7 MUSIC LIST/ROCK
DANNY WILSON
Just over two years ago Danny Wilson released their debut album,‘Meet Danny Wilson’ to a mixed response. Neatly packaged by the London music press in a ‘thinking person‘s pop’ package along with contemporaries Deacon Blue and The Bathers, the album‘s quality songs were overshadowed by the very obvious Steely Dan iniluence, and the at-times-over-cluttered arrangements and production.
The second summer oi love, 1988. ‘Acid on the radio‘ - but also Danny Wilson, as theirsingle ‘Mary's Prayer’ reached the Top Three, providing the wonderiul but incongruous sight oi Danny Wilson on ‘Top oi the Pops’ in amongst the dirges that filled up the charts during 1988. Apart irom allowing the band to tour and provide some at the most memorable concerts oi the year, the successlul third release oi ‘Mary's Prayer’ delayed the work on their second album, as one part of the trio, Kit Clark explains:
‘Just after the first album came out we toured the States with Simply Red lorthree-and-a-halt months, and then we toured in this country with The Christians. Shortly aiter that we started working on new songs on portastudios, and when the record company suggested that ‘Mary‘s Prayer’ was put out again, we weren‘t too keen. Anyway, alter that we just decided to get into the studio and record some tracks.‘
‘Simon Draper, the head oi Virgin, had said that our B-sides were better than our album, so we went into the wee studio in Dundee for four months, and then we went to Manor Studios ior three weeks to record some live drums with Dave Palmer (ex-ABC, The The). Then, on 2 January, we went into work with an engineer, Fred Deiaye, who turned out to become really involved on a production level too, although we basically just went in to add bits and pieces to the things we did in Dundee.’
The results are startling - ‘Bebop Moptop’ — the second Danny Wilson album is a quantum leap iorward lrom the first, bursting with simple, diverse and beautilully sung songs. In addition, ‘Second Summer at Love' is a surelire hit single, with its radio-triendly hooks, and its sheer happiness. In addition, the video and photographs, suggest a new image,
I The Tex Fillet Five Negociants. l.othian Street. 225 o3 I 3. 0.45pm. Free
WEDNESDAY 12 Glasgow
I The Organisation l-‘m. so Miller Street. 248 235‘). 10pm. Free. First gigfor sometime lor' one ol the less bandsto combine rock music \\ ith a soulful vocal attack.
I Marino‘s Men I lalt Bar. Itill\\'oodlands Road. 332 I2 I0 0pm. Free.
Edinburgh
I Mega City Four \‘enue. (‘alton Road. 557 303. Bringing a joy i'ul. thrashy spirit to tunes w ritten w rth the melodic knack of the l 'ndertones. .\l( '4 have ntanaged to pttsh then I .l’ Irun:oplmhru to the upper reaches til the llltlle charts.
I Dave Robb Negociants. l.othian Street.
owing more to early Madness than the serious Scottish popsters, which the band were portrayed as iirst time round. So are they happier now?
‘I think the new stuii is really rich,‘ says Kit, ‘and maybe there is a happier attitude on show on the new album. Some at it is more optimistic, and I think maybe we were happier as people when we were recording it, because we were doing our own thing, and not having to channel and dilute our ideas through a producer. For example, with ‘Second Summer oi Love’ we had a lot oi Iun recording - it was Gary’s birthday, so we decked out the studio with balloons and things and just went iora lun approach.‘
While iun may be the essence ol the album’s Iirst single, it would be wrong to make assumptions about the album on the evidence oi the single. Elsewhere, Danny Wilson draw inspiration trom all eras, with Nat King Cole, The Beatles, Stevie Wonder and Abba all inlluences on diiierent tracks, the most outstanding ol which are ‘I Was Wrong’, ‘I Can’t Wait‘ and ‘Never Gonna Be The Same’—tracks which should ensure more hit singles and a deservedly healthy sales ligure tor the album, due ior release on 17 July. At the moment, sadly, the anticipated live shows are still not scheduled:
‘With the last gigs,’ says Kit, ‘we were able to see the ilaws in the iirst album and add a lot to the songs, and apart lrom anything else we love playing live. However, we cannot play live with less than eight people, which costs a lot of money, and at the moment we are in debt to Virgin. However, we have been stressing to them that we think touring is the best way at promoting the album, and iI the single does well then we should get the chance.‘ (John Williamson).
