Part two of The Big Bruce Trilogy – covering the BC albums from “The Crossing” to “The Seer” (including "Restless Natives").
"The Crossing" – Bruce looks back
- About the song "The Crossing" not being on the album.
- Talking about Bruce & Stuart demoing the album on a portastudio in Townhall, and the emergence of the BC sound.
- Talking about the early rule/decision not to bend notes on the guitar or play blues licks.
- About how songs were often written on a bass, way before Tony joined, who then adopted that style for the songs.
- The emergence of the Big Country sound, from Stuart coming out of Skids and developing into something new.
- Excerpt: Interview with Stuart and Pete Wishart from the days of Big Country mark 1.
- Why the first line-up did not work out.
- Writing "The Crossing."
- Bruce's favourite song from "The Crossing" – "Inwards."
"Steeltown" – Bruce remembers
- Why they recorded in Sweden.
- Meeting Abba and locating their stage clothes.
- Quote from Stuart on the album.
- The amount of overdubs - conscious or unplanned?
- The overall sound of the album.
- The lack of demos from these album sessions.
- Was the song "Heart of The Country," which Stuart wrote for Frida at this time, ever considered for Big Country?
"Heart of the Country" – performed by Frida Lyngstad, from her 1984 album “Shine”
- Being away from home & depressed influencing the mood of the album, and some members not always being there.
- Why does Bruce think "Steeltown" is so popular among fans.
- Bruce's favourite song from "Steeltown" – "Tall Ships Go" and "Just A Shadow."
- "Just A Shadow" (acoustic) - live excerpt.
- About "Tall Ships Go," Stuart coin intro, Mark ashtray percussion, etc.
- Thoughts about playing "Steeltown" songs live.
"Restless Natives" – Bruce reminisces
- How it was written.
- How using existing songs let to the band needing to create soundalikes.
- Interview with Stuart.
- "Restless Natives" the song - drum machine or no drum machine?
- Was it a particularly stressful project as has been alluded to, or was it more just “the next project”?
"The Seer" – Bruce’s recollections
- Interview snippet about the pressure of writing songs.
- Dave Bates “taking over” BC from Chris Briggs - friction between Ian Grant & Bates?
- About the pressure to have a 'hit' album.
- Walter Turbitt playing on "The Teacher" without the band knowing.
- The remixes – with saxophones.
- Walter Turbitt being brought in to remix the album.
- Interview snippet with Stuart about Kate Bush guesting on the title track.
- Robin Millar & Kate Bush both being upset about how the title track was remixed by Turbitt.
- Interview snippet: Stuart talks about set lists and potentially adding "The Teacher" and "Sailor."
- Bruce remembering the band rehearsing "Sailor," which they never played.
- About the fight that broke out during "Inwards" on the "Live in NY" video.
- Memories of watching Kate perform on the title track.
- Why wasn't the Kate connection used by releasing the title track AS a single?
- The missing verse in that song - in the lyric sheet and played live, but not on the album.
- Bruce's favourite track from this album: Sailor.
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