A review of Eddi Reader’s reissued album ‘The Songs of Robert Burns: Deluxe Edition’, from the February 2009 issue of Q magazine. This re-packaged album brings together the original album with seven new songs and features her version of ‘Wild Mountainside’, a song written by John Douglas.
Q Magazine / February 2009
Filed under: Press | Tags: Press, Rabbie Burns, Scottish Comedy, Trashcan Sinatras
‘No Holds Bard’ was a 60-minute comedy aired on BBC Scotland for the 250th Anniversary of the birth of Robert Burns It was a kind of mocumentary which followed the lives of five people as they prepared to vie for the 2009 Cup O’Kindness – the trophy awarded to the champion in Burns recital.
Now I’m taking a flyer on this one and if I’m wrong, someone please correct me.
As the credits roll, a snippet of new song ‘I Hung My Harp Upon The Willows’ plays. The song may be written about Richard Brown, a friend of Burns. Brown was born in Irvine, where Burns met him in the autumn of 1781 and they became fast friends, so far as women and poetry were concerned.
This would explain its use in the programme – I hope!
Below is a press cutting review from Scotland’s Daily Record and also a video still from the programme credits.
Quick update:
This wee story may well be the inspiration for the song.


25 January 2009 – No Holds Bard – BBC Scotland
Filed under: 1995-1996 A Happy Pocket | Tags: CD, Import, Promo, Trashcan Sinatras, Vinyl
‘Twisted and Bent’. The second single released from third album ‘A Happy Pocket’.
The song – originally called ‘Remember Phil’ – started off being written about a guy Paul met one night at a disco but soon evolved into something different, which explains the title change.


1996 Go! Discs Ltd GOD147 850 560-7 (7-inch single)
This is the 4-track CD release. I have included the promo stickered version although the packaging and CD are exactly the same as the regular release.

Below and to the right show the packaging differences between the UK and European release. This one is from Germany and doesn’t have the catalogue number GODCD147 printed, with the exception of the CD. There are, if you look closely, slight differences on the insert card – namely on the spine and some changes on type layout.




1996 Go! Discs Ltd GODCD147 850 561-2









2003/2004 BoBame Recordings BOBAME004 (US)





2000 BoBame Records International BOBAME002