“All the collaborations you're about to hear on "Ballads of the Book" stem back to lyrics Edwin Morgan wrote and sent to me in the summer of 2005, wondering if they could be of any use for new songs we were writing. We'd collaborated with Edwin before, putting music behind his words as he spoke them, but this time we tried to turn his poetry into pop songs.
After playing a few songs in concert and being encouraged by the reaction, I started mentioning the idea of getting other writers to pen lyrics for a few friends in bands who were keen to try out the idea. When songs started appearing we approached the Scottish Arts Council who, excited by the idea of the album, kindly offered to help fund the project. Chemikal Underground took over the organising of the album at the start of 2006 and turned it into [Ballads of the Book]...
It’s a pretty good idea on paper – great Scottish writers and poets providing lyrics for great Scottish singers and bands to turn into their own kind of song. The fact that it actually became a record is a testament to the enthusiasm, talent and originality of everyone involved.
These songs are all rooted in their own kind of Scottishness, and they sing out in their own way."
-Roddy Woomble, Idlewild
