Del Amitri
Band members Related acts
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line up 1 (1982-88) - Justin Currie -- vocals, bass, guitar - Iain Harvie -- lead guitar - Brian Tolland -- guitar - Paul Tyagi -- drums, percussion
line up 2 (1988-89) - Justin Currie -- vocals, bass, guitar - Iain Harvie -- lead guitar NEW - Mick Slaven -- guitar (replaced Brian Tolland - Paul Tyagi -- drums, percussion
line up 3 (1989) - Justin Currie -- vocals, bass, guitar - Iain Harvie -- lead guitar NEW - Brian McDermott -- drums, percussion (replaced Paul Tyagi) - Mick Slaven -- guitar (replaced Brian Tolland
line up 4 (1989-94) NEW - Andy Alston -- keyboards NEW - David Cummings -- guitar (replaced Mick Slaven) - Justin Currie -- vocals, bass, guitar - Iain Harvie -- lead guitar - Brian McDermott -- drums, percussion (replaced Paul Tyagi)
line up 5 (1994) - Andy Alston -- keyboards - David Cummings -- guitar (replaced Mick Slaven) - Justin Currie -- vocals, bass, guitar - Iain Harvie -- lead guitar NEW - Chris Sharrock -- drums, percussion (replaced Brian McDermott)
line up 6 (1994-95) - Andy Alston -- keyboards - David Cummings -- guitar (replaced Mick Slaven) - Justin Currie -- vocals, bass, guitar - Iain Harvie -- lead guitar NEW - Ashley Soan -- drums, percussion (replaced Chris Sharrock)
line up 7 (1995-97) - Andy Alston -- keyboards - Justin Currie -- vocals, bass, guitar - Iain Harvie -- lead guitar NEW - Jon McLoughlin -- guitar (replaced David Cummings) - Ashley Soan -- drums, percussion (replaced Chris Sharrock)
line up 8 (1997-) - Andy Alston -- keyboards, percussion - Justin Currie -- vocals, bass, guitar, keyboards - Kris Dollimore -- guitar - Iain Harvie -- lead guitar NEW - Mark Price -- drums, percussion (replaced Ashley Soan)
line up 8 (1997-) - Andy Alston -- keyboards, percussion - Justin Currie -- vocals, bass, guitar, keyboards - Kris Dollimore -- guitar - Iain Harvie -- lead guitar NEW - Ash Soan -- drums, percussion (replaced Mark Price)
line up x (2002-) - Andy Alston -- keyboards, percussion - Justin Currie -- vocals, bass, guitar, keyboards - Kris Dollimore -- guitar, backing vocals - Iain Harvie -- lead guitar NEW - Mark Price -- drums, percussion (replaced Ash Soan)
supporting musicians (2002) - Kevin Bacon (aka Big Kev) -- bass - Rudy Bird -- percussion - Chris Cameron -- strings - Chri Elliott -- cello, trombone - Chris Komer -- French horn - Jonathan Quarmby -- percussion - Matthew Rubano -- bass - Joe Tomino -- programming
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- Aliens (Iain Harvie) - All About Eve (Mark Price) - Alston/Kirk Overdrive (Andy Alston) - The Blind Love (Ashley Soan) - Bonsai Forest (David Cummings) - The Brotherland (Kris Dollimore) - Justin Currie (solo efforts) - The Damned (Kris Dollimore) - Kris Dollimore - Fascinator (Andy Alston) - The Godfathers (Kris Dollimore) - The Groovy Tubes - The Higsons (David Cummings) - Jazz Sabbath (Ashley Soan) - Krew (Mark Price) - Major Setback Band (Kris Dollimore) - Mice (Mark Price) - This Oceanic Feeling Ashley Soan) - Producers (Ashley Soan) - Paul Quinn And The Independent Group (Andy Alston) - The Revillos (Jon McLoughlin) - Seeing Stars (Mark Price) - Ash Soan and Arriel Posen (Ashley Soan) - Squeeze (Ashley Soan) - Two Tribes (Jon McLoughlin) - The Uncle Devil Show (Justin Currie)
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Genre: rock Rating: 3 stars *** Title: Del Amitri Company: Chrysalis Catalog: BFV-41499 Country/State: Glasgow, Scotland Grade (cover/record): VG+/VG+ Comments: -- Available: 1 Catalog ID: -- Price: $35.00
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Most
of us have a band, or a particular album that instantly throws us back to a
certain time in our lives. The memories may be joyful, or painful ... but
there's that connection to our past. In my case, Del Amitri is one of those
bands, though the charms associated with their 1984 debut initially escaped
me. (I'll spare everyone the details of my particular memories ...)
