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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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

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: 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

Ron Gonnella: Fiddler's Fancy (1975)

Ron Gonnella: Fiddler's Fancy (1975)

01 The Bonnie Lass o' Bon Accord

02 Donald MacPherson's Lament/Mrs Will/Sandy Grant o' Battangorm

03 Miss Gordon of Park/Miss Hannah's Jig

04 Chapel Keithack/Mrs James McInnes, Edinburgh/Lochrynach

05 The Cradle Song

06 Dumbarton Castle/Hoo Dinna Ye Play Mair?

07 Corgarff Castle/Death and Dr Hornbrook

08 The Music o' Spey/Mr Michie/Mr John Smith, Alford

09 Lady Niven Lumsden of Achindoir/The Earl of Fife/Lowe's Hornpipe

10 Mr Morison og Bognie/Miss Stewart's Jog - of Bombay/Maj L Stewart's Reel - of Java

11 Rosacre/Forbes Morrison/Davie Work

12 Sir Harry Niven Lumsden of Achindoir

13 Sandy's Goat/MacLeod and Mackay

14 The Weeping Birches of Kilmorack/Glen Cottage/Gibson's Whiskey

Another great collection of tunes from Ron Gonnella, whose fiddling here is at its finest.

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Other posts featuring Ron Gonnella:

Ron Gonella: Scottish Violin Music (1966)

Ron Gonnella: The Gow Collections (1973)

Ron Gonnella: Fiddle Gems (1976)

Various Artists: Fiddle Miscellany 3 (2010)

Ron Gonnella: Fiddle Gems (1976)

Ron Gonnella: Fiddle Gems (1976)

01 Well May My True Love Arrive/Glenmorriston/Northern Racecourse

02 Rbel War Song/Belladrum House/The Favourite Dram

03 Well May Charlie Wear the Crown/Northern Meeting/Sprightly Minikin

04 Sitting In the Stern of a Boat

05 The Beauty of the North/Stranger in Place of the Worthies/Inauspicious Wedding Day

06 Good Wife, Admit the Wanderer/The Maid That Made the Bed to Me

07 The Fall of Foyers/The North Side of the Grampians/In Dispraise of Whisky

08 Archibald MacDonald of Keppoch/The Expert Dancer/The Merry Making

09 Huntly's Wedding Medley/General Gathering 1745/The Shepherdess/My Ain, Kind Deary

10 Hymn to the Saviour

11 My Wife Is Forever Storming At Me/The Hawthorn Tree of Cawdor/Come Lads, Now Be Ready

12 Caledonia's Wail for Niel Gow/Angus Fraser's Strathspey/Three Sheep's Shanks

This was one of the first Ron Gonnella albums I heard in the 1970s, and I realised I was listening to a very fine fiddler indeed. Originally from Dundee, Gonnella lived and taught for many years in the small Perthshire town of Crieff. Until he married - late in his life - he would sit in his small flat and listen to his precious record collection and practise the fiddle tunes for his next recording. Top Scottish fiddlers such as Duncan Wood and Gregor Borland have told me of their admiration for his skills and techniques, and I think of him as a fiddler's fiddler.

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Other posts featuring Ron Gonella:

Ron Gonnella: Scottish Violin Music (1966)

Ron Gonnella: The Gow Collections (1973)

Ron Gonnella: Fiddler's Fancy (1975)

Various Artists: Fiddle Miscellany No.3 (2010)

Iain McLachlan and Fergie MacDonald: Kings of the Button Keyed Box (1987)

Iain McLachlan and Fergie MacDonald: Kings of the Button Keyed Box (1987)

The late button accordionist Iain McLachlan of Benbecula is most famous for composing Dr Mackay's Farewell to Creagorry, which later become better known as The Dark Island. Not one for travelling a great deal, McLachlan lived all his life on the island. He had a great friendship with Fergie MacDonald, who regarded him as 'the greatest three-row button-box player in the Highlands and Islands'. In 1987 they finally got together and recorded this two-hander album, each taking seven tracks and duetting on the final one. Joining Iain and Fergie are John Carmichael on second accordion, David Flockhart on piano, the late Billy Thom on drums and Alasdair Macleod on bass.

01 Iain McLachlan: Major Manson/John MacDonald

02 Fergie MacDonald: Dungannon/Lilting Fisherman/Ballycastle

03 Iain McLachlan: The Dark Island

04 Fergie MacDonald: Mouth Music On the Box

05 Iain McLachlan: Saddle the Pony/Donald Iain Rankine/Jig of Slurs

06 Fergie MacDonald: Iain Rhuadh's Lament

07 Iain McLachlan: Hills of Perth/Barren Rocks of Aden

08 Fergie MacDonald: Lady In the Bottle/Wee Murdie's/Sweet Biddy Daly

09 Iain McLachlan: Lady Elspeth Campbell/Sprig of Ivy

10 Fergie MacDonald: Maggie Moss/Reunion Reel

11 Iain McLachlan: Uist Song/Rhu vaternish/Mo Cailin Don

12 Fergie MacDonald: Tom and Mima's Golden Wedding/Millbank Cottage

13 Iain McLachlan: Maggie's Reel

14 Fergie MacDonald: Addie Harper's/Maureen's/Ness Bothan

15 Iain and Fergie: Donald MacLean's Farewell to Oban/Argyllshire Gathering

Unavailable

Black Donald: Dancing Hazards (1985)

Black Donald: Dancing Hazards (1985)

