Caddy-Shack by John Gold

For full liner notes, lyrics, and track listing, see the original release: Cadillac.

Ever since I was a teen, I have been fascinated by slowing down and speeding up songs. We used to call this “Chopped and Screwed.” In 2005, my friend Evan Johnson gave me a recording of Against All Odds—covered by The Postal Service—slowed down to 80% speed, and I was instantly hooked. I played it on repeat. There was something about slowing it down that made the message more profound for me.

Funny story—on this same mixtape was “Big Booty Hoes” by Biggie from his album Born Again. Let’s just say the comparison and contrast between the two songs, back-to-back as they were, was startling. The writers and their perceptions of their “love” interests were so different—it was like lightning cutting through a desert sky.

For the record, I think both the profane degradation and objectification of a love interest and false confessions of love are vile. It would be really weird if there were some sort of motivated group of people willfully trying to coerce us into destructive behaviors, wouldn’t it? But back to the story:

At the same time I was discovering how slowing down songs can make them hit deeper, I also fell in love with the warmth and distortion found in cassette tape recordings. Many of my first demos were done on a Radio Shack tape deck. I carried it around, recording conversations, demos—anything that pleased my ears. I was 17, so a lot pleased my ears at that time.

Cassette tape recordings hold a mystique for me. I once heard a cassette tape version of “The Rose” performed by Judy Collins reproduced on a podcast. It made me bawl uncontrollably. Also, when I was a teen, I found a cassette version of “Smells Like Teen Spirit” by Nirvana that had unedited guitar takes in it—probably worth something if I had kept it… but alas, no regrets.

So anyway, I thought it would be interesting to release a gimmicky Radio Shack-Cassette Tape-Chopped and Screwed version of my album Cadillac just for the straight vibes and nostalgia of it.

Cadillac + Radio Shack = Caddy-Shack

Lastly, I wanted to release this version to honor my "Gramma." This version was created by outputting my seamless master into her battery-operated Radio Shack cassette tape deck.** Long live Irma—she made it to 100 years old. (Jan 17, 1924 – Jan 21, 2024). Make “Biggie” proud and pour one out for her, even if it’s Dr. Pepper.

I hope you enjoy this as much as I did making it. I love you lots—thanks for the support.

John Gold
Feb 5, 2024



*On the mixtape, Evan had entitled this song “Nothing Batter,” which I still think would be a really good name for a song or band.

**This version was also, by necessity, recorded in MONO, and I took a note from the inventor of “Chopped and Screwed” (at least according to Wikipedia), DJ Screw, by playing the same recording panned in both ears with a delay between them. I put the master recording on a blank tape I found in my grandmother Irma’s office back in 2022 when she gave me the tape deck. The model number of the tape deck was CTR-121, which, according to one website, places it as ’80s tech. The model of the tape used was TDK D-C180, which, when I researched it, placed its manufacturing date between 1972 and 1982. I had no idea how vintage the stuff was when I started this project.

John Gold has been releasing albums and touring since 2007. He wants his music to be a tool to help other people experience freedom.

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