favourite of these late 80s Scottish bands who don't get talked about on ilm very often

Message Bookmarked
Bookmark Removed

http://www.glasgowskyline.com/features/features_raintownphoto_highres.jpg

Poll Results

OptionVotes
Deacon Blue 8
Danny Wilson 6
Hue and Cry 2
Love and Money 2
The River Detectives 1
The Big Dish 0
Hipsway 0


authentic plastic rat (soref), Wednesday, 19 August 2015 21:01 (ten years ago)

the photo is bigger than I expected it to be.

I'm not sure if The River Detectives really fit here, they are maybe to folky/indie-ish? but I like then, so they're in.

authentic plastic rat (soref), Wednesday, 19 August 2015 21:03 (ten years ago)

"Gonna withdraw my LayyyyBOUR of Lo-o-o-ve, gonna strike for the right to get into your heart, yeahhhhhh" SHITE!!!!!!!!

Stupidityness (Tom D.), Wednesday, 19 August 2015 21:08 (ten years ago)

Wet Wet Wet are missing from this btw

Stupidityness (Tom D.), Wednesday, 19 August 2015 21:10 (ten years ago)

this thread is right up my street, although i must admit that i can't think of any of the songs of the big dish, hipsway, love and money, or the river detectives off the top of my head. which means i can't really bring myself to vote. though deacon blue might well be my choice.

ive been watching the video for mary's prayer by danny wilson on youtube recently after not having thought about the song for at least a decade or two. always has a proustian-madeleine effect on me, taking me back to my infancy in the late/mid 80s.

corbyn's gallus (jim in glasgow), Wednesday, 19 August 2015 21:11 (ten years ago)

labour of love is a classic, tom.

aint gonna work for you no mo'

corbyn's gallus (jim in glasgow), Wednesday, 19 August 2015 21:12 (ten years ago)

yeah wet wet wet maybe should be here!

corbyn's gallus (jim in glasgow), Wednesday, 19 August 2015 21:12 (ten years ago)

I don't know if anyone has ever crunched the numbers, but the period from approx 1986 - 1991 must have the record for most weeks spent on the UK charts by Scottish artists, surely? throw in Aztec Camera, Big Country etc

authentic plastic rat (soref), Wednesday, 19 August 2015 21:14 (ten years ago)

+ proclaimers

corbyn's gallus (jim in glasgow), Wednesday, 19 August 2015 21:15 (ten years ago)

i was born in 1984 and so in my young childhood was just used to the fact that there were lots of pop groups famous throughout the uk who came from scotland, not realising that this was the historical high-point and a total anomaly.

corbyn's gallus (jim in glasgow), Wednesday, 19 August 2015 21:17 (ten years ago)

Texas

Stupidityness (Tom D.), Wednesday, 19 August 2015 21:17 (ten years ago)

id forgotten they broke through as far back as that.

corbyn's gallus (jim in glasgow), Wednesday, 19 August 2015 21:19 (ten years ago)

whit nae fairground attraction

bizarro gazzara, Wednesday, 19 August 2015 21:22 (ten years ago)

Moving into different territory there, it'll be the Bluebells next, mark my words.

Stupidityness (Tom D.), Wednesday, 19 August 2015 21:25 (ten years ago)

whit nae bluebells

bizarro gazzara, Wednesday, 19 August 2015 21:27 (ten years ago)

xxp Also i think eddie reader was the only Scottish person in that group #fundamentalistnat

corbyn's gallus (jim in glasgow), Wednesday, 19 August 2015 21:28 (ten years ago)

were the rest of fairground attraction scottish, aside from Eddi Reader? google is telling me that Mark E Nevin was born in Ebbw Vale. anyway, this poll makes no claims of being comprehensive, obviously late 80s scottish pop: an abundance of riches

authentic plastic rat (soref), Wednesday, 19 August 2015 21:29 (ten years ago)

xp

authentic plastic rat (soref), Wednesday, 19 August 2015 21:29 (ten years ago)

am partial to a bit of Deacon Blue

just been enjoying some Youtube comments about Danny Wilson's "Second Summer of Love" from people who seem to be not really getting it

bombsover# (Noodle Vague), Wednesday, 19 August 2015 21:31 (ten years ago)

Nae Del Amitri, wid ye credit it?

