Note that the link to this page has changed to www.ufv.ca/facultypages/cis/franklinp/corries/
Please adjust your bookmarks accordingly.
For excellent pictures of the Corries performances, album covers, programs and memorabilia,
go to
The Corries.com The Official Corries
Internet Merchandising Site
Ronnie Browne and Roy Williamson - A Scottish Folk/Traditional Music Duo
The Corries played Scottish traditional music along with newer songs, some written by themselves. Their work covers a wide range of material from the comic to the tragic. Great voices, great playing, and some of the most beautiful songs in the world. They had a wonderful live concert stage presence, with much humor, historical comments and banter.
Both were accomplished songwriters. In particular, Roy Williamson wrote "Flower of Scotland", which has become the unofficial national anthem of Scotland, and Ronnie wrote "The Roses of Prince Charlie". They also wrote the words and/or music for many other songs.
They are/were accomplished performers on a number of instruments. Roy built two instruments called Combolins that combined several fretted instruments into one. The two instruments are dissimilar, and complement each other. One has bass strings and the other has sympathetic drone strings like the Indian sitar. Listen to "The Great Silkie" - it sounds like four people rather than a duo.
Beginnings
Ronnie and Roy met each other at The Edinburgh College of Art in 1955. In the Autumn of 1962, Ronnie Browne was invited to join a group playing at the Waverley Bar in Edinburgh, featuring Ron Cockburn, Roy Williamson, Paddie Bell, and Bill Smith, when Cockburn became ill and had to leave the group. The group named itself The Corrie Folk Trio and Paddie Bell, and performed at the Tryst Coffee House during the Edinburgh Festival that year. In June 1963, the group was invited to perform on a black-and-white BBC TV 1963 Festival show put on by Rory and Alex McEwan. On September 10th, 1963, they appeared at the Waverley Bar again to celebrate the release of their first record - the Waverley EP The Corrie Folk Trio and Paddie Bell. During its life, the group produced at least four EPs, possibly some singles, two albums and a number of TV shows. (Source - 1988 Corries Concert Program.)
The Birth of The Corries
Paddie Bell left to have a baby in 1965, and one album (Those Wild Corries) was recorded as The Corrie Folk Trio. Bill Smith left on January 1st, 1966 (probably before the album was released). Ronnie and Roy decided to carry on as a duo, and The Corries began. Their first album as The Corries was Bonnet, Belt and Sword, released in 1967. Ronnie and Roy performed together, producing another twenty original albums, and numerous compilations, until Roy died of a brain tumor in 1990. Ronnie Browne still occasionally performs solo.
If you've enjoyed more recent Scottish folk and traditional music, then listen to the Corries, who helped to keep Scottish traditional music alive in the sixties and seventies, before the Celtic Revival.
The ultimate reason for liking the Corries and the music they play has to be that the music resonates inside oneself. The stories are passionate and human, and we can imagine ourselves in such times, in such a landscape. We can hope that we would be as heroic, that history could be rewritten and that the tragedies of Scottish history could be reversed. We can feel the emotions of a people - the coming of age, finding love, finding courage, dealing with grief, the fight for freedom, and the love of family, community and the land. These things are (or should be) universal, yet few cultures have a tradition that sings of them so clearly today.
The music that the Corries played (and wrote) is the living oral history of a people - laughter, sorrow, anger, love, birth, death, and always, history. The Corries are, in a way, a Scottish national treasure.
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Obituary: London Times 14/August/90
Roy Williamson, composer of "Flower of Scotland", which became the unofficial national anthem of Scotland, died at his home in the north of Scotland on August 13. He was 54 and had been suffering from cancer for some time.
At the time Nigel (sic) Williamson wrote "Flower of Scotland" in the 1960s, he had, on his own admission, no idea that he was composing a folk song which would come to occupy the position of an unofficial Scottish national anthem at sporting occasions. Williamson had intended "Flower of Scotland" merely as a personal statement on how he felt about his country. With disarming modesty he was to say in later years, "At the time I had no idea what I was starting. In fact, I didn't even think it was good enough to sing."
