Alan Rankine
From The Art and Popular Culture Encyclopedia
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Alan Rankine (1958 – 2023) was a Scottish musician and record producer known for such compositions as "Rumours of War" (1986).
He was keyboardist and guitarist for the band the Associates, which he co-founded with Billy Mackenzie in the late 1970s.
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Career
Born in Bridge of Allan, Stirlingshire, Rankine began his career with the cabaret band Caspian, which became the Associates. Together they recorded three albums: The Affectionate Punch (1980), the singles compilation Fourth Drawer Down (1981) and Sulk (1982). Rankine left the band in 1982 on the eve of what would have been the Sulk tour.
While Mackenzie continued with other associates, Rankine established himself as a producer, working with artists such as Paul Haig, Cocteau Twins, and The Pale Fountains. He signed to Belgian label Les Disques du Crépuscule in 1986 and embarked on a solo career. He recorded three solo albums: The World Begins to Look Her Age (1986), She Loves Me Not (1987), and the fully instrumental The Big Picture Sucks (1989).
Rankine later worked as a lecturer in Stow College in Glasgow until 2010, when he left to return to music production. While working as a lecturer he helped students to set up their own inhouse record label Electric Honey, which went on to launch the careers of bands such as Belle and Sebastian, Snow Patrol and Biffy Clyro.
His death was announced on 3 January 2023, aged 64.
Solo discography
Albums
- The World Begins to Look Her Age (1986), Les Disques du Crépuscule
- She Loves Me Not (1987), Virgin/Les Disques du Crépuscule
- The Big Picture Sucks (1989), Les Disques du Crépuscule
- Compilations
- The Big Picture Sucks/The World Begins To Look Her Age (1989), Crépuscule au Japon/JVC Victor
Singles
- "The Sandman" (1986), Les Disques du Crépuscule
- "Last Bullet" (1986), Les Disques du Crépuscule
- "Days and Days" (1987), Les Disques du Crépuscule
- "The World Begins to Look Her Age" (1987), Virgin/Les Disques du Crépuscule
- "The Sandman" (1987), Virgin/Les Disques du Crépuscule
Linking in at time of death
Belle and Sebastian, The Associates (band), Bridge of Allan, Tigermilk, Winston Tong, Electric Honey (label), Billy Mackenzie, John Murphy (musician), Joy (Skids album), Peppermint Pig, Paul Haig, Michael Dempsey, Boys Keep Swinging, Tessa Niles, Victory for the Comic Muse, Sulk, Stow College, Big Blue World, Then Again (Paul Haig album), Heaven Help You Now, Love Eternal (song), The Warp of Pure Fun, The Affectionate Punch, Fourth Drawer Down, Perhaps (album), She Loves Me Not, Throw the Warped Wheel Out, All or Nothing (Fiction Factory song), Wild and Lonely, Illuminate... (The Hits and More), 911 (English group), Party Fears Two, Big Gold Dream, Chris Parry (producer)
