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REVIEW FROM www.livingtradition.co.uk
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IAN
MCCALMAN Mccalman 'Singluar' - Songs by Ian, Sung by Friends CDTRAX
269 |
What a great idea
of Ian Green's to suggest to Ian McCalman that he get his pals together
and plunder his 'songbook'. As Ian says he did wonder as to their sanity
as to how many illustrious careers would come to a shuddering halt. Neither
he nor they should have worried.
I hadn't realised just how large Ian's 'songbook' and how wide ranging
it is running through the reflective 'Greenland' - Barbara Dixon, self
analysis 'Wha's Like Us' - Jim Malcolm, poking fun at folkies 'Sidmouth
Folk Festival Blues' - Mike Whellans, social conscience 'War Outside'
- Dick Gaughan, and the downright humorous 'The 8-3-0' - Sheena Wellington.
There are also excellent contributions from The Sangsters, Ally Bain and
Phil Cunningham, Alan Taylor, Janet McCalman (Ian's niece), the original
Macs, Isla St Clair, Davy Steele (with Drinkers Drouth) and of course
Ian himself.
For me it was also a trip down memory lane as we had entertained Barbara
Dixon, Mike Whellans and Ally Bain, Derek Moffat (much missed), Hamish
Bain and Ian himself - the original Macs to the Abbey Folk Club, Arbroath
in the late sixties. Barbara is no longer on the club circuit, Mike and
Ally have gone their separate ways and the Macs have evolved. Sheena Wellington
is a friend from just down the road and Jim Malcolm an old friend from
just along the road. Davy Steele (also much missed) joined us on odd occasions
at our weekly session in Friockheim. Alan Taylor, Dick Gaughan and the
Sangsters have all been guests at the Montrose folk club whilst Janet
McCalman and Isla St Clair complete the line up of Ian's friends.
They highlight of the CD for me has to be 'Sidmouth Folk Festival Blues'
but maybe it has something to do with my age! I would have liked the Macs
to have song 'The 8-3-0' - a very amusing song about the A830 Fort William
to Mallaig road and given Sheena Wellington perhaps a more reflective
song to sing. This is a minor gripe in what is an excellent CD.
Whether this CD was suggested as a serious compilation or just a bit of
fun I don't know, but listen to these excerpts from Ian's 'songbook' and
enjoy, as you won't be disappointed.
Andrew Webster
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