Williamson, who was regarded as one of the most talented folksingers in Scotland, was one half of the folk duo The Corries, whose other member was Ronnie Browne. Though they had worked together for 31 years and were well-known fixtures on the Scottish folk-singing circuit, nothing projected them before a wider audience so much as "Flower of Scotland". It had its apotheosis in March this year at Murrayfield when it was sung by a crowd of 50,000 Scotsmen, willing their rugby team to victory during a crucial match of the Five Nations rugby championship. England, the "auld enemy", was the opponent on that day. The occasion was an encounter to decide which of the teams would win the Grand Slam. That England were highly favoured to clinch the series added savour to the eventual outcome for Scotsmen, in an atmosphere in which 50,000 of them sang Williamson's composition with raw emotion on an occasion seen by several millions more on television. Williamson's only sorrow was that he was not well enough to lead the crowd in the singing of the song with Ronnie Browne before the match started. Williamson leaves his widow and two daughters from a previous marriage.
Thanks to Tom Beveridge for sending this in.
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Help, advice and corrections are welcomed - Paul Franklin
franklinp@ufv.bc.ca
Discography Sections
NOTE: the Corries recorded for a number of record companies. In some cases more than one record company and release number are given. Many recordings were re-released on various labels like Phillips, MFP (Music For Pleasure) and others. I don't have all of those identified yet.
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This is a complete list, to my knowledge. A Ronnie Browne concert program mentions the Corries as having lasted 24 years and 26 albums. There are 40 recordings listed here, but 13 are compilations and 4 are EPs, leaving 23. We only get 26 if we count three of the following as distinct recordings:
With the four posthumous collections listed below, if we include the compilations and EPs, that makes a grand total of 44 recordings currently known, plus the Elektra US re-releases of the first two LPs. Then there are the singles, the solo works, and the Corries and Ronnie Browne album (recorded after Roy's death) mentioned below. If anyone out there has it all, please let me know - I've got some questions, and I would like some missing LP covers scanned in.
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Side 1:
Lock the Door, Lariston **
Come O'er the Water *
Side 2:
The Jug of Punch *
Singin' Bird *
* Also appears on "The Corries Folk Trio with Paddie Bell"
LP, Elektra US version only 1965
** Also appears on "The Corries Folk Trio with Paddie
Bell" Waverley LP 1964, and Elektra US version 1965
Note: there appear to have been at least two different releases of this. Tom Beveridge: The Corries and Paddie first EP apparently was first issued with 6 tracks (those that are mentioned in the sleeve notes plus "Lord Gregory" and "Fine Girl") and it comes with a different picture on the front. "Fine Girl" would seem to have had its only release here. The catalogue number is the same.
Talisker reports: I came across your site today, and that got me rummaging through the cupboards. I came up with ELP129. It is mono, it plays at 45 rpm and is on the Waverley label. The cover is glossy with a picture of the three Corries and Paddie Bell. The top of the sleeve is pink (about 1/4 of the sleeve) with white lettering. The left-hand corner has a split logo Waverley (top) and EMI (bottom). The right-hand corner states MONO.
Side 1:
Bungle Rye *
The Queen's Maries
Side 2:
Tiree Love Song
The Itinerant Cobbler **
* Also appears on "The Corries Folk Trio with Paddie Bell"
LP, Elektra US version only 1965
** Also appears on "The Corries Folk Trio with Paddie
Bell" Waverley LP 1964, and Elektra US version 1965
Side 1:
The Twa Corbies
Fine Flowers *
Side 2:
The Bonny Earl O' Moray
Blow Ye Winds of Morning **
* Also appears on "The Corries Folk Trio with Paddie Bell"
LP, Elektra US version only 1965
** Also appears on "In Retrospect" LP, 1965
Side 1 - original Waverley release:
The Singing Games
Lock The Door, Lariston From the "The Corrie Folk Trio and Paddie Bell" EP
Jock o' Braidislee
Doodle Let Me Go
The Lass O' Fyvie
Side 2 - original Waverley release:
The Itinerant Cobbler From the "Yon Folk Songs is for the Burds" EP
Lord Gregory
MacPherson's Rant or MacPherson's Farewell
Coorie Doon
Greenland Fisheries or The Whale
Philip Williamson reports: "The version of MacPherson's Rant on this album is quite different from that recorded later (the one that's on "The Corries Collection" on Lismor, LIDC 6032), having several different verses. The bass player on the album is listed as Robin Brock."
