Eddi Reader - busking, singing radio jingles and “men you put on the shoulder-pads for”

We first saw Eddi Reader singing with the Gang Of Four on Whistle Test in 1982. This eventful pod traces her story from seven kids in a two-bedroom council flat (“me in the toilet with a guitar singing Your Cheating Heart”), to the Scottish folk clubs, busking with circus acrobats on the Left Bank, to radio jingles, life as a backing singer and the rapid rise of Fairground Attraction who reformed last year, 34 years after they split in 1990. It's highly entertaining from the kick-off, not least …. … snogging the Earl of Moray’s son during Dylan at Blackbushe. … the jingles she sang on ‘80s radio ads. … what she learnt from Annie Lennox when touring with Eurythmics. … backing singer stage-wear etiquette. … performing Love Me Tender aged eight in the school classroom. … singing Three Drunken Maidens and Lord Franklin at the Irvine Folk Club, over the road from Amanda’s Wet T-Shirt Night. … busking in Paris and the songs that pulled the most money (eg Tupelo Honey and All Along the Watchtower). … “men you put on the shoulder-pads for.” … what Billy Bragg called “a civilian”. … Chou Pahrot, Cado Belle, Café Jacques, Stone the Crows and other great lost Scottish bands. … Hamish Imlach’s advice about how to project onstage. … how to use a pencil as a pop-shield. … and her Grandad “who loved his wife so much he nearly told her”. Eddi Reader tickets here: https://eddireader.co.uk/gigs/ Fairground Attraction’s Beautiful Happening album: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Beautiful-Happening-Fairground-Attraction/dp/B0CZ7NMJYV https://eddireader.co.uk/Find out more about how to help us to keep the conversation going: https://www.patreon.com/wordinyourear Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.