Monday 27 December 2010

Scotch Measure (1985)





Scotch Measure (1985)

01 Ythanside
02 For A' That
03 The Brewer Laddie
04 Wild Rovin'
05 The Bonnie Lad That Handles the Plough
06 The Swallow
07 The Laird o' the Dainty Dounby
08 The Calton Weaver
09 The Handweaver and The Factory Maid
10 The Twa Magicians

Scotch Measure were Jim Barnes (guitar, cittern, vocals), Sylvia Barnes (vocals, dulcimer, guitar) and Andy Lavery (keyboards, vocals), and the group were based around Sylvia's voice. She and her husband Jim had been in Glasgow group Tinkler Maidgie, then Kentigern, before a tour of duty with The Battlefield Band.

Unavailable

Scotia's Hardy Sons (1994)





Scotia's Hardy Sons (1994)

01 Heiland Shinty
02 John McNeill/Merry Blacksmith/Mason's Apron
03 The Battle's O'er
04 Stronsay Teabag/Greenbank Hornpipe
05 Willie's Gone to Melville Castle
06 Solway Air
07 Caledonia
08 Peat Fire Flame/Fit o' the Walk/Leith Central/Rickshaw Bridge
09 Scotia's Hardy Sons
10 Skye Boat Song
11 Pumpkin's Fancy/Jenny Dang the Weaver/Easy Club Reel
12 Auld Lang Syne

Scotia's Hardy Sons were Tich Frier (vocals, guitar), Andy Ramage (vocals, guitar, bass), David Vernon (accordion, electric guitar, vocals) and Peter Wood (bagpipes, keyboards, percussion, vocals). Frier and Ramage first came to prominence in the 1970s as part of harmony singing trio Bitter Withy, and later as New Alliance with Isla St Clair. Tich has followed a solo career since, while Andy has appeared in many combinations and groups, including Harness and Cairdeas. As far as I know, this was their only recording.

Unavailable

Other posts featuring Andy Ramage:
Harness: One for the Road (1987)

Sunday 26 December 2010

Seannachie: Take Note! (1988)




Seannachie: Take Note! (1988)

01 Twa Corbies/Cairnscarrow/Salisbury Crags
02 MacLean of Pennycross/Lady Madalina Sinclair/Gillan's Reel/The Brolum
03 Fine Flowers in the Valley
04 Airthrey Castle/Da Sixereen/Mickie Ainsworth/Gordon's Favourite/Millbrae
05 Jeannie Cameron
06 Gin Ye Kiss My Wife, I'll Tell the Minister
07 Johnny Cope
08 Mhairi Bhan Og/The Bride's Reel/Andy Renwick's Ferret/Trip to Windsor

By Seannachie's second album Take Note, the only original member was John Borland (bouzouki). Newer members Simon Thoumire (concertina, keyboards, whistles), Donald Gorman (fiddle), Elspeth Cowie (vocals, bodhran) and Derek Harkins (guitar) combined with Borland to release this record, which has a different feel to the first (Within the Fire): gone are the Irish instrumentals, to be replaced with a staunchly Scottish repertoire, and the interplay between Thoumire's concertina and Gorman's fiddle produces a unique sound.

Doonload

Other posts featuring Seannachie:
Seannachie: Within the Fire (1986)

Seannachie: Within the Fire (1986)





Seannachie: Within the Fire (1986)

01 Mormond Braes
02 The Old Copperplate/The Harsh February
03 Crazy Man Michael
04 Julia Delaney/Cooley's Reel
05 Flowers o' the Forest
06 The Sound of Jura
07 Annachie Gordon
08 Turpin Hero/The Old Reel/Aida's Place/The Otter's Den
09 Though I Live Not Where I Love
10 The Midnight Reel/Raddigan's/McMahon's
11 Boys of Bedlam/Dougie's Rant

Seannachie had a long performing career and were one of those bands whose line-up was practically in constant change. Formed in the early 1980s by John Borland (bouzouki, cittern), Alex Yellowlees (fiddle), Martin McGarrity (flute, whistle, bodhran, vocals) and Gordon Irvine (guitar, mandolin, harmonium, whistle). They recorded their first album, Within the Fire in 1986, by which time the band consisted of Borland, Yellowlees, Jonathan Simmons (flute, whistles, bodhran), Penny Johnston (vocals) and Derek Harkins (guitar, tambourine). Two more albums followed, along with more personnel changes and European tours.

