Beatcroft

Meditative Minds-fulness

For whatever reason, Simple Minds and I never really connected. I was in love with white Americana when they were at their most European, and influenced by the Glaswegian soul obsession when they were reaching their populist peak, soaring in epic grandeur into the stadia of the world.

Years later, I met and interviewed Jim Kerr, who was a delight, but it was Graeme Thomson’s excellent book Themes From Great Cities that sent me burrowing into the first five albums and meeting the thrill of that extraordinary music head on.

Elsewhere in this week’s playlist, we have legendary Thurso (via Aberdeen) 60s band Spiggy Topes, once managed by the late Highland councillor and former hack Bill Mowat, and Bloomsday, who I once provided a support act for at the St Duthac Hotrel in Tain one Sunday afternoon. The audience for both acts consisted of four adults, a child and a dog.

Premonition — Simple Minds
Ain’t No Love In the Heart of the City — Café Jacques
Ain’t No Surf In Portobello — The Valves
Gimme Little Sign — Cado Belle
Honey At the Core — Friends Again
Strange Honey — Bloomsday
Lost Weekend — Lloyd Cole & The Commotions
Where Two Hawks Fly — Sam Grassie
Take Your Shoes Off — Blueflint
Love in the Wind — Spiggy Topes
I’ve Gotta Buzz —The Buzz
Where Do You Live? — The Big Dish
Ships On The Clyde — Valerie and the Week of Wonders
Darklands — The Jesus and Mary Chain
How Men Are — Aztec Camera
What Presence?! — Orange Juice
Write a Novel — (Modern Loss) Star Wheel Press
Summer’s Gone — Aberfeldy
Bring ’em All In — Mike Scott