This predominantly Glaswegian act became one of the top-selling UK bands of the late 1980s/early 1990s. The group's members were Ricky Ross, Lorraine McIntosh, James Prime, Dougie Vipond, Ewan Vernal and Graeme Kelling.
Ross, a former school teacher originally from Dundee, was the group's frontman, penning the vast majority of Deacon Blue's songs. He married female vocalist Lorraine McIntosh in the later years of the band's career. McIntosh, born May 1964 in Glasgow joined the band in 1987 as a vocalist.
The band's first album, Raintown, produced by Jon Kelly and released in 1987, is regarded by many as the band's finest effort, spawning the singles "Dignity", "Chocolate Girl" and "Loaded". Many consider Raintown to be a concept album, since nearly all the songs contribute to the overall theme of being stuck in a dead-end life in a deprived city longing for something better. The city that the album's title refers to is Glasgow, and the memorable cover art of the album is a shot of the River Clyde's docks taken on a miserable day from Kelvingrove Park.
The second album, 1988's When The World Knows Your Name, was the band's most commercially successful, with the mega-selling singles "Real Gone Kid", "Wages Day" and "Fergus Sings The Blues". However, music critics began deriding the band at this stage for pursuing commercial success over artistic quality, citing the earlier achievements of Raintown.
Jon Kelly returned to the producer's chair in 1991 for Fellow Hoodlums, and the album was met with more critical success, but by now the group's honeymoon period was over and their success started to wane. This album was followed up with Whatever You Say, Say Nothing in 1993, a much more experimental album which gained praise from the critics, but was a commercial failure.
The band released a Greatest Hits compilation the following year.
With Vipond's decision to quit the group in favour for a career in television, Deacon Blue split up in 1994.
Five years later, the band held an unexpected reunion gig in 1999, and this led on to a new album, Walking Back Home, with the band now working on a part-time basis.
The band released another album, Homesick, in 2001.
Though Graeme Kelling died from cancer in 2004, the band has vowed to continue in his absence.
The year 2006 saw Deacon Blue returning to the studio to record three new tracks for a Singles album - including the track "Bigger than Dynamite".
The band performed at Manchester United's Old Trafford stadium, as the pre-match entertainment for the Rugby League Super League Grand Final on the 14 October, and continued on to a full UK tour in November.
The album The Hipsters was released in 2012.
http://www.deaconblue.com/, followed by A New House, Believers, City of Love and Riding On The Tide Of Love.
In 2023 the band released a greatest hits set titled "All The Old 45's" along with a box set of all their albums titled "You Can Have It All".
A Brighter Star Than You Will Shine
Deacon Blue Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The accordians
And sweet trumpets rise
Rusty memories
Of sin and doubting
Mingle in around
The Queen Street
Traffic noiseWould that all the love in the world
Watch me through the night
You know the preacher
All he preaches is vanity
Maybe, at last, you`ll see
A brighter star than you will shine one day
Hymns and words and busy planets
Said the preacher have come and gone
Even your smile will one day die away
When your wealth and words are forgotten
Would that all the love in the world
Stay with me tonight
You know the preacher
All he preaches is vanity
Maybe, at last, you`ll see
A brighter star than you will shine one day
The opening lines of 'A Brighter Star Than You Will Shine', by Deacon Blue, suggests a sense of place with the mention of "Queen Street" and "flag stones," and a musical setting with "accordions" and "sweet trumpets." The following lines circle back to the concept of memory, reflecting on the past with its "rusty memories of sin and doubting". The preacher is introduced, as someone who can only preach vanity despite his words and hymns. The song speaks to a desire for everlasting love and hope, something greater than what may come from earthly possessions and achievements.
The overall message of the song is one of hope and strives to bring a sense of comfort to the listener. It reminds us that there is something greater than the things of this world, and that perhaps, one day, we'll catch a glimpse of it. The preacher's words, however, are of limited value in this search for ultimate truth. Instead, it is through love and connection that we gain a truer sense of meaning and purpose.
In 'A Brighter Star Than You Will Shine', Deacon Blue touches on the human experience in a profound way. The song is a testament to the power of memory, how it can be both sweet and rusty, and how it shapes who we are. Ultimately, the song is about hope and the bigger picture, something greater that we can all look forward to someday.
Line by Line Meaning
Down on the flag stones
On the street pavement
The accordians
The musical instrument accordions
And sweet trumpets rise
The sound of sweet music from trumpets fills the air
Rusty memories
Memories that have faded over time
Of sin and doubting
Memories of questioning faith and morality
Mingle in around
Mix together in the surroundings
The Queen Street
Queen Street, a street name
Traffic noise
The sound of traffic passing by
Would that all the love in the world
If only all the love in the world
Watch me through the night
Could keep watch over me throughout the night
You know the preacher
Referring to a religious leader
All he preaches is vanity
His teachings are meaningless
Maybe, at last, you'll see
Perhaps finally you'll understand
A brighter star than you will shine one day
Someone better than you will succeed someday
Hymns and words and busy planets
Religious songs, teachings, and the movement of celestial bodies
Said the preacher have come and gone
The teachings of the religious leader have passed over time
Even your smile will one day die away
Even the happiest of times fade with time
When your wealth and words are forgotten
When people no longer remember your success or what you spoke
Would that all the love in the world
If only all the love in the world
Stay with me tonight
Could remain with me throughout the night
You know the preacher
Referring to a religious leader
All he preaches is vanity
His teachings are meaningless
Maybe, at last, you'll see
Perhaps finally you'll understand
A brighter star than you will shine one day
Someone better than you will succeed someday
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: PRIME, ROSS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@pauldavis3698
Lorraines eyes omg
She's a babe x
@davewhite6418
BRILLIANT
@philipmoss2922
Just a brilliant song...love the simple beginning...the build up ....the contrast of their voices...just wonderful....faultless ....love her voice.
@wtorules4743
Far more than just a pop band. Long live DB.
@sirocarraro7597
Deacon blue you’re amazing , simply magnificent
@jacquelinestirling4312
Loved this forever...still sounds fresh as then... classic Deacon Blue...long may they reign 🎙🎹🎶♩🎼💙💙💙
@angelgonzalezlucero7324
My favourite song of Fellow Hoodlums. Ewen's bass line is simply jazz.
@wtorules4743
The whole album is a Ewan masterpiece.
@angelgonzalezlucero7324
@@wtorules4743 so true!
@Sunset_City_Blues
Ricky said he wanted Fellow Hoodlums to be more focused on the drums and bass...sounds great. Ewan's bass on One Day I'll Go Walking is epic, and it's a real shame he left the band.