Deacon Blue

Formed in Glasgow in 1985, Deacon Blue recorded this debut album in London in early 1987. The album features some of the band’s best-known songs in “Dignity”, “Chocolate Girl” and “When Will You (Make My Telephone Ring)”. Issued in June 1987, the album reached # 14 and achieved Platinum status in the UK alone (300,000 sales).

Walking Back Home is an album by Scottish pop rock band Deacon Blue released in 1999. It was their first album since reforming that year after disbanding in 1994. A part studio/part compilation album, it contains nine of their earlier songs coupled with eight brand-new or previously unreleased songs.

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.

Taking their name from a Steely Dan song, Deacon Blue were one of the best unknown bands in Scotland. Formed in 1985, the group performed its first concert as the opening act for the Waterboys' premier show in England. With the vocals of singer/songwriter Ricky Ross backed by jazz and soul-inspired melodies, Deacon Blue recorded several British hits in the late '80s. Their success, however, failed to carry over to American audiences. Frustrated by the inability to secure international popularity, the group disbanded in the summer of 1994.