Since I am a huge music fan, I've decided to make a list of my favorite Scottish bands and musicians. Does this have any real bearing on preparing for my trip? Not at all! Let's get started.
(Note that these are not in order of preference, just in order of "came to mind")
Big Country
I actually don't know a ton about this band, but they gave my blog its title with their song "In A Big Country" (1983), so I feel I need to talk about them a bit. Big Country was formed in Dunfermline, Fife, in 1981, and one cool thing they did was tweak electric guitars to imitate traditional Scottish instruments, like bagpipes and fiddles. Although apparently, none of them were actually born in Scotland.
They also did "Fields of Fire" (1983) and this song, "One Great Thing" (1986), which I rather like:
It seems to me that many people don't realize that this popular 70s funk band was actually Scottish. As a pretty big funk music fan, I really love these guys and, unlike Big Country, I never would have guessed their nationality from listening to their music. Formed in Dundee in 1972, they're best known for "Pick Up the Pieces" and "Cut the Cake" (1974). Here is one of my favorites, "School Boy Crush," as performed on Soul Train.
Bay City Rollers
I had a rather significant BCR phase when I was like 14, which definitely helped feed my interest in Scotland. Although BCR were formed in Edinburgh and started out in 1966 as The Saxons, they decided to rename themselves by throwing a dart at a U.S. map which landed near Bay City, Michigan. They tend to get written off as a dumb boy band, but I think they succeeded in making some really solid 70s pop. Their only American hit "Saturday Night" (1975) was what turned me onto them, but my favorites are still "Rock and Roll Love Letter" (1976) and "Turn On the Radio" (1979).
Nazareth
This group was formed in Dunfermline in 1968, but didn't become internationally famous until 1975 when they released their cover of "Love Hurts," which is the song that pretty much everyone associates them with. However, most of their songs don't sound much like "Love Hurts," so I will provide "Hair of the Dog" (from the same album) here as a point of contrast. If you like this, you should also check out their cut of Joni Mitchell's "This Flight Tonight" as well as "Broken Down Angel" (1973). They're a pretty hard rockin' group.
The Proclaimers
The Proclaimers are rather well known for their hit "I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles)", which does a fabulous job of showcasing their accents, and their hometown is even in the album's title Sunshine on Leith (1988). So I really hope you already knew that these guys were Scottish.
What I like best about the Proclaimers is that many of their love songs, including "Spend My Life With You" and their cover of "Whole Wide World" (2007), seem so heartfelt. I would recommend digging into their discography, because they have some really good stuff.
The Fratellis
I first heard the Fratellis when "Chelsea Dagger" became the Chicago Blackhawks' goal song, and I liked it so much that I decided to buy the whole album, Costello Music (2006). The band was formed in Glasgow in 2005, and I dug them because they had so much raw energy and didn't seem to take themselves overly seriously like a lot of punk bands do. They just had a ton of fun with their music, and it shows through the silly, pub song lyrics and the catchy riffs. I was a little disappointed by their second album Here We Stand (2008), which I felt lacked a lot of the fun and energy of the first album, but I highly recommend Costello Music. I'm also super pumped for their recently announced reunion, which I hope produces some more great songs like this one:
Simple Minds
Formed in Glasgow in 1977, Simple Minds had a string of hits in the UK before finally gaining success in the U.S. with "Don't You (Forget About Me)" and "Alive and Kicking" (1985). They also did a cool reworking of the Irish folk song "She Moved Through the Fair" called "Belfast Child" (1989), which was a somewhat controversial release with the issues going on in Northern Ireland at the time. But it reached #1 in the UK. They have a pretty substantial catalog, (ie. "Waterfront" (1988)) and if you're into their brand of 80s electronic rock, definitely check them out.
Lulu
I first encountered Lulu's music when I saw To Sir, with Love, in which she both stars and sings the movie's theme of the same name. She was actually born as Marie McDonald McLaughlin Lawrie in Lennoxtown, Glasgow. "To Sir, with Love" (1967) is the song she's mainly known for, but she also sang "The Man With the Golden Gun" for the 1974 James Bond movie and produced some good covers of popular songs in the 60s, like "Day Tripper." "Stealing My Love" is my favorite tune of hers, and is actually featured in a scene of To Sir, With Love.
AC/DC
Franz Ferdinand
I think most people know this band, but if you don't, well basically, they were formed in Glasgow in 2002 and I guess you would call them alternative rock. Some of my favorite songs of theirs are "This Fire" (2004) and "No You Girls" (2009), and their fourth album is scheduled to come out sometime this year. Here's one of their lesser known songs that I really enjoy, "L. Wells" (2006):
The Sensational Alex Harvey Band
Someone introduced me to this group when I said that I wish more rock songs had bagpipes. Thus, I heard the 1974 single "Anthem" (bagpipes come in at about the 5:00 mark). Alex Harvey was born in Glasgow and formed his Sensational band in 1972. He was probably somewhat insane, but he made some awesome, if a little strange, music that spanned genres, including "Framed" (1972), "Faith Healer" and "Next" (1973). Look up some of his performances on Youtube because you really need to see Alex's face (and his band!) when he sings. It's something else.
Orange Juice
This post-punk band was formed in Glasgow (wasn't everyone, it seems?) in 1979. I find their sound difficult to adequately describe, but they were influenced by 60s rock, soul, disco, and punk. It's an interesting mix, though it does sound very much like something you'd hear in the early 80s. I'd suggest that you investigate them for yourself and see what you think. This is probably their most well-known song, "Rip It Up" (1982). I'd also recommend "Bridge" (1984) and "Moscow" (1980) which has more of a 60s surf vibe.
The Incredible String Band
I used to think these guys were Irish (I'm not sure where I heard that), but a friend set me straight, telling me that many of their songs were influenced by traditional Scottish folk songs. Formed in 1966, they have a decidedly unique sound which what you'd call psychedelic folk, and it can take some getting used to if you're not into either of those two genres. But I really dig their stuff, and some of my favorite songs are "First Girl I Loved," "The Hedgehog's Song" and "Painting Box."
Donovan
I can't believe I almost forgot him! I absolutely love both of Donovan's phases: his folk phase and his psychedelic one. There is just something about his music that I find magical and fairytale-like, and I think his unique voice fits his songs very well. I have too many favorites to list, but some of them include "Barabajagal" (1969), "Hurdy Gurdy Man" (1968), "Sunny Goodge Street" and "Catch the Wind" (1965). My current ringtone is actually the opening of "Sunshine Superman" (1966). I pretty much like everything Donovan does, but my absolute favorite tune is "Turquoise" (1965). And yes, like everyone else on this list, he is from Glasgow.
So that's my list! I know there are a lot of bands I missed, either because I don't listen to them, don't know much about their music, or don't know that they're Scottish. But I'm sure I'll discover more cool Scottish musicians when I'm in Scotland, and maybe even get to see some of them perform.
Anyway, I hope that I've introduced you to some artists you might like, and that now you know a little more about Scotland's contributions to the music world. :)
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