If you were growing up in the 1980s this band's probably improved your vocabulary. Lloyd Cole explains to Davie Scott how they honed their sound on the live circuit before recording 'Rattlesnakes', while along the way they influenced a young student called Ian Rankin with their wordy references.

The group behind crowd anthems like 'In a Big Country', 'Chance' and 'Fields of Fire' has a story more emotive than their music. In programme two of 'Classic Scottish Albums', Davie Scott discovers the story behind worldwide hit 'The Crossing' by Big Country, talking to those who matter including U2's super-producer Steve Lillywhite who still thinks Big Country are one of the most talented bands he's ever worked with.

Davey Scott discovers the story behind the Mercury Prize-winning 'Franz Ferdinand' by Franz Ferdinand. With a suaveness, optimism and confidence not typically associated with bands from Scotland, the band swept into focus in 2004 with their self-titled debut. By the year's end, 'Franz Ferdinand' had bagged the Mercury Music Prize, three top-10 singles and 3.6 million album sales worldwide. They made a bigger impact on America than Robbie Williams and Oasis combined, and did it with a lot less bluster. Their influences include Talking Heads, Chic, Pulp and Joy Division, and these combined to reach a far wider audience than your average indie band.

'Take Me Out' topped several 'Best of 2004' lists and was seemingly never off the jukebox in Eastenders Queen Vic. 'Michael' gained attention for it's homoerotic overtones - "beautiful boys on a beautiful dancefloor" - while 'This Fire' is a fan-favourite and closes a typically energetic Franz Ferdinand live set. The NME called them music "intoxicating", while others compared their universal buzz to that of The Beatles, The Rolling Stones and Duran Duran. In this episode of Classic Scottish Albums, Davey discovers how they did it...

Davie Scott reveals more insightful tales behind Classic Scottish Albums, selecting another album that changed the lives of those involved and struck a very intimate chord in the history of music. With 'High Land, Hard Rain' Aztec Camera blended infectious tunes and mature lyrics to create a debut with a very distinctive Scottish take on the world.

Davie Scott reveals more insightful tales behind Classic Scottish Albums, selecting another album that changed the lives of those involved and struck a very intimate chord in the history of music. Davie goes back to 1984 to reveal untold stories about The Blue Nile's debut album, "A Walk Across The Rooftops".

Al Stewart's 'Year of the Cat' album took the Hippie Trail mainstream. Davie Scott hears how this escapism resonated with UK listeners mired in strikes and unemployment in 1976. It was a far cry from Al Stewart's humble beginnings. As he tells it in one of his songs, "I came up to London when I was 19 with a corduroy jacket and a head full of dreams." A poetic singer-songwriter born in Glasgow, he moved to Dorset before falling in with the folk scene. So far, so Donovan, but then Al's story splinters off into peculiarly unique directions.

He bought his first guitar from Andy Sumners of The Police, shared a flat with Paul Simon and gave Yoko Ono all his money for an exhibition of naked bottoms. That came before landing in the US Top 5 with his 1976 album 'Year of the Cat'. The single of the same name is a dreamy, meandering epic about a life changing meeting between a naïve young traveller and a worldly hippy. It's absolutely of its time, but continues to get airplay around the world and helped Al secure high-profile friends and admirers such as Tori Amos, Jimmy Page, Bert Jansch and Rick Wakeman.

Davie Scott selects another album that changed the lives of those involved and struck a very intimate chord in the history of music. With 'Solid Air' John Martyn's distinctive vocal style and stunning guitar playing is combined to pay homage to friendship, love and life.

Davie Scott highlights Capercaillie's dynamic 1991 crossover album Delirium. A groundbreaking record it marked a major change in their approach to Gaelic music, adding contemporary dance grooves to the traditional tunes.

It took the band from folk clubs into the national spotlight when the Gaelic waulking song, 'Coisch A Ruin', made it into the top forty.

Davey talks to the band members about how they were spotted and signed after a television appearance and to contemporary Gaelic singer Julie Fowlis about their influence on young performers.

Davie Scott delves into the story behind the standout debut album of Dundee band Danny Wilson including the timeless and magical song Mary's Prayer.

In the run-up to the 6 Music Festival, taking place this year in Glasgow, we repeat highlights of a series first broadcast in 2007 on BBC Radio Scotland in which musician Davie Scott reveals the stories behind classic Scottish albums.

In this episode Davie chats to Robin Guthrie of the Cocteau Twins about the chaotic sessions for their sixth album, Heaven or Las Vegas, released in 1990, and now acknowledged as a masterpiece. Robin also reveals something of the mystery of the enigmatic lead singer Elizabeth Fraser's extraordinary lyrics and vocal style.