Filed under: Press | Tags: Bullz-eye.com, Music, popdose.com, Press, Trashcan Sinatras, Will Harris
… for the Trashcan Sinatras, I would not be where I am today.
These are the words of Will Harris. Will was an original member of the now famous TCS mailing list and it was via that list he became a contributor to web based magazine ‘Bullz-Eye.com’
Will is now associate editor with ‘Bullz-Eye’, is a regular contributor to daily newspaper ‘The Virginian-Pilot’ and if that wasn’t enough, he is also a staple of long-running web mag ‘Popdose.com’
At Popdose his ‘Hooks ‘n’ You,” column looks into the albums and careers of popular and cult musicians, of which some are included in his book, ‘All You Need Is A Hook…’
In 2009 he conducted an interview with Frank Reader, which is included here alongside interviews with Nick Heyward, The Devlins, Gary Clark and Voice of the Beehive. It’s an engrossing and insightful interview where Frank talks about everything from his family to his love of the Bee Gees.
The other interviews in the book are all excellent too, written by someone who is obviously passionate about his music. I particularly like the interview with Gary Clark, one time leader of Scottish trio ‘Danny Wilson’.
It’s a great book which I highly recommend. Get hooked here.
2010 Lulu.com
Filed under: Related | Tags: CD, Hard-to-Find, Import, James Kirk, Music, Orange Juice, Postcard Records, Trashcan Sinatras
Here’s a copy of James Kirk’s debut album, ‘You Can Make It If You Boogie’.
Kirk, was a founder member of Orange Juice who alongside Edwyn Collins, created some classics of Scottish indie. It was James who wrote the great ‘Felicity’ as well as ‘Wan Light’, two of the high points from debut Orange Juice album, ‘You Can’t Hide Your Love Forever’, in 1982.
Kirk left the band shortly after this and his musical output became pretty sporadic, so it came as a great surprise to many when his debut was released. It’s an impressive effort for old and new fans alike. Produced by Mick Slaven at Glasgow’s Riverside Studios, the album features a host of guest musicians including Teenage Fanclub’s Norman Blake, Aztec Camera’s Campbell Owens (one-time temporary Trashcan bass player), Skip Reid (one-time fill-in Trashcan drummer), Del Amitri’s Justin Currie and Trashcan, Frank Reader.
Frank contributes backing vocals to “Get On Board”, a bright, orchestral sounding track and also the aforementioned ‘Felicity’, which is more relaxed than the original and includes a new bridge with the title line prominently featured.
The songs are excellent, and while he is obviously not trying to retread the past, the spirit of those songs and the personality behind them shines on every one…a classic in my mind, and I highly recommend it.
2003 Marina Records MA57 (Germany)
Filed under: 2008-2010 In The Music | Tags: CD, Emlyn Firth, Import, Music, Trashcan Sinatras
Finally – after some typical Trashcan teething troubles – the fifth studio album ‘In The Music’ was released at the end of April 2010 in North America and Canada through the band’s UK record label Lo-Five Records, with digital distribution available through Ingrooves (it should be available at every digital download site you can think of) and physical distribution via Fontana (part of Universal Music Group).
ITM, in my opinion, is their best to date and on the US release there’s the added bonus of eight tracks. These were recorded on November 23 and 25, 2009 at Brel in Glasgow. ‘Send For Henny’ featuring Eddi Reader is worth the shipping cost alone. These songs should also feature in a proposed release later in 2010 entitled ‘Brel’ – a kind of brother or sister (you choose) to ‘Fez’.
The artwork and packaging – designed by the mighty Emlyn Firth – is magic (negative type et al) and comes in a digipak sleeve with a little cutout pocket to hold the lyric booklet – nice!
27 April 2010 Lo-Five Records LO5006 (US)
Five Hungry Joes - A pictorial archive of the Trashcan Sinatras. Legendary Scottish Band 