"Del
Amitri" track listing:
© Scorr R. Blackerby July, 2026
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Genre: rock Rating: 4 stars **** Title: Can You Do Me Good? Company: A&M Catalog: UMCLP119 Country/State: Glasgow, Scotland Grade (cover/record): NM/NM Comments: sealed; 2025 reissue Available: 1 Catalog ID: -- Price: $60.00
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Five
years between albums is a lifetime in the music business. Del Amitri's
sixth studio album, 2002's "Can You Do Me Good?"
served as a good example of the the adage "change, or
die". Sure, the band had enjoyed some massive hits, but
their most recent releases hadn't matched those earlier successes, let alone
exceeded them in terms of sales. Their label Mercury Records seemingly
made it clear failure to
"Can
You Do Me Good?" track listing: 1.) Just Before You Leave (Justin Currie - Iain Harvie) - 5:14 rating: ***** stars I was working at home and had YouTube randomly playing songs in the background. Out of the background noise this song just came screaming at me - the voice; the groove; the sound ... I knew without looking who it was. Del Amitri was one of those mid-'80s bands that were constantly on my stereo and those countless hours of exposure mean Justin Currie's voice is instantly recognizable to my ears. The thing is I probably hadn't listened to a Del Amitri in a decade ... My loss. Released in 2002 (so I'm 18 years late to the party), "Just Before You Leave" is simply gorgeous. Kicked along by a Currie's purring vocals, a "gorilla glue" sticky chorus, Big Kev's driving bass line and Andy Alston's stabbing organ licks this may be the best soul song ever recorded by a Scottish band. Imagine what Curtis Mayfield would have sounded like had he been born and raised and Glasgow and you'll get a feel for the sophisticated soul vibe these guys captured. I could listen to this song twenty times in a row and not get sick of it. Shame the band didn't explore '70s soul grooves more extensively..
The song was released as part of a four track EP and accompanied by a promotional video: Del Amitri - Just Before You Leave - YouTube
- 2002's "Just Before You Leave" and "I'm an Unbeliever", "You Love Me" and "Belong Belong" (Mercury / A&M catalog number 497702-2)
YouTube has a live performance of the song recorded for a 2002 appearance on Later with Jools Holland: Del Amitri Just Before You Leave & Buttons On My Clothes - Jools Holland 2002
2.) Cash & Prizes (Justin Currie) - 4:38 rating: **** stars For folks who were lukewarm to the synthesizers and "modern" production touches, "Cash & Prizes" demonstrated they could still belt out an old school rocker. The "life is tough for the rich" lyrics didn't exactly strike a chord with me, but I have to admit classic Del Amitri will always have a place on my play list. 3.) Drunk in a Band (Justin Currie) - 2:44 rating: *** stars The ultimate "I'm in a band" song ... Yeah ity may not have been the deepest message song you'll ever encounter, but I bet it's a great in-concert number. The song was released as a European promotional CD:
- 2002's "Drunk In a Band" (Mercury catalog number JUSTCJ01)
4.) One More Last Hurrah (Justin Currie - Iain Harvie) - 4:52 rating: *** stars Harvie's stark acoustic guitar opening was mesmerizing, but elsewhere the synthesizers, electronic sound effects and syndrums really didn't add a great deal to the pretty ballad "One More Last Hurrah". In fact, they kind of detracted from the song's beautiful melody. 5.) Buttons on My Clothes (Justin Currie) - 4:05 rating: ***** stars Along with Mark Price's frenetic drumming, one of Harvie's prettiest guitar solos and Currie's world worn vocals, the chorus on "Buttons On My Clothes" was alone worth the price of admission ... I found myself humming this tune for weeks and it still pops into my head from time to time. Hard to understand why this wasn't tapped as a single. Kudos to Currie for writing the perfect "summer song" for those of us who hate summer songs. Starting at the 5:30 mark YouTube has a live performance of the song recorded for a 2002 appearance on Later with Jools Holland: Del Amitri Just Before You Leave & Buttons On My Clothes - Jools Holland 2002 \6.)
