I'm A Millionaire In Paris, In Raggedy Man's Disguise

March 19, 2018 7:09 AM

First named Spencer Tracy, the Dundee-based trio needed to rename after the estate of the actor threatened to sue. They chose Danny Wilson, after the eponymous Frank Sinatra character in "Meet Danny Wilson".
Signed to Virgin Records in 1986, their first album came out a year later, and spawned a world wide hit about a girl named Mary, but a careful listen to the entire album reveals a great deal more than just a girl praying.

Davy
Aberdeen
Mary's Prayer
Lorraine Parade
Nothing Ever Goes To Plan
Broken China
Steamtrains To The Milky Way
Spencer-Tracey
You Remain An Angel
Ruby's Golden Wedding
A Girl I Used To Know
Five Friendly Aliens
I Won't Be Here When You Go Home

Kudos to HippyBear for the encouragement and making this look so simple

posted by Major Matt Mason Dixon (8 comments total)

One of my absolute favorite bands of the era that I wanted to share with everyone. If it were possible to wear a CD out, this one would have been dust. I hope you enjoy!
posted by Major Matt Mason Dixon at 7:13 AM on March 19, 2018

Thumbs up on this post. It's a great record, and far more sophisticated than most pop music (of any era).
posted by jonathanhughes at 8:38 AM on March 19, 2018

Gary Clark is such an amazing songwriter, totally underrated, but then again, I also think that Difford & Tilbrook aren't really given their due, either.
posted by Major Matt Mason Dixon at 10:58 AM on March 19, 2018 [2 favorites]

This is the first I've heard of Gary Clark, so you may be right there, but Difford & Tilbrook used to be compared to Lennon & McCartney, which sound like plenty of due given.
posted by pracowity at 11:23 AM on March 19, 2018

I didn't wear the CD out but my copy was defective and is now full of holes. It's packed away or I'd post a link to a picture. By the time I ripped it ECC couldn't save it.

I don't know when this got airplay, but I likely heard Mary's Prayer on WLIR (or was it WDRE by then?) back in the day. So I probably bought it not that long after it came out.

CDs aren't forever so if you've got a good copy, you might want to rip it.
posted by jclarkin at 5:42 PM on March 19, 2018

I loved Mary's Prayer back in the day. I also had the misfortune to catch Kit Clark's later band at a Teenage Fanclub gig in Wick. Swiss Family Orbison they were called. The were possibly the worst thing I have ever witnessed on a stage.
posted by gnuhavenpier at 4:21 AM on March 20, 2018

The were possibly the worst thing I have ever witnessed on a stage.
That's really unfortunate.
My assumption is that Gary was the heart and soul and majority talent in Danny Wilson, because his solo CD, along with his work with King L are just as good as the DW stuff.
posted by Major Matt Mason Dixon at 5:38 AM on March 20, 2018

I'm going to check out the DW now. It was on my Smash Hits 88 cassette but I never heard anything else.
posted by gnuhavenpier at 6:30 AM on March 20, 2018