Ron Gonnella: Scottish Fiddle Magic (1992)

Ron Gonnella: Scottish Fiddle Magic (1992)

One of Ron Gonnella's final recordings comes from 1992 and consists of a selection of traditional Scottish tunes plus a few of Ron's own compositions.

01 My Love She's But a Lassie Yet/Davie, Davie Nick Nack/The Rose Tree
02 My Love is Like a Red, Red Rose
03 I Lo'e Nae a Laddie But Ane/My Wife's a Winsome, Wee Thing/The Prince of Wales' Jig
04 Thistle of Scotland/The Gallant Weaver/Bluebells of Scotland
05 Lochnagar
06 Duke of Perth/Lass of Gowrie/The Bridal
07 Rev Archie Minto's Faewell/Janet Leckie's/Elizabeth Donaldson's
08 Aikey Brae/Bessie Bell and Mary Gray/Bonnie Brier Bush
09 Barbara Bruce of Upper Cairnie/Kinloch of Kinloch/Aldridge's Hornpipe
10 Muckin' o' Geordie's Byre/The Scottish Horse/Janet Duncan's 92nd Birthday
11 Kilmarnock/Wiltshire
12 The Minestrone March/The Spaghetti Strathspey/The Ravioli Reel
13 Jock o' Hazeldean/Comin' Through the Rye/The Bonnie Wells o' Wearie
14 Highland Laddie
15 Dunkeld Hermitage Bridge/Doon the Burn Davie/Crieff Golf Club Centenery Reel
16 The Queen's Vist to Morrison's Academy
17 Bert Gonella's Jig/Bob and Anne's Strathspey/Lizzie Duncan's Fancy
18 Scots Wha Hae/Auld Lang Syne

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Saut-Herrin': A Barrel o' Saut-Herrin (c.1989)

Saut-Herrin': A Barrel o' Saut-Herrin (c.1989)

01 Royal Scot Polka/Laddie Wi the Plaidie/Petronella
02 O Gin I Were a Baron's Heir
03 Margaret's Waltz/Tombigbee Waltz
04 The Broch Salmon Bothys
05 Coulters Candy
06 Si Beag Si Mhor
07 Chairlie Oh Chairlie
08 Mrs Mcleod's Reel/Kate Dalrymple/Duke of Perth/Kemnay House
09 Yellow On the Broom
10 Come to the Bower/Banks o' the Roses/Wha Saw the 42nd
11 Fareweel tae Tarwathie
12 Earl of Mansfield's March/Loch Maree Island/Aitken Drum
13 Dark Island
14 Rattlin' Roarin' Willie

A five-piece folk group from the Moray Coast (Burghead and Lossiemouth to be precise) who performed mainly for charity. Sandra Borthwick (guitar, vocals), George Pratt (banjo, mouth organ), Jim Eckford (mouth organ), Iain White (Northumbrian pipes, whistle, mandolin) and Dan Ralph (fiddle, vocals) recorded one album that I know about, the self-published "A Barrel o' Saut Herrin'" on cassette (n.d.)

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Ron Gonnella: The International Friendship of the Fiddle (1988)

Ron Gonnella: The International Friendship of the Fiddle (1988)

01 BBC Echoes: Kelvin Grove/Glasgow Highlanders/Murdoch McPherson's March
02 Cape Breton Ceilidh: The Master of Barga/Campbell's Road/The High Bridge Jig
03 Hector MacAndrew Favourites: Mrs Jamieson's Favourite/Sir David Davidson of Cantray/Gillan's Reel
04 Congratulations All Round: Neil & Rhona Gonnella's Silver Wedding/Donna's Wedding March
05 Sounds of Strathearn: Strathearn/The Strathearn Herald Reel
06 A Touch of Gaelic: Fil/O/Ro/Brochan Lom/Lord MacDonald's Reel
07 Bonnie Dundee: Bonnie Dundee/Elliot's Fancy/Dundee City Police Pipe Band
08 The Boston Tea Party: Niel Gow's Farewell to Whisky/The Beaux of Oak Hill/Mrs MacLeod
09 Jimmy Shand Special: Ron Gonnella's Comps to Jimmy Shand
10 The Strathspey King: Flower of the Quern/Professor Blackie/Marie's Hielan' Lad
11 Scottish Dance Music Corner: The Provost of St Vigeans/The Corner House
12 The Canadian Connection: John Beckwith's Ye Banks and Braes/The Lime Hill Strathspey
13 Fiddlers Two: The Shakkins o' the Pocky
14 My Friend Adam Rennie: Sir Torquil Munro/Elizabeth Donald, Moss-side/Bill Sutherland
15 New York, New York: June & Harry Goldenberg's Air/Staten Island
16 The Music of William Marshall: Kinrara/Duke of Gordon's Birthday/The Morayshire's Farmer's Club

