Robin Hall & Jimmie Macgregor   •   Scottish Choice [Decca Eclipse]

image
image image image
  • Scottish Choice
    • 1971 - Decca Eclipse ECS 2074 LP (UK)
  • Side One
    1. Tramps and Hawkers (Stewart, Arr. MacBeath)
    2. Brochan Lom, Tana Lom and Bodachan A' Mhirein (Trad. Arr. Hall, MacGregor)
    3. The Day We Went to Rothesay (Trad. Arr. Rosselson)
    4. The Craw Killed the Pussie (Trad. Arr. MacGregor)
    5. The Stoutest Man in the Forty-Twa (Trad. Arr. Rosselson, MacGregor)
    6. Highland Fairy Lullaby (Trad., Trans. MacBean, MacGregor, Hall)
    7. My Love, She's But a Lassie Yet (Trad. Arr. Rosselson, Burns)
  • Side Two
    1. Mingulay Boat Song (Trad. Arr. Rosselson)
    2. Nicky Tams (Trad. Arr. MacGregor)
    3. The Piper o' Dundee (Trad. Arr. Rosselson)
    4. The Bonnie Earl o' Moray (Trad. Arr. Rosselson)
    5. Mormond Braes (Trad. Arr. MacGregor)
    6. Coulter's Candy (Adapt. Hall, Rosselson)
    7. The Roving Plough Boy (Henderson, MacDonald)

  • Credits
    • All the group songs used on SCOTTISH CHOICE have been arranged by LEON ROSSELSON whilst the duet arrangements were the work of JIMMIE MacGREGOR.

Sleeve Notes

Robin and Jimmie are Britain's best known folk singers and their quality has been tried and proven in countless Television and Radio programmes and in concert halls and theatres all over the world, but they are convinced that their "Scottish Choice" owes much of its attraction to the addition of Shirley Bland's lovely singing and Leon Rosselson's instrumental ability and general musicality. The selection is from those songs most requested over the last few years. We hope that you will enjoy them.


TRAMPS AND HAWKERS (Jimmie & Robin) — A 19th. century song, well known to the "travelling folk of Scotland". Its popularity has been greatly increased by the traditional singers Davy Stewart and Jimmy McBeath (Guitars: Jimmie MacGregor & Robin Hall)

BROCHAN LOM, TANA LOM and BODACHAN A' MHIREIN (Jimmie & Robin) — This essential touch of the Gaelic was taught to us by singer/journalist Jimmy McPhee, late of Ballachulish. Jimmy also taught this "mouth music" to many of London's cockney kids with great success (Guitar: Jimmie MacGregor)

THE DAY WE WENT TO ROTHESAY (The Galliards) — In the summer months, the little holiday resorts along the Clyde estuary are crammed with noisy holiday crowds making the most of their annual escape from grimy Glasgow. This song describes some boozy high jinks in Rothesay, that famous Cannes of the Clyde! The rousing chorus has popularised this song all over Scotland and, by now, it is also just as well known in London. (Guitar: Jimmie MacGregor/Banjo: Leon Rosselson)

THE CRAW KILLED THE PUSSIE (Jimmie & Robin) — In this wee song, brought to light by the renowned collector Gavin Greig, only the chorus remains as it was. Jimmie wrote the verses for our version. (Guitar: Jimmie MacGregor)

THE STOUTEST MAN IN THE FORTY TWA (Jimmie & Robin) — There are many songs about the famous 42nd. Highland Regiment. This one of the best we know (Guitar: Jimmie MacGregor)

HIGHLAND FAIRY LULLABY (Shirley & Jimmie) — A charming little lullaby whose theme is based upon the old Highland legend about a baby being stolen away by the fairies. (Guitar: Jimmie MacGregor)

MY LOVE SHE'S BUT A LASSIE YET (The Galliards) — We quote (from a Victorian folk song collection): This humorous song is composed of the two leading features of man's life - love and drink; they are characteristically portrayed and the preference given to the passion of love. Unquote. (Banjo: Leon Rosselson/Guitar and Mandolin: Jimmie MacGregor)

MINGULAY BOAT SONG (The Galliards) — The Western Islands of Scotland have produced some of the most beautiful songs of this or any other country; this translation of a well known Gaelic boating song is a fine example. (Guitars: Leon Rosselson and Jimmie MacGregor)

NICKY TAMS (ROBIN) — A widely known contemporary bothy ballad by G.S. Morris of Meldrum. Farm workers tie the Nicky Tams (thongs or cords) just below the knee to keep their trousers clear of the mud. (Guitar: Jimmie MacGregor/Banjo: Leon Rosselson)

THE PIPER O' DUNDEE (The Galliards) — The second and third verses of this song are in the form of a list of tunes played by the Jacobite piper, Carnegie of Finhaven. He is also famous for running away at the Battle of Sherriffmuir. (Guitars: Jimmie MacGregor and Leon Rosselson)

THE BONNIE EARL O' MORAY (The Galliards) — The Earl of Moray met his death at the hands of the Marquis of Huntley at Donibristle, Fifeshire, in February 1592. It was suspected that the killing was ordered by James VI because of the Earl's association with the Queen, Anne of Denmark. (Guitar: Leon Rosselson)

MORMOND BRAES (Jimmie & Robin) — A much shortened version of a bothy ballad popular around Buchan (in the North East) around 1860. (Guitars: Jimmie MacGregor and Leon Rosselson)

COULTERS CANDY (The Galliards) — A lullaby from Dumfrieshire where the Coulter family once sold their famous sweet. All but one of the verses sung here are by Robin. (Guitars: Leon Rosselson and Jimmie MacGregor)

THE ROVIN' PLOUGHBOY (Jimmie & Robin) — Collected by Peter Kennedy from the composer John McDonald, who set his words to the traditional tune of The gypsy laddie. (Guitars: Jimmie MacGregor and Leon Rosselson)