大象传媒

Happy New Year to all of you who text, e-mail, blog or just listen to Get It On. All of the team join me in wishing you all the best for 2008 and look forward to your contributions over the next twelve months.

I hope everyone has been enjoying the 'mix tapes' this week. It's been great hearing about the stories behind the choices and as promised I'm going to put them on the blog to share.

Here's Monday's mix-tape which featured music chosen by Colin Baxter:

It is nearly impossible to sum up the songs that mean so much - I could select 12 songs that apply just to the last week! Here goes then before I change my mind. Again!.

"He'll have to go" by Jim Reeves to open with. My earliest memories involve listen to scratchy old 78s on our gramophone in the sixties. My mum was into Jim Reeves and this song was a particular favourite. It reminds me of my grandparents coming to stay and being awakened with the noise of them having a sing-song downstairs.I would wander downstairs in my jammies and listen to my granddad who always sung this song. Sadly my grandparents and dad are no longer with us but this song reminds me of those happy times -it also started my musical awakenings. (Incidentally check out Ry Cooder's version of this -superb).

"Paint it black" by the Rolling Stones. This is the sound of the sixties.The haunting sound of Brian Jones's sitar playing the signature riff gets the hairs on the back of my neck standing. I remember singing this as a child when it came on the radio.

Moving on a few years now and the glam rock influence my big sister Margaret had - she was heavily into Mark Bolan and her bedroom wall was festooned with posters of him - she even had a life size poster on the inside of her wardrobe that came free in weekly instalments in a magazine she bought - the feet came fist, then the next week the knees, etc. My mum nearly had a heart attack one day when she opened the wardrobe to put her clothes away and she was confronted by this huge picture of a curly headed man in a spangly cat suit wearing make up! One day out of sheer "little-brother nastiness" I removed the smallest Mark Bolan newspaper picture from the bedroom wall - honestly it was the size of a postage stamp, and I scrunched it up and threw it out of the window. It landed in a puddle. My sister went nuts!! She rushed out, retrieved the picture and IRONED it before replacing it on the wall again! (then gave me a good thumping I may add). "Get it on" by T.Rex would be appropriate then - In fact it was the title of your program that drew me into listening as I thought it was a documentary about T.Rex. Glad I tuned in!!

At the age of 8 I was selected to take up violin at primary school. I was an OK violinist and played in an inter-school orchestra in Musselburgh. We were taught classical music but it really didn't appeal to me until I rediscovered it later in my teens. However I was more interested in playing folky -diddley-eye music, and would wind up my violin tutor something rotten by playing Irish jigs. However once I started Dalkeith high school the violin had to go - you just DON'T play violin at high school if you want to survive! At high school I was surrounded by people who were into all sorts of music, LPs, compilation tapes were swapped and a whole new world of music opened up for me.....

"Mr Bluesky" by ELO was one of the first pop songs I liked - a solid pulsing rhythm, a happy uplifting feel and the orchestration at the end of the song left me spellbound.It was around then that I started LISTENING to music -interpreting lyrics, discovering the delights of melody and harmony. This song made me feel happy, and it still does.


"Dance away" by Roxy Music / Brian Ferry.It was summer, my hormones were going crazy and I fell in love with a different woman every day! This song was on the radio almost constantly at the time and reminds me of lying in bed thinking about all those busty sixth form girls I lusted after.

Around this time I started listening to blues music after playing harmonica with a guitarist friend of mine. Sonny Terry and Brownie McGee were big influences and one of my favourites was "walking blues". I loved the sound of acoustic guitar and wailing harp and the honest and sometimes amusing lyrics - "I used to have an automobile it was painted white and black, I couldn't keep up the payments the man he came and took it back, that's why I'm walking.. walking my blues away...". The blues are the foundations for popular music. Out of curiosity I picked up my mate's guitar, figured out a couple of chords and I was away!! I've been playing blues ever since....

I left high school in 82 and went immediately on the dole. There were no jobs. Things were bleak. I spent almost 2 years honing my guitar skills and also became quite proficient at darts too! One morning I lay in bed listening to the radio. The DJ played a single by a band I'd never heard of- Everything but the Girl.The song was "Each and every one". I sat bolt upright - transfixed at the exotic bossa nova rhythm. The chords were so unusual - almost jazz like. I hurriedly got dressed and took the bus into town to buy the single. I remember asking for "everything but the girl" the new single by Each and every one! I took it home and played it to death, tried to work out the chords, and totally fell in love with the Latin American groove. This is the first and only time I have heard a piece of music that made me rush out to buy it immediately. Great piece of song writing and a fantastic album too (Eden).

Never one for mainstream pop music I get the occasional surprise when something different crops up out of the blue. Aztec Camera were one such band - Roddy Frame is hugely talented and wrote some cracking songs. Their seminal album "High land hard rain" is packed with gems, and "Oblivious" is one of these songs that I wish I'd written. Great chord sequence, catchy and one of those songs that make you want to grab your guitar and play! I would love the chance to sit down and talk to Roddy Frame about his influences - I just get a feeling when listening to this album that his parents were also into Jim Reeves -there are faint hints of country and western in there!

Getting back to the blues, as a spin - off I started getting into jazz, the traditional Dixie stuff that Louis Armstrong played. It is mostly blues -based and I soon built up a good collection of albums. However I soon started exploring the more diverse aspects of jazz particularly modal jazz. This fascinated me - it was based on a simple two-chord sequence but allowed the soloist to explore the scales involved. Mind-blowing stuff when you have Cannonball Adderly and John Coltrane on sax, and Miles Davis on trumpet. My next selection is from "kind of blue" possibly the greatest jazz album ever recorded. "So what" by Miles Davis is almost gospel like with the "call and response" interaction. The improvised soloing demonstrates that these guys were years ahead of their time. This is an album I love to listen to alone as I can't stand it if anyone else talks during it (it's the same with Dark side of the moon by Pink Floyd). Sheer indulgence!!

One of the pleasant surprises I've had recently was when one of the Sunday papers gave out a free demo CD of Idlewild. I'd never heard them before and I played the freebie a couple of times, wasn't too impressed and promptly lost it. I found it later under the seat in my car and played it again - It was brilliant! One of the songs was "You held the world in your arms" from the "Scottish fiction" album. I really enjoy this album and can hear the folk influences as well as the contemporary influences of REM in their music.I'm glad I gave this free cd a second chance. It makes me want to go back and play everything in my CD collection that I've not listened to for ages.

"These arms of mine" by the greatest soul singer Otis Redding, is the song that sums up exactly what I felt for my girlfriend Susan before she was my girlfriend. The song is simple enough, not over-orchestrated but the words and the way he delivers it is so emotionally charged - it just summed up precisely what I wanted to say to her.The pain and longing in the man's voice can't be learned, it comes from the heart, and that's what music is all about.

