Customer Reviews

Essential

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I'd never heard of Dougie MacLean until I caught the tail end of the NPR program, Thistle and Shamrock, where he was the guest. I immediately fell in love with his voice. The next day I searched online for some of his CDs and decided on "The Essential." It's a two-disc CD and I absolutely love it! On the radio show, host Fiona Ritchie made reference to the fact that Dougie's been called "the James Taylor of Ireland." He's definitely of that caliber.

People who like Scotland and her typical music sooner or later come across the name "Dougie MacLean". He wrote and sang many songs and ballads - best known probably "Caledonia" and "The Gael" (the latter being used in the movie "The Last of the Mohicans" with Daniel Day Lewis).

This double CD selection contains two hours of 26 wonderful songs - and many catchy tunes!
Most of the lyrics are inspired by Mr. MacLean's rural upbringing in Perthshire like the Scythe Song (...to use a scythe/play a guitar "cannot be learned inside a day"...) or The Storm (about a sailor's live and his constant fight with the sea) or from tales collected during his travels around the world (Garden Valley/ an Immigrant's ways of life, Rite of Passage/ teaching young ones the Aborigines' life) or love songs (This love will carry). One usually likes some songs better than others - same here - but Dougie MacLean's voice is always heart warming, soft yet strong, and also the instrumental pieces are a joy - in short: "this music demands listening". (For further info as well as for the lyrics check [...].

By the way: "The Gael" in a very modern and rock-like version can be found on the Album "Parallel Tracks" of the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards" - I promise you will not be able to keep your feet still!
Parallel Tracks

Wonderful product, absolutely touching songs in the Celtic mode, if you are a Mary Black fan or perhaps Celtic Thunder affecianados you'll love this. Wonderful service as well, would deal again.

I knew some of his music from Celtic shows but I never knew the diversity of his music until this great record. To me, and my wife, the highlight of this cd was the wonderful fiddle of "The Gael". My wife has always loved the first 3/4 of the soundtrack "Last of the Mohicans" because of this tune. Hearing the original was wonderful. The classic Caledonia, the haunting and beautiful "Gloomy Winter" and of course the Celtic Connections closing theme "We'll be Together Again" all are wonderful songs both for folk music and Celtic music fans. And of course a couple other fiddle tunes highlight this great cd as well as one of his other classics, "Ready For the Storm".

I was searching on Amazon in Dec. 2010 for a Christmas present for my wife who likes Celtic music when I came across this album. I had never heard of Maclean before but the price was right and the music samples provided persuaded me to purchase it. I tried listening to it several times in the ensuing months but just could not get into the music. But then in June 2011 I was listening to it and something clicked. Now I can't get enough of it. Wow! Usually music that I really like the first time I hear it doesn't interest me for very long. It is those albums that "grow on me" that really last. I don't think I will tire of this. This is excellent music. Beautiful and haunting is the way I would describe it. Maclean has a wonderful voice. I love the guitar picking and the beatiful orchestration. I also love the resonator guitar on several numbers. I you love mellow soulful music you will not be disappointed with this selection.

This is a great CD and immediately transports me to Scotland. It's a good starting place for listeners new to his music. I love the fiddles and "Caledonia", Scotland's unofficial anthem. He has great music to enjoy with friends and a class of wine or, even, whiskey.