01 Jim Christie of Wick/John Keith Lang/Barrowburn Reel

02 A Highland Laddie

03 Willie's Brogues/Old Toasty

04 Glenlogie

05 The Wee Tot/Ness Bothan

06 Ballachulish Glen

07 Eppie Morrie/Cooley's Reel

08 The Resting Chair/John Murray of Lochee

09 The Braemar Poacher

10 Charlie Hunter/The Highlander/The Stool of Repentance

11 Lady Mary Ann

12 Dancing Hazards/Black Donald/Donacht Head/Bert MacCroskie

Black Donald were David "Dagger Gordon (cittern, mandolin, banjo, whistles), Iain MacBeath (fiddle) and Ian MacDonald (vocals, guitar). The played around the north of Scotland for a few years but this was their only recording. Dagger Gordon released the first Scottish mandolin recording - Highland Mandolin in 1988 - and was involved with the group Highland Connection and the Donald Dubh ceilidh band (Donald Dubh - Scots gaelic, translates as Black Donald). Jim Sutherland of Mirk and The Easy Club also played on the album.

Unavailable

A Better Class of Folk (1975)

Various Artists: A Better Class of Folk (Lismore Recordings LILP 5022, 1975)

This was released on the back of a 1974 Scottish Television series of the same name, featuring a handful of Scots folk performers led by Irish playwright and singer Dominic Behan. Mike Whellans was briefly in the original Boys of the Lough line-up after recording and touring as a duet with Aly Bain. Allan Barty from Dundee played fiddle and mandolin and had featured in many folk groups since the 1960s. Later he had a radio programme in Germany. Iain Mackintosh first recorded with The Islanders in 1965, and subsequently went on to a successful solo career, alongside celebrated collaborations with Hamish Imlach and Brian McNeill. Billy Davidson from Shotts toured in the 70s and released an album in 1976, On the Road (Lismore LILP5039). The ensemble was joined by Margaret Henery, who played bass guitar.

01 Ensemble-If You Want to See the General (trad)

02 Billy Davidson-Shores of Sutherland (Jim MacLean)

03 Mike Whellans-The Wars o' Germany (trad)

04 Allan Barty-Aunque Me Des (trad)

05 Iain Mackintosh-The Glasgow I Used to Know (Jim MacLean)

06 Dominic Behan-Liverpool Lou (Behan)

07 Billy Davidson-The Scottish Sabbath (Jim MacLean)

08 Mike Whellans-The Ballad of Sam Stone (John Prine)

09 Allan Barty-Sunshine Hornpipe/Humours of Glendart (trad)

10 Iain Mackintosh-The Ballad of Joe Hill (Woody Guthrie)

11 Dominic Behan-Spanish Lady (trad)

12 Ensemble-The Good Ship Reuben Jones (Woody Guthrie)

Unavailable

Other albums featuring Allan Barty:

Barty's Bow (1980)

Other albums featuring Iain Mackintosh:

The Islanders: Keep Left (1965)

I Belong to Glasgow (1991)

Ye Jacobites By Name (1984)

The Jacobites: Ye Jacobites By Name (Lismor recordings LILP 5136, 1984)

In 1968 Dave Davidson helped to form The Kingdom Folk, based in Newport and Wormit (north Fife), with William White and Brian Wighton, and they played contemporary, traditional and comedy music. "I used to play in a Tiny Tim-type act for a while," said Dave, "That's how we include some comedy in our material. But on the serious side our main influences are probably The Corries, Hamish Imlach and The Clancy Brothers." Dave reinvented himself as 'Dave Kingdom', a solo artist who had a residency at the Queen's Hotel in Dundee, and compered various folk events.

By 1973 Dave had been playing with Chic Batchelor (guitar and mandolin) as Top Flight. They became Dingly Dell with Jan Caldon (tin whistle) and went down well on the lounge bar circuit. The name came from the famous Lindisfarne album, and the trio included a lot of comedy in the act. They were still around in 1977 when they recorded two songs for Dundee Folk, an LP released as part of the 1978 Dundee Students' Charities Campaign.

The Jacobites performed as vocal duos and trios throughout their existence and recorded several albums on vinyl, cassette, and finally on CD. On the first LP Davidson is joined by Brian Lochrie of Perth, and on subsequent recordings by Gillian Murray, and her husband Stuart Duncan, the last CD being finished in 1992. During this time, the group toured extensively all over the world, and had regular residencies in Scotland.

Sadly, in 1992 Dave Davidson was killed in a car crash aged 46. The final CD, Captivated, was released four months before his death, and the other two Jacobites decided not to carry on. Eventually Gill Murray went back to performing on stage as a soloist on mainly Scottish variety shows, where she started out. She also recorded an eclectic "jazzish" album and performs occasionally with the Jauncy Brothers Band. Stuart, after he recovered from the accident, toured Denmark as half of Crann Tara with Bill McArthur (ex-Beggar's Mantle), and they recorded a cassette album. They also performed as Moonshine with Gill Murray joining them. The trio performed for the next 8 years under both of these names. Now Stuart runs Redbarn recording studio outside Dundee.

Helping out on this album are Jim Sutherland (percussion, cittern) and Eddie McGuire (flute).

01 Ye Jacobites By Name

02 John Anderson My Jo

03 Sound the Pibroch

04 Island Spinning Song

05 Loch Lomond

06 Beautiful Highlands of Home

07 All Around My Hat

08 The Trooper and the Maid

09 Kinloch Rannoch Lullabye

10 The Lads o' the Fair

11 Bonnie Glenshee

12 Silver Darlings

13 MacPherson's Rant

14 Bonnie Schiehallion

Unavailable

Other albums featuring The Jacobites:

The Jacobites (1981)

Dundee Folk (1977) (as Dingly Dell)