Deacon Blue - Ooh Las Vegas (1990)

In their early days (1988-1990), Ricky Ross and his Deacon Blue bandmates (who all hail from Scotland) were one of the most prolific U.K. bands scaling the top of the European music charts. Early copies of their 1988 debut album Raintown contained Riches and More, a bonus CD featuring an album's worth of B-sides and other tracks that didn't make it on to the mother album. Although their 1989 follow-up, When the World Knows Your Name, did not feature a bonus disc, this 1990 two-disc release more than makes up for it. Containing almost two dozen non-album B-sides, soundtrack recordings and unreleased tracks (and no songs from Riches and More), this may be too much Deacon Blue for the average person, but is an absolute treasure trove for those smitten with the band since the debut album. Yes, the band may be too slick for their own good, and yes, they do tend to come off as pretentious, but 'pretentious' has never sounded so passionate and fun! Ross' gravely vocals lead the way, followed by the sweet and soulful backing vocals of Lorraine McIntosh (who was on the debut but not a full-time bandmember until 1989), Deacon Blue successfully mix pop, jazz, soul and rock together and create a unique sound. If you want musical references, then imagine Steely Dan impersonating Sade's backing band covering Prefab Sprout songs! From "Disneyworld" to "Don't Let the Teardrops Start," the 22 songs contained on these two silver platters are just as good as the tracks that made the first two albums. The gentle "My America" is a standout in this abundant sea of musical misfits. Ross' odd, off-key delivery at the beginning of the otherwise uplifting "Ronnie Spector" definitely led to this track being left off of their sophomore release. Apart from that, most everything here is pretentiously ace!

~ Stephen Schnee, All Music

Track List CD1:

01. DISNEYWORLD (Ross) Released as an extra track on the 12 inch of When Will You Make My Telephone Ring, March 1988.
Recorded at Cava Sound Workshops, Glasgow, February 1988. Produced by Robin Rankin and Gordon Rintoul.
Remix and extra recording by Robin Rankin, June 1990.
02. RONNIE SPECTOR (Ross/ Kelling/Prime) Released as an extra track on the 12 inch of Dignity in January 1988.
Recorded as a demo, September 1986, at Park Lane, Glasgow. Produced by Kenny McDonald.
03. MY AMERICA (Ross/Prime) В side of Queen Of The New Year, January 1990.
Recorded by Kevin Key at Cava Sound Workshops, Glasgow, August 1988. Remixed by Robin Rankin.
04. S.H.A.R.O.N. (Ross) В side of Chocolate Girl, released July 1988.
Recorded by Kenny McDonald at Park Lane, Glasgow, June 1988.
05. UNDEVELOPED HEART (Ross/Prime) В side of Love and Regret, released September 1989.
Recorded September 1988 by Robin Rankin.
06. SOUVENIRS (Ross) Previously unreleased.
Demo recorded in November 1987 at Cava Sound Workshops, Glasgow.
Additional recording and mixing by Robin Rankin and Jon Kelly in June 1990.
07. BORN AGAIN (Hayes/Porter) Released October 1988 as an additional 12 inch track on Real Gone Kid.
Recorded by Gordon Rintoul at Cava Sound Workshops, Glasgow, August 1988.
08. DOWN IN THE FLOOD (Ross/Prime/Deacon Blue) Released on Love And Regret 12 inch, September 1989.
Recorded at Park Lane, Glasgow, October 1986. Produced by Kenny McDonald.
09. BACK HEREIN BEANOLAND (Ross) Released on the Four Songs
From Scotland EP, which featured Fergus Sings The Blues as the lead track, May 1989.
Recorded live in the control room at Cava Sound Workshops, Glasgow by Robin Rankin, September 1988.
10. LOVE YOU SAY (Mcllvanney/Ross) Previously unreleased.
Recorded by Robin Rankin at Cava Sound Workshops,
Glasgow for the BBC production of William Mdlvanney's play, Dreaming, October 1989.
11. LET YOUR HEARTS BE TROUBLED (Mdlvaney/Ross) Previously unreleased.
Recorded October 1989, also for Dreaming. Strings arranged by James Prime and David Pringle.




Track List CD2:

01. GENTLE TEARDROPS (Ross) Previously unreleased.
Recorded at Cava Sound Workshops, Glasgow, April 1990 by Robin Rankin.
02. LITTLE LINCOLN (Ross) Released October 1988 as the В Side to Real Gone Kid.
Recorded at Cava Sound Workshops, Glasgow, August 1988 by Gordon Rintoul.
03. THAT COUNTRY (BENEATH YOUR SKIN) (Ross) Previously unreleased.
Recorded by Keith Mitchell and Robin Rankin at Cava Sound Workshops, Glasgow, and Palladium, Edinburgh, in January 1988.
Mixed at Cava Sound Workshops in June 1990 by Jon Kelly and Robin Rankin.
04. IS IT COLD BENEATH THE HILL (Mcllvanney/Mclntosh/Prime) Previously unreleased.
Recorded at Cava Sound Workshops, Glasgow, by Robin Rankin for the BBC production of William Mcllvanney's play,
Dreaming, September 1989.
05. CIRCUS LIGHTS (Ross) Released in January 1990 as an additional title on the Queen Of The New Year EP.
Recorded by Jon Kelly at Air I Oxford Circus, London, Christmas 1986.
06. TRAMPOLENE (Cope) Released as an extra title on the Wages Day ep in February 1989.
Recorded by Robin Rankin at Cava Sound Workshops, Glasgow, September 1988.
07. LAS VEGAS (Ross) Released in January 1990 as an additional 12 inch track on Queen Of The New Year.
Recorded at Sunset Sound, Los Angeles, June 1988. Produced by David Kahne.
08. KILLING THE BLUES (Mcllvanney/Ross) Previously unreleased.
Recorded at Cava Sound Workshops, Glasgow by Robin Rankin, again for the BBC's production of Dreaming, October 1989.
09. LONG WINDOW TO LOVE (Ross) Released on the Four Songs From Scotland ep in May 1989.
Originally a demo recording from Cava and Palladium sessions January 1988 with overdubbing by David Kahne
at Sunset Sound, Los Angeles. Mixed by Bob Clearmountain at the Rooftop, London in January 1989.
10. CHRISTINE (Ross) Previously unreleased. Demo recorded by Robin Rankin, May 1988 at Cava Sound Workshops, Glasgow.
Remixed by Jon Kelly and Robin Rankin in June 1990.
11. TAKE ME TO THE PLACE (For Oscar Marzaroli) (Traditional arr. Ross)
Released in February 1989 as the В side to Wages Day. Recorded by Robin Rankin at Cava, Glasgow in October 1988.
12. DON'T LET THE TEARDROPS START (Ross) Previously unreleased.
Written on 11 th November, 1988, the night of the Govan by-election,
and recorded live the following day for a Brian Burnett session on Radio Clyde.




Personnel:
Ricky Ross - vocals, guitar, piano, keyboard
Lorraine McIntosh - vocal
James Prime - keyboard
Ewen Vernal - bass
Graeme Kelling - guitar
Dougie Vipond - drums