Classic Scottish Albums

In this episode, first broadcast on BBC Radio Scotland in 2005, Davie talks to Bert Jansch about how he recorded his seminal 1965 self-titled album and what he thought about it 40 years on.

Born in Glasgow in 1943, Bert was an influential guitarist and songer / songwriter, who was also a founder member of Pentangle. Bert died in 2011.

Bert Jansch talks to Davie Scott about his seminal 1965 self-titled album.

The tales behind classic Scottish albums.

In this episode, first broadcast on BBC Radio Scotland in 2011, Davie discovers the story behind Franz Ferdinand's 2004 self-titled debut. With a certain suaveness, optimism and confidence, the band bagged the Mercury Music Prize, three top-10 singles and 3.6 million album sales worldwide. They made a bigger impact on America than Robbie Williams and Oasis combined, and did it with a lot less bluster. Their influences include Talking Heads, Chic, Pulp and Joy Division, and these combined to reach a far wider audience than your average indie band.

Take Me Out topped several 'Best of 2004' lists, and seemed never to be off the Queen Vic's jukebox in Eastenders. The NME described their music as 'intoxicating', while others compared their worldwide appeal to that of the Beatles, the Rolling Stones and Duran Duran.

Davie Scott discovers the story behind Franz Ferdinand's self-titled debut album from 2004

The tales behind classic Scottish albums.

Take Me Out' topped several 'Best of 2004' lists and was seemingly never off the jukebox in Eastenders Queen Vic. 'Michael' gained attention for it's homoerotic overtones - 'beautiful boys on a beautiful dancefloor' - while 'This Fire' is a fan-favourite and closes a typically energetic Franz Ferdinand live set. The NME called them music 'intoxicating', while others compared their universal buzz to that of The Beatles, The Rolling Stones and Duran Duran. In this episode of Classic Scottish Albums, Davey discovers how they did it...

Suave, catchy and confident, 'Franz Ferdinand' was not your average Scottish debut album.

Series looking at classic albums from Scottish artists.

In this episode, first broadcast on BBC Radio Scotland in 2010, Davie tells the story of Glasvegas - the debut album released by Glasvegas in 2008.

Davie Scott tells the story of Glasvegas, the debut album released by Glasvegas in 2008.

The tales behind classic Scottish albums.

In this episode Davie chats to Robin Guthrie of the Cocteau Twins about the chaotic sessions for their sixth album, Heaven or Las Vegas, released in 1990, and now acknowledged as a masterpiece. Robin also reveals something of the mystery of the enigmatic lead singer Elizabeth Fraser's extraordinary lyrics and vocal style.

This episode first broadcast in 2007.

Robin Guthrie discusses Cocteau Twins' sixth album, Heaven or Las Vegas.

The tales behind classic Scottish albums.

In this episode Davie chats to Robin Guthrie of the Cocteau Twins about the chaotic sessions for their sixth album, Heaven or Las Vegas, released in 1990, and now acknowledged as a masterpiece. Robin also reveals something of the mystery of the enigmatic lead singer Elizabeth Fraser's extraordinary lyrics and vocal style.

Robin Guthrie discusses the Cocteau Twins' sixth album, Heaven or Las Vegas.

The tales behind classic Scottish albums.

In this episode, first broadcast on BBC Radio Scotland in 2006, Davie Scott considers Aztec Camera's 1983 release High Land, Hard Rain, which blended infectious tunes and mature lyrics to create a debut with a very distinctive Scottish take on the world.

Davie Scott focuses on Aztec Camera's 1983 release High Land, Hard Rain.

The tales behind classic Scottish albums.

The tales behind classic Scottish albums.

In this episode, first broadcast on BBC Radio Scotland in 2005, Davie talks to Primal Scream frontman Bobby Gillespie about the classic Screamadelica, released in 1991 and the winner of the first ever Mercury prize the following year. Bobby takes us back to the heady recording sessions and describes the ways in which politics and hedonism fuelled the music of the band. We also hear from Andrew Weatherall, who co-produced the album, and sadly died in 2020.