Fiddler Ron Gonnella played fiddle to great acclaim all around the world.

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Blackeyed Biddy: High Spirits (1990)

Blackeyed Biddy: High Spirits (1990)

01 Jim McAllister's Jig/Mairead Nicoll of Drumossie/Temple House
02 Ballad of Sawney Bean
03 Come By the Hills
04 Morar's Silent Beauty/Dunkeld Oaks/Jacqui's Day/Bass Through the Window/Reconciliation/Musical Priest/St Anne's
05 CM Barbour/Fiddlin' Around
06 The Cobbler
07 Christine McRitchie
08 Santiano
09 A Man's a Man For A' That/Winding Up the Piper

For their second recording Blackeyed Biddy regulars Lionel McClelland and Kris Koren were joined by Gregor Lowry on accordion, making this the most instrumental of their output. The band are working well together, resulting in a very fine album from 1990. This is a rip from a cassette tape.

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Other posts featuring Blackeyed Biddy:
Blackeyed Biddy: Guid Niebours (c1984)

Ian Powrie: His Fiddle and his Friends (1975)

Ian Powrie: His Fiddle and his Friends (1975)

This is a tribute to Scottish fiddler Ian Powrie, who died last week. Powrie was born in 1923 at Strathardle, near Blairgowrie in Perthshire. His father, Will Powrie, was an accomplished melodeon player, and recorded several excellent sides for Beltona during the early 1930s, and some with his very young son Ian in 1933. At age twelve Ian was playing in his father's dance band, but on piano accordion! In 1949 he formed his first band, this time playing fiddle while his brother Bill played accordion.

01 Flowers of Edinburgh/Spinning Wheel
02 A Piper's Prayer
03 Miss Laura Andrews/Ian Powrie's Compliments to Angus Fitchet
04 The Music of Spey
05 Soir de Paris
06 Arran Hills
07 Millbrae/Mickie Ainsworth/The Dawn Hornpipe/Jean's Reel
08 Loch Maree/Ian Powrie's Compliments to Sir Thomas Wardle/Murdo's Wedding
09 Leila/Massacre of Glencoe
10 Mrs Ian Powrie of West Kirkton/Angus Fitchet's Compliments to Ian Powrie/Lady Charlotte Campbell
11 Beverley Wood
12 McNeil of Ugadale/Mr and Mrs Alec Ross
13 The Earl of Dalhousie
14 Waltzing Matilda

Front and back covers included


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Ron Gonnella: Burns Night (1977)

Ron Gonnella: Burns Night (1977)

The eighteenth century Scottish poet Robert Burns loved fiddle music and composed many songs to Scots fiddle tunes. Ron Gonnella has compiled a collection of the original tunes which Burns used and presents them in his usual exquisite way.