Finally, I finish on a song from the last album I bought. John Martyn is a true craftsman when it comes to song-writing - his career spans four decades, and he has over 20 studio albums to his name. He has written some beautiful love songs and his music has helped me through some difficult times. His earlier albums are folky, and bluesy, Solid Air possibly being my favourite album.His style has changed over the years and he really has explored every avenue musically. I bought "On the cobbles" a few weeks ago after seeing him perform one of the songs from it on his website. The song is"One for the road" and he has recaptured his folk roots on this track. It is delightful to hear the double bass and acoustic guitar again and the melody is pure "diddley-eye"- it sticks in your head and I've been singing it ever since.

Quite an eclectic mix there then from country, folk, blues, jazz, soul, pop, and rock. There are only eight notes in a scale but the combination of these is infinite! Music can express so many human emotions, which is why we can identify so readily with certain songs.This is why your program works so well - the range of styles of music bound together by a common theme is a winner. I just love hearing songs by people I've never heard of before and hearing songs again that I've not heard in years.It's about time you had a two hour slot every night!! All the best for 2008!
Colin

Maria Nimo's mixtape was broadcast on New Year's Day. For anyone who missed it ( still hungover at 6pm????) here's the full list of songs with Maria's reasons for choosing them.

I cannot begin to tell you how difficult this has been. I have woken in the middle of the night thinking "oh my God, I haven't put any Bowie on the list" and such strange behaviour!
It has probably been very testing for my hubby Donald who has put up with such random comments as "how can I NOT put Freeze AEIOU in there?" whilst he is innocently sitting watching TV...

Anyway, I have tried to pick some classics and some personal favourites whilst keeping in mind that this might be broadcast and not everyone wants to hear a six minute classic from Lambchop (even though I think you would!) and even though I have not chosen to please the listeners I hope everyone might enjoy the songs I have picked.

I had to leave out alot of good stuff, here are just a few who didn't make it; Hobotalk, Aberfeldy, Angus & Julia Stone, Nick Cave, Nick Drake, Bjork, The The, Doors, Blur, Depeche Mode, Fleetwood Mac, Madonna (early years), REM, Roxy Music, Delgados, Pipettes, Faith No More, Johnny Cash, Belle & Sebastian.

If I don't become one of the very lucky 4 to be chosen I hope you enjoy reading my list and thanks for making me think about and listen to some of my favourite songs ever.

Maria Nimmo, Stirling, aged 35!

So here goes............

Cher - Gypsies, Tramps and Thieves
What an unmistakable intro and just such a great track, a real old fashioned story telling song. I was only born in 72 so missed this the first time around, not even sure how I came across this record but I
absolutely love it and it brings a huge smile to my face when I hear it. If I ever went on Stars In Their Eyes this would have to be my song!!

Ian Dury & The Blockheads - Hit Me With You Rhythm Stick
When I was young my sister Ali would tape the charts for me on a Sunday night (I know, I know, home taping was killing music etc etc) and this was one of my favourites.
I was only 6 when it was released but I was so proud of myself learning all the words and remember my first German language lesson aged 12 thinking, I know how
to say "ich liebe dich" because I learned it from this song!

Beach Boys - Tears In The Morning
I sometimes feel alot of people might be put off the Beach Boys as all they know are the big songs like California Girls etc. However, I was lucky enough to work for an infamous Scottish independent record chain (Fopp) for some years and I was introduced to a rich back catalogue by my colleagues. This is such as sad track when you listen to the lyrics and the whole mood of the song is pure melancholy, it has been known to make me well up when by myself in the car....I would encourage everyone to explore the Beach Boys further if they think Surfin USA is all there is to them.

Eurythmics - You Have Placed A Chill In My Heart (Acoustic Version if poss!)
I am proud to say I am a Eurythmics fan and sometimes when hanging out with more pretentious and less honest folk discussing music this can be frowned upon! I remember the first time I saw Annie Lennox with really short hair and a gents jacket and thought "hurray! A girl who dresses like a boy and looks and acts so cool with it, I want to be like her!!" Sadly I have never written such a great track as this or any of her songs although I did wear my hair short and bleached for years! I finally saw Annie and Dave live at Wembley in 1999 on the Peace tour and they were amazing. I was gobsmacked with her voice and realised why I had fallen in love with her all those years before.

Michael Jackson - Burn This Disco Out
I got my first Walkman for Christmas when I was around 8 or 9 and in their wisdom my Mum and Dad forgot to buy me any tapes to listen to! So I chose Off The Wall out of their collection and listened to it non stop for about the next year! I think I know every Jackson style squeak and squeal on this album and I openly admit to loving every single track. (Even Shes Out Of My Life!) I know everyone rates Thriller as probably the highlight of his career but I think OTW really shows what an amazing star he was and what a master of music production Quincy Jones is.

Richard Hawley - Coles Corner
What a man!! He is an amazing songwriter and performer and I think this is one of the most beautiful songs of the last 15 years. I was lucky enough to go to the last gig in Glasgow and what an effortless and perfect performance. For anyone wavering whether to get tickets for Feb 08, just do it! You will have a great night.

Beyonce - Crazy In Love
What can I say?! Guaranteed to get me on the dancefloor and a track I could listen to over and over again, just brilliant!!! Oh, and genius sampling too ;-)

Neil Diamond - Forever In Blue Jeans
My Mum was a big ND fan and it truly rubbed off on me! I love the sentiments of this track and the cheesiness! I asked Donald if we could have this as the first dance at our wedding this Summer and for some reason he refused....spoil sport! Battled between this and Hello Again which is my other favourite.

Kate Bush - Wuthering Heights
I distinctly remember hearing this on the radio and seeing Kate on TOTP doing all those mad moves etc. This track inspired me to read the novel and I now count it in my top 5 books of all time.
This song is guaranteed to get me "singing" along in the car and still makes the hairs on the back of my neck stand up as it begins. I hope other people know more of Kate Bush's catalogue than this and The Man With The Child in His Eyes; although they are both great songs there are lots more of equal and better quality!

Morrissey - Every Day Is Like Sunday
Bryan I am ashamed to say to you of all people I was a relatively late starter with The Smiths. I steered away from them for some time due to all the people I knew who loved them and thought themselves so cool for loving Morrissey. Anyway, I have since made up for it and try and see Morrissey every tour. Great gig at Stirling Albert Halls last year and looking forward to Edinburgh in February. I know its not very PC to say but I love this track for the real "englishness" and the Sunday feeling. No one else captures it quite like he does. This was up against Irish Blood English Heart!