Note from Tom Beveridge: Incidentally, I recently saw a UK Corries first album advertised with a gatefold. My copy doesn't have this--could it have been a re-issue?
THE CORRIE FOLK TRIO WITH PADDIE BELL (1965) Elektra Version
This album was re-recorded and re-released on Elektra (probably for the US market) with different
tracks (and different recorded versions) in 1965.
Elektra EKL-291 (Mono) EKS-7291 (Stereo) 1965 Version
Side 1 - Elektra re-release:
| Lock the Door, Lariston | On original release and "The Corries Folk Trio and Paddie Bell" EP |
| O'er the Water | From "The Corries Folk Trio and Paddie Bell" EP |
| Bungle Rye | From "Yon Folk Songs is for the Burds" EP |
| Doodle Let Me Go | On original release |
| The Singing Games | On original release |
| Singin' Bird | From "The Corries Folk Trio and Paddie Bell" EP |
| Queen Mary, Queen Mary | From the 1965 Waverley release of "The Promise of the Day" |
Side 2 - Elektra re-release:
| The Jug of Punch | From "The Corries Folk Trio and Paddie Bell" EP |
| Coorie Doon | On original release |
| Blow Ye Winds, In the Morning | From "More Folk Music for the Burds" EP |
| Bothwell Castle | Previously unreleased on LP |
| The Itinerant Cobbler | On original release and "Yon Folk Songs is for the Burds" EP |
| Fine Flowers in the Valley | From "More Folk Music for the Burds" EP |
| The Lass O' Fyvie | On original release |
Missing from original: Jock o' Braidislee, Lord Gregory, MacPherson's Rant, Greenland Fisheries
It is possible the unreleased song here ("Bothwell Castle") was released as a single. Bothwell Castle is also performed live on "Dawning of the Day".
Side 1 - original Waverley/MFP/EMI release:
My Love She's But A Lassie Yet
Shoals O' Herrin'
The Trooper and The Maid
Whistling Gipsy
Queen Mary
The Leaving of Liverpool
Uist Tramping Song
Queen Mary also appears on the Elektra US 1965 re-release of "The Corrie Folk Trio with Paddie Bell"
Side 2- original Waverley/MFP/EMI release (same as Elektra re-release):
Johnnie Lad
Roddy McCorly
Verdant Braes O' Screen
Around Cape Horn
Fear A Bhata (The Boatman)
Killiecrankie
Jock Hawk's Adventures in Glasgow
Tom Beveridge: This was issued first on Waverley (ZLP 2050) and then subsequently on MFP (MFP 50154). The "Promise of the Day" EMI release is MFP, which is EMI's budget Music for Pleasure label. I recall that the EMI labels operated autonomously. For instance, the Beatles approached, and were rejected by, each of the EMI labels in turn, before being accepted by Parlophone. So the Frosty Winds EP may represent another change of label, after Waverley and MFP.
THE PROMISE OF THE DAY (1966?) Elektra Version
This album was re-recorded and re-released on Elektra (probably for the US market) with
different tracks.
The date is presumably 1966, as the Frosty Winds EP was not released until late 1965
or early 1966.