01 Bonnie Wee Thing/Comin' Through the Rye/It Was Upon a Lammas Night
02 O, Wert Thou In the Cauld Blast/Here's to thy Health/My Love She's But a Lassie Yet
03 Awa' Wi' Your Witchcraft o' Beauty's Alarms/Last May a Braw Wooer/Over the Seas and Far Away
04 I Am My Mammy's Ae Bairn/Killiecrankie/O How Can I Be Blythe and Glad
05 Ay Waukin O
06 Does the Haughty Gaul Invasion Threaten/I Gaed a Waefu Gate Yestreen/On Cessnock Bank
07 Phillis the Fair/Duncan Davidson/Duncan Gray Cam' Here to Woo
08 My Love Is Like a Red, Red, Rose/Ca' the Ewes to the Knowes/Sir John Cope Trode
09 John Anderson My Jo/Green Grow the Rashes O/Willie Brewed a Peck o' Maut
10 My Wife's a Winsome Wee Thing/O Kenmure's On and Awa Willie
11 O' A' the Airts the Wind Can Blow/Saw Ye Bonnie Lesley/First When Maggie Was My Care
12 Flow Gently Sweet Afton
13 There Was a Lass and She Was Fair/Lovely Polly Stewart/The Joyful Widower
14 A Man's a Man For A' That/The Farewell/Should Auld Acquaintance Be Forgot

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Thulbion: Twilight Bound (1994)

Thulbion: Twilight Bound (1994)

This album was released under the Thulbion group name, but it's really Judi Nicolson's show, her excellent fiddling dominating the sound from start to finish. Originally from Banchory, Judi Nicolson (nee Judith Davidson) was recognised as one of Scotland's finest fiddlers from an early age; indeed she won the 1979 Junior Golden Fiddle award at the age of twelve, and the senior award three years later. She is joined on this recording by her husband Ian Nicolson (accordion), Tom Anderson's pianist Violet Tulloch, and Andrew Tulloch (guitar), who was a member of the highly successful Shetland group Hom Bru.

01 King's Reel/The Perfect Host/Boys of Portaferry/Trad Reel
02 Twilight
03 St Gilbert's Hornpipe/The Fiddler's Wife/Chromatic Hornpipe
04 Annie
05 John D Burgess/Major Nickerson's Fancy/Dick Gossip's Reel
06 James F Dickie/J F Dickie's Delight
07 Sheilis
08 Branden's Centenniel Waltz/Waltz for Mary Ann/Raemona
09 Gravel Walk/Andy Renwick's Ferret/Old Mountain Road
10 Time for Thought
11 Theodore Napier/The Laid o' Mackintosh/The Earl of Lauderdale
12 Little Daisy/North King Street/Lady On the Island
13 Killavil Reel/Far From Home/Paddy On the Turnpike
14 Loretta
15 Frank & Maureen Robb/Grew's Hill/Duncan Black's Hornpipe/The Doon Hingin' Tie
16 Eele's Dream

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Judith Davidson: Going Places (1983)

Judith Davidson: Going Places (1983)

Judith Davidson from Banchory, Aberdeenshire, first appeared on a record when she won the Junior Golden Fiddle Award in 1979, and she went on to become a major talent in Scottish fiddling, winning the senior Golden Fiddle Award in 1982 at the age of 15. Her recorded output has not been overwhelming; I believe that this album and 1994's Twilight Bound are all that's available (plus a single track on 1979's Golden Fiddle Awards). She lived on Shetland for a number of years, where the legendary Willie Hunter described her as the best youngster he had ever heard. There she met accordionist Ian Nicolson, got married and the couple now live and teach music in Texas.

This is first-rate stuff and very difficult to get hold of.

01 Calum Donaldson/Debbie's/Violet's Fancy/Ian Robertson's
02 Paddy O"Rafferty/Glasgow Police Pipers/Kenny Gillies, Portnalong
03 J O Forbes of Corse/The Hawk
04 Swedish Wedding March/Swedish Reel
05 Caledonia's Wail for Niel Gow
06 King Geo V's Army/Traditional Reel
07 Mt Michie/South of the Grampians/John McNeil's Reel
08 Pigeon On the Gate/The Train Journey North
09 Lament for Abercairney/Auld Willie Hunter
10 Bobbie Cuthbertson/The Braes of Melinish
11 Judith Davidson/Loch Rynoch/Kate's Coming O' Age/Eugene Stratton
12 The Brig o' Feugh/The Marquis of Huntly/Mrs Forbes Leith
13 The Blackberry Bush/The Ghlass-Ault/Drumlithie
14 Dean Brig o' Edinburgh/Madam Neruda

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Drifterfolk: All Kinds of Folk (1976)

Drifterfolk: All Kinds of Folk (1976)

The second and, I believe, final album from this group, this is less "folky" than the first, featuring some strange choices among the folksongs.