Stupidityness (Tom D.), Wednesday, 19 August 2015 21:31 (ten years ago)

nothing really matters tbh

bombsover# (Noodle Vague), Wednesday, 19 August 2015 21:32 (ten years ago)

having emigrated from scotland listening to dignity by deacon blue is now an overly emotional experience for me, to my chagrin.

corbyn's gallus (jim in glasgow), Wednesday, 19 August 2015 21:32 (ten years ago)

haw, where's gun

bizarro gazzara, Wednesday, 19 August 2015 21:36 (ten years ago)

where's win?

corbyn's gallus (jim in glasgow), Wednesday, 19 August 2015 21:37 (ten years ago)

Note that most of these bands, Danny Wilson are the exception, were either from Glasgow or Glasgow based, nane o' yer Embra shite here.

Stupidityness (Tom D.), Wednesday, 19 August 2015 21:39 (ten years ago)

this one song pisses all over the lot of them imo:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F23SoNYjEwI

feargal czukay (NickB), Wednesday, 19 August 2015 21:40 (ten years ago)

Embra shite

Stupidityness (Tom D.), Wednesday, 19 August 2015 21:41 (ten years ago)

xp there is lots of Win discussion on ilm! this poll was only 2 months ago:

Win : Freaky Trigger

authentic plastic rat (soref), Wednesday, 19 August 2015 21:41 (ten years ago)

The Big Dish - agreeably jangly at first but essentially so bland they might as well be Canadian
Danny Wilson - some good tunes, singer has that "soul" voice that many Scots shot for.
Deacon Blue - Genuine career band with lots of decent hit singles. The Scottish Beautiful South if you will. The best of this bunch.
Hipsway - Strived for sophisticated excitement and almost got there but only had about 1.5 good pop tunes.
Hue and Cry - Meh...a lot of cultural baggage around these fellows isn't there?
Love and Money - Really really really wanted to be famous. A bit of a caricature. James Grant has never given up. I know his nephew.
The River Detectives - Only just belong here: later/different scene/didn't have any sophisto-pop trappings or trans-atlantic affectations. Always seemed out of step with the other Glasgow area bands circa 1990. I'm sure they did some great Mayfest gigs at the Tron or wherever.

everything, Wednesday, 19 August 2015 21:47 (ten years ago)

this was okay i thought:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RqrIjxG4API

feargal czukay (NickB), Wednesday, 19 August 2015 21:48 (ten years ago)

6 bands who were inescapable and tortured my ears on a regular basis for the first few years i lived in glasgow. as i don't recall hearing the river detectives, they'll get my vote for not (knowingly) causing me any distress. :-)

stirmonster, Wednesday, 19 August 2015 21:53 (ten years ago)

Man, it's all coming back to me... Endgames, H20... slightly earlier than the bands in question though.

Stupidityness (Tom D.), Wednesday, 19 August 2015 21:54 (ten years ago)

Plus there's those bands who somehow never made it out of Glasgow but were ubiquitous (chip) there: Horse, Kevin McDermott Orchestra... aaarrrgh I'm having 80s/90s flashbacks.

Stupidityness (Tom D.), Wednesday, 19 August 2015 21:58 (ten years ago)

Hue and Cry - Meh...a lot of cultural baggage around these fellows isn't there?

Pat Kane's latter day career as a post-modernist ("jock derrida") public intellectual and left-leaning nationalist, combined with their entryist agenda in the 80s is always a bit of a head-scratcher considering how utterly 80s and cheesy the group are.

corbyn's gallus (jim in glasgow), Wednesday, 19 August 2015 21:58 (ten years ago)

as in "let's spread the message of social democratic Scottish sovereignty through the medium of music - here's 'looking for linda'" is an odd one

corbyn's gallus (jim in glasgow), Wednesday, 19 August 2015 21:59 (ten years ago)

the correct answer should of course have been bourgie bourgie.

stirmonster, Wednesday, 19 August 2015 21:59 (ten years ago)

(xp) "Looking for Linda" namechecked Paisley too, we were like, whit???

Stupidityness (Tom D.), Wednesday, 19 August 2015 22:02 (ten years ago)

the title track from Raintown is so epic, most successful splicing of sophisti-pop and 'The Big Music' that I can think of

authentic plastic rat (soref), Wednesday, 19 August 2015 22:03 (ten years ago)

for me this boils down to 'real gone kid' vs 'ask the lord'

feargal czukay (NickB), Wednesday, 19 August 2015 22:08 (ten years ago)

The ah-oo-ah-oo-ah-oo backing vocals on Real Gone Kid practically give me vertigo the memory rush of Kilmarnock pubs is so strong.

everything, Wednesday, 19 August 2015 22:09 (ten years ago)

if wet wet wet were on the list, i might've bunged them a vote for 'wishing i was lucky'

feargal czukay (NickB), Wednesday, 19 August 2015 22:10 (ten years ago)

