Andy Shanks and Jim Russell - Diamonds in the Night

(1997) 14 tracks: Balgonie Bairn * Thirty Year Man * Ash Pirates * Rags and Days * Street Dances * Money Guns and the Green Forest * St Andrew in the Window * Compas Heart * The Road Here * Diamonds in the Night * Midnight City Buses * Mogadishu * The Fiddler * The Wake.

A debut album by two Scottish singer-songwriters combining unique music with powerful lyrics.

Andy Shanks (vocals, guitar), Jim Russell (guitar, whistles, melodeon, concertina), John Burgess (tenor sax), Lindsay Cooper (double bass), Brian MacAlpine, David Scott (piano, organ, additional percussion), Wilf Taylor (percussion), Wendy Weatherby (cello), The Torridon String Quartet.

"... a wonderful collection of thirteen original songs, on which they're supported by the original Tubular Bells double bassist, Lindsay Cooper, saxophonist John Burgess and Capercaillie's Wilf Taylor, among others ... the strength of the song-writing alone would be enough to ensure the album's place in the musical history books." Taplas