Gaberlunzie   •   The Traveling Man

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  • The Travelling Man
    • 1981 - Klub KLP 22 LP (UK)
  • Side One
    1. Bonnie Lass O'Fyvie (Trad. Arr. Gaberlunzie)
    2. Air Falalalo (Trad. Arr. Gaberlunzie)
    3. Pear Tree (Trad. Arr. Gaberlunzie)
    4. Blind Angus of The Hill (Gordon Menzies)
    5. Follow The Ploo (Gordon Menzies)
    6. Sam The Skull (H. Hagan)
    7. Long Distance Travelling Man (Gordon Menzies)
  • Side Two
    1. Burghead Sands (Gordon Menzies)
    2. Donnie MacFhail (Gordon Menzies)
    3. Twa Recruiting Sergeants (Trad. Arr. Gaberlunzie)
    4. Hercules The Bear (Gordon Menzies)
    5. Broom O' The Cowdenknowes (Trad. Arr. Gaberlunzie)
    6. Scotland Ownes Me (Gordon Menzies)
    7. The Exile (Catherine S. MacGregor, Gordon Menzies)

  • Gaberlunzie
    • Gordon Menzies: Vocals, Guitar, Mandoline
    • Robin Watson: Vocals, Guitar
  • Musicians
    • Jim Divers: Bass Guitar
    • Colin Finn: Drums
    • Robert Handleigh: Fiddle, Accordion
    • Dave Murricane & Dave Pringle: Keyboards
    • Evelyn Reid & Dick Whitelaw: Vocal Effects
  • Credits
    • Produced by Pete Shipton
    • Photography & Sleeve Design: Gavin McNae

Sleeve Notes

The Bonnie Lass O' Fyvie — In which a soldier unsuccessfully tries to entice a young girl away from her mother.

Air Falalalo — A song which says it all. And it's Scottish at that.

The Pear Tree — In which we hear of fruity nocturnal vagaries near Dundee.

Blind Angus of The Hill — This is a legend of the hills of Wester Ross and Sutherland, and tells about the old man of the hills, destined to guard mankind until the end of time.

Follow The Ploo — A latter day bothy ballad loosely based on Gordon's early working life.

Sam The Skull — In the tradition of the redoubtable Felix, here we have a Glasgow cat who is completely un-put-downable.

Long Distance Travelling Man — Written during one of Gaberlunzie's Canadian tours, this is dedicated to all true Canadians, because they have a magnificent and beautiful country of which they can be justly proud.

Burghead Sands — Burghead is a small fishing port on the Moray Firth, where an ancient sunken well has been restored during recent years. A local custom called "Burning the Clavie" takes place in January each year, when a burning barrel of tar and wood is carried through the streets of the village and small pieces of burning wood are thrown into house doorways where they are collected and extinguished by the householders. If these pieces of the Clavie are kept, luck will attend for a year.

Donnie MacPhail — A story about one of the Scots travelling people who has left behind his wandering ways for a life and a steady income.

Twa Recruiting Sergeants — In which the sergeants attempt to entice the young men of the farms to take the King's Shillin' and join the Black Watch.

Hercules The Bear — With apologies to Andy Robbins, all Hoochter Teuchters and everybody else, living or dead.

Broom O' The Cowdenknowes — The sad tale of a young shepherd forced to leave his lover because of the difference in their stations in life. It is beautifully sung here by Robin.

Scotland Owns Me — In which Gordon takes a look at who owns Scotland.

The Exile — A poem by Catherine S. MacGregor of Kingussie, put to music by Gordon. It tells of the eviction of a highland family during the "Clearances", but the eternal Scottish optimism shines through.