Elektra EKL 304 mono, Elektra EKL 7304 stereo (US)
Side 1 - Elektra re-release:
| My Love She's But A Lassie Yet | On original release |
| The Leaving of Liverpool | On original release |
| The Trooper and The Maid | On original release |
| Whistling Gipsy | On original release |
| I Saw Three Ships | From "Frosty Winds" EP (1965/6) |
| The Gift O' Gowd | From "Frosty Winds" EP (1965/6) |
| The Cherry Tree Carol | From "Frosty Winds" EP (1965/6) |
Missing from original: Shoals O' Herrin', Queen Mary, Uist Tramping Song
Side 2 - Elektra re-release (same as original Waverley release):
Johnnie Lad
Roddy McCorly
Verdant Braes O' Screen
Around Cape Horn
Fear A Bhata (The Boatman)
Killiecrankie
Jock Hawk's Adventures in Glasgow
Elektra re-recorded and re-released versions of "The Corrie Folk Trio with Paddie Bell" and "The Promise of the Day" in 1965 and/or 1966, probably for the US market. These seem to be mostly new recordings of the original songs, presumably recorded especially for Elektra. I haven't yet checked to see if all songs are different recordings from the Waverley releases.
For a discographer, these two titles muddy the waters. They were not really re-releases, but newly recorded collections of material drawing from the original LPs, the EPs, and some songs previously unreleased on LP (those may have appeared earlier on singles or EPs yet unknown to me).
Owners of the Elektra US recordings then, have material from the EPs and other sources that is still out of print. Further, they have different versions. They do not, however, have all the material on the original Waverley releases. They can fortunately rectify this, as the original Waverley versions of "The Corrie Folk Trio with Paddie Bell" and "The Promise of the Day" LPs are currently available on the Moidart CD "twofer" reissue.
One can only hope that someone will also re-release the original EPs and the singles on a CD. I'd also like to see the Elektra recordings re-released, as I prefer some of the re-recordings to the Waverley originals.
I Saw Three Ships A-sailing
The Cherry Tree Carol
Christ Was Born In Bethlehem
The Gift O' Gowd
Tom Beveridge: This must have been issued between Dec. 1965 and April 1966. The idea of the Corries as stablemates of the Beatles is a strange one! The British Museum has no other Trio/Paddie singles or EPs. My guess is that Parlophone made a practice of donating a copy of each of their issues, so probably one release was the Corries' lot!
In 1965, Paddie Bell left the group to have a child. On January 1st, 1966, Bill Smith left, and the Corries Duo began.
Side 1:
| The Greenland Fisheries | From "The Corrie Folk Trio with Paddie Bell" LP (1964) |
| Uist Tramping Song | From "The Promise of the Day" (1965) |
| Lord Gregory | From "The Corrie Folk Trio with Paddie Bell" LP (1964) |
| My Love She's But a Lassie Yet | From "The Promise of the Day" (1965) |
| The Cherry Tree Carol | From "Frosty Winds" EP (1965/6) |
| also on Elektra US re-release only of "The Promise of the Day" | |
| Bonny Lass O' Fyvie | From "The Corrie Folk Trio with Paddie Bell" LP (1964) |
Side 2:
| Johnny Lad | From "The Promise of the Day" (1965) |
| Fear a Bhata | From "The Promise of the Day" (1965) |
| Killiecrankie | From "The Promise of the Day" (1965) |
| Christ Was Born In Bethlehem | From "Frosty Winds" EP (1965/6) |
| The Singing Games | From "The Corrie Folk Trio with Paddie Bell" (1964) |
| Blow Ye Winds of Morning | From "More Folk Songs for the Burds" EP (1963) |
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Listed as by The Corrie Folk Trio - Paddie Bell had left, and Bill Smith was still present.
Side 1:
Maid of Amsterdam
There Are No Pubs in Kirkintilloch
On the Banks of the Roses
Quiet Lands of Erin
The Gentleman Soldier
Lammas Tide
Side 2:
The Galway Races
The Lowlands Low
The Kerry Recruit
The Riever's Galley
I'm a Rover
Cam Ye by Atholl
Side 1:
Hot Ashphalt
Cam Ye O'er Frae France ("Cam" misspelt as "Can" on Philips cover)
Joy Of My Heart
The Jolly Beggar
Bring Back My Granny to Me/My Brother Bill's A Fireman
Glenlyon Lament
Johnny Cope
Side 2:
Gaberlunzie King
Haughs O' Cromdale
Banks of Newfoundland
Parcel O' Rogues
North Sea Shoals (Cassette release has "North Sea Holes" as title)
Katie Bairdie/Oor Wee School ("Bairdie" misspelt as "Beardie" on Philips cover)
I Once Loved A Lass
Blow Ye Winds
Side 1:
Kishmul's Galley
Roving Journeyman
Lewis Bridal Song (Mairi's Wedding)
The Spanish Shawl
Cruel Brother
Gallus Bloke
Highland Lament
Side 2:
Twa Corbies
Night Visitor's Song
Doran's Favourite
Toon O'Kelso
October Song
The Shamrock and the Thistle
Side 1:
Johnny Lad
Wild Rover
Sally Free and Easy
Lord of the Dance
Kid Songs ("Oor Wee School" and "My Brother Bill's A Fireman")
Side 2:
Liverpool Judies
Flower of Scotland
Hills of Ardmorn
Granny's In The Cellar
Will Ye Go Lassie Go
A single of "Lord of the Dance" b/w "Kishmul's Galley" was released by Fontana in approximately December 1969.