Glasgow seems like the epicentre of the more fist pumping, anthemic end of sophisti pop

Simple Minds circa Sparkle in the Rain and Once Upon A Time must have been a huge influence

Master of Treacle, Wednesday, 19 August 2015 22:20 (ten years ago)

I think a mental image of U2 lighting cigars with $100 notes probably influenced a few of them.

everything, Wednesday, 19 August 2015 22:23 (ten years ago)

all shite

Cosmic Slop, Wednesday, 19 August 2015 22:28 (ten years ago)

Better than having Linda spend 35 quid on a packet of CIGGIES

Master of Treacle, Wednesday, 19 August 2015 22:30 (ten years ago)

is that actually the lyric? always thought so and was confused. I know she was supposed to be drunk in the song but come on.

corbyn's gallus (jim in glasgow), Wednesday, 19 August 2015 22:31 (ten years ago)

I dont get it either

Master of Treacle, Wednesday, 19 August 2015 22:36 (ten years ago)

anyone remember that bbc2(?) tv series from ~1987 that had two scottish bands playing live on each episode? i can remember the one with the dog faced hermans(!) and maybe the cateran on it, but most of the rest of it was more bands like the above iirc

feargal czukay (NickB), Wednesday, 19 August 2015 22:37 (ten years ago)

oh lowlife were on it too, so maybe it was a bit more indie, but the big dish definitely made an appearance

feargal czukay (NickB), Wednesday, 19 August 2015 22:37 (ten years ago)

Apparently the programme was called FSD, I don't remember it tbh

Stupidityness (Tom D.), Wednesday, 19 August 2015 22:39 (ten years ago)

People used to talk about hue and cry and entryism, turns out their most subversive act was being the commercial ballast to enable the dog faced Germans to get on the bbc

feargal czukay (NickB), Thursday, 20 August 2015 08:26 (ten years ago)

Lol autocorrect

feargal czukay (NickB), Thursday, 20 August 2015 08:26 (ten years ago)

lester bowie on a danny wilson alb
herbie hancock on a simple minds rec

sʌxihɔːl (Ward Fowler), Thursday, 20 August 2015 09:19 (ten years ago)

Bootsy Collins on a Soup Dragons album.

Stupidityness (Tom D.), Thursday, 20 August 2015 09:39 (ten years ago)

wee boaby sitting in with sun ra and moondog

feargal czukay (NickB), Thursday, 20 August 2015 09:53 (ten years ago)

Love and Money. Rediscovered them a couple of years ago. The album Strange Kind Of Love is fantastic and they also had some really strong B Sides around that time too

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8MJVaAhdsak

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lyVcxUq5SIA

groovypanda, Thursday, 20 August 2015 10:43 (ten years ago)

george clinton on a primals album

Cosmic Slop, Thursday, 20 August 2015 14:59 (ten years ago)

There's a specific thing that these bands share: romantic aspirations expressed via USA iconography (quiffs, raybans, Gretch guitars's, cowboy shirts, talk of candybars, cars & the blues). Shoehorn in a reference to a famous American (or even better, get one to guest on the album), include a religious motif about redemption, prayer, faith, whatever, and find an appropriate Steely Dan song to ripoff for the verse and a Prefab Sprout song for the chorus, then you've got your song stiched up.

I'm not really familiar with most of these bands oeuvre but this song seems like the most archetypal:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fOH9ESXNJMo

everything, Thursday, 20 August 2015 18:54 (ten years ago)

This does 'rainy Glasgow of my youth' very well -

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZUtqOxSAJxs

MaresNest, Thursday, 20 August 2015 19:33 (ten years ago)

Since I grew up in Scotland at the right time I own Raintown, Hipsway, The Best of Danny Wilson and A Strange Kind Of Love.
I used to own the double CD version of Hue & Cry's The Bitter Suite that included a greatest hits affair. That got sold on rather quickly.
A Strange Kind of Love is the one I listened to the most over the years. It's a great album by an otherwise pretty unlovable band.
I still have a fondness for the records I still own but they're not things I return to often.
I really don't remember anything about The Big Dish or The River Detectives.

treefell, Thursday, 20 August 2015 20:55 (ten years ago)

At my mum's 80th birthday recently the dj played Deacon Blue's Dignity and it turned into a mass singalong involving just about every one of the hundred or so people in the room. It was really incredibly moving.