01 Coat of Many Colours
02 Rambling Boy
03 Evermore the Biplane
04 Ballad of Glencoe
05 Gallowa Hills
06 The Land I Love So Well
07 Cotton Fields
08 Jinkin' Geordie
09 Bringing In the Sheaves
10 Highland Queen
11 Goodbye Again
12 Fiddlers Green

Unavailable

Drifterfolk: Reflections (1974)

Drifterfolk: Reflections (1974)

Drifterfolk formed in 1969 and recorded two albums in 1974 and 1976. They were John Williamson (vocals, 12-string guitar), David Robertson (mandolin, bouzouki, vocals) and Sandy Gillon (vocals, guitar).


01 The Piper o' Dundee
02 Tiree Love Song
03 Spanish Lady
04 Sheriffmuir
05 Mursheen Durkin
06 Streets of London
07 Reflections
08 Cam Ye O'er Frae France
09 Mingulay Boat Song
10 The Fiery Cross
11 Johnnie Cope
12 The Bonnie Lass o' Fyvie

Unavailable

Various Artists: Songs of Scotland (1981)

Various Artists: Songs of Scotland (1981)


An odd one this. Published in 1981 by the 1314 Club of Dundee, a branch of the Scottish Nationalist Party, in aid of medical research, it featured three musical acts. Craven were Arthur Dryden (vocals, guitar) and Ian Dryden (vocals, 12-string guitar); Killiecrankie were George Boag (vocals, 12-string guitar) and Tom Berry (bass, guitar, keyboards, strings, vocals); the second side of this EP featured Elizabeth (Elizabeth Berry, vocals) with two bizarre tracks. I haven't come across any of these artists in other circumstances.

Unavailable

Drinker's Drouth: Bound to Go (1984)

Drinker's Drouth: Bound to Go (1984)

01 The Exile Song
02 Johnny Sangster
03 The Bonnie Light Horseman
04 When Charlie Tae the Highlands Came
05 Lord Marlborough
06 The Soutars o' Selkirk:The Died Cat
07 The Sodger's Return
08 Private William Coffey
09 I'se the Bye
10 The Ploughman
11 Bound to Go

The second album from Drinker's Drouth from 1984. Jack Aitken (vocals, bouzouki, guitar), Dave Black (vocals, mandolin, fiddle), Tony Dougan (vocals, guitar), Brian Dougan (lead vocals) and Davy Steele (lead vocals, guitar, banjo), with Martin Hadden (bass guitar, harmonium, synthesiser) and Graham Bingham (side drum).

Unavailable

The Bog Cotton Reel Band: End of the Road (1991)

The Bog Cotton Reel Band: End of the Road (1991)

This is an example of community music-making. On the Island of Coll in the Scottish Hebrides (population 160), six musicians record material they'd performed at ceilidhs and concerts since 1990. They were Julia Thompson (vocals), Mike Taylor (fiddle, guitar), Rodger Mann (keyboards), Ron Davies (drums, vocals), Patrick Rutherford (guitars) and Heather Price (saxophone).

01 New Ashludie Rant/Auld Ireland/Stool of Repentance/Mucking of Geordie's Byre
02 Dumbarton's Drums
03 Goodnight and Joy Be With You/Bottom of the Punch Bowl/Lass o' Patie's Mill
04 The Water Is Wide
05 Margaret's Waltz/Emily's Waltz
06 I Bhi Ada/Hugaibh Oirbh/'S Ann An Ile
07 Sarah
08 Dashing White Sergeant/Seige of Ennis/Spanish Ladies
09 Senair's Song
10 The Navvie/The Liverpool/Sherwood Rangers
11 Indiana
12 The Illegal Immigrant's Waltz/Tennessee Waltz
13 Cock of the North/Hundred Pipers/Jeannie's Blue E'en/Lannagan's Ball

Unavailable

Ron Gonnella: A Tribute to Niel Gow (1978)

Ron Gonnella: A Tribute to Niel Gow (1978)

Quite simply a treat for anyone interested in Scottish fiddle music. Ron Gonnella plays the music of the Gow family and associates, recorded in the ballroom of Blair Castle, where Niel Gow would have played more than two centuries ago. Sit back and drink in excellence.