Doonload

Other posts featuring Seannachie:
Seannachie: Take Note! (1988)

Saturday 25 December 2010

Blackeyed Biddy: Guid Niebours (c1984)





Blackeyed Biddy: Guid Niebours (c1984)

01 Blackeyed Biddy/Fasten the Leg in Her/The Kinnegad Slashers
02 The Rowan Tree/Yellow's On the Broom (McNaughtan)
03 Misty Covered Mountains/Skyman's Jig/Sally Gardens
04 Earl o' March's Daughter (McClelland)
05 Workin' Chap
06 Lord Inchiquin
07 Johnny Jump Up
08 Dunphies/The Rights of Man/Pretty Maggie Morrissey
09 Dixie Darlin' (A P Carter)

This was Blackeyed Biddy's first album and featured Lionel McClelland (whistle, guitar, double bass, vocals), Billy Henderson (vocals, guitar, mandola) and Kris Koren (mandolin, mandola, vocals, banjo, guitar, bodhran), with "Nick" playing fiddle on one track. There is no date anywhere on the sleeve or record, but I estimate it at mid-1980s.

Doonload

Other posts featuring Blackeyed Biddy:
Blackeyed Biddy: High Spirits (1990)

Saturday 18 December 2010

Various Artists: The Streets of Glasgow (1973)





Various Artists: The Streets of Glasgow (1973)

01 The Clutha: Dance Tune Medley
02 Terry Dick: Football Song Medley
03 Flora MacNeill: MacDonald's First Visit to Glasgow
04 Geordie McIntyre: The Sports o' Glasgow Green
05 Freddy Anderson: Let Glasgow Flourish
06 John Eaglesham: The Collier's Eight Hour Day
07 Gordeanna McCulloch: The Weekend Song
08 Geordie McIntyre: O'Reilly and the Big MacNeill
09 Gordeanna McCulloch & The Clutha: Bottling Songs
10 Gordeanna McCulloch: The Bleacher Lassie o' Kelvinhaugh
11 Geordie McIntyre: Three Nights and a Sunday Double Time
12 Barmulloch Primary School: Children's Street and Playground Songs
13 Mick Broderick: The Ballad of the Q4
14 Geordie McIntyre: The Works Outing
15 The Clutha: March Tune Medley

A marvellous collection of songs and tunes relating to Glasgow, sung and played by The Clutha, Geordie McIntyre, John Eaglesham, Mick Broderick, Gordeanna McCulloch and Flora MacNeill.

Unavailable

Friday 17 December 2010

Ian Walker and Setanta: Crossing the Borderlines (1992)





Setanta and Ian Walker: Crossing the Borderlines (1992)

01 Three Kerry Polkas
02 Whatever You Think
03 Sliabh Gallion Braes
04 Ring Around the Moon
05 Ponte Isabella/The Man of the House/The Bucks of Oranmore
06 The Healing Touch
07 Remember Solferino
08 The Soldier's Return
09 The Merry Blacksmith/Miss Susan Cooper/Willafjord
10 Saint Paul's Song
11 An Comhra Donn/The Galtee Rangers/The Foxhunters
12 The Anchor Line

Setanta had a few line-ups; this one featured core members Jack Bethel (hammer dulcimer, concertina, xylophone), Colin McAllister (vocals, bodhran, percussion) and David Munro (Uillean pipes, fiddle, vocals), with Mike Berry (fiddle),  and Hunter McConnell (guitar, vocals). Munro, Bethel and McAllister played sessions in Glasgow and Lanarkshire in the early 1970s and were part of scratch-band Not the Full Shillin'. Setanta were also born out of sessions in the mid-1970s, They recorded two albums, Setanta (1988) and this one in 1992. Reflecting the Glasgow session scene, most of the tunes that Setanta played were in fact Irish.


