Blog
Keith Cullen (Setanta Records) on The Frank and Walters
Keith Cullen of Setanta Records reflects on The Frank and Walters. My latest documentary, We’ll Always Be Shouting For You - the story of The Frank and Walters, gets its first broadcast on RTÉ Gold on St. Patrick’s Day at 8pm.
Top 10 Picture Disc 7”s and the history of the format
A few words on Picture Discs, the history of gimmick vinyl formats, sexist Blondie advertising, Stiff Records, Britt Ekland, Lana Del Rey, Lady GaGa, The Smiths, New Order, Warren Zevon, Echo & the Bunnymen, Men Without Hats and the Apollo 8 lunar mission.
Top 20 Most Valuable Vinyl LPs
I’m been thinking about the value of records. Here’s a list of the Top 20 Most Valuable LPs from my record collection. The order is based on Discogs’ “Median” valuation as of January 2026.
Songs to Learn and Sing: Volume 3
A few words on Songs to Learn and Sing compilation CDs taking in: Songs to Learn and Sing Volume 3 (May 2004) and Kraftwerk live at the Olympia on 15 March 2004.
Meat Loaf, an inflatable bat, Power Rangers, Pearl Jam, Van the Man, and the Green Glens Arena, Millstreet
A few words on working in the Green Glens Arena in Millstreet inspired by RTÉ’s film Meat Loaf – From Hell and to Connaught.
Top 10 Irish Albums of 2025
The third of three posts cataloguing vinyl purchases in 2025. This is my Top 10 Irish Albums of 2025, Best Irish Single of 2024 and three Special Mentions.
Top 10 Reissues of 2025
The second of three posts cataloguing vinyl purchases in 2025. This Top 10 is a countdown of my favourite reissues from 2025 including a best of, two live albums, two expanded reissues and a various artists compilation.
Top 10 Vinyl Finds of 2025
The first of three posts cataloguing vinyl purchases in 2025. A Top 10 of secondhand vinyl finds in 2025. These were picked up in record shops in London, Puglia, Arles, Dublin and Cork. There is nothing rare here, just a bunch of records I couldn’t leave behind.
Top 10 Live Albums
A Top 10 of live albums prompted by the realisation that I bought Rank by The Smiths 37 years ago this week. Taking in: the reasons why live albums are released, The Fall supporting Talk Talk in 1986, Galaxie 500 and Luna, the 5-piece Smiths, Van Morrison, bootleg live albums, John Cale in Vicar Street, Manu Chao in the Ambassador, 16 Horsepower in Whelan’s and a whole lot more.
‘The Rats’ by Stump
A few words on ‘The Rats’ by Stump taking in: Rob McKahey, Kaught at the Karpark, ‘The Waterford Boys’, The Dubliners, Stephen Street, Ron Kavana and ‘Charlton Heston’.
16 Horsepower
From the archives: An interview with 16 Horsepower’s David Eugene Edwards from 2001. Edwards chats about the albums Secret South and Hoarse, 16HP’s sound and shares his thoughts on Americana.
Cathal Coughlan - ‘Im Long Mé Measaim’
A few words on Cathal Coughlan’s first post-Microdisney recording. ‘Im Long Me Measaim’ is a cover version of an Irish poem by renowned Gaeltacht Mhúscraí poet Dónal Ó Liatháin set to music by Peadar Ó Riada.
Van Morrison at 80
A few words on Van Morrison taking in: Millstreet Music Fair 1996, Stump’s Mick lynch, Cork Jazz Festival 1996, Humpers Inc and Rathmines College 2003
The Sentimental Tourists
A few words on The Sentimental Tourists taking in: Dave Long, Paul Page, Into Paradise and Whipping Boy.
Michael O’Shea - Listen Back
A talk from February 2025 about Michael O’Shea’s 1982 self-titled album as part of Cork City Library’s “Listen Back” series in the Rory Gallagher Music Library.