Soft Cell - Tainted Love
This reminds me of being young (8) but loving this song and singing it in the street with friends whilst playing out (do kids still do this?!) I was completely unaware of the Gloria Jones version until I was much older and although I do love the original it is the Soft Cell version that holds a special place in my heart. Some fond memories of growing up in Birmingham and I am now thinking everything was just alot simpler when you were that age!!

Proclaimers - Sunshine On Leith
One of the best things about meeting Donald and subsequently moving to Scotland has been learning to love the Proclaimers! Before I learned more about the twins I thought they were a bit of a novelty act but like one of your listeners said a couple of months ago, once you have seen them live you really appreciate what brilliant musicians and performers they are. I am really excited about the gig December 23rd at the Barrowlands which I am sure will be brilliant. Donald and I chose this for our first dance at our wedding in August and there was nothing else I would rather have heard. I have to thank him for educating me to the ways of the Proclaimers and their great albums.

Yesterday's mixtape was made up by Alan Richmond from Aberdour. It was his family holiday compilation tape that inspired this feature on the show. Here's Alan's awesome list and his reasons for choosing.

In a galaxy far, far away, before the time of the160Gb iPod Classic, the humble
cassette tape offered the opportunity for the discerning record listener to compile
recordings of their favourite songs. No more did you have to put up with the duff
tracks on Side 2 of the LP or that one with the really annoying drum solo bit. Stick all your favourite songs back to back on a cassette and Bob was your mum鈥檚 brother. The mixtape was born.

Some music enthusiasts with the correct mix of anal retentiveness and control
freakery took to producing mixtapes with a vengeance. The opportunity to impose their choice of songs on others using a tape with a daft title was too great to miss.

Why? To impress girls; to be the first kid on the block; to show off that obscure B-side cover version 鈥� usually all of the above. Nick Hornby鈥檚 novel Hi Fidelity was right on the money.

I was that soldier and this is the story of my life in tapes. It is not my ultimate, best ever 12 desert island discs 鈥� what a nightmare that would be to choose. Rather, it is 12 tracks from 12 mixtapes and CDs that were made at a certain time for a certain reason.
GET IT ON MIX - OPERATOR鈥橲 MANUAL

The Cure 鈥� In Between Days
Flowers and Chocolates
The premise of the mixtape as a romantic ploy is illustrated perfectly with this
compilation. I met Lynn through a mutual friend in Edinburgh in the early summer of 1986 and I asked her out soon afterwards. Our somewhat unconventional first date was to see the Alan Bleasdale film 鈥淣o Surrender鈥� at the Cameo Cinema - a cheery tale of religious bigotry in the seedy Liverpool underworld! Keeping the alternative approach going, the carnations and Milk Tray were abandoned for the provision of a carefully selected compilation tape, titled to recognise my failings in the romantic gift department. The Cure were the first band she had been to see so this cracking single from July 1985 was an easy selection. Two further tapes in this series were produced when Lynn worked abroad over the next year. 鈥淓idelweiss and Toblerone鈥� was sent to Switzerland and 鈥淵ellow Roses and Cotton Candy鈥� was air-mailed to the
USA. Thanks to (or despite of?) these tapes, we鈥檝e been together ever since!


Kate Bush 鈥� Running Up that Hill
Running Up That Hill 鈥� A Donkey Brae Run Compilation
As is obvious to those who know me, I certainly don鈥檛 have the build of a runner.
However, these physical constraints don鈥檛 stop me being part of the team of local volunteers in Aberdour who organise the annual Donkey Brae Run as part of the annual festival. Although it is part of a family fun day, the race is a Scottish Athletics registered 7 mile road race along the coast from Aberdour to Dalgety Bay. The last mile features the infamous Donkey Brae from the harbour up to the finishing field. I have the easy job of handling the PA, providing music and commentary on the finishers, always giving a big shout to the locals as they cross the line. The compilation CD of running songs that I have used for the event couldn鈥檛 really be called anything else!

De La Soul - Say No Go
Geeza Break, Big Man! 鈥� A Hippity Hoppity Housey Housey Collection
As an amateur disk spinner during my university days, my first foray into the world of breaks and beats came through the mighty sound of Sugarhill鈥檚 Grandmaster Flash and his Adventures on the Wheels of Steel, a truly awesome 12鈥� single from 1981 showing what it was possible to do with turntables and an ear for a sample. Rapping morphed into hip hop and by the end of the decade this was competing for space on the dance floor in the UK with the house music boom. This mixtape collection was put together at that time and, to be honest, little of it still resonates today with the major and honourable exception of the daisy filled sounds of De La Soul. Naming
their first LP 3 Feet High And Rising after a Johnny Cash sample showed their
musical credentials strayed well beyond the normal boundaries. This track shows their fun and inventiveness slamming Daryll Hall and John Oates together with samples from early Sugarhill stars, the Funky 4+1. After this, the guns and the misogyny moved into hip hop and I moved out.



Everything But The Girl 鈥� Come On Home (Piano and Vocal)
Despair & Desire (1982鈥�1988) 鈥� An Everything But The Girl Compilation
Occasionally, I would focus one of my compilation tapes on one band, particularly where I had a lot of non-LP singles and b-sides that needed to be collected together in one place. A good example is this 4 year career retrospective of Ben Watt and Tracey Thorne which chronologically gathers a whole host of single-only songs, alternative takes and cover versions from their vinyl sources. This was Ben鈥檔鈥橳race from the angst-ridden student bedsit days long before they felt the need to adapt to the world of drum鈥檔鈥檅ass remixes. This piano and vocal version of a track from their third country-tinged LP Baby the Stars Shine Bright will always remind me of Lynn working overseas in the months just after I met her. Brings a tear to a glass eye, so it
诲辞别蝉鈥�..

Eels 鈥� Mr E鈥檚 Beautiful Blues
Life Begins @ 40 Volume 1
I have no idea where the expression life begins at 40 comes from 鈥� a movie? 鈥� but as the new Millennium dawned, I hit this milestone. So, a few months after we partied like it was 1999, we partied again for my coming of that certain age. Mix CDs were prepared for both events, with the 40th party featuring two CDs of standingabout- drinking type music and three CDs of hip shaking, groove-tastic tunes from the last twenty years. Although I say so myself, the party rocked but the Eels track proposed here is taken from the standing-about-drinking CD although I would have happily danced to it. I love E鈥檚 songwriting and sense of humour and who could argue with the sentiment for reaching 40: 鈥淕oddamn right, it鈥檚 a beautiful day!鈥�

The Proclaimers 鈥� Letter From America
Methil No More 鈥� A Farewell to Scotland Compilation
In 2006 our friends, the Ross family, decided their future lay in Australia and plans were made to emigrate there. Their leaving present was a no-brainer. This
compilation CD is an unashamed nostalgic wallow in Scotland-related popular songs perfect for teary farewells and fond reminiscing. The title was easy 鈥� Alex was a policeman in Methil 鈥� and I understand that copies of the compilation are spreading out amongst the exiled Scots community down under. Alex and Clare are big fans of the Get It On using the 大象传媒鈥檚 Listen Again feature and have had a mention on the show before. They are primed about this and looking forward to hearing a track from their own personal CD from 11,000 miles away should I be lucky enough to make the cut. With that in mind, there is only one track that exiles from Fife would want to hear. As first seen in such amazing circumstances 20 years ago(!) on The Tube, Auchtermuchty鈥檚 finest larynxes combine to devastating effect on the ultimate emigration sing-a-long.

