Top moments in 25 years of Texas
TEXAS head back to the Highlands on Sunday for a sold out gig on the back of their eighth album The Conversation, celebrating their 25th anniversary.
It’s strange to take yourself back to 1988 and a cold November night in Dingwall’s Picture House – then known as Jings – and remember that even seeing your first performance from the band, there was something a little bit special about Texas.
Guitarist Ally McErlaine’s country twang, all the rage at the time thanks to Ry Cooder’s playing on the film soundtrack to Paris, Texas – the movie that inspired the band’s name, was one of the unique elements. The other was singer Sharleen Spiteri herself. Stunning, but dressed down in denim, her voice demanded your attention.
Texas were unique.
Maybe it took the world a while to realise at first, though.
One review from Scottish music magazine The Cut on the release of their number eight single I Don’t Want A Lover, didn’t hint at the impact it would make – “Really nice guitar pieces in there and I like her voice. She has a unique way of singing. I like it.”
The band returned to the Highlands with a short tour of three dates in March 1989 to support the release of debut album Southside which charted at number three.
And one of a handful of Scottish bands making it big, they should have appeared on a ground-breaking music series filmed in Eden Court called Sounds Of Eden.
But Texas were never seen – thanks to a broadcasting staff strike.
Now, eight albums on with new single Dry Your Eyes out on November 18, the recovery of guitarist Ally McErlaine from a brain aneurysm, Sharleen’s two successful solo albums anda generation – possibly now two – of fans, Texas is always a great live band too.
Latest album The Conversation features a 2CD edition with live tracks recorded at their headlining Belladrum performance back in 2011.
At the festival, Sharleen spoke backstage before their set about Ally’s battle back to health bringing the band together again after a hiatus since 2005.
And she had clear memories of that first Highland gig in Dingwall in 1988.
“It was great to be a young band on the road and it felt amazing to play in front of an audience. There was also a kind of innocence about being on the road with your band.”
That innocent hunger for performing has stuck with Sharleen.
At Bella she confirmed: “I absolutely love it. I wouldn’t still be doing it if I didn’t love it.”
The band launched the set with first first-ever single I Don’t Want A Lover.
Later, with a crowd of 15,000 in the palm of her hand, she joked with them.
“I’m ready to stay all night – are you?”
Twenty-five years and counting, Sharleen...
The band’s gig at Inverness Leisure is sold out. But if you missed out, enjoy these classic songs from the band's 25-year career.
1 I Don't Want A Lover
This Top Of The Pops performance may have come later than that first single I Don't Want A Lover, which came out in January 1989, but was re-released in 1991. But it was always a great song to launch a 25-year career with performance
2 Tired Of Being Alone
In 1992 Scottish band Texas covered Al Green's Tired of Being Alone and it made number 19 in the singles chart you can find a version of it on their 2001 Greatest Hits album.
3 Say What You Want
Say What You Want came out in 1997, another January release that signalled what has become one of their most successful albums ever - White On Blonde - which topped the album chart.
4 Halo
Halo was out in April 1997 one of five top 10 hits from White On Blonde and has been featuring on their most recent live setlists
5 Black Eyed Boy
Black Eyed Boy, also one of the big hitters from White On Blonde, this was one of the summer sounds of 1997 and has a glorious soul/Motown-style feel.
6 Summer Son
From fifth album Hush, August 1999 single Summer Son was a steamy forbidden love song that hit it off with fans who took it to number five in the singles chart.
7 When We Are Together
Sharleen's voice echoes one of her early influences, Diana Ross and with a singalong chorus and this swimming pool video, When We Are Together is worth diving into …
8 Inner Smile
Something a bit different with Inner Smile's quirky performance from Sharleen, dressed up as Elvis in his 1968 Comeback mode, all black leather and adoring fans
9 Detroit City
Texas themselves describe Detroit City from The Conversation as "classic Texas, an infectious pop melody and killer singalong chorus. The fate of Detroit and its economic decline as the American motor trade gets shipped elsewhere, can't fade its musical
10 The Conversation
Catch up with The Conversation, title track of the new album, out since May …
11 Did we say Top 10? Well here's a bonus, next-up single Dry Your Eyes!
And get set for the upcoming single Dry Your Eyes out on November 18, sure to make an appearance in Sunday's setlist in Inverness, for those lucky enough to be going to the sell-out show!
And look out for our Top 10 Sharleen moments, up on the website soon!
