Songs, Poems an d Music of World War 1

CD1 consists of the soldiers’ marching and trench songs, music hall favourites of the time, a Harry Lauder track, a pipe band track consisting of tunes associated with Scottish regiments, the poignant “Flooers o’ The Forest” and “The Last Post”. Twenty-seven soldiers’ songs and six music hall songs were recorded and produced by Ian McCalman at Kevock Digital Studio – and what better a choice could have been made than someone who has been a professional singer most of his life and one of the internationally acclaimed ‘McCalmans’ folk group, since disbanded. Ian was immediately excited by the project and totally immersed himself in it. His contribution to CD1 is immeasurable. The ‘Scottish Pals’ Singers, as we named them for CD1, are Fiona Forbes (Sangsters), Ian Bruce, Tich Frier, Hamish Bayne and the then current ‘McCalmans’ lineup of Ian, Stephen Quigg and the late Nick Keir. Much of the instrumental work is by Maartin Allcock but Ian McCalman, Hamish Bayne and Nick Keir all contributed. Magnificent work by all concerned. CD2 comprises a pipe band track of tunes named after some of the major battles of WW1, songs written about WW1, or strongly connected with that war, by such amazing songwriters as Judy Small, Alan Bell, Eric Bogle, Dick Gaughan, Jim Malcolm, and the late Davy Steele. Some of the writers perform their own songs on the album but there are also contributions from The Corries, The McCalmans, Malinky, Sheena Wellington and Karine Polwart, Robin Laing and Gaelic singer Donny MacLeod. There is also a chilling contribution from a young Scottish songwriter Steven Palmer, who later recorded a solo album for Greentrax – ‘Heartprint Shadow’ (CDTRAX347). The BBC Radio Scotland presenter Iain Anderson reads three poems and acts as narrator on stage which he does brilliantly. Greentrax is greatly indebted to all the artists on this album. The songs and music for CD2 were selected and compiled by Ian Green

Additional Details

Label: Greentrax

Genre: Folk

Run Time: 80 mins

Release Date: 06/01/08

UPC: 5018081141821