Primal Scream's Bobby Gillespie and others discuss 1991's award-winning Screamadelica.

The tales behind classic Scottish albums.

In this episode, first broadcast on BBC Radio Scotland in 2010, Davie looks back at Psychocandy, the debut album by the Jesus and Mary Chain, released in 1985. With the help Janice Long, Bobby Gillespie and the famously-elusive Reid brothers themselves, Davie comes to the conclusion that teen angst never sounded so good... well certainly not from East Kilbride.

Davie Scott looks back on Psychocandy, the 1985 debut album by The Jesus and Mary Chain.

The tales behind classic Scottish albums.

In this episode, first broadcast on BBC Radio Scotland in 2006, Davie selects John Martyn's Solid Air. Released in 1973, The Glasgow-raised singer / songwriter's distinctive vocal style and stunning guitar playing combine to pay homage to friendship, love and life.

This programme was made before John Martyn died in 2009.

A look back at the late John Martyn's Solid Air, a homage to friendship, love and life.

The tales behind classic Scottish albums.

In this episode, first broadcast on BBC Radio Scotland in 2006, Davie looks at Belle and Sebastian's The Boy with the Arab Strap, released in 1998, which won them 'Best Newcomer' at the Brit Awards. We hear from the famously interview-shy collective about the making of the album, and also from crime writer Iain Rankin about his passion for their melancholy summertime sounds.

Davie Scott looks at Belle and Sebastian's The Boy with the Arab Strap, released in 1998.

The tales behind classic Scottish albums.

And it wasn't just the fans who loved them. The music press couldn't get enough of their contrary ways, one journalist enthusing that 'as providers of perverse, throwaway, three-minute pop-song manna... (they're) punk rock, the Renaissance, Andy Warhol and Jesus Christ all rolled into one.

The gigantic commercial success of the band flew in the face of taste-making rhetoric, and Bill and Jimmy caused further alarm when - at the height of their success - they gave a 'violently antagonistic performance' at the 1992 Brit Awards and left the stage to a tannoy announcement stating that 'The KLF have now left the music business'. Job done!

Davie Scott unravels one of Scotland's most fascinating pop anecdotes with Bill Drummond.

The tales behind classic Scottish albums.

Bill Drummond - son of a Church of Scotland minister - was almost 40 years old when he decided to create a 'Stadium House' band. He wanted to unite music fans with 'gigantic anthems'. A former top music exec, he understood pop music hype and hyperbole and used that to his advantage. While some might have judged he and partner Jimmy Cauty as over-the-hill, Bill's marketing know-how pushed The KLF to become the bestselling singles act in the world in 1991. 'Justified and Ancient' (featuring Tammy Wynette) was inescapable. It was No.1 in 18 countries and provided her highest-ever Billboard placing. 'What Time is Love' provided the first taste of The KLF's big commercial sound and was soon answered by the number 1 single '3am Eternal'.

And it wasn't just the fans who loved them. The music press couldn't get enough of their contrary ways, one journalist enthusing that 'as providers of perverse, throwaway, three-minute pop-song manna... (they're) punk rock, the Renaissance, Andy Warhol and Jesus Christ all rolled into one.

The gigantic commercial success of the band flew in the face of taste-making rhetoric, and Bill and Jimmy caused further alarm when - at the height of their success - they gave a 'violently antagonistic performance' at the 1992 Brit Awards and left the stage to a tannoy announcement stating that 'The KLF have now left the music business'. Job done!

The tales behind classic Scottish albums.

In this episode, first broadcast on BBC Radio Scotland in 2011 Davie looks at Al Stewart's Year of the Cat, released in 1976.