Elvis Costello 鈥� You鈥檝e Got To Hide Your Love Away
Under The Covers 鈥� An Elvis Costello Compilation
I have been a huge fan of Costello ever since I saw first saw him at Satellite City (the nightclub on top of the Apollo) in April1978. A musician with an eclectic taste, his choice of cover versions has taken me on a wide musical journey, particularly into country music. I discovered Gram Parsons through the cover of Gram鈥檚 How Much I Lied and Hot Burrito #1 on Almost Blue. A compilation tape of EC covers was an easy task. His Liverpool roots often show through with his love of the Beatles and this track from Help was a stage favourite over the years, usually inserted into the middle of his own composition, New Amsterdam, which has a remarkably similar chord sequence. He finally recorded the full song for the soundtrack of the 1994 大象传媒 TV series 鈥淔amily鈥� written by Roddy Doyle. See if you can sing the words to New
Amsterdam in the instrumental break鈥�.

Gram Parsons 鈥� California Cotton Fields
California Here We Come 鈥� Holiday Mix 06
This mix CD was created for the 2006 family holiday to the West Coast of the USA and titled after the timely hit single of the same name that summer. It was to be the soundtrack to us 鈥渄riving down the 101鈥� from LA to San Diego and so it turned out. The qualification for inclusion was to have the state name in the title of the song so it offered up some great opportunities 鈥� the Eagles for my wife, the Chilli Peppers for my son and Phantom Planet鈥檚 title track for my daughter. Me? Well whilst the Dead Kennedys provided some entertainment, it was this Merle Haggard cover by Gram Parsons recorded just before his death in 1973 that provides the real memories for me. For whilst all the usual places were visited (Disneyland, Hollywood, Sea World, Venice Beach etc) and the kids went to surf camp for a week, Dad鈥檚 treat for the holiday was more unusual. Dreamed up by my wife, the four of us drove out of LA
one evening and up into the heat of the high desert. Turning inland on the 29 Palms Highway just before Palm Springs, we drove up higher and, just as the searing hot sun was setting, we arrived in Joshua Tree. Lynn had checked us into the Joshua Tree Inn where, some thirty odd years earlier, Gram Parsons had checked out for good. Nothing seemed to have changed much since then, both at the Inn and in the town itself. After a dip in the 鈥渃harming courtyard pool鈥�, we grabbed some gloriously greasy dollar-fifty tacos in the only diner in town. Joshua Tree was the only place we went where corporate America had been kept at bay 鈥� I suspect the crazies and freaks we saw in the diner had something to do with that! At breakfast the next morning, we discovered that we had slept in the room next to Gram鈥檚 last room and were offered a look and the chance to put a word in the guestbook. Sounds a bit cheesy but it wasn鈥檛 really. Actually, it was a truly unforgettable experience.

Nina Simone 鈥� Feeling Good
Ardtornish Ambience 鈥� Music for the Morven Penisula Volume 1
Group holidays offer the opportunity of creating bespoke playlists for a captive
audience. Just like overseas car journeys with the family, a winter week in an old
estate house on the west coast of Scotland with a group of friends and a several
cases of wine provides a perfect mixtape opportunity. So it was with trips to
Ardtornish, a sprawling baronial pile at the head of Loch Aline which looks directly across to Mull. The mood is subdued with late breakfasts, short walks in the rain, log fires, cups of tea, good books and a nice glass of red or two. So the ambience of the soundtrack has to be laid back but with added quality. Nina Simone鈥檚 1965 version of Anthony Newley鈥檚 Feeling Good made the cut no problem.

Trash Can Sinatras 鈥� Obscurity Knocks
thirtysomething - a birthday compilation
Titled in lower case in keeping with the HBO TV series it was named after, this tape was created in 1990 for my friend Alison鈥檚 30th birthday weekend away. As it is now 17 years ago, I have no memory of where we went and what we did but it did involve quite a number of wee shandies. The chosen track from Ayrshire鈥檚 finest is stunning piece of jangly guitar pop from February that year which deals with aging from a slightly younger but no less poignant viewpoint: 鈥淭o know what it's like to sigh at the sight of the first quarter of life鈥�. A song I never get tired of hearing, it always amazed me that this never troubled the sales charts back then.

Johnny Cash 鈥� Personal Jesus
Homage to Catalonia 鈥� Holiday Mix 05
Our normal family holiday since the kids were very young was to budget airline to the south of France or north of Spain, hire a car and head for a camp site. As the kids became more adult music friendly [the Singing Kettle years were grim] I would produce a compilation CD for the car sticking on some of everyone鈥檚 favourite tunes.
I had just caught up with American IV that year and Cash鈥檚 reading of my favourite Depeche Mode tune was a certainty for the CD. Amazingly, it was a hit with the kids too, particularly my son who was eight at the time. Made a change from Green Day!

The Clash 鈥� Complete Control
It Ticked and Exploded 鈥� A Punk Rock Compilation
The title of this compilation tape was nicked from the title of a fanzine that I used to buy in Listen Records in the High Street in Paisley. The tape was put together in the mid 90s using CD source material but many of the tracks are sitting on my shelf in 7鈥� vinyl complete with picture sleeves. I was 17 years old in 1977 and, although it has become one of the biggest clich茅s in music, punk did change my world as it did for many other people at the time. The explosion of styles and forms that followed in the wake of this time can be seen throughout the arts and the media today. And talking of clich茅s, The Clash were at the front of the line when these were being handed out.
However, no matter how much their self eulogising mythology is debunked over the years, for those of us that were in the Glasgow Apollo in Dec 1977 it is impossible to hear the opening chords to this song without the image of Strummer鈥檚 pumping left leg below the neck of his green telecaster. Truly awesome.

Now, what am I going to do with this playlist? I know. I鈥檒l stick it on a CD and call it鈥︹��.. Get It On 鈥� A Mixtape Compilation!

