After two and a half years, Tom and Svein have finally arrived at the fourth song from their selection of songs from the Wonderland EP. Heart And Soul is one of the earliest Big Country songs, and it fascinates the hosts how much of the song would show up in later works thematically. Expect the usual deep-dive into the song's history, lyrics, and music.
Tom and Svein take another sidestep as they do a PSA about Svein's new book "Rocking In the Norselands, part 1". Find out what the book is all about, how it was like to put it together, and several reflections on the power of stories about music. Thanks for indulging us, and we'll be back with the next part of the Wonderland deep-dive series soon.
We have reached the third part of the Wonderland deep-dive, which continues with its track-by-track approach. This time Tom and Svein takes a thorough look at All Fall Together, and rarely have they been so in sync about being jubilantly positive about a track. Expect some song background for both Giant and All Fall Together, an overview of different versions, as well as the usual dissection of music and lyrics. And if you're a fan of the movie Streets of Fire, apologies in advance!
The Wonderland deep-dive continues with this second part, which is wholly devoted to the track Angle Park. This is the first Big Country song that Stuart and Bruce finished in 1981, with its roots going back several years before that. We delve deep into the timeline of the track, its lyrical meanings, and the actual location in Dunfermline that named it. Wonderland may "just" an EP, but after just two songs we have spent more time on it than we have some of the albums!
To celebrate the podcast's 10th anniversary, Tom and Svein speak at long last to Pete and Alan Wishart, the respective keyboardist and bassist in the very first incarnation of Big Country. This is an incredibly informative conversation on the earliest begninnings of the band, including the ill-fated Alice Cooper tour and the subsequent difficult decision by Stuart to revamp the lineup. Some rare live clips are played from BC's first-ever show, as well as some rare interview clips with Pete and S...
After talking about the possibility of a Wonderland deep-dive several times, it's finally happening. Tom and Svein dive deeper than ever before as they explore every aspect of the most significant singles release in the band's career and get into the song itself. You are welcome to join them, but encouraged to bring an extra oxygen tank for this one.
Over thirteen months after the previous proper episode of The Great Divide, Tom and Svein are back. They may have missed out on a 2021 Christmas Yuletide episode, but as the traditional Yule season stretches well into January, your hosts make amends with a New Years Yule episode instead. 2021 is recapped and events are caught up on as our host shake off their ringrust in anticipation for a more active 2022.
When we recorded the first Millar Mix petition in 2014, we didn't know what to expect. After years of this seeming like a lost cause, developments in 2021 have left us more hopeful than ever. Please listen to the latest updates, sign the petition, and share it with others. We can make it happen if we all act NOW!
The Yuletide that nearly didn't happen is here. Join Tom and Svein for a look at the things that didn't happen this year, the things that happened, and the things we all have to look forward to. We send a Christmas letter to an old friend, and explore how Big Country music ended up in a computer game in the 1980s. Have at Yule!
After a bit of a break since our last proper episode, Tom and Svein are joined by Bruce Watson and John Gouveia. Expect a bit of general catch-up and LOTS of questions submitted by BC fans on the Great Divide Facebook page. Hear Bruce talk about his pre-BC bands, the recent Skids online show, his Subbuteo collection (and plans to do a match video soon), memories of past shows, and much more.
In this final installment of our WKW Pledger episodes, Tom and Svein are joined by Americans Jim Schubilske and Steve Coulter and by UK native Iain Chambers. A variety of Big Country topics are discussed, including favorite BC live songs, bands that should cover BC songs and what cover they should choose to fit their style, the shortest BC set in history, and Hammer Time. Sound bites are played and many laughs ensue.
Bruce Watson and John Gouveia join Tom and Svein in discussing Big Country's recent shows on the US East coast. Bruce also gives an update on how the current COVID-19 virus outbreak is impacting the band and answers fan-submitted questions. Listen to Tom share some great stories from his Big Country adventures in New York! Find out why JfnG had to burn his couch! Hear us marvel at the Whitley streaming concert! As usual there is also some rambling and general updates on this and that, and we hop...
Tom and Svein speak with two more WKW pledgers from WKW's "Men of Steel" campaign: Gene Melang and John Lewis. Gene and Tom speak a good bit about WKW, which includes a segment with Bruce Watson answering some of Gene's questions for him. Gene is kind enough to allow us to share Tom's acoustic version of "Where the Rose is Sown", which Gene also received as part of his pledge. John Lewis talks about the early days of the BC email group, his own history as a fan and shares some nostalgic memories...
WKW has released their new album Men of Steel on CD, a feat which would have not been possible without so many generous pledgers. One of those pledge tiers got the benefactor an appearance on the show, and on this episode, we talk to the first two who purchased that option in the WKW Crowdfunding Campaign: Stuart Arnott and Tom Stieber. Between the two of them, we'll hear tales of gigantic record collections, surprise free shows during the Buffalo Skinners era, and the time Tony Butler performed...
