Duglas Stewart’s Frankenstein

Featuring an array of Glasgow’s pop glitterati, Duglas Stewart’s Frankenstein is the lost BMX Bandits masterpiece. Except that now it’s been found. Originally released only on CD in 1996, this new vinyl version can be regarded as a ‘director’s cut’ – enhanced, expanded, featuring the group’s cult hero leader Duglas and a cast of pals including the likes of Norman Blake and Francis Macdonald (Teenage Fanclub), Sushil K Dade (Soup Dragons), Joe McAlinden (Superstar), Stuart Kidd, David Scott, Mitch Mitchell and Bill Wells. Plus lots of others. As well as a selection of Bandits originals and new tracks (such as the Blake- penned Slow Fade), Frankenstein also features covers of songs by Bob Dylan, the Beach Boys, Randy Newman and more. “The album is our most lo-fi album and it contains more cover versions than we would usually have on an album but it still feels very personal to me,” says Duglas. “It had a strong influence on much of the material that BMX Bandits went on to make after my long-term partner-in-pop Francis Macdonald’s departure from the group in 2005.” The album begins with the magical Unbreakable Heart, which Duglas describes as “one of my favourite recordings I’ve ever been involved in … it was just the three of us (Norman, Frank and me) at Norman’s flat in Glasgow.” However, Duglas says the album never felt complete to him, explaining: “With this reissue I wanted to bring some other tracks to the album that felt like they belonged in the world of Duglas Stewart’s Frankenstein. So here it is. I am very proud of this album. ”