01 Atholl Volunteers/Francis Sitwell/Landlady of Inver Inn
02 Lament for his Brother/Mrs Chisholm of Chisholm/Inver Lasses
03 Prince Charlie's Quickstep/Lady Charlotte Bruce's Fav
04 Cam Ye By Atholl?
05 Dunkeld Volunteers/Niel Gow's Second Wife/Lady MacKenzie of Coul
06 Lady Ann Hope's Fav/Mrs macDonald of Clan Ranald/Mrs MacDouall Grant
07 Miss Margaret Brown's Fav/Miss Rae of Eskgrove
08 Niel Gow's Comps Returned to Mr Marshall/Niel Gow's Strathspey/Hon James Ramsay's Reel
09 Earl of Dalhousie's Happy Return to Scotland/Niel Gow's Recovery/Duchess of Buccleauch's Favourite
10 Flora MacDonald's Lament/Sir Geo Clerk of Pennycuik/Ayr Races
11 Lady Mary Hay's Scotch Measure/Lady Mary Ramsay/Largo's Fairy Dance
12 Caller Herring
13 Lady Dorotheas Stewart-Murray's Wedding/Lady Charlotte Murray's Favourite
14 Miss Lucy Johnston's Compliments to Niel Gow/The Duchess of Atholl's Slipper/Miss Clementina Loughlan

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Ron Gonnella: Fiddles and Ron Gonnella: Stradivarius

Ron Gonnella Plays the Fiddles of Gow, Marshall and Skinner (Ross Records WGR 028, 1982)

01 Introduction by Duke of Atholl
02 Niel Gow's Fiddle/Duke of Atholl's Reel/Mrs MacDouall Grant
03 Niel Gow's Lamentation for Abercairney
04 Sir Walter Scott/Pennycuik House
05 MacPherson's Lament
06 The Countess of Dalhousie/Admiral Nelson's Hornpipe
07 Cam Ye By Atholl/Here Awa There Awa Wandering Willie/Bessie Bell and Mary Gray/Flora MacDonald's Lament
08 Niel Gow's Lament for the Death of his Second Wife
09 The White Cockade/Mount Stewart House/Miss Mary Douglas
10 The Duchess Tree/The Kirrie Kebbuck/E M Ross's Welcome to Kiltarlity Cottage
11 Miss laura Andrew/The Laird of Drumblair/Bonnie Banchory
12 Ashton Gonnella of Shreveport, Louisiana/Loius Gonnella of Muirhead
13 Ron Gonnella's Homage to the Gows, Marshall and Skinner
14 Miss Gordon of Park/Miss Hannah's Jig
15 Lament for Sir Harry Niven Lumsden
16 Capt Cameron's Volunteer's March/The Marchioness of Huntly's Jig/Craigellachie Lasses
17 Mrs Major Stewart of the Island of Java/The Deil Among the Mantua Makers

Ron Gonnella: fiddles
Iain MacPhail: accordion
John Gibson: piano
Graham Robb: double bass

An intriguing concept, this: Ron Gonnella plays the compositions of Niel Gow and his family on Gow's own fiddle, the compositions of William Marshall on his own fiddle, and James Scott Skinner compositions on one of the fiddles belonging to the 'Strathspey King'. The music is first class - Gonnella in his prime - and I believe this is a rather special album. 