Is it Yule again already? Tom and Svein celebrate the year that has been in terms of podcast episodes, the WKW crowdfunding project, and other musings. The King of the Bogans, Andy Inkster, provides the main course as he visits the show to host an epic quiz for Tom and Svein. Who shall be victorious? John Gouveia is also called for the latest news and updates from Parts Unknown. Enjoy, have a happy holiday season, and have at Yule!
This episode is about the 'Return To Steeltown' 35th Anniversary Tour, focusing on the very first show at the Cavern Club in Liverpool. As it happens, Svein was at that show and brings stories, soundclips, thoughts and reflections from his first BC adventure. Several Speakpipes are featured from others who also attended this show.
Tom and Svein finish The Crossing deep-dive series with an entire episode devoted to the final song on the album: "Porrohman". The most epic song gets the most epic discussion: three hours of the deepest dive possible, the podcast's longest discussion for a single song ever. Enjoy the final episode from the last album deep-dive that we'll ever do!
Tom and Svein continue to dissect The Crossing in the bloated manner of which only they are capable of. Three more hours, two more songs: "Close Action" and "Fields of Fire". We'll also hear some of listener Speakpipes and a rare live performance from the band. Only one episode to go in what is shaping up to be our deepest Deep Dive ever.
The deep-dive of The Crossing continues with "Harvest Home" and "Lost Patrol." What was meant to be a nice and easy episode become the deepest of deep-dives with Tom and Svein going to unforeseen depths to unearth new facts and never-before explored sides to these songs. Unlike your podcast hosts, remember to come up for air!
We take a break from The Crossing for our annual Yuletide episode! Expect the usual year-end summaries and related musings from your hosts. Marvel at the news of (and samples from) an unreleased Big Country covers album. Test your Big Country knowledge as you listen to Svein putting Tom through the ringer on the 'Great Divide 2018 Yuletide Quiz Show.' Enjoy, happy holiday season, and have at Yule!
The crossing of The Crossing continues in this nearly 3-hour epic. Tom and Svein discuss "Chance", "1000 Stars" and "The Storm" in this episode. You'll also hear some rare interview clips and a Speakpipe or two.
Tom and Svein delve into the actual songs on The Crossing in this episode. They cover "In A Big Country" and "Inwards," and break the record for longest time spent on a single song in the process. Plenty of deep-diving, sound clips and general hilarity in this one. Enjoy!
The final BC album deep-dive is upon us, as Tom and Svein get out their scuba gear and jump in at the deep end to explore The Crossing. This first part sets the stage for the song discussion that will begin in Part 2, and covers the early years of the band and how the music started coming together in 1981-83: the demoing, the record company try-outs, the Alice Cooper tour, the producers, the first trip to America, album recording, the new breed, and much more. Sprinkled throughout are sounds bit...
Fans have been asking for new music, and in this episode, they get it, although not quite in the format they may have expected. Tom, Svein and a lurking JfnG are joined by Bruce and Jamie Watson to debut a new musical project that Bruce, Jamie and Tom have been secretly working on over the last few months. That project is WKW, and the resulting 3-song EP they're debuting on the show is called "Hands Across the Ocean." The three songs are the result of a musical collaboration between Bruce, Jamie...
After their longest break ever, Tom and Svein try to get back into the swing of things. So many things have happened in the past eight months, and our hosts do a good sweep through all of them to catch up ahead of coming episodes. Welcome to the big housecleaning episode!
Yule is the time for traditions. Some of the traditions of the Great Divide crew are to do a sweep through the Big Country-related releases of the past year, look back at the podcast activities since last Yule, play Speakpipes, answer listener questions, and just deliver the longest episode so far. This one gets dangerously close to the four-hour mark! Somewhere in there, though, we play a mix of Just A Shadow that you have never, ever heard before, courtesy of the big-hearted bogan Andy Inkster...
Tom and Svein finally make it to Damascus. They celebrate by launching a celebratory, egg-timer-based discussion of the 24 non-album tracks from this period. The result is an episode that's longer than an average Bruce Springsteen concert. Enjoy!
Tom and Svein continue slogging their way toward Damascus with three more songs discussed: "Trouble the Waters," "Bella" and "Your Spirit to Me." Only one song remains until we finally arrive.
Tom and Svein continue delving into Damascus with a show as bloated as Dom Deloise after an all-night binge at a Denny's buffet. Three more songs are discussed: "Fragile Thing," "The President Slipped and Fell," and "Devil in the Eye." You'll also hear more Speakpipes and interview clips. Have at you. All of you.
Tom and Svein actually get three songs in this time, as they take apart "See You," "Perfect World" and "Somebody Else" from Big Country's "Driving to Damascus" album. The usual hijinks ensue.