Top 10 Movie 7” Singles
A Top 10 of movie 7” singles taking in: Irish pressings, Czechoslovakian New Wave cinema, film noir, folk horror, a flea market in Brussels, Venice’s side streets, Doris Day, Sly Stone, Brian Wilson and “the worst song ever written”.
Flotsam: Cork’s Old Venues
A few words on arts magazine Flotsam taking in: “sean-nós noise makers” I Dreamed I Dream, the continuing saga of Cork’s Event Centre, and what can be learned from old Cork venues and some of the legendary gigs they hosted.
Listen Hear Seán Ó Riada
A few words on Danny McCarthy, sound installations, Seán Ó Riada, céilí bands and the “buzzing of a bluebottle in an upturned jam jar”.
Martin Barry: 20th Anniversary
Last week was the 20th anniversary of the passing of my great friend Martin Barry.
Factory Records: Top 10 Comps
Factory Records - Top 10 Comps, taking in: Cian Ó Cíobháin’s An Taobh Tuathail Factory special, New Order, Joy Division, Section 25, Happy Mondays, A Certain Radio, Anthony H. Wilson, Ian Curtis, Martin Hannett and a whole lot more.
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March 2026
1
- Mar 2, 2026 Keith Cullen (Setanta Records) on The Frank and Walters Mar 2, 2026
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February 2026
2
- Feb 17, 2026 Top 10 Picture Disc 7”s and the history of the format Feb 17, 2026
- Feb 4, 2026 Top 20 Most Valuable Vinyl LPs Feb 4, 2026
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January 2026
2
- Jan 30, 2026 Songs to Learn and Sing: Volume 3 Jan 30, 2026
- Jan 1, 2026 Meat Loaf, an inflatable bat, Power Rangers, Pearl Jam, Van the Man, and the Green Glens Arena, Millstreet Jan 1, 2026
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December 2025
2
- Dec 10, 2025 Top 10 Irish Albums of 2025 Dec 10, 2025
- Dec 5, 2025 Top 10 Reissues of 2025 Dec 5, 2025
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November 2025
1
- Nov 30, 2025 Top 10 Vinyl Finds of 2025 Nov 30, 2025
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October 2025
1
- Oct 3, 2025 Top 10 Live Albums Oct 3, 2025
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September 2025
4
- Sep 21, 2025 ‘The Rats’ by Stump Sep 21, 2025
- Sep 20, 2025 16 Horsepower Sep 20, 2025
- Sep 16, 2025 Cathal Coughlan - ‘Im Long Mé Measaim’ Sep 16, 2025
- Sep 1, 2025 Van Morrison at 80 Sep 1, 2025
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August 2025
1
- Aug 19, 2025 The Sentimental Tourists Aug 19, 2025
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July 2025
1
- Jul 9, 2025 Michael O’Shea - Listen Back Jul 9, 2025
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June 2025
1
- Jun 17, 2025 Top 10 Movie 7” Singles Jun 17, 2025
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May 2025
4
- May 28, 2025 Flotsam: Cork’s Old Venues May 28, 2025
- May 24, 2025 Listen Hear Seán Ó Riada May 24, 2025
- May 6, 2025 Martin Barry: 20th Anniversary May 6, 2025
- May 2, 2025 Factory Records: Top 10 Comps May 2, 2025
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April 2025
2
- Apr 19, 2025 The Fall at Sir Henry’s Apr 19, 2025
- Apr 14, 2025 Record Store Day: A Top 10 Apr 14, 2025
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March 2025
3
- Mar 30, 2025 Peace Together Mar 30, 2025
- Mar 19, 2025 Zerra One and The Cure Mar 19, 2025
- Mar 13, 2025 Robbie Coltrane’s 50th birthday, Dan Aykroyd, Badly Drawn Boy and Twisted Nerve Records. Mar 13, 2025
