Mike Scott and Steve Wickham of the Waterboys (the A-Side)

Mike Scott and Steve Wickham talk about The Waterboys 4th album, from 1988, 'Fisherman's Blues'.

Series in which leading performers and songwriters talk about the album that made them or changed them.

Recorded in front of a live audience at the BBC's iconic Maida Vale Studios, each edition includes two episodes - the A-side and B-side.

In this one (The A-side), John Wilson talks to Mike and Steve about the album that marked a distinct change in the sound of their group The Waterboys, 'Fisherman's Blues'.

Featuring the ominous 'We Will Not Be Lovers', the otherworldly 'When Ye Go Away' and the much covered title track (including Hip Hop, torch song and Japanese punk versions), "Fisherman's Blues" only came about when Scots-born Mike went to stay with fiddler Steve Wickham in Dublin for a week in 1986 and ended up living in Ireland.

Two years and well over 100 songs later, the album marks the band's musical journey from rock to roots, with electric guitar and sax being replaced by mandolin and fiddle. An album that mixes rock and roll with Celtic folk, a love of literature with spirituality and the British poetic tradition with punk's DIY ethic.

The programme also features live performances of music from the album.

The B-side of the programme is where it's the turn of the audience to ask the questions.

Producer: Paul Kobrak

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in June 2013.