Leaving Friday Harbor

Battlefield Band

Product Details

• Audio CD (October 5, 1999)
• Original Release Date: September 28, 1999
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Temple Records
• ASIN: B00000JSWI
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #177,609 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Track Listings

1. Clan Coco/The Road To Benderloch/Fifteen Stubbies To Warragul

2. The Last Trip Home

3. Its Nice To Be Nice/The Auld Toon Band/McCabe's Reel

4. The Straw Man

5. Leaving Friday Harbor

6. The 24th Guards Brigade at Anzio/The Melbourne Sleeper/MacRae's of Linnie

7. One More Chorus/The Masons Apron/The Mountain Road

8. The Pleasure Will Be Mine

9. Something For Jamie

10. The Sisters Reel/Marion & Donald/The Lassie with the Yellow Petticoat/Jesse The Body Venturas Reel

11. Logie O' Buchan/Logie's Waltz

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

Released in 1999, this is the second album by this line-up, who established themselves with both critics, and more importantly, their audience as one of the best. Alan Reid (keyboards/vocals), John McCusker (fiddle/whistle/accordion/cittern), Davy Steele (guitar/bouzouki/bodhran & vocals), Mike Katz (small & highland pipes/whistle & bass). The album has a high proportion of newly composed tunes and songs.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

22 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Neil C. Womelduff: Iron Breugh Band Kansas City Missouri, March 24, 2000

By	[e-mail] (Kansas City, Missouri) - See all my reviews

"Leaving Friday Harbor" is an excellent example of Scottish Celtic Music today. It really captures the spirit of the group's live performances. The Four current members seem to have a real chemistry with each other which comes out in "Leaving Friday Harbor" and in their live performances. They are probably the best combination since the group was formed over thirty years ago which really says a lot considering the amount of world class musicians that the band has seen come and go. I also would consider them one of the best Celtic Bands in existance. In one of their very memorable live performances, I was impressed to see the members passing they're instruments back and forth to one-another on stage. One of the highlights of the evening was when Mike Katz pulled a penny whistle from Steele's pocket while he was playing. The same laid-back attitude comes through in "Leaving Friday Harbor" which makes it even more spectacular. It was also amusing when they started a set, screwed up and started it over again with a very professional, showman like attitude. They are truly talented people and you won't be disappointed in "Leaving Friday Harbor". If you enjoy this album you will also enjoy the other titles from The Battlefield Band, The Tannahill Weavers, Silly Wizard and The Chieftains.

14 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A great album of great music by a great band, December 28, 1999

By	Sarah E. Wachter (Baton Rouge, Louisiana) - See all my reviews

_Leaving Friday Harbor_is a wonderful album of traditional music. I must have played it hundreds of times since I bought it at a Batty concert a few months ago. The second album of the new lineup (Alan Reid, Davy Steele, Mike Katz, and John McCusker) is every bit what I had hoped. Alan's keyboard lends fire to the tunes and gives them the distinctive Batty feel, while his songwriting is beautifully wistful for "The Pleasure Will Be Mine"; Davy's songwriting is heartfelt in "The Last Trip Home" and pure fun in "One More Chorus"; John's fiddle is achingly beautiful in "Leaving Friday Harbor" and sparkles throughout the jig and reel sets, while his tunes are a pleasure; and Mike's pipes give the band fire throughout the album, while his original tunes are great fun. This is a wonderful mix of everything the Battys can do- beautiful ballads, as in "The Last Trip Home", "The Pleasure Will Be Mine", and "Logie O'Buchan"; great sing-alongs, as in "The Straw Man" and "One More Chorus" (I dare you to try to keep from joining in); wistful airs- "Leaving Friday Harbor" is a gem, and "Something for Jamie" is equally beautiful; and rollicking dance tunes to get you up and on your feet-the Clan Coco set is a lark, as is the Sister's Reel set (which includes a great tune by Mike entitled "Jesse 'The Body' Ventura's Reel"), while "It's Nice to Be Nice" and "The 24th Guards Brigade at Anzio" start off slow and sweet, then pick up tempo until your stereo is rocking. This album is not to be missed. It is a great introduction to Battlefield Band, a great addition to any traditional music collection, and a great album in its own right. Thanks to the band for all their work (and play, I'm sure). May they continue to bring the joy of their music to the world. Right on, lads.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Delightful, March 29, 2003

By A Customer

I first heard the Battlefield Band on a Prairie Home Companion and bought this CD based on the one or two songs I'd heard on the program. I was not at all disappointed. Ever song is lovely.