225 o3l3. 9.45pm. Free. See 'l'hurso. I The Booze Brothers 'l‘r‘on 'I'avern. Hunter Square. 8pm. Free.
THURSDAY 13 Glasgow
I Mega City Four Rooftops. 92 Satlcltieltall Street. 332 5883. Iinm. See Inc I I.
Edinburgh
I Dave Robb St James ( )y ster Bar. 557 2925. 9pm. Free. See 'I'httrso.
I The Dan Blocker Experience Negociants. I.othian Street. 225 o3 I3. 9.45pm. Free. See Thurs o.
I Texas Breakiast Ry rie's. I lay market Terrace. 337 7582. 9pm. Rhythm ck blues. Residency.
I The Brothers l’resery ation l lall. Victoria Street. 226 38H). Residency.
NIGHTLIFE
I Nightlile is listed as a diary, iirst by day (in this section each oi the two particular days at the lortnight are treated as one), then by city and then by venue. Special Club nights are listed under their club name lollowed by their venue. A separate venue list lollows the diary listings, with addresses and phone numbers. no In order to be as accurate as possible. only those discos able to contirm their prices and days are listed in
the diary. The venue list may be consulted lor
more nightliie locations- but check with
. venue. Please send iniormation ten days
beiore publication.
KEY: |S| students and guestsonly: IND] no denims; INT] notrainers;
[AI available for private hire on certain nights. please contact venue.
FRIDAYS Glasgow
I The Alhambra 31 Waterloo Street. 22! 3260. Xpm—midnight. Free. Resident DJ with the latest sottnds.
I The Batcave at Henry Afrikas.
I [pm—3.30am. £4 withottt ticket.
I Dennets l Ipm—3.30am. £2.50. Mainly (iay with Hi-NRG music.
I The Choice I lpm—3.30am. £4. New club takes over front Pzazz.
I Cleopatras 10.30pm—2.30am. £3. Non-stop mixed disco sounds in the West [End ('ome early -- stay late. [A]
I Colors at Fttry Murrys. £2.
I Ipm—3.30am. At last! they‘re back! £2. Long Island Ices Teas make their comeback! "l'he (ieezers' have theirown dinky little cttps for them as well!
I Crash at the (‘otton ('Iub. llpm—3.30am. £3.50 (£2.50with ticket). A wide mixture of music will be played by DJ David Ross. a bit different from rtorrnal disco material. Look out for drinks promotions every week.
IFollies I0.30pm—3.30am. £3.50. ('hart-based disco sounds. [N D] INT]
I Hard Rock Caile at the Venue. Itlpnt till late. £3.50. Live music and disco.
IJoe Paparazzi llpm—3.30am. £2 (£1 students). "I'rue (‘olors' Joe's claim. but I thought (‘olors had moved to Furys‘.’
I Hollywood Studios I lpm-3.3llzlm. £3.50. ()ver 2| l lottse disco. [A] INTI
I The Kraze at the Warehouse.
I Ipm—3.30am. £2 with ticket; £-I without. Deep house. ftrnk. hip-hop.
I Mayiair I Ipm—3am. £3.50. Over 25s night in the ballroom and Radio City at the (‘ameo Suite. See below.
I Mr D's I0pm-2am. £4. Fun atmosphere and games at Shawlands' one and only nightclub.
I Palomino Club 9pm—3am. £3.
I Panama Jax III.~I5pm--3.30am. £3.50. Sottl and mixed chart music with resident DJs. Tommy Arnold or Raymond Davren.
I Radio City at the Mayfair. l0pm-2am. £1.50. Psychedelic sounds to match the groovy wallpaper.
I Rattles 10.30—3am. £3. Discosounds with DJ Roddy Stewart.
I Reggae Night at Peggy Sues. I0.30pm~~3am. £3.
I Shake Appeal at Rooftops.
