Anthologies   •   5,227,706 Scotsmen Can't Be Wrong!

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  • 5,227,706 Scotsmen Can't Be Wrong!
    • 1971 - Transatlantic TRA SAM 22 LP (UK)
  • Side One
    1. Plumbers & Jiners (Trad. arr. Nicoll) — Watt Nicoll: from Watt A Night (XTRA 1089)
    2. Skinny Ma Linky Long Legs (McGinn) — Matt McGinn: from Honesty Is Out Of the Fashion (XTRA 1071)
    3. Wee Bird (Nicoll) — Watt Nicoll: from Watt A Night (XTRA 1089)
    4. The Soldier's Prayer (Trad. Adapted Stan Kelly) — Hamish Imlach: from Hamish Imlach (XTRA 1039)
    5. Scriptures (Nicoll) — Watt Nicoll: from The Ballad of the Bog (XTRA 1062)
    6. Two Foot Tall (McGinn) — Matt McGinn: from Honesty Is Out Of the Fashion (XTRA 1071)
  • Side Two
    1. Biddie McGrath (McGinn) — Matt McGinn: from Honesty Is Out Of the Fashion (XTRA 1071)
    2. The Whistling Duke (Nicoll) — Watt Nicoll: from WATTcha! (XTRA 1108)
    3. The Horny Bull (Nicoll) — Hamish Imlach: from Two Sides of Hamish Imlach (XTRA 1069)
    4. The Cleansing Man (McGinn) — Matt McGinn: from Honesty Is Out Of the Fashion (XTRA 1071)
    5. Just Made It Legal (Nicoll) — Watt Nicoll: from The Ballad of the Bog (XTRA 1062)
    6. The Footba' Referee (McGinn) — Matt McGinn: from Matt McGinn (XTRA 1045)

  • Credits
    • Compiled by Keith Bleasby
    • Front Sleeve design by Dan Pearce

Sleeve Notes

5,227,706 Scotsmen Can't Be Wrong! is a compilation album from the early 70's representing three of Scotland's best known folk singers of the period. All of the material on this record is from other Transatlantic albums with no previously unreleased songs—to my knowledge. All three of these performers possessed a keen sense of humour, with Matt McGinn emerging as the most prolific and accomplished songwriter. Watt Nicoll makes reference to his association with "bog" (toilet) songs and there are 2 prime examples on this record. Perhaps not to everyone's taste, but they are funny. Hamish Imlach, to my thinking, would be considered the more versatile folk performer, although as his career progressed he tended to stick more to the comical songs. For more information on these singers, please visit their respective pages.

Here's tae us
Wha's like us
Gai few
And they're a' deed.

Watt Nicoll, Hamish Imlach, Matt McGinn—three of the best known names on the Scottish folk scene, and equally well known to English audiences through records and occasional sorties South of the Border. If you have ever attended a rousing evening hosted by one of the above named gentlemen, then you have probably laughed along with many of the songs.

We have tried to present here some of the best examples of Scottish humour; the heart-rending tale of a young lady stuck in the loo (Plumbers & Joiners), and a warning to beware of a formidable warlike Amazon (Biddie McGrath) These and other classics are within this sleeve, so loosen your trousers (or elastic), relax, and enjoy.

Keith Bleasby