Jimmy Shand: First Beltona Recording Session, 1935

 

Jimmy Shand: First Beltona Recording Session, 1935

After Jimmy Shand's first foray into recording for Regal Zonophone in London in 1933, his next session was a year and a half later for Beltona Records based in Glasgow. This was the start of an extensive run of Shand records released by the label which went on until 1945, after which he signed to Parlophone Records. In early 1935 Jimmy travelled to an Edinburgh hall, the Kintore Rooms at 74 Queen Street, where Beltona often recorded artists. Twelve tracks were laid down with accompaniment from Margaret Lowe on piano, and all twelve were released and re-released, and some are still being re-released today on CD compilations. I put together this album from various sources, including my own collection and some vinyl re-releases.

1) Irish Jigs-Rory O'More/Dublin Jig/Blackthorn Stick
2) Irish Jigs-Donnybrook Boy/Humours of Donnybrook/Paddy O'Rafferty

3) Circassian Circle-Original/When I Look Back at Bonnie Aberdeen/Kate Dalrymple
4) Eightsome Reel-Mason's Apron/Breakdown/Mrs MacLeod
5) March, Strathspey & Reel-Atholl Highlanders Farewell/MacDuff Castle/Speed the Plough
6) The Thistle Schottische
7) Hornpipes-Arthurs Seat/Eugene Stratton/Banks
8) Slow Air-Bonnie Lass o' Bon Accord
9) March, Strathspey & Reel-Balmoral Highlanders/Jessie Smith/Rachel Rae
10) March, Strathspey & Reel-The Burning Sands of Egypt/Stirling Castle/Torryburn Lasses
11) Folk Waltz-Ash Grove/Jenny Jones
12) March, Strathspey & Reel-Miss Elspeth Campbell/Huntly's Farewell/Captain Keillor

320cbr

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Below is pictured Kintore House, where the Kintore Rooms were, where this recording session took place.

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 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

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


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

Angus Cameron: Bow to the Fiddle (1975)

Angus Cameron: Bow to the Fiddle (Beltona Sword SBE 180, 1975)

During the 1930s there was a group of three brothers in the county of Angus called The Cameron Men, who performed and recorded Scottish fiddle music. Angus Cameron of Kirriemuir was born into this family, and learned fiddle from an early age from one of the Cameron Men, his father Will Cameron. In 1952 Angus won the Alyth Fiddle Festival at the age of 17, and soon afterwards the Scottish Fiddle Championship, starting an illustrious path through Scottish fiddle circles. As well as playing with his own dance band, he has appeared on numerous television programmes and reformed the Angus Strathspey and Reel Society.

01 Balmoral Castle/Glenlivet/David Adams

02 Flowers o' the Forest

03 Corgarff Castle/Marquis of Huntly/Eugene Stratton

04 Athole Highlanders' Farewell/Brig o' Perth/High Road to Linton

05 Bonnie Lass o' Bon Accord

06 Edgefauld House/Forbes Morrison/The Hurricane

07 The Hen's March/Willafiord Jack/Ollifiord Jack

08 Scott Skinner's Comps/Marchioness of Huntly/Willie Mann of Paddy

09 Mrs Maj Stewart of Java/Bob Johnstone's/Bob Johnstone's

10 Taps of Fechle/Jimmy Blue's/Jimmy Blue's

11 Mrs Scott Skinner/Craigellachie Brig/Lassies o' Stewarton

12 Blackthorn Stick/Connaughtman's Rambles/Tennpenny Bit/Biddy the Bowl Wife

13 Lament for Abercairney/Miss Marianne Oliphant/Cross of Inverness

14 Oh Lady Be Good

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Other albums featuring Angus Cameron:

Angus Cameron: Strings to the Bow (1977)

Various Artists: Scottish Fiddlers to the Fore (1970)

Various Artists: The National Fiddle Championship 1977 (1977)

Will Powrie - 78s

William Powrie, Scottish Melodeon from 78 rpm Recordings (early 1930s)

This collection of recordings from 78s from the 1930s is Scottish traditional music at its best, in my opinion. Will Powrie, from Forteviot in Perthshire, was a recording artist on Beltona Records, first recording his "ane to sax" series of sides in June 1932. The following May he recorded thirteen duets with his son Ian Powrie on fiddle , eight of which are presented here. Later in the same year - 1933 - Will entered a melodeon competition in Perthshire, coming third (first was Davie Raitt of Dundee, second was one Jimmy Shand of Fife - I wonder whatever happened to him?). Will's solo recordings are a treat, but in the "ane to sax" sides there is a background sound which has been presumed to be piano. It's not, and I've come to the conclusion that it is a foot gong, played by Powrie himself.

Powrie had two musical sons. The previously mentioned Ian, who went on to play fiddle in Shand's band, and formed his own successful dance band before emigrating to Australia. Now 86, his mind is still alert. Bill Powrie played piano accordion, and also forged a successful career in the Scottish Dance Band scene.

I can't recommend these recordings highly enough. They're an insight into what was being played in Scotland in the 1920s and 30s, and a rare opportunity to hear one of the tradition bearers of the time.

WILLIAM and IAN POWRIE

1) Highland Wedding-John McAlpine-Inver Lassies

2) Petronella-The Rose Tree-My love Is But a Lassie Yet

3) Jigs: Rory O'More-The Blackthorn Stick-Stool of Repentance

4) Scotch Reform: The Banks of Allan-Jackson's Jig-Captain White

5) Highland Fling: Marquis of Huntly-Monymusk-Miss Drummond of Perth

6) Old Style Waltz: Grannie's Hieland Hame-Come Under My Plaidie

7) Sword Dance: Miss Stewart-Whistle O'er the Lave O't-Wha Saw the 42nd?

8) Strip the Willow: High Road to Linton-Speed the Plough-Mason's Apron-Mrs Mcleod

WILLIAM POWRIE

9) The Scottish Lilt: Hundred pipers-Pibroch o' Donald Dhu-Blue Bonnets O'er the Border

10) Original Eightsome Reel: Reel-Soldier's Joy-Wind That Shakes the Barley-Rachael Rae

11) Ane - March, Strathspey & Reel: Elspeth Campbell-Willie Cook-Speed the Plough

12) Twa - March, Strathspey & Reel: Drunken Piper-Highland Whisky-High Road to Linton

13) Three - Highland Quickstep: Inverness Gathering-Willie McLennan

14) Fower - March, Strathspey & Reel: Dovecote Park-Tulchan Lodge-Mason's Apron

15) Five - Highland Marches: The Marchioness of Tullibardine-The 93rd's Fareweel to Edinburgh

16) Sax - Highland Schottische: Orange and Blue-Laddie Wi' the Plaidie

WILLIAM and IAN POWRIE

17) Auld Songs Medley: Dying Ploughboy??-My Bonnie-Banks of Sweets Dundee?? BL 2093

18) Auld Songs Medley: Haughs of Cromdale-The Back o' Benachie-Peas Brose Again??-What's a' the Steer Kimmer

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