Baby, It's Me (Justin Currie) - 3:34 rating:
***** stars
(side 2)1.) Wash Her Away (Justin Currie - Iain Harvie) - 3:07 rating: **** stars The third of three Currie - Harvie collaborations, "Wash Her Away" again demonstrated the band could rock with the best of their contemporaries. Currie literally sounded like he was spitting the lyrics out. Nice fuzz guitar from Harvie. The weird feedback guitar closing wasn't necessary. 2.) Last Cheap Shot at the Dream (Justin Currie) - 4:12 rating: **** stars Lyrically I've always wondered if "Last Cheap Shot at the Dream" was a reflection on their ongoing record label issues. Not sure what Harvie was playing ... dobro? Regardless it gave he song a cool, mildly country-rock flavor. And those harmony vocals ... 3.) Out Falls the Past (Justin Currie) - 3:13 rating: **** stars It probably isn't cool to admit, but exemplified by "Out Falls the Past" I'm a sucker for the band's more pop-oriented tunes. Amazing how Currie simply seems to toss these tune out. 4.) She's Passing This Way (Justin Currie) - 2:44 rating: *** stars A
pretty, keyboard powered ballad, with minimal electronic add ons,"She's
Passing This Way" may have been the most "old fashion" Del
Amitri performance on the album. "Jesus Saves" started out as a weird, acoustic blues number before abruptly shifting into a full tilt rocker, complete with an arsenal of those weird electronic bleeps and burps. I've always wondered about the inspiration and meaning behind the tune. 6.) Just Getting By (Justin Currie) - 4:53 rating: **** stars Listening to the ballad "Just Getting By" underscored Currie did heartbreak better than ninety-nine percent of his contemporaries. One of the prettiest tunes he's ever penned and with the sweet orchestration was just begging to be placed on a romcom film soundtrack. Almost better than the orchestrated version, YouTube has a May 2012 Currie solo performance of the song: Just Getting By - Justin Currie - YouTube
© Scott R. Blackerby July, 2026
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Genre: rock Rating: 4 stars **** Title: Fatal Mistakes Company: Cooking Vinyl Catalog: 7
11297 52801 5 Country/State: Glasgow, Scotland Grade (cover/record): NM/NM Comments: sealed Available: 2 Catalog ID: -- Price: $80.00
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Well, it only took eighteen years for Del Amitri to record a follow-on to 2002's "Can You Do Me Good?" In the big scheme of things that's not all that long of a delay, but in the music business that's a lifetime and raises the question of whether a band can reclaim an audience after two decades; let alone make a comeback in this age without at least acknowledging popular (if not always good), tastes. Can a band that plays their own instruments, avoids rap, vocoders, samples, and at least one "guest' collaboration actually record a decent album, let alone cultivate an audience? Judging by 2021's "Fatal Mistakes" the answer is yes, though not many folks may be listening.