It's been great hearing the mix-tapes all this week. Next week we are back to the usual mix of themes which I'll post on the blog over the weekend. In the meantime here's the final list which belongs to Liz from Peebles.

How do you choose 12 tracks/records/songs? Well here goes. I'll keep the explanations brief, for your sake.

1. I'll start with the Rolling Stones - 'Little Red Rooster. It's not my first record, but it's the first one that had a meaning, if you know what I mean, but it was the first time my older sister sat me down and said "listen to this!" It was the start of a love affair with music - particularly Blues and Rock.

2. To my eternal shame, I was a big fan of 'The Monkees', in my early teens. I can only plead that the music 'wasn't half bad.' Let's have 'Last Train to Clarksville'.

3. By my later teens, I was more into the likes of Pink Floyd, Wishbone Ash, Stone the Crows and the Sensational Alex Harvey band. But what I really remember is the teenage, female 'angst', so let's have 'Tuesday Afternoon' from Justin Hayward. 'cos the boyfriend would take me to concerts by all of the above except the Moody Blues......

4. Moving from the West of Scotland in my late teens/early twenties to London and a different scene. Sunday afternoon concerts at the Rainbow. Sunshine, walking inthe parks in my barefeet and listening to Lou Reed - 'Perfect Day'.

5. Back to Scotland as it's time to 'get an education'. Popular music was changing and, oh boy, did I like it. Bring on The Clash, The Jam, Stiff little Fingers, XTC and the rest. let's have 'Rock the Casbah', or, if that's not pc, you can't go wrong with 'London Calling'.

London may have been calling, but I didn't go back for many years.

Now life got a bit messy, so it was time to move again. Off to the Borders to live near my sister - so she could keep an eye on me?? A brief flirtation with the ra-ra skirt and college 'discos'. I can't say I really liked any of the music, though, so let's move swiftly on.....

The life changing moment happens. I'm working in a 'mill shop', feeding tourists by the score. This lady working in the shop invites me to a party. "Come and meet my 2 unmarried brothers", she said, and showed me a photo. "I'll have that one", I said, poointing to the darker haired one. So I went to her party, and I did! I met him. We danced the night away. (Ever tried to do an eightsome reel with just 2 people?) I went to visit him in his flat in Edinburgh, the next evening, and never went home again.

25 years and 3 children later, here we are. Back in the Borders for 19 years, now. I'm still with the man who expanded my musical horizons. (To be fair, I expanded his, too, if not as far.)

6. I have a whole world of music to choose from and what do I think of? Well, it's Neil Young and I really love 'Hey Hey, My My (Into The Black) from 'Rust never Sleeps' or possibly 'Wrecking Ball' or...... too many to mention!

7. Gerry, for that is his name, has shared his music with me, as I have shared mine with him. He loves to play guitar, just for himself, and now, for me. We go to concerts, we have children and introduce the children to our music. He still plays guitar.Please - will he stop trying to play along to 'Down in the Sewer' - The Stranglers.......

8. Now the children are almost grown - 21 years, almost 19 years and almost 17 years. They are sharing their music with us. It's not always a happy meeting - i can't get used to some of it, but at least it's not Pop. I have to say that I'm most comfortable with my daughter Karen's, choices so let's something from Muse - 'Knights of Sidonia' or 'Supermassive Black Hole'?

9. I Suppose the boys should be represented, to, so what about 'Holding out for a Hero' from Jennifer Saunders for Martin. He would really prefer a jig or a reel as his preference is for ceilidh music.

10. The youngest, Graeme, listens to far too much. He is the stereotypical teenage boy. Online gaming, chatting to his friends via webcam etc. I can't keep track of what his favourites are so i'll go and ask him......... Ok, it's 'Amaranth' by Nightwish. (He has added them to my mp3 and I've heard much worse!)

11. Only 2 to go. What do I choose? Gerry and I don't have an 'Our Tune' as such, but I have fond memories of his introducing me to J.J.Cale. So what about 'After Midnight'?

12 The last one. I'd like to finish with one my late sister loved. She died before she could see the new century and I still miss her. If any one song sums up her life it's this - 'She Belongs to Me' - Bob Dylan. It's all there in the lines

She's got everything she needs,
She's an artist, she don't look back.

So. That's my list. It misses out almost all of the records/tracks I love and listen to on a regular basis. What it does do is to capture some of the important times in my life.

Liz

It's got to the stage where I can't face any more festive programmes or 'Lets look back at 2007' shows. Like some of you, I have enjoyed the break but am really looking forward to getting back to work and into a routine again.

I've tried to pick some really good themes for next week and I hope they inspire you to get in touch with your suggestions. It's your contributions that keep the show going and ensure that we don't sound like any other music programme on radio.

As usual you can leave a comment on the blog, or send an e-mail to getiton@bbc.co.uk.

Monday 7th January
We鈥檙e looking for chilly tunes tonight as Winter is the theme. Frosty The Snowman may have gone back in the cupboard 'til next Christmas, but what are the songs that evoke the season for you?


Tuesday 8th and Wednesday 9th
It鈥檚 a two part theme which has been suggested by Kirsty who listens to 大象传媒 Radio Scotland on the train home every night. Her suggestions are songs about being young鈥nd ones about getting older. It鈥檚 young songs on Tuesday then the real oldies on Wednesday鈥�


Thursday 10th
Kenny McKinnie in Glasgow has suggested 鈥榩arts of the day鈥� as a theme. He鈥檚 come up with Good Morning Judge, Sunny Afternoon and Some Enchanted Evening. Let鈥檚 see what you come up with by e-mailing getiton@bbc.co.uk...

The show starts in 40 minutes and I have to say I am looking forward to a 'normal' week of themes. Mind you, with a show that's as unpredictable as this one there's no such thing as a normal week.

Winter songs is our theme for tonight and your suggestions range from jazz-rock to new romantics. Most popular suggestion so far is from Aztec Camera but that could change when we open up for texts and calls at five past six.

Talking of calls, we've got some new team members in answering your calls. It's Simone this week and Amelia next. I'll introduce you to them on the blog later in the week. I hope they have more luck answering the phone than we've had today.

We had a Get It On flitting over the holidays and have now moved offices to the 大象传媒鈥檚 brand new headquarters at Pacific Quay in Glasgow. It鈥檚 a fantastic place to work and the technology really is state of the art (despite what you might have read in the Sunday Mail!)

Our only teething problem is that both Paul and I been given the same phone extension which means that every time I 鈥榣og on鈥� to use my handset I somehow end up in the middle of his conversation. Now that could provide some embarrassing moments for both of us.

All our communication issues should have been sorted by the time the show starts. I鈥檓 looking forward to getting your calls, texts and e-mails with your winter suggestions. Meanwhile Paul is just looking forward to getting some calls 鈥� without me listening in on the other line!

