JIM WILKIE - LONG GONE - 1979

I put a piece about Jim Wilkie up on Retro in June 2009 along with a sample track from his album, which was an upbeat dancey pop song, and I said I would put up another of his songs later which was more downtempo, as a contrast. Well now is the moment.
This number from 1979 called "Long Gone" is a nostalgic song, referring to places from his childhood which have disappeared, such as the Broadway Picture House in Arthurstone Terrace, corner shop grocers and St Andrews train station. He's also not too happy with what came after them!
Some of you slightly older ones may recognise the intro...the Saturday Morning Club tune which was sung by kids in cinema's.

JIM WILKIE - ACROSS THE GREAT DIVIDE

The cover photo of the 2nd Jim Wilkie book informs you that the content is about the 2 Dundee teams. It see-saws from Dundee FC to Dundee United in equal measure as it delves into the history of both clubs in tandem. Year by year bites of interesting information on and off the field of play. So you get accounts of matches - player performances- transfer details and all the goings on behind the scenes. In between all the retro football facts are occasional reminders of what is happening elsewhere in the world to give you a bit of background knowledge.
The original version came out in 1984 but this one here is the latest revised edition which brings you up to date with events in the new millennium.
Available from most main booksellers.

JIM WILKIE - BLUE SUEDE BROGANS

Jim Wilkie as author, has written many books, but I'm going to mention just 2 in particular because they contain lots of interesting retro reading material.
This one here "Blue Suede Brogans" gives a glimpse into the Scottish music scene, with Dundee in the 60's & 70's getting quite a sizable coverage.
Some musicians get their own individual chapter, giving an insight into what life in a band was like back in the day. Locals such as Doug Martin, Donnie Coutts, Mike Fraser and Michael Marra all give their personal account, while various Average White Band members and Edwyn Collins recall their links with Duncan of Jordanstone Art College.
The book was published in 1991 so may need a bit of detective work to find a copy, but it's well worth tracking down and occupying a place on the bookshelf.
Also has loads of rare photographs.

JIM WILKIE - MUSICIAN AND WRITER

Dundonian, Jim Wilkie, has been involved in music, one way or another, for most of his life.

Halos was the name of his first band in the early/mid 60's - while still at school. In the 70's he was in a band called Dog Eat Dog for a couple of years, then spent a bit of time in Shug Barr's Allstars, and he has even worked with locals, Mafia. He is though probably best known for his involvement with the Electric Ceilidh Band who started up around 1980 and went on to become well established recording artists.
Re-winding back to the 70's, however, Jim Wilkie actually recorded an album under his own name called "The Waxer", featuring a large bunch of Scottish musicians, including members of 70's pop outfit Cado Belle.
The LP was released in 1979 and underneath the album cover image is a review of the record.

I have a wee sample from it below. The track is called "First To Cry" - a catchy pop song with a bit of a dance groove.
There is also a downtempo tune on the album where he sings about Dundee on it, so I'll try squeeze that one on sometime in the future. As far as I know the album has never been released on CD.
And as regards his other life as a writer, I'll touch on that tomorrow.
Anyway, here's the opening track...

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A wee update to let you know that The Waxer has now been released for the first time on CD. Remixed and remastered with 2 bonus tracks.
Out now on Ridge Records.
Go get!