Leaving St. Kilda

by The Tannahill Weavers

Overview

The Tannahill Weavers have never really made a weak album, and this one is far from weak, but their best albums all have one or two moments of emotional and musical transcendence, and there are not any such moments on Leaving St. Kilda. As usual, the songs are more exciting than the instrumental sets, which are generally dominated by the sound of the highland pipes and get to be just a bit much by the third or fourth tune in the set (though the gorgeous "St. Kilda Set" is a notable exception on this album). Leaving St. Kilda peaks at the end with a ravishingly beautiful song of farewell entitled "Fareweel You Silver Darlin's" (written by guitarist and lead singer Roy Gullane), but other highlights include the slightly creepy "The Shearin's No for You" (in which a young swain reassures his love that he really has no intention of killing her) and the hearty drinking song "The Three Healths." There is also a very fine version of the classic William Motherwell song "The Wars o' Germany." If Leaving St. Kilda falls a bit short of the Tannahill Weavers' best work, that fact only underscores the consistently high quality of their other albums. ~ Rick Anderson

Product Details

Release Date:	10/15/1996
Label:	GREEN LINNET
UPC:	0048248117623

Tracks

1. Good Drying Set
2. Hieland Harry
3. The Rigs o' Rye
4. The Athol Gathering
5. St. Kilda Set
6. The Shearin's No for You
7. The Three Healths
8. Crann Tara Set
9. The Wars o' Germany
10. Islay Charms Set
11. Last May a Braw Wooer
12. Fareweel You Silver Darlin's

Album Credits

Performance Credits

The Tannahill Weavers   Primary Artist
Les Wilson   Guitar,Vocals,Bouzouki,Keyboards
Roy Gullane   Guitar,Vocals
John Martin   Mandolin,Vocals,Fiddle,Viola,Cello
Duncan J. Nicholson   Whistle (Instrument),Bagpipes,Pipe
Phil Smillie   Whistle (Instrument),Vocals,Flute

Technical Credits

John Martin   Photography
Brian Wittman   Design
Robert Wallace   Composer
Nik Kinloch   Post Production
Kevin Yatarola   Photography
Allan MacDonald   Composer
Traditional   Composer
J. Allen   Composer
Rod MacDonald   Composer
The Tannahill Weavers   Producer
Terry Adams   Engineer
Thomas Rota   Compilation Producer
Robert Burns   Composer
Donald Sanders   Illustrations
Colm Henry   Photography
Maggie Smillie   Editing
Phil Smillie   Post Production,Photography
Don MacLeod   Composer
Norman Chalmers   Photography