Customer Reviews

Leaving St Kilda

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
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Let me put it this way: this album went with me to Prague. I had a year's fellowship.

No way was I leaving it home!

This is classic Tannahill Weavers, and if you're new to them, this is a great album to start with, though you'll want to also get either the Greatest Hits or the Tannahill Weavers IV so you can get the rousing "Johnnie Cope," which is always their encore in concert and may be one of the most exciting Celtic recordings on record, right up there with Silly Wizard's "Donald MacGillivray," and probably even exceeding that war song, since the Tannies always have a bagpiper!

This album is a terrific mix of both traditional songs and tunes-- "The Rigs of Rye," "The Shearin's No' For You"-- with original songs, like lead singer Roy Gullane's "Fareweel, You Silver Darlin's," an upbeat song with pensive lyrics about the end of the shipbuilding industry in Glascow. Gullane's broad Glaswegian accent may take some getting used to but his singing has a richness that is simply inhabitable. Another special element to their songs is their close harmony, which always reminds me just a little of the Byrds.

St. Kilda is a rocky island west of the Scottish mainland, and the track "St. Kilda Set" includes the air "Leaving St. Kilda," which refers to the last islanders to leave the place in 1930. (All the tracks in that set are traditional and arranged by the Tannies).

Definitely, a keeper.

the very first time I heard the song..."Fareweel (I thought it was farewell) you silver darlin's" in my dream, the song is so good to forget, then celticgrove plays it again, and I found the name of it
then I started to search, and found from this album, I ordered without any doubt
once I received the album, I...really love it, I like "The rigs o' Rye" and "Fareweel you silver darlin's"
this album and "The Fiddle" (Dougie MacLean) are 2 of my favorites
if you are interested, don't hestitate to get it

The Tannahill Weavers combine strong vocal harmony, lowland ditties, and highland flings. Leaving St. Kilda was my first. If you are interested in hearing more from this band, I recommend this album without reservation. I believe it is an even stronger showing than their more recent greatest hits compilation. There's beauty, energy, and tenderness here. The band's sense of humor shines through. The liner notes keep the listener informed about the history of the songs and the meaning of the words. Hearing the Scottish dialect in song is a treasure.

I recommend Capernaum as another album well worth exploring. Leaving St. Kilda is a great place to start, though, because it offers such outstanding musicianship and such an outstanding balance of songs.

This is a great album of wonderful Scottish folk music, including both vocal and instrumental. Lots of fun.

The Tannahill Weavers have long been a favorite of mine, and while this isn't my favorite of their cds, it does show their wonderful range of emotional playing styles. The opening set is a rollicking good time with pipes blasting, I recommend a good high volume on your speakers for that one... You'll enjoy this cd!

The Weavers are probably my favorite Celtic/Scottish musical group of all time. I enjoy listening to them especially after consuming about two quarts of good Irish whiskey. This ablum is allways playing while I am in a drunken stupor and it allways sounds better and better. The female lead vocalists are beautiful to listen to. Definitely a must have to add to your collection and it's less expensive than a good bottle of whiskey.
Cuckoo ForCeltic