Tonight鈥檚 theme of 鈥榶outh鈥� is the first of a two parter which has been has been suggested by Kirsty who listens to Get It On on the train every night. So, if on the way home tonight you see a woman with headphones on beaming with pride then it will be Kirsty.

It鈥檚 always interesting to hear where and how people listen to Get It On. Last night our texters included everyone from a woman making beef goulash for the tea to a man who was 鈥榮pinning鈥� in his shed. ( It鈥檚 an aerobic activity done on a stationary bike in case you had a different image in your head!)

There鈥檚 some good stuff lined up already for tonight. Loads of folk asking for Dylan鈥檚 Forever Young tonight but thankfully only one request for It鈥檚 Orrible Being In Love When You鈥檙e Eight 1/2.

As always e-mail in your suggestions to Getiton@bbc.co.uk or post a comment below.

'Songs about getting old' is the theme for tonight. As I am at least fifteen years older than everyone else on the show, it's one that I will find especially poignant.

You can post your suggestions below or you can call or text during the show. If you want to give us a call then you'll end up speaking to the lovely Simone, who is answering the phones this week and who we managed to poach from the Fred show. Just don't tell Macaulay, as I don't want to get accused of tapping up.

If you're a regular Get It On caller, here's a chance to put a face to the voice on the phone:



My job is: I'm currently a Production Assistant on Macaulay and Co. and in the evenings take the calls on Get It On.

I am currently listening to: Wohh Freaky Question considering no-ones around to see I'm listening to music....... Just happen at this very moment to have on my ipod - The Big Lebowski Soundtrack - Kenny Rogers - Just dropped In - To See what condition my condition is in ('bout sums me up really...)

Celebrity I most closely resemble: Ohh gosh what a question - love to say Naomi Campbell but I'm a foot to short and a stone overweight - but on a slightly different note when I was growing up in Alva in the '80's I used to tell kids that my dad was Mr T to stop getting bullied .... it worked so I must have a slight resemblance to the great man - failing that I mibbe look like a Whoopi Goldberg in miniature

I would describe my style as: I'd like to say cutting edge or unique but it really amounts to whatever I can afford at the time off the high street - guess I'd describe it as.... MISH MASH

I love: Gosh- is this a philosophical question ? -Erhmm love hill walking in the Ochil's and the campsies with my dog Cailin and partner Craig - Love mini breaks to Ardnamurchan with my friends and family - Love my Job and all the brill people I get to work with - I guess you could Say I love My Life and all the people - pets, random pubs and musical pleasures I've experienced thus far - (Oh and god Bless the MP3 - my tunes go everywhere with me)

I hate: The fact that I compulsively have to eat everything on my dinner plate, whether I like it or not before I let myself have a pudding ...... But I guess it's a good thing really (God Bless me Granny Campbell for that one)

What I鈥檒l be having for my tea after the show: Tonight I shall be mostly dining on ....Veggie Stir Fry and left over crimbo Ferrero Roche for dessert mmmmmmhh yumm

Thing I most enjoy about working on this show: The callers and the music they request - Love their enthusiasm for their sounds - When they tell me a track I've not heard of I get googling straight away for a wee swadge - It's a great education

Bryan鈥檚 most annoying habit: Oh has to be that contagious dancing in the studio - I have to walk out when he starts - or else I'd join in - probably get far too carried away and never get any calls answered.

Tonight鈥檚 show takes in everything from Early Mornin鈥� Rain to The Wee Small Hours. The theme is 鈥榩arts of the day鈥� and it鈥檚 been suggested by Kenny in Glasgow. We鈥檙e getting lots of stuff in, so get in quick if you have a suggestion. Leave a comment on the blog or send me an e-mail if you like.

Several people have asked for Barry McGuire鈥檚 1965 protest song, Eve of Destruction. I always thought that Eva Destruction would make a good 鈥榙rag鈥� name, which funnily enough is the one branch of showbiz I鈥檝e not tried my hand at yet.

Sadly, a quick internet search reveals I鈥檝e been beaten to the name. It seems that Miss Eva Destruction is one of America鈥檚 top lady wrestlers! She claims to be a 鈥淪uper Heel, Brawler & Power Wrestler鈥� who has, according to her website, 鈥渢he power of a big woman, and the agility of a gymnast.鈥� Mind you if she'd been described as having "the power o' a big wumman" then I would have been really afraid!

I have now wasted a fair chunk of my afternoon looking at lady wrestling sites and have learned that Eva doesn鈥檛 even have the best name. Others who can be found grunting and grappling in the ring include Erotica D鈥橵ine, Hollie Wood, Violet Flame and my new favourite lady wrestler, Miss Allison Wonderland.

It's another 'lovely' Glasgow day - the rain hasn't stopped coming down since early this morning. I would still be in my dressing gown sitting by the fire if I wasn't off to work to record a session with . He is a new gruff voiced, americana singer-songwriter from Texas who is going to be big this year. Listen out for the session on on Friday night.

In the meantime, here are the themes for next week. I think Monday in particular is going to be a busy night, so get your suggestions in early by leaving a comment below.



Monday:
Have a hankie standing by tonight. Hilary Clinton has shown that there's nothing like a good greet to win over the public, so tonight's theme is crying songs. From Tracks Of My Tears to The Crying Game, there's plenty to choose from.Nominate your favourite weepies and get ready to sob along with Get It On鈥�
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Tuesday:
Helen in Dundonnell suggests Walk Like An Egyptian, Walking On The Moon and Walk On By for tonight's show. Can you guess what the theme might be? Stroll down to the post-box with your suggestions鈥�
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Wednesday:
On this day in 1957, The Cavern Club opened in Liverpool. Tonight on the programme, we鈥檒l feature the best bands and solo artists to come out of the City of Culture 2008.
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Thursday:
鈥榃hat were we thinking of?鈥� Tonight it鈥檚 your chance to confess about those songs that you thought were great at the time, but are now too ashamed to admit to liking. E-mail your deepest, darkest secrets or leave a comment on the blog.听

" It won't be long until it's crying time...." is how the song goes and with just under an hour to go till the show starts the inbox is starting to fill up with your crying suggestions.

So far no-one's asked for Tears Are Not Enough by ABC and how could you have forgotten about Elkie Brooks' Don't Cry Out Loud. ( "Baby cried the day the circus came to town..." )

I'm sure we will get lots of requests for Johnny Ray, the man they called The Prince of Wails and if you're a Ray Charles fan, I have an entire album of crying songs that he recorded in 1964.

Leave a comment with your suggestions below or text them in on 80295 during the show.