We hear how its escapiosm resonated with UK listeners mired in strikes and unemployment. It was a far cry from Al Stewart's humble beginnings. As he tells it in one of his songs, 'I came up to London when I was 19 with a corduroy jacket and a head full of dreams.' A poetic singer-songwriter born in Glasgow, he moved to Dorset before falling in with the folk scene. So far, so Donovan, but then Al's story splinters off into peculiarly unique directions.

He bought his first guitar from Andy Sumners of The Police, shared a flat with Paul Simon and gave Yoko Ono all his money for an exhibition of naked bottoms. That came before landing in the US Top 5 with his 1976 album Year of the Cat. The single of the same name is a dreamy, meandering epic about a life changing meeting between a naïve young traveller and a worldly hippy. It's absolutely of it's time, but continues to get airplay around the world and has helped Al secure high-profile friends and admirers such as Tori Amos, Jimmy Page, Bert Jansch and Rick Wakeman.

Glasgow singer Al Stewart talks about how Year of the Cat took the hippie trail mainstream

The tales behind classic Scottish albums.

In this episode, first broadcast on BBC Radio Scotland in 2005, Davie Scott talks to Edwyn Collins and friends to reveal the remarkable stories about Orange Juice's 1982 classic, You Can't Hide Your Love Forever.

Edwyn Collins and others tell the story of Orange Juice's You Can't Hide Your Love Forever

The tales behind classic Scottish albums.

Bill Drummond - son of a Church of Scotland minister - was almost 40 years old when he decided to create a 'Stadium House' band. He wanted to unite music fans with 'gigantic anthems'. A former top music exec, he understood pop music hype and hyperbole and used that to his advantage. While some might have judged he and partner Jimmy Cauty as over-the-hill, Bill's marketing know-how pushed The KLF to become the bestselling singles act in the world in 1991. 'Justified and Ancient' (featuring Tammy Wynette) was inescapable. It was No.1 in 18 countries and provided her highest-ever Billboard placing. 'What Time is Love' provided the first taste of The KLF's big commercial sound and was soon answered by the number 1 single '3am Eternal'.

And it wasn't just the fans who loved them. The music press couldn't get enough of their contrary ways, one journalist enthusing that 'as providers of perverse, throwaway, three-minute pop-song manna... (they're) punk rock, the Renaissance, Andy Warhol and Jesus Christ all rolled into one.

The gigantic commercial success of the band flew in the face of taste-making rhetoric, and Bill and Jimmy caused further alarm when - at the height of their success - they gave a 'violently antagonistic performance' at the 1992 Brit Awards and left the stage to a tannoy announcement stating that 'The KLF have now left the music business'. Job done!

Series looking at classic albums from Scottish artists.

Bill Drummond - son of a Church of Scotland minister - was almost 40 years old when he decided to create a 'Stadium House' band. He wanted to unite music fans with 'gigantic anthems'. A former top music exec, he understood pop music hype and hyperbole and used that to his advantage. While some might have judged he and partner Jimmy Cauty as over-the-hill, Bill's marketing know-how pushed The KLF to become the bestselling singles act in the world in 1991. 'Justified and Ancient' (featuring Tammy Wynette) was inescapable. It was No.1 in 18 countries and provided her highest-ever Billboard placing. 'What Time is Love' provided the first taste of The KLF's big commercial sound and was soon answered by the number 1 single '3am Eternal'.

And it wasn't just the fans who loved them. The music press couldn't get enough of their contrary ways, one journalist enthusing that 'as providers of perverse, throwaway, three-minute pop-song manna... (they're) punk rock, the Renaissance, Andy Warhol and Jesus Christ all rolled into one.

The gigantic commercial success of the band flew in the face of taste-making rhetoric, and Bill and Jimmy caused further alarm when - at the height of their success - they gave a 'violently antagonistic performance' at the 1992 Brit Awards and left the stage to a tannoy announcement stating that 'The KLF have now left the music business'. Job done!

Series looking at classic albums from Scottish artists.