Having lost their recoding contract and simply tired of pursuing fame, front man Justin Currie folded Del Amitri in 2002. Over the next two decades Currie pursued a low-keyed solo career seeing the release of four solo albums and a collection credited to The Uncle Devil Show. He continued to write and perform, as well as working part time as a Glasgow bartender. There were occasional Del Amitri reunion tours, but in a good piece of timing Currie and original guitarist Iain Harvie decided to reform the band and record new material in the Spring of 2019. Rounding out the reactivated line-up were keyboardist Andy Alston, guitarist Kris Dollimore, and drummer Ash Soan. Three weeks of recording sessions were largely completed prior to COVID-19 lockdowns. It then took almost two years to finish mixing (done remotely) and to actually release the collection. So the good news is working with producer Dan Austin, Del Amitri sounded like they had some scores to settle and were in fine fighting form. Currie's instantly recognizable voice remained ageless, his performances on tracks like the opener 'You Can't Go Back' and 'Musicians and Beer' easily mistaken for material that could have been recorded as 'Roll with It' era Del Amitri. Similarly, the rest of the band sounded tight, enthusiastic, and so old-school as to be cool again. As chief songwriter Currie aptly displayed his gift for dark lyrics and bouncy melodies. While there were plenty of radio-friendly jangle-rockers including the single 'You Can't Go Back', they were rounded out by patented emotionally draining power ballads like 'All Hail Blind Love' and 'Second Staircase.' Elsewhere the acoustic ballad 'Lonely' introduced an CSN&Y vibe to the proceedings. Currie's material had always included a dark streak, but this time around he focused his anger and frustration on bigger targets. The almost hymnal 'Close Your Eyes and Think of England' should have sent politicians running for their safety rooms, while the scathing 'Nation of Caners' seemingly took a bitter look at commercialism and consumption.
Biggest compliment I can give the album is to tell you it's been on my turntable for the last two weeks.
Hey, anyone know anything about the odd album cover? Must be a story behind this odd collection of items ...
"Fatal
Mistakes" track listing: The album started out with a classic slice of Del Amitri jangle-rock, made even better by the fact Currie and company were clearly poking fun at themselves and their long delayed comeback. Currie sounded in fine form and the rest of the band were equally impressive. Instant flashback to prime-era Del Amitri (unless you weren't buying music in the mid-'80s). The accompanying video was simply hysterical: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lCGigqiAEXU 2.) All Hail Blind Love (Justin Currie · Iain Harvie) - 4:04 rating: **** stars Initially the bitter ballad 'All Hail Blind Love' struck me as an also-ran effort. And then one day while hiking the refrain popped into my head and I simply couldn't shake it. The tune was a perfect example of Currie's seemingly effortless ability to toss off criminally catchy melodies, coupled with unexpectedly dark lyrics. Recorded during the COVID-19 lockdown, YouTube has a remote, live version of the tune: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p6WbJVf06ks&list=RDp6WbJVf06ks&start_radio=1 3.) Musicians and Beer (Justin Currie) - 2:47 rating: *** stars 'Musicians and Beer' was a great title for a rock and roll song, but the vicious lyrics and a couple of choice words guaranteed radio wouldn't touch it with a ten foot pole. 4.) Close Your Eyes and Think of England (Justin Currie) - 3:31 rating: **** stars I barely understand American politics and cultural affairs, so trying to figure out the meaning of 'Close Your Eyes and Think of England' wasn't a task likely to bring much success. If I had to guess, I'd say the song was a brutal takedown of British politics and perhaps a commentary on Brexit, but who knows? Didn't Scotland want to remain in the EU? And perhaps I wasn't too far off the mark. Poking around the Del Amitri website I found the song described as "the state-of-the-nation lament" and "our European valediction, a ballad of pure bile and remorse, sweetened by a sledgehammer of sarcasm." Definitely a pretty tune with sad, haunting and disturbing lyrics. I can easily picture pubs full of drunk folks singing along with the tune, perhaps not realizing Currie really didn't intend it to be a patriotic anthem. Hey, does that make it a Scottish version of Bruce Springsteen's 'Born In the USA'? Here's a link to the promotional video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kRhTFlfwbgM 5.) Losing the Will To Die (Justin Currie) - 2:35 rating: **** stars Even when just going through the motions Currie and company manage to turn in melodies that most band's can only fantasize over. Hearing 'Losing the Will To Die' it's easy to forget Currie's voice was incredibly versatile. A rollicking blue-eyed soul tune that was highly commercial. Speculation on my part, but I remember reading an interview with Currie where he mentioned he never expected to make it to 50 and found himself unexpectedly jubilant when he made that milestone and so many of his friends and acquaintances had not. 6.) Otherwise (Justin Currie) - 3:02 rating: **** stars Pretty ballad showcasing some glistening harmony vocals. Currie does heartbreak better than virtually anyone in music. 