The Associates with Alan Rankine - Part 1

<p>The Associates with Alan Rankine - Part 1 - in conversation with David Eastaugh</p> <p>The Associates  were a Scottish <a href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Post-punk'>post-punk</a> and <a href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pop_music'>pop</a> band, formed in <a href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dundee'>Dundee</a> in 1979 by singer <a href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Billy_Mackenzie'>Billy Mackenzie</a>and guitarist <a href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alan_Rankine'>Alan Rankine</a>. The group first gained recognition after releasing an unauthorized cover of <a href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Bowie'>David Bowie</a>'s "<a href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boys_Keep_Swinging'>Boys Keep Swinging</a>" as their debut single in 1979, which landed them a contract with <a href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fiction_Records'>Fiction Records</a>. They followed with their debut album <a href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Affectionate_Punch'>The Affectionate Punch</a> in 1980 and the singles collection <a href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fourth_Drawer_Down'>Fourth Drawer Down</a> in 1981, both to critical praise.</p> <p>They achieved commercial success in 1982 with the UK Top 10 album <a href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sulk'>Sulk</a> and UK Top 20 singles "<a href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Party_Fears_Two'>Party Fears Two</a>" and "Club Country</p>