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February 2025
1
- Feb 25, 2025 Songs to Learn and Sing: EP 1000 - the final episode Feb 25, 2025
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January 2025
3
- Jan 22, 2025 Robert Forster – Interview Jan 22, 2025
- Jan 5, 2025 The Go-Betweens, Leonard Cohen, U2 and Boston Celtics’ Reggie Lewis Jan 5, 2025
- Jan 2, 2025 Top 10 Reissues of 2024 Jan 2, 2025
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December 2024
2
- Dec 20, 2024 Songs to Learn and Sing: Christmas 2004 Compilations Dec 20, 2024
- Dec 5, 2024 Top 10 Irish Albums of 2024 Dec 5, 2024
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November 2024
2
- Nov 28, 2024 Top 10 Vinyl Finds of 2024 Nov 28, 2024
- Nov 17, 2024 The Chariot Race Nov 17, 2024
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October 2024
2
- Oct 25, 2024 Peel Sessions Oct 25, 2024
- Oct 15, 2024 Songs to Learn and Sing: 20th Anniversary Oct 15, 2024
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September 2024
2
- Sep 17, 2024 Spadgietown Sep 17, 2024
- Sep 1, 2024 Another Spark Sep 1, 2024
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August 2024
3
- Aug 30, 2024 SKiN and BONE Aug 30, 2024
- Aug 12, 2024 Short Circuit: Live at the Electric Circus Aug 12, 2024
- Aug 10, 2024 Oasis - Knebworth setlist Aug 10, 2024
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July 2024
1
- Jul 30, 2024 The Chills’ Martin Phillipps - An Appreciation Jul 30, 2024
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June 2024
3
- Jun 27, 2024 Top 10 Irish Songs* Jun 27, 2024
- Jun 9, 2024 Peter Watkins’ Privilege Jun 9, 2024
- Jun 5, 2024 The Smiths - Rarities Jun 5, 2024
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May 2024
3
- May 29, 2024 The Smiths - Singles May 29, 2024
- May 24, 2024 The Smiths - Bootlegs May 24, 2024
- May 11, 2024 Steve Albini - An Appreciation May 11, 2024
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April 2024
4
- Apr 27, 2024 Morrissey - Bootlegs Apr 27, 2024
- Apr 19, 2024 Colin Blunstone and The Zombies Apr 19, 2024
- Apr 15, 2024 Julian Cope’s Postcards Apr 15, 2024
- Apr 8, 2024 Sonic Youth and Nirvana - Sir Henrys 1991 Apr 8, 2024
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March 2024
1
- Mar 6, 2024 Werner Herzog in Ireland Mar 6, 2024
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January 2024
3
- Jan 28, 2024 “Records give you more of what you want” - CBS Records Jan 28, 2024
- Jan 21, 2024 David Ackles - American Gothic Jan 21, 2024
- Jan 1, 2024 Bill Drummond’s The Man Jan 1, 2024
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December 2023
4
- Dec 31, 2023 Top 10 Vinyl Finds of 2023 Dec 31, 2023
- Dec 27, 2023 Dead Dog’s Eyeball - Songs of Daniel Johnston Dec 27, 2023
- Dec 16, 2023 Robert Wyatt’s ‘Shipbuilding’ Dec 16, 2023
- Dec 4, 2023 Top 10 Irish Albums of 2023 Dec 4, 2023
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September 2023
9
- Sep 26, 2023 Dark Star - Twenty Twenty Sound (Harvest, 1999) Sep 26, 2023
- Sep 22, 2023 Rollerskate Skinny – Interview Sep 22, 2023
- Sep 21, 2023 The Box Tops – The Letter Sep 21, 2023
- Sep 17, 2023 Damien Jurado – Interview Sep 17, 2023
- Sep 9, 2023 American Spring Sep 9, 2023
- Sep 8, 2023 Sufjan Stevens – Interview Sep 8, 2023
- Sep 6, 2023 Guy Chadwick – Interview Sep 6, 2023
- Sep 5, 2023 Richmond Fontaine – Radio Session + Interviews Sep 5, 2023
- Sep 4, 2023 My #CassetteTape Top 10 Sep 4, 2023