7.) It's Feeling (Justin Currie) - 2:54 rating: **** stars Another slice of classic Del Amitri, 'It's Feeling' had it all - great melody, wonderful Currie vocals, shimmering harmonies. I was humming the refrain for weeks. Now if someone could explain the thematically dark promotional video to me ... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fDQzHNOV4Ok
(side 2) 1.) I'm So Scared of Dying (Justin Currie) - 4:27 rating: **** stars A dark ballad with some wonderful harmonies, drawing a link to COVID-19 might be too obvious, but in an interview I read Currie discussed succumbing to COVID fear that saw him spending much of the pandemic isolating in his home. He also lost his father to the disease. 2.) Mockingbird, Copy Me Now (Justin Currie - Kris Dollimore) - 2:24 rating: *** stars I'm not a big folk fan so 'Mockingbird, Copy Me Now' left me cold. I'll admit I didn't have a clue what the song was about, but in a lengthy interview with Tom Lanham in Illinois Entertainer, Currie described the song as "being about a brow-beaten husband whose spouse constantly mimics him to take the piss out of him, so he eventually decides that he's gonna kill himself because he thinks she'll copy him doing that, and then he'll get his revenge on her." 3.) Missing Person (Justin Currie) - 3:20 rating: *** stars Country and folk influences in songs don't usually don't do much for me, but on the bouncy 'Missing Person' they were acceptable. Always laugh at the lyric "Alone with my one obsession, me, me, me ...." I can see myself drinking a couple of beers to this one. 4.) Second Staircase (Justin Currie) - 3:01 rating: *** stars Built on a song title he'd written years earlier, 'Second Staircase' has some interesting lyrics and was one of the prettiest ballads the band has ever recorded. Once again Currie took heartbreak to a new level. 5.) Lonely (Justin Currie - Iain Harvie) - 3:28 rating: **** stars Unlike anything they'd previously recorded, the stark, acoustic ballad 'Lonely' spotlighted the band's wonderful harmonies accompanied by some tasty acoustic guitar. There was kind of a CSN&Y vibe going on here. You can just imagine hardcore romantics swooning to this one. 6.) Nation of Caners (Justin Currie) - 7:39 rating: **** stars The lyrics for 'Nation of Caners' constituted another diatribe largely lost on my American ears. Built on a rollicking melody that built in intensity, the tune featured a tidal wave of lyrics - You had to wonder how Currie would ever remember the lyrics in a live performance. Perhaps a jab at modern commercialism and our collective insatiable demand for "stuff" Currie seemed to be taking aim at a wide spectrum of humanity, including social media, science deniers, climate change deniers, etc. The track just built up layers of scorn, criticism, and anger ... Great way to end the album.
© Scott R. Blackerby July, 2026
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churn
out a hit would see them dropped. The resulting pressure on Currie and
company seemed to be reflected in songs like "Last Cheap Shot at the
Dream" and "Just Getting By". It also saw the band
tentatively embrace what had become mainstays throughout the rest of
the music industry. The album found them teaming with multiple
"hot" producers (Kevin Bacon, Pete Smith, Jonathan Quarmby and
Gordon Williams); embracing synthesizers, drums machines,
sampling and a wide array of studio effects. Mind you these thirteen
tracks were instantly
recognizable as a Del Amitri product. Justin Currie's voice instantly
jumped out at you and on tracks like "Wash Her Away" and "Out
Falls the Past" his knack for crafting highly melodic, commercial and
memorable material remained intact. At the same time it took me a
couple of spins to wrap my head around those "modern" production
effects on songs like "One More Last Hurrah", "Baby, It's
Me" and "Wash Her Away". I guess those moves gave the
album a slightly more contemporary feel but they really didn't do anything
to improve the underlying tunes. Most of Currie's tunes were so strong they
would have been just as good without any of the high tech maturations.
Shoot, maybe even better. Biggest surprise and one of the standout
performances; the Curtis Mayfield influenced "Just Before You
Leave". It's
become the Del Amitri album I consistently return to (and I like almost the
entire catallog).
