Michael Marra’s back catalogue hits digital stage

THE BAck catalogue of acclaimed Dundee singersongwriter Michael Marra will be available to download tomorrow.

Although he recorded a host of albums, little of the late singer’s work was available digitally.

Former music promoter Ronnie Gurr has now brokered a deal that will see remastered versions of the Bard of Dundee’s albums available.

A new double-live album, recorded at the Bonar Hall in 2000, is also being released for the first time.

Mr Gurr said: “It seemed extraordinary to me that the truly great Michael Marra had only one song available on Spotify and a single album — a very good one with Mr McFall’s Chamber, mind you — available on iTunes.

“I’m delighted to have played a part in putting things right by helping to make his entire recorded catalogue available digitally via Believe Digital distribution. From this Friday, the world will be able to stream and download the great man’s music to their heart and soul’s content.”

The new live album, High Sobriety, was recorded when the singer was promoting his Posted Sober album. It features songs from Marra’s extensive back catalogue as well as his own versions of classics by Hoagy Carmichael, Cole Porter and Robert Burns.

The albums are available from iTunes, Google Play, Amazon and more.

Marra was just 60 when he died.

Born in Dundee in 1952, he was expelled from school at the age of 14 and worked in a variety of jobs.

He formed his first band, Hen’s Teeth, in 1971 but it was not until he began releasing solo records, starting with The Midas Touch in 1980, that his fame began to spread.