John has been writing songs for many years and his abilities were recognised when he won a song writing competition in the famous Scotia Bar in Glasgow, during the city's year of culture in 1990. More recently "Odd Sox Blues" (“A Mystery”on the album) was performed by Alistair McDonald on Scottish Television and his Dundee exile song "The Old Town" featured in the BBC program "Unbelievable Dundee". John is also a member of the Scottish folk group Cruachan. Highly recommended in the Scots Magazine the band has played festivals in Europe as well as at home in Scotland. Recently John also teamed up with old friend, author and storyteller, Stuart McHardy, to perform songs and stories at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe. As a solo performer John sings and plays guitar. A feature of his material is its variety. Traditional Scots and Irish songs are mixed with the Blues and songs of American singer/song-writers such as Dylan, Paxton and Prine. John will provide a transatlantic session all on his own. Now writing more of his own material John performs to appreciative audiences at folk clubs throughout Scotland. This album consists of the following songs as described by John. A Mystery It’s amazing the number of people who have trouble with odd socks. Mary Shelly Mary Shelly, famous for writing 'Frankenstein' spent the best part of two years between 1812 and 1814 in Dundee, sent there by her father to improve her health. When I read the novel I thought it was the best book I had ever read. I then thought back to my childhood in South Baffin Street in Dundee where there was a plaque on the steps leading up to the Royalty Cinema. The plaque said this was the site of the cottage mentioned in Frankenstein. I did not understand what it meant at the time but now know that this was the site of the cottage of the Baxter family, where Mary stayed as a young teenage girl. The daughter of the family, Isabelle, became her best friend. The plaque disappeared about the early 70s. 21st Century I wrote this just after the millennium celebrations. I didn't think there was a lot to celebrate at the time. MV Amazing Grace A few years age I visited a couple of friends who live on the small island of Beque, one of the Grenadine Islands in the East Caribbean. They work as musicians and entertain the passengers on cruise ships that anchor in the bay. I joined them on a gig on a boat one day called 'Amazing Grace' and came across this plaque - yes a plaque again- saying that the ship had been built in the Caledon shipyard in Dundee where my grandfather had worked as a riveter. I have since discovered the ship was originally named 'Pharos' and was a lighthouse supply vessel before being renamed and turned into a cruise ship in the Caribbean. Clova Glen Clova is one of the beautiful Angus Glens where I have spent many a happy time. It abounds with wild life. Life is for the Living Inspired by my parents who lived life to the full. The Old Town A Dundee exile missing what's gone and perhaps what's soon to go. Good Health I'm all for natural medicines, but you can get too obsessed about your health. Baby Boomer Blues There was a lot of talk about change in the 60s but things haven't changed much. When the Feelings Gone One of my first songs written a while ago. Wet and Windy Blues That year it never stopped raining...