Top Of The Box

Orange Juice - I Can’t Help Myself, Whistle Test, 1982

First shown on 22nd February on BBC4, last night I watched a very moving documentary about Edwyn Collins on BBC2, Edwyn Collins: Home Again.  It followed Edwyn’s continuing recovery from a brain haemorrhage that was the result of two strokes and contracting MRSA  in 2005.  Last year Edwyn Collins played his first gig at Dingwalls in London.

I cried at the beginning of the documentary but after 15 minutes Edwyn was making huge progress and my tears changed to a beaming smile, as I heard one of Edwyn’s infectious laughs.

In the early 1980’s Edwyn Collins and his group Orange Juice had a profound affect on my sense of cool and the way I played guitar.  Along with other young Scottish bands such as Aztec Camera, Josef K & The Fire Engines, Orange Juice were a breathe of fresh air with thier jangly guitar pop.

Here is ultra-cool Edwyn Collins performing I Can’t Help Myself circa 1982 on The Whistle Test.   Keep on the road to recovery, Edwyn.