I0. 30pm-3am. Indie dance grooves!
I STOMP at Mardi (iras. Ill.30pm—3.30am. £2.50.
I SWDS (Single. Widowed. Divorced. Separatedclub) at Rooftops. 'l'his rttnson Fridays and Saturdays and plays ons‘ and 70s" music. Members £1 (£5 to join); non-members £2.
Edinburgh
I The Adventures oi Tin Tin at the Mission. [llpm—4am. £2. (ienerally undemanding sounds played to a young crowd. IThe Amphitheatre 10pm 4am. The Friday Night Spectacular. £3.50. |A| IND] I Bustererowns I min-3.30m» £2.75; half price drinks and admission before midnight. (‘hart and dance music. Aimsat over 20s atmosphe re. |A|
I Cale St James (‘lub 25 Disco Fri and Sat 8pm—2am. £1 members; £2 non-membe rs. Membership £2. After llpm prices go up by £I. A wide range of pop sounds played to a relaxed. friendly crowd. [ND] |.\"l'|
I Chaplins at Finsbury Park’s Night (‘Iub. I I .30pm—oam. £2. Free before midnight. the middle floor of Finsbury is now open serving snacks throtrghottt the night. Dancing upstairs. |A| |.\"t‘|
I Cinderellas Rockeriellas 9pm ~2am. £1 before I0pm'. £2 before I Ipm; £3 after. Uno Due Tre. hosted by popular DJ (iary (ilover. 7June only: All thatJau. aftershave and Southern (‘omfort promotions in conjunction with The Sttn newspaper. Freebies and competitions. Fridays will be a night for hosting ttp-and-coming Scottish bands dtte tostart in the near ftttttre.
I Edgars Itlpm—Jam. £I before I Ipm: £2 before midnight: £3 alter. ()uirky interior with plenty ofdark corners. Also tidgars has probably the most expensive air conditioning. very cool. |A|
I Freedom Express at \vilkie I louse.
I Ipm—3ant. £2.50 (£2). Impressive international array of sounds. Acid jazz. littropean. Afro sounds from the Spanish Harlem learn. 7 June only: The Slam'l‘our featuring iD magazine. lilectribe Illl from Birmingham and (iraeme l’ark known for his work at the l lacienda's '.\'ude Night'. Recommended.
I Millionaire‘s ltlpni---oam. £2. (£l beiore midnight). Mostly bttt by nomeans exclusively gay cltrb with a predominantly Hi-.\'R(i soundtrack.
I Outer Limits at ('oasters. I0.30pm 4am. £2 till I lpm; £3 after. Very popular Conventional disco. |A| |.\"I'|
I Reggae Club at Shady Ladies. l0.30pm~3am. £2. Best conyentional reggae selection in town complementsa good skank atmosphere.
I The Renaissance at Barbados Sttite. I0pm—3am. £1.50. Indie soundsheing played to increasingly large crowds. Music alsoon the upswing despite an over-reliance on the ‘jangly' side of things. I Rock Night at Madisons. 0pm -3am. £I before I Ipm: £2 alter. Busy and pretty much what you'd expect.
I Underground at the Venue Upm «lam (Happy Hour‘) - I0pm). 7.Iu|y only: £2. Shaping up to be one oi the best clubs arottnd. skilfully blendingold
punk alternative sounds with lresher‘un-l.»' tracks. The Venue looks really special with TV screens and smoke machines disorientating the starry -eyed crowd. IZenatec I0pm- 3am. Free beiore 10.30pm: 50p before I Ipm; £1 beiore 11.30pm: £3.50alter'. the aptly -named ‘Beat tlte ( 'lock'. All drinks are hall price before I 1.30pm. IA] |.\'D| |.\"l'|
SATURDAYS Glasgow
I The Alhambra .‘tl Waterloo Street . 33 l 32o0. Sprti-rttidnight. I-ree. Resident DJ with the latest sounds.
I Dennets llpm 3.30am. £3. Mainly (Bay with Hi-.'\'R(i ntusic. I7 .Iune only : a PA
48 The List 30June — 13 July 1989