Side 1:
Liverpool Judies
Flower of Scotland
Hills of Ardmorn
Granny's In The Cellar
Will Ye Go Lassie Go
Side 2:
Kishmul's Galley
Roving Journeyman
Lewis Bridal Song (Mairi's Wedding)
Doran's Favourite
Cruel Brother
Gallus Bloke (misspelt "Gallus Brother" on LP cover)
Highland Lament
Thanks to Robert Murray for reporting this one.
Tom Beveridge: Fontana issued "The Best Folk" as an all-Corries album. The first
side seems to be essentially the second side of "In Concert" (and in the
same order) and the flip side is the first side of "Kishmul's Galley" with
"Doran's Favourite" in for "The Spanish Shawl."
I don't know if this should be counted as a real album.
The front cover photo is identical with "In Concert"!
Side 1:
Tiree Love Song
The Road to Dundee
Ca' the Ewes
Annie Laurie
Hunting Tower
Side 2:
The Bonnie Lass of Fyfvie
Ae Fond Kiss
The Lowlands of Holland
The Skye Boat Song
The Nut Brown Maiden
Side 1:
Garten Mother's Lullaby
Heiland Harry
The Heidless Cross
Rattlin' Roarin' Willie
Jock O' Hazeldean
Side 2:
Flood Garry
Kiss The Children For Me, Mary
I Will Go
Three Shetland Tunes:
The Hen's March
Peerie Hoose Ahint the Burn
Norwick Wedding
The Dowie Dens O' Yarrow
Side 1:
Wha Wouldna Fecht for Charlie
Liberty
Side by Side
Tramps and Hawkers
The Great Silkie
Lyceum Blues
Side 2:
Ye Jacobites by Name
Lowlands Away
Abigail
The Old Triangle
Dream Angus
Maids When You're Young
Bonnie Dundee
Side 1:
A Man's A Man
Kate Dalrymple/Petronella
Farewell Tae Tarwathie
Sound the Pibroch
Scots Wha Hae
Side 2:
Peggy Gordon
Bluebells of Scotland
I Know My Love/The Lark in the Morning
Where Two Hawks Fly
Westering Home
Side 1:
In Kirkintilloch
Busk Busk Bonnie Lassie
My Love She's But a Lassie Yet
The Haughs Of Cromdale
The Braes Of Killiecrankie Misspelled "Killencrankie" on sleeve and cover
Side 2:
Marie's Wedding
Johnny McEldo
The Bonnie Lass Of Fyvie
The Hills O' Ardmorn
The Rattling Bog
Side 1:
The Black Douglas
The Castle of Drumore
The Collier Laddie
Bogie's Bonnie Belle
The Boys of Bluehill/Derry Hornpipe
The News from Moidart
Side 2:
The Rose of Allendale
The River
The Isle of Skye
Helen of Kirkconnel
Sherrifmuir
Derwentwater's Farewell
Side 1:
Wild Rover (live - no introduction)
Johnny Lad
Sally Free and Easy
Lord of the Dance
Kishmul's Galley
Twa Corbies
Side 2:
October Song
Katie Bairdie/Oor Wee School
Bring Back My Granny To Me/My Brother Bill's A Fireman
I Once Loved A Lass
I'm A Rover (Corrie Folk Trio)
Cam Ye By Atholl (Corrie Folk Trio)
