Deacon Blue – Raintown (1987)

Another one of those irritatingly excellent Glasgow bands from the Eighties.  Led by vocalists Ricky Ross and Lorraine McIntosh they sprung to fame with their superb debut Raintown (named after their home city).  Through a gloomy glass the album slowly opens up to revel in sumptuous songs, written mostly by Ricky.  The band had a depth and maturity, akin to Aztec Camera and Prefab Sprout which demonstrated that whatever could be achieved in the Sixties and Seventies – then this decade could match.  They have continued releasing albums sporadically ever since, though I have only four of them – and a Greatest Hits too.   Best songs on this are ‘Kings Of The Western World’, ‘Raintown’ and the elegiac ‘Dignity’.  A great record from a great band.