The Courier & Advertiser (Angus and Dundee)
Singles recorded to celebrate the opening of the Tay Road Bridge will be back on air after 55 years thanks to DJ Shane Quentin. Picture: Mhairi Edwards.
Rare records cut to mark the opening of the Tay Road Bridge are to be showcased to a new online audience
A pair of forgotten records released to mark the opening of the Tay Road Bridge will return to the airwaves after more than half a century.
The late Dundee-born Scottish balladeer and entertainer Dennis Clancy performed The Road Bridge to Bonnie Dundee.
Dundee duo Peter and Alison released a single called Highway O’er The Sea, a double A-side with the Mingulay Boat Song.
Peter and Alison were described as “Scotland’s exciting new stars” and the record sleeve was a photograph of the boyfriend and girlfriend on the walkway.
Both 55-year-old records are extremely rare.
Radio DJ Shane Quentin, who has just moved to Dundee from Northampton, searches for gold among dust and vinyl and he discovered the commemorative records at an auction.
He said: “The stash of vinyl was literally 99% Scottish with only a stray Slim Whitman disc in the lot.
“It was among these discs I found a few Dundee-related singles, including two released in 1966 to celebrate the opening of the Tay Road Bridge.
“They are in such beautiful condition, which is unusual for something that would have been well played and loved and is over 50 years old.
“It’s fantastic to have discovered these commemorative records, especially in such beautifully clean and unscratched condition, which shows that the previous owner must have really treasured them and kept them safe.
“Dundee has a few incredible independent record shops: even when I lived 400 miles away in Northampton, I was aware of Groucho’s legendary status as one of the best places to dig for records in the whole of Scotland.
“I’ve enjoyed visiting the recently reopened Le freak shop on the Perth Road, so it has been well worth it for me relocating to Dundee.
“I will certainly be playing both Tay Road Bridge singles on my show.”
In 1991, Shane joined a radio station in Milton Keynes and found a weekly opportunity to play his collection to a wider audience.
After almost 30 years he is still with the same station, where he will continue to host his show from Broughty Ferry after moving to Dundee with his Scottish wife.
“Via my online radio show, I have been able to play out my finds and have a sizeable following for my eclectic mixes.
“I recommend anyone discovering their passion for vinyl should keep their eyes peeled in second hand record stores or local charity shops. Even the occasional car boot sale can be good for records.”
Shane’s most prized records are original UK albums that he came across ‘out in the wild’ years ago and despite over 40 years of digging he has never come across them again.