FRIDAY I'M IN LOVE..WITH GREAT SCOTTISH SINGLES (14)

A couple of weeks back I was at a Burns Supper. For those who don't know what I'm talking about, I'll refer you to this in-depth wiki article. But to summarise, the gathering is all about celebrating the poetry and songs of a man from Ayrshire, Scotland.

Sometimes I read the lyrics produced by Frank Reader and listen to the wonderful tunes written by him and his bandmates in what used to be called The Trash Can Sinatras, but are now refereed to as Trashcan Sinatras and think that here's another Ayrshire man whose life and work we should be toasting on a regular basis.

The Trashies as they are fondly known round these parts have been releasing consistently excellent records since 1990, albeit there tends to be lengthy periods between LPs, with 2009's In The Music being just the fifth studio recording in all that time.

There are many more people better qualified out there to wax lyrically about this band than me. For instance, the always entertaining Phil Spector from the blog Plain or Pan? is a fountain of knowledge, and indeed gave us all a treat at TVV with this guest contribution last year.

Debut single Obscurity Knocks from 1990 is an all-time favourite and featured in the rundown of my all-time favourite 45 singles a couple of years back. But instead of returning to that song, I'm homing-in on the lead-off single from the 1993 LP I've Seen Everything, one that captures much of the the lyrical quality that is a hallmark of Frank Reader, particularly among the earlier recordings:-

Hello, I’m Harry.
I’ve had women, I’ve had germs
They’re eerie, wild and wailing
And seductive in small doses

Only one way
Only one way
Why can’t we take a couple of tablets?

Hello, I’m Harry.
Did you receive the letter sent?
The cheque enclosed?
The negatives?
Now here's some headlines current and sensible

Moscow’s in Ayrshire, what’s the problem?
Should I throw my tammy in the ring
And run for president

Oh, it’s farmed out
Oh i’m penned in
Oh, I’m left in no doubt.

I’m Harry, hello
Hey I’m Harry, hello

You want me,
You want me, do I?
Arsenic be judge
Gin be jury

The chocolate’s watching,
The cuckoos are clocking me
They leave me alone in my sulk
Stalking a beautiful girl in a rural spot
I gets larger as she gets nearer

There’s only one way, away away…
The rest is chemistry

What do you mean you didn't know that Moscow is in Ayrshire. He tells you no lies.....

mp3 : The Trash Can Sinatras - Hayfever
mp3 : The Trash Can Sinatras - Say
mp3 : The Trash Can Sinatras - Kangaroo Court
mp3 : The Trash Can Sinatras - Skin Diving

All recorded at the magnificently monikered Shabby Road Studios in Kilmarnock.