Several folks have recommended that film to me in the wake of this post; sadly, it doesn’t appear to be available for streaming in the US aside from on Apple Plus. May have to do the “free 7-day trial subscription” thing…
What an incredible and ultimately heartwarming story. As a musician in a Celtic band, I've played and sung my share of traditional Scottish songs but haven't spent much time exploring Scottish rock beyond "I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles)" by The Proclaimers (a staple of our repertoire and an audience favorite.) I'll be checking out some of the bands you mention. Thanks for pointing the way.
Right on, Eddie! Yeah, I was SURE I would have heard “500 Miles” at some point on our trip — hell, we were even staying near Leith Walk, not far from where The Proclaimers shot the cover of Sunshine on Leith. But no…
Happy to help, my man! By the way, our Glasgow pals continued to rave about your St. Luke’s show well into the evening — you left a lot of satisfied customers in your musical wake!
So completely amazing, brother. Very happy the two of you had this incredible experience. And side note? I have a beautiful memory of Robin and I dancing to "Big Country" at our wedding reception ❤️
So much here to digest. Primarily, I am happy that Scotland exceeded expectations. I like to claim at moments like this that I am half-Scottish (and I am) but my own absence had been extensive until earlier this year when I finally got to visit an old school friend in Aberdeenshire. Age and circumstance means my entry point to most of the bands you mention was contemporary to the bands themselves, including seeing The Jam & The Jolt together at The Marquee in early 1978 (sorry Dan!) and supporting The Jam and Big Country at Wembley for two nights in 1982 (sorry again Dan!). The Jolt were two years ahead of any mod revival, which made them both cool and unfashionable at the time: New Hearts, who I saw open for The Jam two months before I saw The Jolt do the same, had to essentially break up and start again as Secret Affair to ride that wagon, but it's so good to see them (The Jolt, that is) name-checked by an American fan and not just some ageing British retro mod. More power to Jimmy for being your mate through all these years.
And Big Country did truly rock it for a little while there, also.
Plus, yes, Scotland is beautiful.
Cheers and welcome home. And damn that debit card biz.
Well, I’m sorry that I never got to see either of those bands – much less on bills with The Jam — but I’m glad you were there to bear witness (and to enjoy)!
Loved reading this so much Dan! So beautifully told. And it was so good to meet you and Shannon in person. Jim and I insist that you come back to 'do' the west - and perhaps even the very north! And for longer next time! x
Absolutely, Fiona — we’re already talking about how we can possibly pull it off. And a longer hang with the both of you is definitely part of that concept! XO
Thanks for sending me down a rabbit hole yet again. I have always been a big fan of Big Country, but not so much of some of the other bands you site. Having a look at them now. Very sad ending to Stuart Adamson life. What a great talent cut way too short, as it seems so many are.
I am probably about half a generation older than you, so I also am also a fan of Stealers Wheel/Gerry Rafferty, and, opening it up to a more Celtic Rock view, Rory Gallagher (he's Irish, another sad ending.) Runrig also has done some interesting work.
A few video links:
My favorite live performance of Big Country. Adamson and band are in top form:
Thank you, JT! You know, I can’t believe I forgot to mention Gerry Rafferty — City To City was pretty much the only album I listened to in the week before I left for Scotland. Everyone remembers “Baker Street,” but the whole thing is really good…
Wow, what a fantastic and beautiful read, thanks Dan! Glad you enjoyed Scotland. I’ve hiked there four times and the beauty I’ve found (and I’ve barely scratched the surface) is breathtaking!
The synchronicity of the Big Country song playing is just marvelous. And while you were hanging with Jim makes it perfect.
I only ever heard “In a Big Country” but am inspired now to go give the entire album a listen.
On Scottish bands, presumably you’re well aware of The Blue Nile? I’ve recently developed a whole new appreciation for their 1989 album Hats after not appreciating it at all when it was released.
I need to go back and check The Blue Nile out — I had some friends who were really into A Walk Across The Rooftops when it came out, but it was way too smooth and subtle for me at the time.
Yes! Great story. I continue to be a fan of Big Country; all the emotions you describe about The Crossing I felt too. Maybe I will visit Scotland one day.
Love that you went to Rolling Stone records, I went in there a few times but I went many times to the one out on Irving Park, closer to my Yia Yia's - what a place! They had huge album cover recreation paintings up like Tower Records on Sunset - I still remember Frampton's 'sexy' "I'm in You" cover up there. Huge selection, bargain records, my first discovery of imports and bootlegs, I got my first bootleg concert/band t-shirts there too. It took me a while to figure out what all the head shop stuff was, but I grew into it...
I never made it out to the Irving Park one, but the downtown one (which became Rock Records sometime around '86, I think) was absolutely crucial to my musical education and development!
Several folks have recommended that film to me in the wake of this post; sadly, it doesn’t appear to be available for streaming in the US aside from on Apple Plus. May have to do the “free 7-day trial subscription” thing…
What an incredible and ultimately heartwarming story. As a musician in a Celtic band, I've played and sung my share of traditional Scottish songs but haven't spent much time exploring Scottish rock beyond "I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles)" by The Proclaimers (a staple of our repertoire and an audience favorite.) I'll be checking out some of the bands you mention. Thanks for pointing the way.
Right on, Eddie! Yeah, I was SURE I would have heard “500 Miles” at some point on our trip — hell, we were even staying near Leith Walk, not far from where The Proclaimers shot the cover of Sunshine on Leith. But no…
Thoroughly enjoyed reading this, Dan. Made the 3 hour drive to Bristol much more enjoyable!
