Alan Rankine

Alan Rankine (born 17 May 1958) is a Scottish musician and record producer best known as keyboardist/guitarist for the rock band Associates, which he co-founded with Billy Mackenzie in the late 1970s.

Career

Born in Bridge of Allan, Stirlingshire, Rankine began his career with the cabaret band Caspian, which became the Associates.^[1] 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.^[1] He signed to Belgian label Les Disques du Crépuscule in 1986 and embarked on a solo career.^[1] 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).^[1]

Rankine later worked as a lecturer in Stow College in Glasgow until 2010, when he left to return to music production.^[1] While working as a lecturer he helped students to set up their own Electric Honey label, on which Belle & Sebastian's debut album Tigermilk was released.^[1]

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

References