Jock Tamson's Bairns - Rare

(April 2005) 12 tracks (52 mins): Blythe, Blythe and Merry Was She * Embro Set * Fause Knicht on The Road * Iona Song * Bonnie Earl O Moray * Mull Rant / Castle Stalker * Grocer / Pottinger’s Compliments / Marquis of Huntly’s * Aye Waukin’ O * Clansman Set * Soor Milk Cairt * Ba Ba mo Leanabh (air) * Bogend Hairst.

"The reputation of Jock Tamson's Bairns is so well-established that comment is almost superfluous." (The Scotsman)

Praise indeed, but it does sum up one of the country’s most respected bands, having carried the torch for truly Scottish music since their inception at the end of the 1970s.

In the hands of The Bairns, fiddles, concertina, whistles, harmonica, guitars, cittern, bodhran and even the humble jaw harp are played with character, freshness and a natural sense of resolution which brings its own excitement.

Their instrumental playing - from Ian Hardie, Derek Hoy and Norman Chalmers - remains the benchmark for younger aspiring players, and in singers Rod Paterson and John Croall they have great interpreters of both Burns and traditional Scots songs.

After two early 1980s albums The Bairns officially went into 'retirement', but came back with a bang when their first two albums were released on one CD - A' Jock Tamson’s Bairns - and then followed that up with a 2001 album May Ye Never Lack a Scone.

The Lasses' Fashion album is still regarded as one of the finest expressions of the great revival of traditional music that helped shape and create the contemporary Scottish identity, and was chosen as one of the ‘all-time top ten albums’ by Richard Thompson for Q magazine.

Booklet includes glossary, full song lyrics and notes.