‘A timeless classic’... four well-known Northern Ireland music fans on why album 1977 is so special to them

Oh Yeah Centre’s Charlotte Dryden. Credit: Picasa

Broadcaster Ralph McLean. Credit: Liam McBurney

Journalist Stuart Bailie

Oh Yeah Centre’s Charlotte Dryden. Credit: Picasa

Broadcaster Ralph McLean. Credit: Liam McBurney

Musician Phil Woolsey

Journalist Stuart Bailie

Maureen Coleman Twitter Email

June 03 2021 09:00 PM

Stuart Bailie, broadcaster, music journalist and author:

“I was working in London for NME when I first heard about Ash. We did a cover story on them. We went to Donegal to do the interview because they had a few days off from touring.

“Tim’s teacher had to give him time off to tour with Elastica and Pearl Jam. Glorious! 1977 was like a Greatest Hits album with so many brilliant singles. I think Wheeler is our best songwriter from the last 20 years.”

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Charlotte Dryden, CEO, Oh Yeah Centre:

“I was a student in London when 1977 came out. I remember going to The Garage in Islington and Girl From Mars would get everyone on the dance floor. Of course I never imagined I’d end up working for a place named after one of their songs many years later.

“We gave Ash the Oh Yeah Legends Award in 2016. It was a lovely night. The album will always be special to me.”

Oh Yeah Centre’s Charlotte Dryden. Credit: Picasa

Ralph McLean, broadcaster and writer:

“I first saw Ash play live pre the release of 1977, when they were on the trajectory upwards. Seeing Ash live is one big, communal experience.

“That album is one of the Irish greats. It’s a timeless classic with great, catchy hooks and it’s amazing to think they were so incredibly young when they released it. Every single from it was better than the last and that’s a brilliant achievement.”

Broadcaster Ralph McLean. Credit: Liam McBurney

Phil Woolsey, musician, former frontman of Joyrider:

“Joyrider played a few gigs with Ash and Therapy? at the Ulster Hall in Belfast and the Point in Dublin. Those were groundbreaking gigs — a celebration of Northern Ireland’s signed bands that were doing well.

“I think they were a bit of a turning point for Ash too. 1977 is an album of classic songwriting.

“Wheeler was on a roll when he wrote those tunes. Every single one had hooks.”

Musician Phil Woolsey

‘A timeless classic’... four well-known Northern Ireland music fans on why album 1977 is so special to them

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