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The Scottish Sound of Ron Gonnella Playing a Stradivarius (AB 003-D, 1984)

01 Morrison's Academy Anniversary March
02 Caller Herring
03 Crieff Hydro March/Castles In the Air/Flowers of Edinburgh
04 Cradle Song/Marchfield Brae
05 Bert Gonella's/Lizzie Duncan's/Alex and Hazel Barbour/Happy May the Pair Be
06 Dundee/Dunfermline
07 General Baillie/Miss Lyall/Black Jock of Skellater
08 Cape Breton March/Herbie MacLeod's Hornpipe/Aldridge's Hornpipe
09 Miss Sandra Webster/Evelyn Murray of Cambridge Mass
09 The Bonnie Lass o' Bon Accord
11 Ae Fond Kiss/Rev Archibald Minto's Farewell to St Andrew's/Gallaton
12 Durrisdeer
13 Queen's Welcome to Invercauld/The Miller o' Dervil/Gibson's Whisky
14 Bovaglie's Plaid/Milladen/Miss Rattray

Ron Gonnella: fiddles
George Donald: piano
Graham Robb: double bass

More vintage Gonnella. To me the Strad angle is unimportant - the music is what it's about.

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Talisker: Saving Up for a Transit (1995)

Talisker: Saving Up for a Transit (1995)

The first - and I think the only - album from Scottish folk group Talisker, about whom I know almost nothing. They were Kirsty Leavey (vocals, bodhran, keyboards), Jennifer Milne (fiddle), John Davidson (vocals, guitar, flute, whistles) and Nick Hanley (bouzouki, guitar, vocals). Davidson was in The Skelpit Lug ceilidh band (based in Linlithgow) before Talisker, and in the late 90s he and Hanley formed a blues duo, and then the Sourmash Blues Band. More recently, John formed the Perthshire-based Tarnybackle (http://www.tarneybackle.co.uk/), who have released at least three albums and are still going strong today.

01 Both Sides the Tweed
02 Brenda Stubbert's Reel
03 MacPherson's Rant
04 I Once Loved a Lad
05 Roseville Fair
06 The Blacksmith/The Merry Blacksmith
07 Baron's Heir
08 My Youngest Son
09 Bonnie Lad Ye Gang By Me
10 Niel Gow's Farewell to Whisky
11 Green Grow the Rashes

Covers included

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Fiddle Miscellany Vol.4 (2011)

Fiddle Miscellany Vol.4 (2011)

Another compilation of odd tracks from LPs and radio programmes featuring some less well known Scottish fiddlers.


01 Alexander Bain: 74th's Farewell to Edinburgh/Lady Madeline Sinclair/£10 Fiddle
02 Angus Fitchet: The Dying Year:The Autocrat
03 Donald McAllister: MacPherson's Farewell
04 Douglas Lawrence: Lament for Harry Lumsden
05 Fiona Leggat: Prince Charlie's Last View/Niel Gow's Wife/The Old Reel
06 Gillian Yellop: Edgefauld House/Craigellachie Bridge/Donald Stewart the Piper
07 Ian Powrie: Kenny Thomson's Comps to Ian Powrie/A Tribute to Stan Hamilton/Peerie Willie
08 Pibroch MacKenzie: Highland Barn Dance
09 Bill Macpherson: Miss Stewart of Grandtully's Strathspey & reel
10 Robin Williamson: Stirling Castle
11 Angus Fitchet: Melody for Jim McFarlane
12 Jack Lindsay: Bonnyrigg Chase/Bobby Colgan/Morag's Reel
13 Betty Henderson: Lament for Archie Beaton
14 Betty Henderson: The Master Stroke

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Ron Gonnella: Scottish Fiddle Master (1980)

Ron Gonnella: Scottish Fiddle Master (1980)

The late Ron Gonnella taught at Morrison's Academy in Crieff, Perthshire, for many years. When he wasn't there he was travelling the world playing Scottish fiddle, recording albums, and performing on radio, stage and dance halls. His great love was the music of the Golden Age of Scots fiddle, typified by the compositions of Niel and Nathaniel Gow, Robert Mackintosh, William Marshall and Joseph Lowe. Although there are pops and crackles and the odd jump on this vinyl recording, the music shines through.

