Letter from America...

Nostra Dam
2 days ago
6 min read

The Proclaimers is a Scottish band formed in 1983 by twin brothers Craig and Charlie Reid. Early in their career, the duo managed to produce a demo album thanks to the support of Kevin Rowland of Dexys Midnight Runners.

This demo album ended up in the hands of The Housemartins, who invited them to open for their tour in 1986. This unexpected exposure led to them being noticed by Chrysalis Records, who promptly signed them.

It would be another year before they released their first Single, "Throw the R' Away," in 1987, a track that unfortunately went largely unnoticed. However, their next Single, "Letter from America," was a huge success, becoming a massive hit in England and across Europe, propelling the two brothers to international stardom.

This track would later appear on the album "This Is the Story," released the same year, which also enjoyed considerable public acclaim.

This success was confirmed, and even amplified, the following year with the release of "Sunshine on Leith" in 1988, the album that brought them true global recognition. The group's success now extended worldwide, thanks in particular to the massive Single "I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles)."

Two years later, in 1990, they released the mini-album "King of the Road," which primarily featured the title track and, in terms of success, confirmed the group's excellent health at the beginning of the 1990s.

The following year, 1994, saw a slightly less glorious run with the release of the album "Hit the Highway," an album that achieved definite success but struggled to produce any truly global hit Singles.

This disappointing performance somewhat hampered the duo's subsequent career, leading them to take a break for several years, primarily due to family reasons.

They returned at the beginning of the 2000s, but nothing they released, neither albums nor Singles, achieved the incredible success they had enjoyed at the end of the 1980s.

To discover or rediscover...

Discography (among others ...) :

80s Decade :

Throw the R’ away 1987
Letter from America 1987
Make my heart fly 1988
I’m gonna be (500 miles) 1988
Sunshine on Leith 1988
I’m on my way 1989
Then I met you 1989

90s Decade :

King of the road 1990
Let’s get married 1994
What makes you cry ? 1994
These arms of mine 1994

2000s Decade :

There’s a touch 2001
Act of remembrance 2001
How many times 2001
Should have been loved 2003
Hate my love 2003
You meant it then 2003
When love struck you down 2005
Restless soul 2005
That's better now 2005
Life with you 2007
Whole wild world 2007
In recognition 2007
New religion 2008
Love can move montains 2009
Notes & Rhymes 2009
Notes & Rhymes 2009

2010s Decade :

Like comedy 2012
Spinning around in the air 2012
Whatever you’ve got 2012
You built me up 2015
What school ? 2015
If I'm still around 2015
Angry cyclist 2018
Streets of Edinburgh 2018
Sometimes it’s the fools 2019

2020s Decade :

Dentures out 2022
The world that was 2022
Sundays by John Calvin 2022

Tracks :

1987...a first Single that would have the merit of launching the twins onto the Scottish music scene. Limited exposure, but it was something at least...

1987...in a most improbable fashion, they managed to win their first prestigious star here, this time at the European level. Who would have thought it possible...

1988...a sequel that, paradoxically, wouldn't quite achieve the same level of success. Yet everything had started so well...

1988...but that was without counting on THIS hit ! This time it's a global jackpot and, at the same time, a direct ticket to posterity. HU-GE !

1988...they have a lot of trouble producing sequels of the same quality when the previous title has been particularly successful. This is further proof...

1989...it's a little better with this one, but only just. The duo can't seem to solidify their foundations and therefore remains immune to any setbacks...

1989...in any case, every new title is charted, which is something. Admittedly at varying levels, but the essential work is done nonetheless...

1990...the beginning of the 90s that would see them make an impressive comeback. It just goes to show, you only need a little bit of belief...

1994...it will take them a few years to continue the adventure, but here they are again nonetheless with this new album. A new album with considerable success...

1994...admittedly, its success was limited exclusively to England, but it's still better than nothing. Many would certainly be satisfied with that...

1994...three tracks were released during that year, and all three charted, which is no small feat. Now, the challenge is to maintain this level of quality...

2001...this time we're going to lose them for almost 7 years, which is no small thing. A long absence that isn't really going to do them any favors...

2001...at least in terms of the Singles charts, because they're managing to stay afloat somewhat in the albums charts. Let's hope it lasts...

2001...it is clear that they still have a sufficient base of fans who follow them faithfully and who have not abandoned them despite this long absence...

2003...no Single will be released from this new album, but that doesn't necessarily mean it will have to fly under the radar...

2003...the album itself will not go unnoticed and therefore gives the twins hope that they can continue the adventure as far as possible...

2003...admittedly, the level of success is nothing like what they experienced in the past, but that doesn't mean it's time to throw in the towel...

2005...and what followed proved that they had absolutely no intention of giving up. They still had things to offer and, above all, to sing...

2005...and some quality stuff, which certainly doesn't hurt, quite the opposite. So it's definitely a pleasure to continue following them, that's for sure...

2005...just like their core fans who rejoice immensely every time a new album is released. And there will be more albums...

2007...nothing and no one, at this stage, is in a position to tell the twins that it's time to think about retirement. And that's just as well...

2007...it's worth remembering that they started their career 20 years ago, which is quite a long time, and yet they're still here...

2007...a longevity they owe to only one thing, undoubtedly : their talent. And since talent generally doesn't fade, it allows most of them to last...

2008...at least for those who have it, because for the others, the die was cast and the disappearance a done deal...

2009...an adventure that continues on and on. It's impossible to stop them at this stage, regardless of success or failure...

2009...as long as they have things to offer and especially to sing, they will go as far as their strength allows...

2009...so, will we see them again in the next decade, or will this new title be their last ? Only the future, and above all themselves, can answer that question...

2012...and at first glance, they certainly intend to add another decade to their career tally. Truly exceptional longevity...

2012...but as always, only the most talented of each generation last this long. And they are certainly among them...

2012...every time it's clear we wonder if this new title will be the last, but every time they always come back again and again...

2015...and who could honestly complain ? Not us, in any case, because as long as they continue to maintain this level of quality, there's no reason why we shouldn't continue to follow them...

2015...they may have tried a little harder to keep up with the times in order to attract a different part of the public, but it doesn't matter as long as they end up with something...

2015...they will have kept more or less the same style from beginning to end without paying much attention to the musical developments of each era they went through...

2018...history has proven them right since they are still there at this stage, which is not the case for a lot of colleagues who started at the same time as them...

2018...a decade that saw them stay afloat without too much trouble. Success was limited, certainly, but still...

2019...the most important thing in this story is that they still believe in it, at least a little. And at first glance, nothing seems to shake their confidence in the future...