Side 1:
The Collier Laddie
Where Two Hawks Fly
The Castle of Drumore
Jock O' Hazeldean
A Man's A Man
Helen of Kirkconnel
Sherrifmuir
Side 2:
Scots Wha Hae
The News From Moidart
Kate Dalrymple/Petronella
The Heidless Cross
I Know My Love/The Lark In The Morning
Heiland Harry
The Bluebells of Scotland
Side 1:
Fallaldy
Mingulay Boat Song
Lads Among The Heather
A Scottish Holiday
Hugh The Graeme
Maggie Lauder
Side 2:
The Roses of Prince Charlie
Dark Lochnagar
Loch Tay Boat Song
The M,hm Song
Flower Of Scotland
Side 1:
Lock the Door, Lariston
Sunday Driver
Come O'er The Stream Charlie
King Fareweel
Yur Losin' Them
Ettrick Lady
Nancy Whisky
Side 2:
Sae Will We Yet
Lord Yester
Reivers Galley
La-di-dum
Johnny Ra
Macpherson's
Rant
Side 1:
The Portree Kid
The Sherramuir Fight
Jamie Raeburn
Chevaliers Muster Roll
Shoals O' Herring
Side 2:
The Massacre of Glencoe
The Friday Game
The Battle of Preston Pans
Weep Ye By Atholl
The Rattling Bog
The Skye Boat Song
Cam Ye O'er Frae France
Haughs o' Cromdale
Banks of Newfoundland
Blow Ye Winds
Roving Journeyman
Lewis Bridal Song (Mairi's Wedding)
Highland Lament
Flower of Scotland
Tiree Love Song
The Road to Dundee
Annie Laurie
Side 1:
The Black Douglas
Wha Wadna Fecht For Charlie
The Isle Of Skye
I Will Go
Sound The Pibroch
Derwentwater's Farewell
Flood Garry
Bonnie Dundee
The Collier Laddie (only on CD version)
The Bluebells Of Scotland (only on CD version)
Side 2:
Peggy Gordon
The Boys Of Bluehill And Derry Hornpipe
Abigail
Gartan Mother's Lullaby
Maids When You're Young
The Rose Of Allendale
Kiss The Children For Me, Mary
Westering Home
Side 1:
Leezie Lindsay
Braw Braw Lads
Peat Fire Flame
Mormond Braes
Come By The Hills
The White Cockade
Side 2:
The Barge of Gorrie Crovan
Turn Ye Tae Me
Erisaky Love Lilt
The Wee Cooper of Fife
Lord Gregory
The Poachers
Side 1:
Haughs O' Cromdale
Blues for Hughie
Hush Hush
Willie's Gone Tae Melville Castle
South Australia
Lowlands O' Holland
Side 2:
Bannockburn
The Rigs O' Rye
There Was A Lad
Battle O' Harlaw
Earl O' Moray
Killiecrankie
Note from Alan Turnbull: "Not listed on the album is the encore song, 'Goodnight and Joy'. This comes after Killiecrankie. This album is the source of a few of the songs on "Love from Scotland."
Note from Gavin Browne: "Live From Scotland Volume 4" was deleted but is one of the albums we have the master for and my dad reckons that it will be one of the first to be included in the albums we intend to release on CD in the future.
