more to pick their favourite Scottish albums which have influenced and impacted their careers, now all merged into one immense Spotify playlist - available here.
Anna Secret Poet chose ‘The Three E.P.’s’ by The Beta Band and said, “It blew my tiny mind 20 years ago and it still does it today.”
Choosing ‘Be Yourself Tonight’ by the Eurythmics, Amandah Wilkinson from Bossy Love said, “I know this came way before my time but my parents had this on in the house because they were huge Eurythmics and Annie Lennox fans. It’s got incredible pop songs on it and the melodies and the hooks are still permanently in my brain today. I listen to this record and wish that I had written those songs.”
Callum Beattie chose Travis’ ‘The Man Who’ saying “I love the songwriting, every single song on the album is top notch. I love the massive choruses - I remember first listening to the album when I was a wee boy and I just fell in love with it. It’s probably one of the reasons I picked up a guitar and started writing songs.”
Cloth said, “The record that we’ve chosen as our favourite Scottish record of all time is ‘Heaven or Las Vegas’ by Cocteau Twins - this is a record that we absolutely love and has been super influential in our songwriting.”
Declan Welsh chose ‘This Is the Story’ by The Proclaimers. “Now, I thought about a few things here - ‘High Land, Hard Rain’ by Aztec Camera, some Belle and Sebastian albums, Franz Ferdinand’s album or The Lapelles. But I feel like I’ve talked enough about The Lapelles - everyone knows how much I love that album! Lyrically, ‘This Is the Story’ is outstanding, it’s so Scottish but not in a put-on way - it’s really real. The melodies and harmonies in it are brilliant and it has what I think is maybe the greatest Scottish song of all time in it - ‘The Joyful Kilmarnock Blues’.”
Elephant Sessions chose Frightened Rabbit’s ‘Midnight Organ Fight’ and said, “Picking our favourite Scottish album was a really difficult choice! We decided to go with Frightened Rabbit’s ‘Midnight Organ Fight’, one of our favourite albums of all time ever, and a great great album - if you’ve not heard it, check it out!”
Elisabeth Eelektra said, “My favourite Scottish album of all time is ‘Heaven or Las Vegas’ by Cocteau Twins because I’m a huge fan of Elizabeth Fraser, she’s a huge inspiration to me. I feel like that album is one of their best performances and really captures everything that they’re about.”
Erland Cooper chose Bert Jansch’ self-titled 1965 debut. “That set me on a path from Jackson C.Frank, Sandy Denny to Pentangle and way beyond. ‘Needle of Death’ is a masterpiece, it’s such a lilting, hopeful yet deeply melancholic song about addiction and I know, to a departed friend, this album is an example of beauty in simplicity and my favourite Scottish record of all time.”
Ricky Ross from Deacon Blue chose The Blue Nile's 'Hats’, saying “I listen often and still love it from beginning to end. Ultimately it is the songs, they still move me.”
Hamish Napier said, “My favourite album of all time from Scotland, or from anywhere for that matter, is Martyn Bennett’s ‘Bothy Culture’. It’s an incredible album, it’s world music, Scottish music, there’s Scottish poets on it, there’s electronica, there’s classical, electric, violin. It’s just jam-packed full of amazing things and everytime I listen to it, I hear something new so - thank you Martin Bennett, this is one of the most amazing albums I’ve ever heard!”
Stina Tweeddale from Honeyblood also chose ‘Heaven or Las Vegas’ by Cocteau Twins, saying: “I remember being given a copy of this album by a friend at high school when I was in a very explorative phase when it came to music. At 15 years old I wanted to soak in everything I could find. I remember vividly putting headphones on and listening to it from start to finish; completely submerged in a dreamland. What I love about Cocteau Twins is you must be prepared to be transported to another planet; it is pure musical escapism.”
John Rush said, “My favourite Scottish album has to be Paolo Nutini’s ‘Sunny Side Up’ because it reminds me of some good summers and it's an album you can listen to all the way through without skipping a track.”
SAY Alumni Kobi Onyame chose 2018’s SAY Award winning album Young Fathers’ 'Cocoa Sugar' saying, "The lads hit the nail on the head with this album. Perfect combination of all the elements that I love musically. Melody, lo-fi, hip-hop, content and Afrobeat. ‘Cocoa Sugar’ was the first Scottish album I’ve had on constant repeat and still play today. It's only a few years old but I believe it has all the elements to age just as well as some of the greatest albums of our time. A classic by Young Fathers and arguably the greatest Scottish album of our time."
