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)

The Corrie Folk Trio & Paddie Bell: More Folk Songs for the Burds (1963)

The Corrie Folk Trio and Paddie Bell: More Folk Songs for the Burds (Waverley ELP132, 1963)

01 The Twa Corbies
02 Fine Flowers
03 Queen Mary
04 The Bonny Earl o' Moray
05 Blow Ye Winds of Morning

Unavailable

The Corrie Folk Trio & Paddie Bell: Yon Folk Songs Is for the Burds (1963)

The Corrie Folk Trio and Paddie Bell: Yon Folk Songs Is for the Burds (Waverley ELP131, 1963)

01 Bungle Rye
02 The Queen's Maries
03 Tiree Love Song
04 The Itinerant Cobbler

Unavailable

The Corrie Folk Trio and Paddie Bell (1963)

The Corrie Folk Trio and Paddie Bell (Waverley ELP129, 1963)

01 Lock the Door Lariston
02 O'er the Water
03 Jug o' Punch
04 Singing Bird

The Corrie Folk Trio's first recordings consisted of three EPs published on the Edinburgh-based Waverley Records label in 1963. The artists were Roy Williamson and Ronnie Browne (both from Edinburgh art school), Bill Smith (an architect) and Irish-born singer Paddie Bell, by this time resident in Edinburgh. The EPs sold very well, and were re-released soon afterwards. At this time The Corrie Folk trio and Paddie Bell were in the ascendancy, and before long sell-out tours, television appearances and LPs were the norm. These three EPs are almost fifty years old, but the strength of the performance is evident, and are significant for heralding the arrival of The Corries.

Unavailable

Drinkers Drouth: When the Kye Comes Hame (1982)

Drinkers Drouth: When the Kye Comes Hame (1982)

01 Let Me In This Ae Nicht/Merrily Kissed the Quaker
02 Dream Angus
03 Birnie Bouzle
04 Heave Ya Ho
05 When the Kye Comes Hame
06 The Prickly Bush
07 Cam Ye O'er Frae France/The Store Cheque
08 Wha'll Dreg a Buckie/O
09 Tiree Love Song
10 Gospel Ship

Drinkers Drouth formed in 1974 in Edinburgh with Jack Aitken (vocals, guitar, bouzouki, autoharp), Dave Black (vocals, mandolin, fiddle, bouzouki), Tony Dougan (vocals, guitar) and Brian Dougan (vocals, mouth organ). In 1981 they appeared on the same bill as Davy Steele (vocals, guitar, banjo, whistle), and immediately invited him to join the group. Two albums followed, this one and Bound to Go (1984) before they disbanded in 1976. Davy Steele became known as a member of  Ceolbeg and The Battlefield Band; sadly he died in 2001. Brian Dougan also died in 2009.

Unavailable

The Laggan: Scottish Folk Songs (1975)

The Laggan: Scottish Folk Songs (1975)

01 John MacLean
02 Mickey's Warning
03 Bay of Biscay O
04 Nancy
05 Lovin' Hannah
06 Banks o' Ayr
07 Band o' Shearers
08 The Dark Island/Chief O'Neil's Favourite
09 The Lark In the Morning
10 Twa Recruitin Sergeants
11 Rosie Anderson
12 The Wee Room

The Laggan were formed in the late 1960s/early 1970s in Glasgow. An early member was guitarist Brian Miller who later became involved with The Occasionals. One of the stalwarts of The Laggan was Arthur Johnstone (vocals) who also started the Star Folk Club in Glasgow in 1978. Alongside Johnstone were John MacDermott (banjo, harmonica), Tony Patton (guitar, mandolin, harmonica, vocals) and Billy Patton (fiddle, mandolin, banjo, bouzouki, vocals). I think they only recorded two albums, this one and I Am the Common Man (1978). MacDermott died in 2009, while Johnstone still performs as part of the Stars Band with Brian Miller and Chalie Soane. Billy Patton worked in a group called Patti O'Doors who released one LP that I know about.

Unavailable