For those wondering, Complete Danny Wilson is a magnificent 5CD box set bringing together the bands two albums as well as all their B-Sides, mixes and a complete live show (some of which has never been heard before).

The band have been involved in all aspects of the release and have been interviewed extensively for the booklet providing an insight into the band’s history.

Formed in Dundee in 1984 Danny Wilson was best known for its 1988 UK number three hit single ‘Mary’s Prayer’. The band’s debut album ‘Meet Danny Wilson’, was released in 1987. The lead single, ‘Mary’s Prayer’ reached number three in the UK charts as well as the top 40 in America.

The band released its second album, ‘Bebop Moptop’ the following year and produced the hit single ‘The Second Summer of Love’, which reached number 23 in the UK charts.

Disc One: Meet Danny Wilson (1987)
1. Davy
2. Aberdeen
3. Mary’s Prayer
4. Lorraine Parade
5. Nothing Ever Goes to Plan
6. Broken China
7. Steamtrains to the Milky Way
8. Spencer Tracey
9. You Remain an Angel
10. Ruby’s Golden Wedding
11. A Girl I Used to Know
12. Five Friendly Aliens
13. I Won’t Be Here When You Get Home

Scottish trio Danny Wilson (named after a 1952 Frank Sinatra film) released only two albums in their brief but brilliant career. For those in the know, both remain cherished gems that have earned a cult-like following over the years and stand out as a sort of a best-kept secret in your collection.

Like the surprise hit Mary’s Prayer, their debut and the follow-up from 1989 are flawless throughout; filled with soulful influences, fearless creativity, and unparalleled pop craftsmanship. Me personally, well aside from the radio hits I love both Aberdeen and the deep cut Lorraine Parade.

Disc Two: Bebop Moptop (1989)
1. Imaginary Girl
2. The Second Summer of Love
3. I Can’t Wait
4. If You Really Love Me (Let Me, Go)
5. If Everything You Said Was True
6. Loneliness
7. I Was Wrong
8. Charlie Boy
9. Never Gonna Be the Same
10. Desert Hearts
11. N.Y.C. Shanty
12. Goodbye Shanty Town
13. The Ballad of Me and Shirley Maclaine

Whilst Meet Danny Wilson was widely regarded as one of the finest debut albums of the late 80’s, unfortunately their promising start out of the pop music gates came to a crashing halt with the less than stellar follow-up, 1989’s Bebop Moptop.

Members Gary Clark, Kit Clark, and Ged Grimes still weaved sophisticated, Steely Dan-style jazz-pop arrangements with clever wordplay, but the lack of strong pop hooks makes Bebop Moptop a frustrating listen. It seems Danny Wilson was more concerned with coming up with clever song titles like The Second Summer of Love and The Ballad of Me and Shirley Maclaine than anything resembling a memorable tune.

Only the catchy I Was Wrong is nearly as good as the flawless pop from the band’s debut. Bebop Moptop is far from a terrible album, please know that, but it is nowhere close to being what their debut’s potential promised. Thus the album failed to match the success of its predecessor, and Danny Wilson disbanded a year later in 1990.

Disc Three: B-Sides / Edits / Mixes
1. I Won’t Forget - B-Side Davy 2. Pleasure To Pleasure - B-Side Davy 3. Monkey’s Shiny Day - B-Side Mary’s Prayer 4. Mary’s Prairie - B-Side Mary’s Prayer 5. Kathleen (House Mix) - B-Side Davy 6. Living To Learn - B-Side Davy 7. Kooks - B-Side Mary’s Prayer 8. Get Happy - B-Side If Everything You Said 9. Growing Emotional - B-Side Second Summer of Love 10. I’ll Be Waiting - B-Side Second Summer of Love 11. The Lonesome Road - B- Side If Everything You Said 12. A Girl I Used to Know - Single Mix 13. If Everything You Said Was True - Radio Edit

Disc Four: B-Sides / Edits / Mixes
1. A Girl I Used to Know - US Remix with Guitar Solo 2. Mary’s Prayer - Paul Staveley O’Duffy Remix 3. Nothing Ever Goes to Plan - Blix Mix ’86 4. Aberdeen (The Way it Should Have Been) - The Strepzil Logic Twelve Inch 5. I Can’t Wait - Remix 6. If You Really Love Me (Let Me, Go) - New York Mix 7. From A Boy to A Man - Sweet Danny Wilson Comp 8. Monkey’s Shiny Day - Original Demo Version 9. Steam Trains to The Milky Way - Original Demo 10. Broken China - Original Demo 11. A Fragile World - Portastudio 12. St. Jude - Portastudio 13. The Second Summer of Love - The Dundee Demo

Disc Five: Live @ London Town & Country Club, 1 October 1990
1. Never Gonna Be the Same 2. Broken China 3. Davy 4. I Was Wrong 5. Lorraine Parade 6. Steamtrains To the Milky Way 7. Charlie Boy 8. Knowing Me Knowing You 9. Imaginary Girl - Everything You Said 10. Aberdeen 11. I Can’t Wait 12. Mary’s Prayer 13. Loneliness 14 The Second Summer of Love - Caird Hall, Dundee, 16th September 1989 [BONUS TRACK] 15 Don’t Know Who I Am - live, Studio 5, Tyne Tees Television [BONUS TRACK]

Danny Wilson featured:
Gary Clark – Lead Vocals, Guitars, Keyboards, Harmonica.
Kit Clark – Guitars, Backing and Lead Vocals, Keyboards, Harmonica, Percussion.
Ged Grimes – Bass Guitar, Upright Bass, Keyboards, Backing Vocals.

Official Purchase Link

www.dannywilsonmusic.com