01 Annie Laurie/Miss Barstow's Reel/Miss Robertson
02 Bert Gonnella's Jig/Lizzie Duncan's Fancy
03 Dandie Dinmont/Sir David Davidson of Cantray
04 Miss Campbell of Saddell/Miss Sophia Campbell's Reel
05 Willie Smith/The Morrisonian Strathspey/James Millar, Bullionfield
06 Durisdeer
07 Herbie MacLeod's Hornpipe/Ron Gonella Comps to Senator Robt Byrd of W Virginia
08 Miss Mary Lee's Delight/Miss Marianne Oliphant/Hon Mrs Maule's Reel
09 Johnny Faa/Miss Agnes Loudon/Rachael Rae
10 Prince of Wales/Sauteuse/Jamie Gow, Crathie Bellman
11 Bonny Aboyne/Mr Eager's Strathspey/Miss Sandra Webster
12 Jamie Lyall/Willie Blair/Rut Bell's Reel
13 Miss J Rose's Reel/Mrs Oswald of Auchincruive/The Good Doctor
14 Willie's Fair, and Willie's Rare/Flowers of the Forest
15 Miss Gray of Carse/The Fife and Forfar Hunt's Fav/The Forfar Hunt

Front and back covers included


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Lomond Folk: Blended Scotch (1976)

Lomond Folk: Blended Scotch (1976)

The Glasgow duo of Robin Campbell and Donald Brown on what I believe is their second album from 1976. They are joined by Alex Hutton (mandolin, banjo, fiddle), Archie Duncan (accordion), John Henery (string bass) and Jimmy Grossart (drums, percussion).

01 The Haunted Single End
02 Massacre of Glencoe
03 Isle of Dreams
04 Sergeant, Where's Mine?
05 The Sarry Heid
06 Scots Wha Hae
07 The Whisky Chorus
08 That's Glasgow
09 Friends
10 Bonnie Dundee
11 Drinkin' Willie's Rum
12 When Children Were Young

Front and back covers included.


Unavailable

Lomond Folk: Flower of Scotland (1974)

Lomond Folk: Flower of Scotland (1974)

Lomond Folk were Robin Campbell (born c1944) and Donald Brown (born c1948), a Glasgow-based duo who sang fairly standard folk fare and some self-penned songs. They met in 1962, but it wasn't till 1967 that their mutual interest in folk music led to the formation of Lomond Folk. As well as touring Scotland, they were the hosts of the Black Bull folk club in Milngavie for five years. This was their debut album.

01 Cam Ye By Atholl
02 Carles of Dysart
03 The Water Is Wide
04 The Canongate
05 Come Sail With Me
06 Rattlin Roarin Willie
07 Farmyard Medley
08 Flower of Scotland
09 Piper o' Dundee
10 Land of Dreams
11 Bonnie Glenshee
12 Shades of Amber
13 The Deil's Awa Wi the Exciseman
14 Sad Goodbye

Front and back covers included

Unavailable

The Viking Country Dance Band: Orkney Goes Dancing (1965)

The Viking Country Dance Band: Orkney Goes Dancing (1965)

An EP published by Phoenix Recordings and recorded in the Phoenix Cinema in Kirkwall, Orkney. The band's line-up was Allan Anderson (accordion), Jim Anderson (accordion, piano), Robin Bain (bass), Hugh Inkster (Stroh violin), Brian Findlay (guitar) and Linay Linklater (drums). According to the sleeve notes, the band were known all over the mainland of Orkney. Fiddler Hugh Inkster was recorded a few times and pops up on some interesting albums later on, from the Orkney Strathspey and Reel Society (recorded in 1976) to School of Scottish Studies recordings and a Smithsonian Folkways album of 1979.

01 Roxburgh Castle/Wind That Shakes the Barley/Inver Lasses
02 The Balintore Fisherman/The Royal Scots Polka
03 Bonnie Dundee/Jackson's Jig/Kenmuir's On an Awa
04 Meeting of the Waters/Gledaruel Highlanders

Unavailable

The Crofters (Aberdeen) (1969)

The Crofters: The Crofters (1969)

As far as I know, this was the only recording from this Aberdeen-based group, released on the Beltona Sword label. The Crofters were husband and wife Bill Christie and Eileen Christie, and Frank Robb, and formed in about 1969 for a talent contest in Aberdeen. The instrumentation is vocals, guitars, fiddle and harmonica. There is no connection to the Edinburgh group of the same name (see this post).

