The creator of Detective Inspector John Rebus has reason to remember 1987 well.

Ian Rankin's creation first made his appearance in print that year, and it was also the year that another lauded Scottish creation, Raintown, the debut album by Deacon Blue, appeared.

The novelist will celebrate the 30th anniversary of the release of recording Deacon Blue: 30 Years of Raintown on BBC Radio Scotland on 1 May, and go on to be broadcast on BBC Radio Two.

Rankin said: "Thirty years since I wrote my first Inspector Rebus novel and thirty years since Deacon Blue leapt on to the world stage with Raintown... maybe there was just something in the Scottish water back then.

"Both have proved their resilience, with Raintown sounding as fresh as the day it was released.

"It was a joy for me to spend time with the band as they looked back on their achievement.

"It's an album that belongs in everyone's heart and collection."

Rankin's love of music has been reiterated over the years and has included song and album titles and lyrics in his own books.

As well as new interviews with original members Ricky Ross, Lorraine McIntosh, Dougie Vipond and James Prime, there will be contributions from the record's producer, Jon Kelly.

The pedal steel guitar player BJ Cole will also talk about his solo on Chocolate Girl.

Hue and Cry, Gary Clark from Danny Wilson, and David Scott from Hearts and Minds/Pearlfishers are some of the other Scottish artists who were releasing music in the same year and are included in the programme.

Johnnie Walker and Mark Goodier remember being the first DJs to play Deacon Blue on the radio.

Record producer Trevor Horn, performer Aled Jones and singer-songwriter Matthew Ryan are all fans of Raintown and describe what the album means to them.

The album contained some of Deacon Blue's best known songs, including Dignity and Chocolate Girl.