LIFE IN A SCOTCH SITTING-ROOM, Vol II – The Ivor Cutler Story

 

 

Or on the internet at: http://www.bbc.co.uk/scotland/radioscotland/

 

Presenter: Janice Forsyth

 

Synopsis: This is the story of one of  the entertainment world’s most eccentric characters. Ivor Cutler started out life in Ibrox in Glasgow, working at Rolls Royce as an apprentice before moving into the teaching profession. By the late 1950’s his bizarre take on life and its absurdities was translated into poems and songs.

 

On this programme we’ll hear Ivor introducing (and ending) the 1966 television broadcast “Late Night Line-Up” , as BBC 2 took to the air in Scotland. 36 years later the Cutler style is unchanged but still provokes the same range of reactions from genius to total incomprehension.

 

Ivor has many fans, like John Peel and fellow DJ Andy Kershaw will tell of the days he promoted Ivor Cutler at Leeds University and how he saw him support Van Morrison, at Van’s personal request. Andy also introduced him on the ‘Old Grey Whistle Test’. In the 1960’s Ivor was asked to appear as Buster Bloodvessel on the Beatles’ “Magical Mystery Tour” film, and he talks of the plot to censor him.

 

Brian Irvine is an Irish jazz composer and musician who has used Ivor Cutler recordings as the basis for his “Interrupting Cutler” composition. Brian describes the attraction of Cutler’s work in this context. A selection of Ivorologist’s talk about their love for the great man and the circumstances in which they have met him.