raintown

Raintown is the debut album of Scottish pop band Deacon Blue. The album, written largely by lead singer Ricky Ross, was originally released in 1987. It proved a commercial success and has to date sold around a million copies.

The album, widely praised as Deacon Blue's finest work, has the overtones of a concept album relating to the struggles of urban life in the inner city - the city being unmistakably Glasgow, referenced by the roots of the band and by the famous images by photographer Oscar Marzaroli on the cover of the album.

The weather is a feature of the atmosphere of the album. Played out in the course of the album is the struggle with money, unemployment, dreams of something better, culminating in an angry attack upon urban life. The album does feature lighter experiences with a love song like "Love's Great Fears" - a track that Ross has often cited as his all time favorite, featuring a searing slide guitar outro by Chris Rea.

TRACK LISTING:

SIDE A

1. BORN IN A STORM
2. RAINTOWN
3. RAGMAN
4. HE LOOKS LIKE SPENCER TRACY NOW
5. LOADED
6. WHEN WILL YOU (MAKE MY TELEPHONE)

SIDE B

1. CHOCOLATE GIRL
2. DIGNITY
3. THE VERY THING
4. LOVE'S GREAT FEARS
5. TOWN TO BE BLAMED
6. KING’S OF THE WESTERN WORLD