Robin Hall & Jimmie Macgregor   •   Scottish Choice (1972, CAN)

• Scottish Choice
  • 1972 - Ace of Clubs SCL 7740 LP (CAN)

• 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 Stoutest Man in the Forty-Twa (Trad. Arr. Rosselson, MacGregor)
  5. Highland Fairy Lullaby (Trad., Trans. MacBean, MacGregor, Hall)

• Side Two
  6. Mingulay Boat Song (Trad. Arr. Rosselson)
  7. The Piper o' Dundee (Trad. Arr. Rosselson)
  8. The Bonnie Earl o' Moray (Trad. Arr. Rosselson)
  9. Coulter's Candy (Adapt. Hall, Rosselson)
  10. The Roving Plough Boy (Henderson, MacDonald)

• Musicians
  • Robin Hall: Vocals
  • Jimmie MacGregor: Vocals, Guitar, Mandolin
  • Shirley Bland: Vocals
  • Leon Rosselson: Vocals, Guitar, Banjo

• 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.

• Other releases include …
  • Scottish Choice (1961, UK)
  • Scottish Choice (1971, UK) — "Readers Digest"
  • Scottish Choice (1971, UK) — "Decca Eclipse"
    • All of the releases include 4 additional tracks: "The Craw Killed the Pussie", "My Love, She's But a Lassie Yet", "Nicky Tams" & "Mormond Braes"

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.

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.

THE DAY WE WENT TO ROTHESAY (Robin, Jimmie, Shirley, Leon) — 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 STOUTEST MAN IN THE FORTY TWA (Jimmie & Robin) — There are many songs about the famous 42nd. Highland Regiment.

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.

MINGULAY BOAT SONG (Robin, Jimmie, Shirley, Leon) — The Western Islands of Scotland have produced some of the most beautiful songs of this or any other country. Here is one of the best known.

THE PIPER O' DUNDEE (Robin, Jimmie, Shirley, Leon) — 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.

THE BONNIE EARL O' MORAY (Robin, Jimmie, Shirley, Leon) — 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.

COULTERS CANDY (Robin, Jimmie, Shirley, Leon) — A lullaby from Dumfrieshire where the Coultart family once sold their famous sweet.

THE ROVIN' PLOUGHBOY (Jimmie & Robin) — In this version of "The Gypsy Laddie", the hero becomes a ploughman.