L-Space picked ‘All Creatures Will Make Merry’ by Meursault and said, “It’s a great collection of songs and performances but also, it’s particularly special to me because it reminds me of a time when I first moved to Scotland and was discovering the Scottish music scene, and going to lots of gigs and realising I can find such great music where I live.”
Louise Connell chose ‘If You’re Feeling Sinister’ by Belle and Sebastian, saying “Every song on it is incredible, it was one of the first albums I fell in love with, let alone Scottish albums that I fell in love with! I think I stole it from my brother’s CD collection, which wasn’t vast, he was really into MiniDisc - that tells you about the time period - but every song on it is incredible. It’s one of those ones that I can sing from start to end, but please don’t test me!”
Malka chose another Belle and Sebastian album, ‘Dear Catastrophe Waitress’. “I love the lyrics, the instrumentation and the production - it’s just perfect to me.”
Scottish composer Matthew Whiteside chose ‘Panopticon’ by David Fennessy, saying “The whole album is an excellent introduction to David’s work but the piece on it ‘Hirta Rounds’ is just mesmerising.”
Iain from Medicine Men said, “My favourite Scottish album of all time would have to be ‘XTRMNTR’ by Primal Scream. It was my introduction to the band as a 14/15 year old and I heard ‘Kill All Hippies’ on the radio and that drum break and bassline just absolutely going through me. Off the back of that I bought the album and I think what they’re talking about in the lyrics still remains true today - it’s even more relevant today than it was 20 years ago.”
Stuart Braithwaite from Mogwai chose ‘The Week Never Starts Round Here’ by Arab Strap, saying “When we first heard this record, it was the first time we really felt the Scottish experience that we knew being reflected back at us and it’s a great record – go check it out!”
Haydn from The Ninth Wave chose The Twilight Sad’s ‘No One Can Ever Know’, while Rachel Sermanni picked ‘Boots Met my Face’ by Admiral Fallow and said “It makes me feel all youthful and excited and nostalgic.”
Nova Scotia the Truthsaid, “My favourite Scottish album has got to be ‘Eye to the Telescope’ by KT Tunstall, I listened to it a lot when I was young. During lockdown she popped up on my newsfeed and it just reminded me to go and listen to it and I reexperienced the magic of that album – it’s really sick!”
Former SAY Award 2017 winners, Sacred Paws, who also have an Eligible Album for 2020, chose Appendix Out’s ‘The Rye Bears a Poison’ as well as Camera Obscura’s ‘My Maudlin Career’. Rachel said “I first heard Camera Obscura before I'd ever been to Glasgow before, I hadn't really spent that much time in Scotland so it was really exciting to come to the place where they were from because I was such a huge fan. I think Traceyanne has got the most wonderful voice and is an amazing songwriter and lyricist.”
The Snuts’ Callum chose Franz Ferdinand’s 2004 self-titled debut but also gave a special shout out to fellow eligible album The Ninth Wave’s ‘Infancy’. Callum said, “‘Franz Ferdinand’ is just big tune to big tune! Also The Ninth Wave’s ‘Infancy’ is amazing, well worth a listen. Special shout out to Runrig as well who are 30 years in the game and still smashing it, every year. It’s wild!”
Tide Lines had a hard time narrowing their choices down, saying, “Turns out all four of us have got different favourite Scottish albums! We spoke about ‘Opposites’ by Biffy Clyro, Twin Atlantic’s ‘Vivarium’ and Runrig’s ‘The Cutter and the Clan’ was a big one for a few of us growing up in the Highlands. But I get the casting vote so I’m going to go for a live album from one of our favourite venues we were lucky enough to play last November - it’s Deacon Blue’s ‘Live at the Glasgow Barrowlands’.”
Nick Cronin from Vagrant Real Estate chose ‘Butter’ by Hudson Mohawke, saying, “It’s a great example of how daring and innovative he is with sound design and drum programming, the track fuse continues to blow me away.”
The Vegan Leather said “My favourite Scottish album is ‘Shouting At Wildlife’ by Kid Canaveral, it was one of the first records where I’d heard a real Scottish accent and I found that really exciting and inspiring. The songs were all really catchy and well written but with a tinge of nostalgia and really sentimental - it’s just a really brilliant album."
Janine from Vukovi said, “It has to be ‘Puzzle’ by Biffy Clyro. I think it’s the perfect balance between pop and obscure hooks - they didn’t lose any of their weirdness when they did that record, it still has that staple Biffy Clyro quirkiness. The opening is iconic - the stabs, everyone tries to do it, they can’t do them in time but you try and do them anyway!”
Wrest gave ‘The Midnight Organ Fight’ by Frightened Rabbit a second vote, saying “Every song is excellent and there’s a passion and a rawness to it that just never gets old, no matter how many times you listen.”