Acting Crazy (Instrumental) (jed_), Thursday, 20 August 2015 22:19 (ten years ago)

awww!

feargal czukay (NickB), Thursday, 20 August 2015 22:44 (ten years ago)

:)

Acting Crazy (Instrumental) (jed_), Thursday, 20 August 2015 22:45 (ten years ago)

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/61T-DdNqU9L.jpg

so the blue nile - how do they fit in here? obviously related but maybe something different entirely? were they a people's favourite in scotland at all like some of thes bands or were they more of a cult thing?

feargal czukay (NickB), Thursday, 20 August 2015 23:00 (ten years ago)

Tinseltown is certainly a well known song that means a lot to people. Not to Deacon Blue Dignity or 500 Miles Proclaimers levels but it's definitely a very fondly remembered and regarded song.

Acting Crazy (Instrumental) (jed_), Thursday, 20 August 2015 23:03 (ten years ago)

never thought about this before but did you know that one of danny wilson was on the cover of hats?

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41wXOwX6wQL._SX300_.jpg http://www.bilborecords.be/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/Blue%20Nile%20-%20Hats_0.jpg

feargal czukay (NickB), Thursday, 20 August 2015 23:10 (ten years ago)

They weren't Wet Wet Wet but they certainly weren't some cult thing, not in the city that gave the world the Pastels et al.

Stupidityness (Tom D.), Thursday, 20 August 2015 23:10 (ten years ago)

They were essentially absent. They did not gig, had no hits and took years to make albums. That said, Tinsletown in the Rain sounds like the template for a big chunk of this genre.

Funny you mention the Proclaimers because I was just thinking that it feels like when they first showed up they were almost like an antidote to all this strings/synths/funky bass brand of Americana.

everything, Thursday, 20 August 2015 23:12 (ten years ago)

At my mum's 80th birthday recently the dj played Deacon Blue's Dignity and it turned into a mass singalong involving just about every one of the hundred or so people in the room. It was really incredibly moving

i've seen that happen at a number of weddings, birthdays etc. in glasgow. it always makes me realise i'll forever be an east coast interloper as i never have any idea what the song is and am bewildered how everyone knows all the words.

stirmonster, Thursday, 20 August 2015 23:13 (ten years ago)

Ricky Ross was an East Coast interloper!

Stupidityness (Tom D.), Thursday, 20 August 2015 23:15 (ten years ago)

aye, but dundonians are cut some slack. edinburghers definitely not. :-)

stirmonster, Thursday, 20 August 2015 23:19 (ten years ago)

up to now id wrongly assumed that knowing all the words to dignity by deacon blue was a Scotland-wide phenomenon.

you too could be called a 'Star' by the Compliance Unit (jim in glasgow), Thursday, 20 August 2015 23:20 (ten years ago)

It's not even as easy song to remember - it has a strange structure, the chorus comes very late and it references Keynesian economics and mentions Keynes specifically.

Acting Crazy (Instrumental) (jed_), Thursday, 20 August 2015 23:25 (ten years ago)

they could well be. maybe i'm the only scot in the entire country living in ignorance?

ignorance is bliss.

stirmonster, Thursday, 20 August 2015 23:27 (ten years ago)

such a horrible song/band that was a blight on my youth!

Cosmic Slop, Thursday, 20 August 2015 23:33 (ten years ago)

I was surprised that I knew about 80% of the words.

Acting Crazy (Instrumental) (jed_), Thursday, 20 August 2015 23:33 (ten years ago)

ilxor keith labels this tennants lager rock. We spoke a while ago about that above comp and The big day out on the green (where sheena easton got bottled for having an american accent)

Cosmic Slop, Thursday, 20 August 2015 23:35 (ten years ago)

hadn't actually heard their husker du cover before, good god it's dreary:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nl-5Qg_0ZWU

feargal czukay (NickB), Thursday, 20 August 2015 23:39 (ten years ago)

Maybe if Danny Wilson reformed I'd give a shit.

― Dom Passantino, Thursday, 13 September 2007 15:11 (7 years ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

sʌxihɔːl (Ward Fowler), Friday, 21 August 2015 08:20 (ten years ago)

While my East Coast loyalties should fully lie with Danny Wilson, I've had to vote for Deacon Blue. I know most of the words to 'Dignity' and 'Real Gone Kid'.

I saw the Big Dish support Del Amitri last year. Weren't for me based on that showing.

michaellambert, Friday, 21 August 2015 19:34 (ten years ago)

Another vote for Love and Money, mainly on the strength of the tremendous Halleluiah Man.

Vast Halo, Saturday, 22 August 2015 11:19 (ten years ago)

love and money.