Hundreds of walking suggestions for tonight including a great long list from Mike Tough which I will post up a bit later. text or e-mail your suggestions in at five past six and here's something from Mike Ross in Aberdeen to get you thinking about for tomorrow.

"Wednesday night's theme is all about artists hailing from Liverpool, However can the listeners of GET IT ON come up with the 23 artists who have had Number 1 hits Who come from the City? "
Mike Ross from Aberdeen

If you can come up with all 23 then post a comment below with your total and hopefully we will reveal all on tomorrow night's show...

I've just come off air and feel exhausted after one of the busiest shows we've had in ages. Mind you that's 'playing records for an hour exhausted' which is different from ' working down a pit for eight hours exhausted'.

A great range of music tonight, although I am not sure if Divine's Walk Like A Man has aged well. Still I don't suppose he thought he was making Like A Rolling Stone at the time. Here's the if you want to find out more about him and also look at the picture I mentioned on air. He really did look like Ant from Ant and Dec before he balooned into a giant sized Bet Lynch lookalike.

We were really busy on the phones tonight so thanks to all who called in. A huge number of e-mailers as well including Michael Tough and his amazing list of songs. I promised I'd put them on the blog so here they are:


In the old days of Walkman cassette players I compiled a tape of songs with titles related to the topic of walking, or rhythmic structures which mirrored walking pace. Aaaah. Innocent days of song before wine and women came along and.... enhanced them.

So, to save time, I shall dispense with the tracks I think will be more in demand, and offer some alternative suggestions. Fear not. I shan't get too obscure.

Strollin' - Prince... off Diamonds and Pearls, gentle pace to pick it up.

San Antonio Stroll - Tania Tucker... a walk in the country, perhaps?

Walking After Midnight - Patsy Cline... a walk in the country, after midnight, perhaps?

Spanish Stroll - Mink De Ville... walking in a new-wave style.

Walking - Sidestepper... a latin dub tinged late-night walking beat

Get Ta Steppin' - Robert Parker... walking soul-style with attitude

Steppin' Out - Kool & The Gang... funk-lite paen to courting.

Step It Up - Stereo MCs... something about this is just excellent. Was it the time and the place?

Footsteps Followin' Me - Frances Nero... what? Another Northern Soul inspiration. Great track.

Cissy Strut - The Meters... if you play one tune tonight, .........

Walking In Rhythm - The Blackbyrds... or two tunes........

Walking In The Rain - Grace Jones...

Walkin' The Blues - Willie Dixon... oh yes. This'll get you tappin those feet, guarantee it.

Walking By Myself - Jimmi Rogers... old style R&B to please the soul.

Remember (Walkin' In The Sand) - The Shangri-Las... original girl-group reminisces.

Sissy Walk - Sonny Jones... more funk! Mmmm.

Walk The Last Mile - Love and Money... the show closer, maybe?

Walk Right In - Dr. Hook...

The Walk - The Cure...

Walk On By - The Stranglers... great cover version, but long.

When You Walk In The Room - Jackie DeShannon... old style and good.

Walk The Dinosaur - Was Not Was... just popped into mind as a distant memory.

So, maybe my longest list ever, but certainly in a while. It could've been longer, but we've both got lives to get on with.
Surely there's a more obscure one in there you could play. Your choice, of course.

Best wishes to y'all, and have a good show.

Mike Tough

I'm about halfway through playing Cilla Black's You're My World and during the first couple of lines I was struck by how sultry and sexy she sounded...well until she started doing all that nasaly stuff then you realised why she's never going to be up there with Dusty Springfield and Aretha Franklin.
Do you have to be sexually attractive to be a great pop star or is the huge talent that makes you attractive in the first place?
Maybe the sexiest popstars of all time would be a theme or howabout those that are no' that bonny but have made some damn good records?

It's been a bit hard to concentrate in this office this afternoon as I've had a bizarre lunchtime which involved getting a swimming lesson off Duncan Goodhew and frolicking in a pool with Miss Scotland. Beats sitting in the cannie with a sandwich I suppose.

You could be forgiven for thinking the picture looks like a scene out of Baywatch, but it was all in aid of Marie Curie Cancer Care's Swimathon which is a swimming challenge taking place in April and aims to raise 艁1.8 million for the charity.

It's the brainchild of the Olympic Gold Medalist, Duncan Goodhew who was at the launch of the appeal in Glasgow today. I think Duncan guessed I wasn't a competitive swimmer when he saw I kept my spectacles on for the photo's. It's always good to talk to a world champion and he gave us some great advice about improving our swimming....well apart from 'don't keep your glasses on in the water'.



Photographs by Peter Sandground

It's been a busy week here at the 大象传媒 with loads of artists from the Celtic Connections festival popping in to record interviews and sessions. came in to perform some songs and record an interview for , to promote Mockingbird,her new album of covers which includes songs from Joni Mitchell and June Carter-Cash.

The session will be broadcast on Brand New Country next month but you can get a sneak preview of the songs and watch a video interview with Alison on our fab new . There'll be loads of festival stuff on the website over the next couple of weeks - highlights from all the 大象传媒's radio and TV coverage, plus photo galleries and lots of exclusive web stuff you won't find anywhere else.

Allison's acoustic songs were stunning and even our experienced audio engineers who've recorded hundreds of acts over the years got goosebumps when she started singing.

The session almost didn't happen though. When Alison turned up to do the session her guitars were still in Heathrow. "Don't worry there's an acoustic guitar in the office," said one of the production team reassuringly. "Only problem is that it's a bit out of tune and it has only got five strings but she might be OK with that".

This is woman who's played at the Oscars and been nominated for a Grammy! I could hardly go up to her and ask if she had any songs that only require five strings!!!!

Luckily , who had just been in for a session that afternoon, kindly agreed to leave his guitar for Allison to use. That was very generous of him as musicians treat their guitars like children and don't like to let them out of their sight for too long.

After the session the guitar was put in a taxi to Kevin's hotel. I am hoping it arrived safe and sound, if not I know where he can get a slightly out of tune, five string model that might just do the trick.

With Celtic Connections kicking off it's a great time for music in Scotland. Our studios are booked out all day with various bands coming in for sessions. Today I've done back to back interviews and sessions with Diana Jones and then Chris Thile's latest outfit, The Punch Brothers. You can hear both on future editons of Brand New Country.

Tomorrow night at 8:05pm you can hear my session with Ryan Bingham, a really exciting bluesy singer-songwriter from Texas who was brilliant in concert at King Tuts last week. 大象传媒 Radio Scotland listener Peter Kaminski was there and sent me these rather good pics he took at the gig.

Don't forget you can get highlights from all the 大象传媒's radio and TV coverage, plus photo galleries and lots of exclusive web stuff you won't find anywhere else on our fab new .


