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Themeless Thursday went well so I guess we'll do another one soon. My producer Barbara has said that next time she wants to go on air without any 'catch up' songs to fall back on. It sounds exciting and I do enjoy shows that are spontaneous. However, going on air with no theme and no songs planned means there's very little we can do in the way of preparation. (This is surely her way of justifying an afternoon at Braehead rather than time spent researching a 'theme'!!!)
There was a great range of music asked for last night which was commented on by several e-mailers. The diversity of stuff we play is what makes Radio Scotland unique. I can't think of another station anywhere in the UK that would start the hour with The Members doing Sound of the Suburbs and end with Duncan MacRae's Wee Cock Sparra'.
I still can't believe we played Wee Cock Sparra, but after we received 48 texts in the space of one record I could hardly refuse.
I guess for lots of people it brought back memories of watching White Heather Club New Year shows and seeing it performed.
Duncan Macrae was a well respected actor who had appeared in
several films and was a stalwart of The Citizens Theatre in Glasgow in the 50s.
According to Albert D.Mackie in his book 'The Scotch Comedians', the original version of the song was popularised by an Edinburgh lawyer called Hugh Frater who had picked up the song from an old man in Stirling.