I loved the sheer over the top desperation for success groove of their debut.

such a lot of fun .. not too mention the insanity of the quiff.

had the follow album up on cassette and seem to recall that was a lot more stripped down, and mellow.

may have to get it it cd via zoverstocks.

mark e, Saturday, 22 August 2015 17:08 (ten years ago)

they were the worst

Cosmic Slop, Saturday, 22 August 2015 19:27 (ten years ago)

haha .. yeah yeah ..
if WIN had been part of the options, then I would have hit that button, but as it is, I need to add my love for james and his quiff.

mark e, Saturday, 22 August 2015 19:33 (ten years ago)

I see James and his quiff about twice a month in the tesco round the corner.

Acting Crazy (Instrumental) (jed_), Sunday, 23 August 2015 01:13 (ten years ago)

it's a shame del amitri weren't included as i have a few epic justin currie stories i'd have an excuse to drop in here.

stirmonster, Sunday, 23 August 2015 03:58 (ten years ago)

Hah! Feel free!

Acting Crazy (Instrumental) (jed_), Sunday, 23 August 2015 04:55 (ten years ago)

i have a justin currie story, second-hand mind you. in the evening on the day that amy winehouse died a pal was in brew dog in glasgow, a guy got up on a table to make a wee rambling speech about amy's death. everyone at his table was bemused/confused.especially when they realised it was the singer from del amitri.

you too could be called a 'Star' by the Compliance Unit (jim in glasgow), Sunday, 23 August 2015 05:22 (ten years ago)

Haha

Acting Crazy (Instrumental) (jed_), Sunday, 23 August 2015 05:55 (ten years ago)

Amy winehouse died?

Acting Crazy (Instrumental) (jed_), Sunday, 23 August 2015 05:57 (ten years ago)

justin currie used to come to optimo on occassion. he liked to have a few drinks. on one occasion it was the end of the night and the doormen were kindly asking him to leave. he said it wasn't possible for him to leave as if he did he would be hounded by fans outside the club and was concerned for his safety, so was only prepared to leave by the back emergency exit. it was explained that this wasn't possible and it was suggested that just possibly the people milling about outside might not recognise that there was a superstar in their midst and all would be well. he was insistent and said he would personally hold the club responsible if he was overwhelmed by over exhuberant adoring fans desperate for his autograph. eventually he was gently escorted from the club and we watched on the cctv as he exited into the hordes of stragglers milling about outside. of course nobody had a clue who he was or paid any attention to him whatsoever but he proceeded to hang about outside for a good 15 minutes, possiblly hoping someone would eventually recognise him. nobody did.

stirmonster, Sunday, 23 August 2015 14:43 (ten years ago)

Haha! That's fantastic.

Acting Crazy (Instrumental) (jed_), Monday, 24 August 2015 03:51 (ten years ago)

the first deacon blue record is real nice

ciderpress, Monday, 24 August 2015 04:32 (ten years ago)

lol at the Justin Currie stories.

A few months ago I went into the upstairs bar in The Doublet and Justin Currie was (the only one in the whole room) dancing to Del Amitri on the jukebox. Don't know whether he put them on himself or it was some other punter and JC thought that was the best response - either way pretty cool.

Eyeball Kicks, Monday, 24 August 2015 16:41 (ten years ago)

Come what may, I always used to play the same two songs on the jukebox in the Doublet, "Fire" by Arthur Brown and "Ben" by Michael Jackson.

Fields of Fat Henry (Tom D.), Monday, 24 August 2015 21:41 (ten years ago)

good to know the upstairs in the doublet has a jukebox, not many places in the town with one. and that is a hilarious story about Justin Currie!

you too could be called a 'Star' by the Compliance Unit (jim in glasgow), Monday, 24 August 2015 21:42 (ten years ago)

labour of love is a classic, tom.

― corbyn's gallus (jim in glasgow), Wednesday, August 19, 2015 9:12 PM (5 days ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

OTM.

You’re being too simplistic and you’re insulting my poor heart (Turrican), Monday, 24 August 2015 22:19 (ten years ago)

Automatic thread bump. This poll is closing tomorrow.

System, Friday, 4 September 2015 00:01 (ten years ago)

Automatic thread bump. This poll's results are now in.

System, Saturday, 5 September 2015 00:01 (ten years ago)

Chris Coco remix of Strange Kind Of Love is rather lush.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IHo1q2sZ8pI

Noel Emits, Saturday, 12 September 2015 11:12 (ten years ago)


You must be logged in to post. Please either login here, or if you are not registered, you may register here.