Returning for its ninth year in 2020, The SAY Award is widely recognised as one of the country’s most reputable and prestigious music initiatives. Coming together to celebrate the passion, value and diversity of Scottish music in 2020, fans and artists alike are encouraged to submit eligible Scottish albums released between 1 April 2019 and 31 May 2020 to The SAY Award Website. The SAY Award strives to be egalitarian throughout all stages of the campaign, reflected in the fact there is no fee to submit an eligible album for consideration, and digital releases that fulfil the criteria are also deemed eligible. All submissions must be made before midnight on Friday 31st July 2020. To submit albums, plus view eligibility criteria and guidelines for the 2020 award.
Offering one of the most lucrative prize funds in the UK, The SAY Award winner will collect a £20,000 cash prize, whilst nine runners up are each awarded £1,000.
Once all eligible albums have been submitted and collated, 100 impartial ‘Nominators’, from sectors including journalism, music retail and live music venues across Scotland will consider the titles from The SAY Award’s Eligible Albums list, nominating their five favourite albums and ranking them in order of preference. The SMIA assigns a score to each title in a Nominator’s Top 5, before announcing the 20 highest scoring albums as The SAY Award Longlist for 2020.
The Longlist will then be cut down to a Shortlist of 10 albums, one of which will be chosen by music fans via a 72-hour online public vote. The remaining nine albums will be chosen by The SAY Award judging panel, with the winner announced on Thursday 29th October.
Developed and produced by the Scottish Music Industry Association (SMIA), the 2020 campaign will be delivered in partnership with Creative Scotland, City of Edinburgh Council, YouTube Music, 54EP, Sweetdram, Culture & Business Fund Scotland via Arts & Business Scotland, PPL, Summerhall, Ticketmaster and new charity partner Music Declares Emergency.
Previous winners of The SAY Award include Auntie Flo ‘Radio Highlife’ (2019), Young Fathers ‘Cocoa Sugar’ (2018), Sacred Paws ‘Strike A Match’ (2017), Anna Meredith ‘Varmints’ (2016), Kathryn Joseph ‘Bones You Have Thrown Me And Blood I’ve Spilled’ (2015), Young Fathers ‘Tape Two’ (2014), RM Hubbert ‘Thirteen Lost & Found’ (2013) and the inaugural winner Bill Wells and Aidan Moffat ‘Everything’s Getting Older’ (2012).
To keep up with The SAY Award 2020 journey, make sure you follow the award on Twitter @SAYaward, Instagram @sayaward and Facebook @SAYaward
Sponsored Links
Latest East Renfrewshire News
The Saltires 2025 Shortlists Announced
The shortlisted titles for this year’s Saltires, Scotland’s National Book Awards, were announced at Blackwell’s bookshop in Edinburgh.
READ MORE
KT Tunstall wins Modern Scottish Classic Award, plus SAY Award Shortlist reveal
The Scottish Album of the Year (SAY) Award has unveiled the 10 Shortlisted albums now in the running for 2025’s title and £20,000 prize, as well as five Sound of Young Scotland finalists.
READ MORE
Loch Lomond Shores has got the October school holidays sorted
There's loads to see and do – from pet friendly days out to breakfast with dinosaurs, loch tours and much more!
READ MORE
Scottish Wedding Show turns up the heat as it returns to the SEC
Scotland's largest wedding showcase, The Scottish Wedding Show, returns to Glasgow this weekend, ready to welcome thousands of couples from across the country looking to plan their dream day!
READ MORE
Keela and Mountaineering Scotland launch new campaign
Keela, the Scottish outdoor clothing brand, and Mountaineering Scotland Launch ‘Within You’, an new three-month campaign, inspiring Confidence, Connection, and Adventure in the Outdoors!
READ MORE
Book Week Scotland 2025 programme announced
Scotland's national celebration of books, Book Week Scotland, returns from 17th to 23rd November and tickets are on sale now!
READ MORE
Dobbies donates Christmas trees to local communities
Dobbies Garden Centres is lifting community spirits this season with a Christmas tree donation across the country, in partnership with Needlefresh.
READ MORE
Football legends lace up for 150 mile charity walk inspired by Marcus Stewart, Stephen Darby and the late Doddie Weir
Former Celtic and Scotland football heroes to join ex-player with MND on 150-mile March of The Day to raise funds to help tackle the disease.
READ MORE
First winners announced for GUITARGUITAR Scottish Music Awards
Amy MacDonald, Hue and Cry, Nathan Evans and The Saint PHNX Band, Skipinnish, Shay O'Dowd and James Emmanuel are among the first winners to be announced for the GUITARGUITAR Scottish Music Awards!