Happy to help, my man! By the way, our Glasgow pals continued to rave about your St. Luke’s show well into the evening — you left a lot of satisfied customers in your musical wake!
Ah man that warms the heart! After tonight’s show we have 3 more and then back in so cal but man it’s 80F right now!
Safe travels!
Thank you, Dan. Glenn is doing all the driving so it’s especially grueling for him. Lucky for us Rusty is right
Next to him up front so they can entertain one another!
Helluva read, Dan! Wonderful trip and stories. Happy that I had some small, albeit inadvertent, part in you and Jim connecting!
Yes, molto grazie for all of that!
So completely amazing, brother. Very happy the two of you had this incredible experience. And side note? I have a beautiful memory of Robin and I dancing to "Big Country" at our wedding reception ❤️
Awww - love it!
So much here to digest. Primarily, I am happy that Scotland exceeded expectations. I like to claim at moments like this that I am half-Scottish (and I am) but my own absence had been extensive until earlier this year when I finally got to visit an old school friend in Aberdeenshire. Age and circumstance means my entry point to most of the bands you mention was contemporary to the bands themselves, including seeing The Jam & The Jolt together at The Marquee in early 1978 (sorry Dan!) and supporting The Jam and Big Country at Wembley for two nights in 1982 (sorry again Dan!). The Jolt were two years ahead of any mod revival, which made them both cool and unfashionable at the time: New Hearts, who I saw open for The Jam two months before I saw The Jolt do the same, had to essentially break up and start again as Secret Affair to ride that wagon, but it's so good to see them (The Jolt, that is) name-checked by an American fan and not just some ageing British retro mod. More power to Jimmy for being your mate through all these years.
And Big Country did truly rock it for a little while there, also.
Plus, yes, Scotland is beautiful.
Cheers and welcome home. And damn that debit card biz.
Well, I’m sorry that I never got to see either of those bands – much less on bills with The Jam — but I’m glad you were there to bear witness (and to enjoy)!
Loved reading this so much Dan! So beautifully told. And it was so good to meet you and Shannon in person. Jim and I insist that you come back to 'do' the west - and perhaps even the very north! And for longer next time! x
Absolutely, Fiona — we’re already talking about how we can possibly pull it off. And a longer hang with the both of you is definitely part of that concept! XO
Thanks for sending me down a rabbit hole yet again. I have always been a big fan of Big Country, but not so much of some of the other bands you site. Having a look at them now. Very sad ending to Stuart Adamson life. What a great talent cut way too short, as it seems so many are.
I am probably about half a generation older than you, so I also am also a fan of Stealers Wheel/Gerry Rafferty, and, opening it up to a more Celtic Rock view, Rory Gallagher (he's Irish, another sad ending.) Runrig also has done some interesting work.
A few video links:
My favorite live performance of Big Country. Adamson and band are in top form:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tM9I6ZtpThM
Rafferty - get it right next time:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SXW-sL5gzHQ
Rory live at Montreaux:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oKhPCjQZONk
Runrig -Locke Lomond:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f4T4I9DRGok
Very much enjoy your writing and how it introduces me to art I was not aware of, or reminds me of things of the past that I have forgot.
PS off topic, but this is my favorite video of late:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PDFH9AcPpyA
Thank you, JT! You know, I can’t believe I forgot to mention Gerry Rafferty — City To City was pretty much the only album I listened to in the week before I left for Scotland. Everyone remembers “Baker Street,” but the whole thing is really good…
Wow, what a fantastic and beautiful read, thanks Dan! Glad you enjoyed Scotland. I’ve hiked there four times and the beauty I’ve found (and I’ve barely scratched the surface) is breathtaking!
The synchronicity of the Big Country song playing is just marvelous. And while you were hanging with Jim makes it perfect.
I only ever heard “In a Big Country” but am inspired now to go give the entire album a listen.
On Scottish bands, presumably you’re well aware of The Blue Nile? I’ve recently developed a whole new appreciation for their 1989 album Hats after not appreciating it at all when it was released.
I need to go back and check The Blue Nile out — I had some friends who were really into A Walk Across The Rooftops when it came out, but it was way too smooth and subtle for me at the time.
Yes! Great story. I continue to be a fan of Big Country; all the emotions you describe about The Crossing I felt too. Maybe I will visit Scotland one day.
I hope you will! It’s such an amazing place.
Great piece & travelog and sweet, gothic photo. Boy do I remember the BC's initial huge buzz as if they were going to take over here in the USA.
...and great Scottish music lesson, thanks!
Love that you went to Rolling Stone records, I went in there a few times but I went many times to the one out on Irving Park, closer to my Yia Yia's - what a place! They had huge album cover recreation paintings up like Tower Records on Sunset - I still remember Frampton's 'sexy' "I'm in You" cover up there. Huge selection, bargain records, my first discovery of imports and bootlegs, I got my first bootleg concert/band t-shirts there too. It took me a while to figure out what all the head shop stuff was, but I grew into it...
I never made it out to the Irving Park one, but the downtown one (which became Rock Records sometime around '86, I think) was absolutely crucial to my musical education and development!
Good read. Did you get to Dunfermline? Bench in the park! S adamson previous houses? Stuart Adamson Crescent,
Crossgates…all worth a look.
Sadly, no. Next time!