Scotland’s greatest solo artists

Scotland is not short of widely-heralded bands, but we also have a rich heritage of talented-yet-under appreciated solo musicians, past and present. The Scotsman surveys some of the nation’s greatest, most singularly talented artists

GERRY RAFFERTY

Gerry Rafferty’s death last year brought back into focus what Rafferty should have always been rememebered for: a supremely talented vocalist with a witty, urbane turn of phrase. Though he had formed several bands throughout his career, most notably The Humblebums with comedian Billy Connolly and Stealers Wheel with Joe Egan, it was as a solo musician where Rafferty shone most. ‘Baker Street’, among many others, remains an indefatigable anthem.

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ANNIE LENNOX

By the time Aberdeen-born Annie Lennox became a solo artist, she had already amassed a formidable catalogue as one half of Eurhythmics with David A. Stewart. A BRIT award might not mean tuppence these days, but the fact that Lennox has received eight of them - more than any other female artist, albeit four of them were awarded while paired with Stewart - is testament to the influence she had on pop music in the 80s and 90s.

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EDWYN COLLINS

Edwyn Collins had already accumulated more than enough kudos as frontman of post-punkers Orange Juice, but his solo career propelled him into the public consciousness, largely thanks to ‘A Girl Like You’, a single released in 1994 from third album Gorgeous George. He has since kept a lower profile - not least because of a life-threatening brain haemorrhage suffered in 2005 - but Collins remains a widely respected figure in Scottish music.

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FRANKIE MILLER

Though Frankie Miller’s most instantly recognisable song remains his Dougie Maclean cover of ‘Caledonia’, which was featured on a Tennent’s advert, Miller’s back catalogue of downtrodden, rough-hewn rock and blues, especially at his creative peak in the 70s, was equally deserving of the nation’s attentions. If there is no greater compliment for a musician than the admiration of his peers, then Miller would be forgiven for being rather pleased with himself: Johnny Cash, Ray Charles, Bonnie Tyler and Etta James are among just some of the artists who have covered his songs.

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