01 Bottle of Wine
02 The Roving Ploughboy
03 Drunken Sailor
04 The Last Thing On My Mind
05 Crawlin'
06 Whiskey In the Jar
07 Killiecrankie
08 Roddy McCorley
09 Will Ye Go, Lassie, Go
10 This Land Is Your Land
11 I Never Will Marry
12 Tear Down the Buildings
13 Johnny Cope
14 We Shall Not Be Moved

Front and back covers included.

Unavailable

The Crofters (Edinburgh, mid-1960s)

The Crofters, pictured above singing at the YMCA in central Edinburgh, 1966. Pictured left to right are, Steve Brown (banjo, vocals), Pat Ledgerwood (lead vocals), Aly Fraser (vocals), Sandy Scott (mandolin) and George Anderson (guitar). Based in Edinburgh, they performed for about three or four years, made a demo recording, and appeared on the radio, but no official recording was ever released. Pat Ledgerwood went to live in Canada, and still sings. Steve Brown is still in Edinburgh, retired, and is learning penny whistle. No connection to the Aberdeen-based Crofters (see this post).

Cruachan: Traditional Music and Song (1987)

Cruachan: Traditional Music and Song (1987)

01 Sweeneys/Crucaharan Cross
02 Star of the County Down
03 The Shearin's No For You
04 Bonny Jean Cameron
05 St James's Infirmary
06 I Was a Young Man
07 Gone Fishin'
08 Mary Mack
09 Charlie O Charlie
10 Dingle Regatta/Skyemans Jig
11 Bonnie Bessie Logan
12 Leezie Lindsay
13 Jack Hagerty
14 Freedom Come All Ye


Extant 1986-92. A three-piece from the west of Scotland, This Cruachan (there was another group of the same name in the early 1970s) consisted of Jim Shearer (vocals, whistles, harmonica, bodhran), Mike McCormack (vocals, guitar, mandola, mandolin), and Steve Lawrence (vocals, guitar, bouzouki, dulcimer, low whistle). Lawrence had replaced Ross Kennedy, who left to join The Tannahill Weavers. As far as I know, Cruachan released at least three recordings, the first being this one. Stevie Lawrence went on to become involved in many musical outfits including Hot Toddy and The Iron Horse. Later members of the band were John Malcolm (vocals, guitar), Nigel Munro (mandolin, mandola, vocals) and David Munro.

Unavailable

Various Artists: The Hoot'nanny Show Vol 1 (1964)

Various Artists: The Hoot'nanny Show Vol 1 (1964)

Side One:
01 The Corrie Folk Trio & Paddie Bell: Jug o' Punch
02 Ray & Archie Fisher: Leave Her Johnny
03 Ray & Archie Fisher: Poor Bill
04 Eleanor Leith: What Have they Done to the Rain
05 Eleanor Leith: Still I Love Him
06 The Corrie Folk Trio & Paddie Bell:: Hanging Johnny
Side Two:
01 The Corrie Folk Trio & Paddie Bell: Finnegan's Wake
02 Paddie Bell: She Moved Thro' the Fair
03 Dolina McLennan: Peurt a Beul
04 Dolina McLennan: Dee An Auld Maid in a Garret
05 Ray & Archie Fisher: Backgreen Ballad
06 Eleanor Leith: I Aince Loved a Lad
07 The Company: We Shall Overcome

An absolute gem of a live recording from the Edinburgh of November 1963. Beautiful, beautiful performances from The Corrie Folk Trio and Paddie Bell, Ray and Archie Fisher, Eleanor Leith and Dolina McLennan. Since this is a continuous live performance, I have not separated the tracks, so there are only two: Side One and Side Two.

Unavailable

Companion album to
Various Artists: The Hoot'nanny Show Vol 2 (1964)