Goldfinger (1996 single)

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"Goldfinger"

Single by Ash
from the album 1977
B-side(s)	"I Need Somebody", "Sneaker", "Get Ready"
Released	April 15, 1996
Format	CD, 7", Cassette
Recorded	1995/1996
Genre	Brit-Pop
Length	4:31
Label	Infectious
Producer(s)	Owen Morris
Chart positions
#5 (UK)
Ash singles chronology
"Angel Interceptor" (1995)	"Goldfinger" (1996)	"Oh Yeah" (1996)

"Goldfinger" was the fourth single released from the 1977 album by the band Ash on April 15, 1996. It was released as a single CD, a 7" vinyl (the limited edition 7" comes with a golden glitter clear vinyl and an accompanying picture sleeve), and as a cassette. "Goldfinger" was Ash's first Top 10 hit and sparked a reaction that helped their debut album, "1977" get to No. 1 in the album charts.

In the first-person point of view, writer Tim Wheeler uses "Goldfinger" to paint a portrait of a relationship that seems to have gone bad. This is suggested by the line "She slips into the night, and she was gone; Gone to settle the score, gone into the town," where his former lover may have left, perhaps to find another lover as a form of revenge. However, with lines such as "On a stormy night, the rain is lashing down, and I'm waiting for her," Wheeler seems to suggest that the relationship might be mended soon, or perhaps he thinks it might be. More strongly, though, Wheeler may be suggesting that he's chasing after his former lover, perhaps menacingly.

The song is arguably one of their best known, and also appears on their hits collection "Intergalactic Sonic 7″s", as well as live versions that appear on "Tokyo Blitz" and "Live at the Wireless". The song has continually been responded to well over the years, as to many the song represents the heady-days of Brit-pop-Era Britain.

In 1996, Tim Wheeler was quoted to say that: "Goldfinger is the best song we´ve ever written, and the best words I´ve ever written".

The first B-side, "I Need Somebody" has a "Big Band" feel to the track, and was written by Mark Hamilton while he was in hospital. "I Need Somebody" features on Ash's first B-sides collection, "Cosmic Debris".

The second B-side, "Sneaker," was originally titled "Easter Island" and was co-written by Mark Hamilton & Barry Peak of Backwater while Mark and Rick were invloved in a side-project band called Sneaker. Sneaker featured Rick McMurray on guitar, Mark Hamilton on bass, Barry Peak on guitar and vocals, and Shaun Robinson on drums. "Easter Island" was only released on a compilation of Irish bands called Laugh Hard At The Absurdly Evil, and unlike Ash's version of the song, is slower and has clear vocals. Shortly after, Ash took "Easter Island" and recorded it, giving it the title "Sneaker." Ultimately, it is a fast-paced grunge song with roaring guitars and distorted vocals. It also appears on "Cosmic Debris". It was played live occasionally during Ash's Trailer & 1977 tours.

The CD only track, "Get Ready" is a cover of the Smokey Robinson song and originally appeared on the fan-club release "Get Ready", released in December 1995.

The video for the track is quite straight-forward, and the band were apparently unhappy with it due to a lack of their involvement. It features the band playing in a basement while black and white shots are cut to occasionally. The video was directed by Mike Brady.