Unavailable

Thursday 16 December 2010

Jimmy MacFarlane: The Happy Whistler (2010)

Jimmy MacFarlane was the fiddler in the Jim MacLeod Band, who were extraordinarily prolific in their recorded output. Their act, which they performed live in venues such as Dunblane Hydro and also on radio and television programmes, consisted of a mix of Scottish Country Dancing and lounge-bar crooning from Mr MacLeod himself.

As well as fiddle, Jimmy played vibes and penny whistle, and it is his whistling featured on many of the Jim MacLeod records. Unfortunately no available records exist of one of Scotland's forgotten whistlers.

Donald Davidson: Banchory Moothie (2010)





Donald Davidson: Banchory Moothie (2010)

Donald Davidson (1910-1987) was born in Ballater, Aberdeenshire, but soon moved to the Deeside town of Banchory. After hearing Scottish music such as the Wyper Brothers on his father's gramophone, he took up the mouth organ at an early age, joining his siblings in a musical background. In his late teens Donald was playing for the radio in Aberdeen, and came to the attention of a representative of Beltona Records. In 1929 and again in 1931 he travelled to London to record a number of tracks which were released on Beltona, and which spreads his reputation further. This lead to advertising deals; Hohner used Davidson's name to promote their instruments. A final recording session took place in 1939 (which included some duets with Willie Kemp), and while Donald kept playing and being interested in music, it was never a full-time occupation. Davidson died in Aberdeen in 1987.

London, October 1929:
1. Moneymusk/Deil Amang the Tailors
2. Invercauld March/Marchioness of Huntly
3. Rose Amang the Heather/Kafoozulum
4. Stirling Castle; Soldier’s Joy
5. 79th’s Farewell to Gibraltar
6. The Highland Wedding
7. The Smith’s a Gallant Fireman/The Drummer
8. The Marquis of Huntley’s Highland Fling/Mason’s Apron
9. Atholl Highlanders

London, August 1931:
10.Cock o’ the North/Bonnie Dundee/Come Under My Plaidie
11.The Orange and the Blue/The Lad wi’ the Plaidie
12.The Lass o’Gowrie/My Love is But a Lassie Yet/Duncan Gray
13.Lancers: The Deil’s Awa Wi th’Exiseman/The Cumberland Reel/John Grumlie

London, November 1939:
14.Frisky Lambs/Dobbin’s New Shoes
15.Alpine Waltz
16.The Blackthorn Stick
17. Sir Roger de Coverley/Haste to the Wedding


Doonload

Other collections of Scottish 78rpm records:
William Hannah: Scottish Melodeon 78s
Jimmy Shand: First Recording Session, London 1933
Will Powrie: Scottish Melodeon 78s


Wednesday 15 December 2010

Harness: Two for the Road (1987)





Harness: Two for the Road (1987)

01 Dashing White Sergeant/Rose Tree/The Piper o' Dundee
02 The Fields of Athenrye
03 Donald McLean's Farewell to Oban/Sprig of Ivy
04 The Loch Maree Islands
05 Leaving Barra/Soraid Leis An Aite/Farewell to Fiunary/Mo Rebhinn Choibhnehl
06 Lochaber Gathering/Tam Bain's Lum
07 The Green Fields of France
08 John Carmichael's Farewell/Ian Powrie's Farewell to Scotland
09 Carrickfergus
10 The Skyline of Skye

Harness were Andy Ramage, a singer of Scottish songs who was a member of the well-regarded harmony group Bitter Withy, and button accordionist Neil Mathieson, helped out by Alastair Currie on piano accordion and Richard Hughes on drums. As far as I know, this was their only recording.

Unavailable

Other posts featuring Andy Ramage:
Scotia's Hardy Sons (1994)

Bracken: Introducing Bracken (1979)





Bracken: Introducing Bracken (1979)

01 The Bonnie Lass of Fyffie
02 Irish Washer Woman/Connaughtman's Ramble/Charlie the Prayermaster
03 Peigi Gordon
04 La Russe/Pat Donald
05 MacPherson's Lament
06 The Bonnie Woods of Stirkoke/The Crusader's March/The Yellow Corn
07 Twa Recruiting Sergeants
08 Come By the Hills
09 Streets of London
10 Four Strong Winds
11 Gaelic Medley
12 Bonnie Dundee
13 Turn Out the Light
14 Lovat Scouts March/Bratach Bana
15 Shores of Americay

There is very little information on the sleeve of this recording, and I don't know much about this duo. Bracken were Ian Macintosh and Morris Macleod. At least one played guitar, and one played banjo and mandolin; both sang. Macleod may have gone on to play with Thurso-based band Whisky (www.whisky-band.co.uk).