READ MORE
Step into stories of Scotland this October with Living History
Scotland’s colourful past bursts to life this October as Historic Environment Scotland (HES) returns with its popular Living History programme for the school holidays.
READ MORE
Sport and physical activity champions recognised at awards
Sports and physical activity champions from across East Renfrewshire have been recognised for their contributions.
READ MORE
Autumn events at Marine & Lawn Hotels & Resorts Collection
Marine & Lawn Hotels & Resorts Collection have launched new offerings designed for cosy coastal retreats and joyful pre-festive celebrations.
READ MORE
Scottish Women and Girls in Sport Week launches to inspire the nation with Find Your Fit campaign
The Scottish Government's Women and Girls in Sport Week launches this week, celebrating the power of movement and encouraging women and girls of all ages to get active in ways that work for them.
READ MORE
Unlimited adventures for less than a tank of petrol
With the October school holidays fast approaching, ScotRail has unveiled a new, affordable way for families to make the most of the break!
READ MORE
Seachdain na Gaidhlig (World Gaelic Week) 2026 launches with rallying call to use it, or lose it
Seachdain na Gàidhlig will return in 2026, under the banner Use It or Lose It – and organisers are encouraging people across Scotland and the global diaspora to get behind the rallying cry.
READ MORE
Brits brewing up a storm: Macdonald Hotels reports coffee surge
Brits are now picking up the cafetière, with Macdonald Hotels & Resorts revealing a 10% rise in coffee sales across its 32 UK hotels and resorts in the past year.
READ MORE
Spooky season brings horror icons and vampire romance back to the big screen at Vue
Some of the latest horror blockbusters – alongside creepy classics, enchanting family favourites and the ever-popular Twilight Saga – will all be heading to Vue venues this Halloween.
READ MORE
Christmas Launch Weekend at Dobbies Garden Centres marks the start of the festive season
Christmas has come early as Dobbies Garden Centres kicks off the season in style at its Christmas Launch Weekend which takes place from Thursday 9th to Monday 13th October.
READ MORE
CCC treats audiences to a frightfully delightful family concert this Halloween
Children's Classic Concerts return with their popular Halloween concert performances in Glasgow and Edinburgh later this month!
READ MORE
Braehead secures SuperPark, Global Leisure Brand, for its UK debut
Global indoor leisure and recreation concept SuperPark will make its UK debut at Braehead Shopping Centre, bringing experience-led leisure to the centre next year!
READ MORE
East Renfrewshire Libraries announce thrilling events for Dead Good October
East Renfrewshire libraries have lined up a series of thrilling events for Dead Good October, featuring author events, crime cafes, Harry Potter Day, family fun and more!
READ MORE
SAY Award Longlist announced including Jacob Alon, Kathryn Joseph, Mogwai and more
The Scottish Album of the Year (SAY) Award, Scotland's national music prize, has today revealed the 20 outstanding albums on 2025's Longlist.
READ MORE
Beatson Cancer Charity and Scottish National Blood Transfusion Service join forces for Blood Cancer Awareness Month
For the first time, Beatson Cancer Charity has joined forces with the Scottish National Blood Transfusion Service to highlight the vital role blood donors play in the treatment of blood cancers.
READ MORE
Young readers celebrate reading challenge success
Hundreds of young readers in East Renfrewshire are celebrating after completing this year's Summer Reading Challenge!
READ MORE
Netherlee nurse praises life changing local fitness programme
A retired midwife from Netherlee has praised her local gym for “totally transforming her life”.
READ MORE
Green Flag flies in Cowan Park for first time
The Green Flag has been raised in Cowan Park for the first time, following the Barrhead park being awarded the accolade this summer.
READ MORE
Singer Peter Cox set for intimate show at Eastwood Theatre
Eastwood Theatre has announced an intimate show with singer-songwriter Peter Cox.
READ MORE
Spooky season returns to town with the announcement of Paisley Halloween Festival 2025
Paisley Halloween Festival will return to town next month to celebrate the spooky season with a packed programme of frightful fun for all the family!
READ MORE
Edinburgh Spanish Film Festival returns for its 12th edition
Edinburgh Spanish Film Festival returns for its 12th edition on the big screen in Edinburgh, Glasgow, Stirling and Inverness from 1st to 19th October 2025.
READ MORE
Cineworld 4DX Rewind returns for 2025
Cineworld is excited to announce the return of 4DX Rewind this September across Cineworld 4DX cinemas nationwide!
READ MORESponsored Links
Sponsored Links