Photos by Peter Kaminski

Monday
It鈥檚 official, today is the most depressing day of the year so tonight鈥檚 show will fix that with an hour of the cheeriest tunes ever. E-mail in with your happy hits or leave a comment below鈥�

Tuesday
What are you having for you tea? Is it some American Pie with Monster Mash? A slice of Meatloaf? This is a theme I've been promising to do for ages, so let鈥檚 have your food based suggestions and don鈥檛 forget to let me know what you鈥檙e really having for your tea...

Wednesday
鈥榁ambo鈥檚 Plectrum鈥� has come up with a load of themes and the first of his is 鈥榖ands with letters in their name鈥�. that could be ABC, X Ray Spec or T-Rex. E-mail getiton@bbc.co.uk with your suggestions or leaver a comment below...

Thursday
Tim Green in Fife has suggested footie nicknames as a theme. His suggestions are Teddy Bear for Rangers and the Saints Are Coming for Saint Mirren. We鈥檒l open it up to the Premiership as well as SPL teams, so let's see what you come up with for this. Having mentioned it on the show last week I know a few people are already working on their lists...

A great response to tonight鈥檚 show has got me thinking that we should maybe do 鈥渘o depression Monday鈥� as a theme throughout January and February.

Everyone seemed to enjoy coming up with uplifting suggestions and the texts that were coming in suggested that the cheery tunes were infectious.

It could be just the thing to lift the black cloud that tends to hover over the winter months. Post a comment below and let me know what you think. If you decide that鈥檚 what you want then it will happen鈥�

As so many people seem to be busy in the kitchen between six and seven it was only a matter of time before we turned 鈥榳hat you鈥檙e having for your tea鈥� into a theme.

As well as coming up with suggestions for food based songs, don鈥檛 forget to let me know what you are actually having for your tea. I鈥檓 always interested in what people are up to when they listen to Get It On and it would be great to find out what鈥檚 on the nation鈥檚 plate tonight.

For some folk it鈥檚 just a simple supper 鈥� something to sustain you that鈥檚 thrown together with whatever鈥檚 left lying around in the fridge. For other people it鈥檚 a full on production number. One of my colleagues ( let鈥檚 change his name to 鈥淪aul鈥� to avoid embarrassment) takes it so seriously that he makes his dinner then photographs it so he can post it on his Facebook page! This is one of his recent efforts...



What do you think? Main course looks tasty enough but I thought he could have put a bit more effort into the carrots!

Putting your dinner on your Facebook page is fine if you are having Orecchiette al pomodoro with fresh basil and fresh mozzarella, but not so impressive if you are having a white pudding supper out of the chipper鈥�

Last night鈥檚 鈥榝ood鈥� theme brought in some great puns. I鈥檝e been enjoying reading them again today so I thought I would post my top ten favourites on the blog. Thanks again to everyone who contributed last night. These are the ones that really made us laugh...

1.Pete Cetera ( Pizza tera!) 鈥� Glory of Love
2.The Jam 鈥� Eating Trifles
3.XTC - Making Flans For Nigel
4.Thin Lizzy - Waiting for an Apple Pie
5.Kiaser Chiefs 鈥� I Predict A Fry Up
6.Vera Lynn 鈥� Veal Meat Again
7.Prince 鈥� Little Red Courgette
8.Elvis Costello 鈥� Baby It鈥檚 Stew
9.Madonna 鈥� Poppadom Preach
10.Specials 鈥� Too Much Foo Yung

Apologies if some of your blog comments haven't made it online - an over ethusiastic spam filter is to blame. It still seems to be playing up so the best bet is to e-mail in your tunes for this week. It's getiton@bbc.co.uk

Monday - It's the return of 'Happy Mondays' - an hour of the cheeriest tunes to drive away those winter blues. As well as your new suggestions I'm going to try and fit in some of the cracking tunes I didn't have time to play last Monday...

Tuesday - 30 years ago this week Mull of Kintyre was number one and tonight鈥檚 show features Scotland in song. Do you fancy hearing Sunshine On Leith, or maybe something from Fay Fife of The Rezillos? E-mail getiton@bbc.co.uk with your suggestions ...

Wednesday - Jewellery is the theme suggested by Kenny in Glasgow. How about Diamonds Are Forever, Band of Gold or maybe something from The Bangles?

Thursday - On this day in 1955 RCA demonstrated the first synthesizer, so tonight鈥檚 theme is synth wizards. From Jean Michelle Jarre to Nick Rhodes, E-mail me and nominate the kings of the electronic keyboard鈥�


Picture shows Malcolm Clarke, assistant, 大象传媒 Radiophonic workshop, programming a large voltage controlled Electronic Music Synthesiser called The Delaware, 1974.

Would Sheryl Crow have sold so many records if she鈥檇 sung about watching the sun go down on Mosspark Boulevard? Would Little Richard really have got his kicks on the A96? And how would the Beach Boys have described the antics of those Caledonian girls?

Thirty years ago this week there was a number one hit record that mentioned somewhere in Scotland. Sadly, it was Mull of Kintyre 鈥� not McCartney鈥檚 greatest contribution to pop.

Not to be deterred, on tonight鈥檚 programme we鈥檒l be showcasing Scotland in Song and looking for your suggestions for the tunes that have put our country on the map.

Michael Marra is bound to feature with songs that namecheck Perth, Newburgh, Glasgow, Edinburgh, Cumbernauld and his beloved Dundee. Plus we already have several requests for Runrig鈥檚 Loch Lommond and a certain song from The Proclaimers that had Leithers all over the world singing with pride鈥�

E-mail getiton@bbc.co.uk with your suggestions and tune in tonight at five past six to see what makes it on air鈥�

At long last, the blogging engine has been fixed. On the downside it means I will have to plough my way through a few more messages offering 鈥済uaranteed gigantic results鈥� but the upside is that it means your blog comments will definitely make it through the net. Apologies to all who got rejected.

Talking of technology, tonight鈥檚 theme is synths. My favourite suggestion so far is for Space Oddity, the first chart song to feature the synth that made us all think we had the potential to be the next Rick Wakeman!

Launched by Rolf Harris on his 大象传媒 TV show, the Stylophone became a national phenomenon. The Wii of it鈥檚 day really. I had always imagined that it was a very affordable way to get into music but according to a Stylophone fan I found, the original models cost 8 pounds,18 shillings and sixpence each in the late 60s which is the equivalent of about 艁95.00 in today鈥檚 money鈥�

I had one but all I can remember is playing Amazing Grace with full vibrato on. Does anyone else have memories of playing with one and did you manage to use it for anything more cred than a weedy sounding version of a well known hymn?