Unavailable

Thursday 2 December 2010

The Wally Dugs: The Road to Dundee (1987)







The Wally Dugs: The Road to Dundee (1987)

01 The Road to Dundee
02 Freedom Come All Ye
03 Don't Say, Oh No!
04 Doon In the Wee Room
05 Mandy
06 Bonnie Glenshee
07 Jock o' Hazeldean
08 Skyscraper Weans
09 The Dream of Tommy Bouche
10 Wally Dug Tunes
11 The Man With the Golden Hair
12 Drumchapel Mist

The Wally Dugs were Pat Finnegan (guitar, banjo, vocals), George Getty (guitar, mandolin, whistle, bagpipe, vocals) and Neil McLeod (guitar, vocals) and were from Dundee. Apart from that, I know nothing about the group. They were extant in 1976/77 and I imagine they were a popular pub band in the area.

Doonload

Kontraband: North Star (1983)







Kontraband: North Star (1983)

01 Swallow's Nest/Dirty Linen/Drowsy Maggie
02 Hills of Caithness
03 Mickey Ainsworth/The North Star
04 Dundee Homeward Bound
05 Magdalene Green
06 Pittenweem Jo
07 Tae the Beggin'
08 I Ain't Gonna Work Tomorrow
09 The Brown/Eyed Maiden/Father O'Flynn/The Black Pirate
10 Farewell to Ireland/Muirsheen Durkin/Billy Cheatham
11 Rowin Foula Doon

Rod Sinclair (banjo, guitar, vocals), from St Andrews, was the lead vocalist of this Scottish-Danish folk group, based in Denmark. The other members were Danes Borge Solkaer (bass, guitar, recorder, mandolin, vocals), Jole Norgaard (cittern, mandolin, guitar, bodhran, vocal) and Filt Kristensen (fiddle, mandolin, cittern, tambourine, Moog, vocals). As far as I know, this was their only album, released in 1983.

Unavailable

Wednesday 1 December 2010

Ron Gonnella: The Gow Collections (1973)





Ron Gonnella: The Gow Collections (1973)

01 General Robertson of Lawers/Miss Stewart of Grandtully/Dunkeld Steeple
02 The Mill, Mill O/A Favourite Quickstep
03 Auld Robin Gray
04 Niel Gow's Lament for his Second Wife/Lady Charlotte Campbell/kincaldrum's Reel
05 Wishaw's Delight/Drummond Castle/The Earl of Morton's Jig
06 Niel Gow's Farewell to Whisky
07 Col Hamilton of Pencatland/Col H F Campbell/Miss Grace Hay's Delight
08 Lady Cunningham of Livingstone/Perthshire Volunteers/Mr Sharp's Favourite
09 Roslin Castle/Garthlands/Lord Mauchline's Reel
10 Bothwell Castle
11 Mrs Hamilton of Pencaitland/The Duchess of Hamilton/Mrs Stirling of Keir
12 The Bonniest Lass in a' the Warld/Mrs Adye/Miss Gibson
13 Miss Sally Hunter of Thurston/Dumfries House/Miss Johnston of Hilton's Fancy
14 The Caledonian Hunt's Delight/The Caledonian Hunt/Mrs Hay of Yester's Reel

After his 1966 debut solo record, it took another seven years for this second Ron Gonnella solo album, but it was well worth the wait. Here we have Gonnella playing the music he loved while at the top of his game. The music is mostly from the eighteenth century, all published in various collections from the Gow family: patriarch Niel Gow, famous fiddler in his day; his sons Nathanial - who took on his father's mantle - William and Andrew.

Doonload

Other posts featuring Ron Gonnella:
Ron Gonnella: Scottish Violin Music (1966)
Ron Gonnella: Fiddler's Fancy (1975) 
Ron Gonnella: Fiddle Gems (1976)
Various Artists: Fiddle Miscellany 3 (2010)