Side 1:
Flower of Scotland
Wild Rover
Roving Journeyman
Hills Of Ardmorn
Katie Bairdie/Oor Wee School
Ca' The Ewes
Side 2:
Gallus Bloke
Highland Lament
Twa Corbies
The Lowlands Of Holland
Toon O' Kelso
Haughs O' Cromdale
Side 3:
Glenlyon Lament
Cruel Brother
The Bonnie Lass Of Fyvie
Ae Fond Kiss
Bring Back My Granny To Me/My Brother Bill's A Fireman
Kishmul's Galley
Side 4:
Johnny Lad
Sally Free And Easy
Lewis Bridal Song (Mairi's Wedding)
Parcel O' Rogues
The Road To Dundee
Will Ye Go Lassie Go
Side 1:
The Bloody Sarks
The Bonnie Moorhen
Birnie Boozle
Country Western Medley
The Broom O' The Cowdenknowes
The Bantam Cock
Dumbarton's Drums
Side 2:
The Standard on the Braes O' Mar
(Ye Picked a Fine Time to Leave Me) Lucille
Arkinholm
The Blackbird
The Bricklayer's Song
Welcome Royal Charlie
Side 1:
A Man's A Man
Sound The Pibroch
Kate Dalrymple/Petronella
The Collier Laddie
The Bluebells Of Scotland
The Boys Of Bluehill and Derry Hornpipe
Heiland Harry
The Black Douglas
Scots Wha Hae
Side 2:
Wha Wadna Fecht For Charlie
Derwentwater's Farewell
The Isle Of Skye
Lowlands Away
The Hens March/Peerie Hoose Ahint The Burn/Norwick Wedding
The Dowie Dens O' Yarrow
The Castle of Drumore
Westering Home
Bonnie Dundee
Side 1:
The Dawning of the Day
Bloody Waterloo
Big Nellie May
Turn Ye Tae Me
The Lammas Tide
The Blue Bonnets
Side 2:
The Green Fields of France
The Widow and the Fairy
The Queen's Maries
Blow Ye Winds
Bothwell Castle
The Silver Tassie
Every song here appeared previously only on the Live from Scotland Series, Volumes 1-4. The cuts I have been able to check so far are identical to the "Live" series of recordings, but the sound is better on "Love from Scotland" on my LPs. This could be the result of remixing or a better mastering and pressing process.
| Side 1: | |
| Dark Lochnagar | (Spelt "Dark Lochnager" on album cover) |
| From "Live From Scotland Volume 1" | |
| Ettrick Lady | From "Live From Scotland Volume 2" |
| Mingulay Boat Song | From "Live From Scotland Volume 1" |
| Jamie Raeburn | From "Live From Scotland Volume 3" |
| Lord Yester | From "Live From Scotland Volume 2" |
| Side 2: | |
| Loch Tay Boat Song | From "Live From Scotland Volume 1" |
| Nancy Whisky | From "Live From Scotland Volume 2" |
| Hush Hush | From "Live From Scotland Volume 4" |
| Rigs O' Rye | From "Live From Scotland Volume 4" |
| Lads Among the Heather | From "Live From Scotland Volume 1" |
Side 1:
All God's Creatures
The Wee Grey Finch
The Birth of The Corries Blues
The Wedding of Lachie McGraw
Ballenmuir Cottage
My Bonnie Laddies Lang A'Growin'
Side 2:
Scotland Will Flourish
Kids On The Range
The Banks of Newfoundland
Haul Away Rosie
The Highlander's Farewell
A Man's A Man
Tom Beveridge: On "Scotland will Flourish" we almost have an additional uncredited track before "The Birth of the Corries Blues". It's the fake 78 rendition of "My Baby I Want You Tonight Dear" -- an example of what the Corries could get away with on stage! Presumably, this is a real song.
Side 1:
The Roses of Prince Charlie
Dark Lochnagar
Come O'er the Stream Charlie
The Loch Tay Boat Song
The Shoals o' Herrin'
Yur Losin' Them
Side 2:
The Flower of Scotland
The Massacre of Glencoe
Ettrick Lady
Peat Fire Flame
Leezie Lindsay
Weep Ye By Athol
MacPherson's Rant
Come O'er The Stream Charlie
MacPherson's Rant
Dumbarton's Drums
The Portree Kid
The Roses of Prince Charlie
Shoals O' Herring
The Lammas Tide
Sunday Driver
The Massacre of Glencoe
Ettrick Lady
The Sherramuir Fight
Turn Ye Tae Me
The Bricklayer's Song
Dark Lochnagar
Scotland Will Flourish
King Farewell
A Man's A Man
Flower Of Scotland
| The Portree Kid | From "Live from Scotland Volume 3" |
| Country Western Medley | From "Stovies" |
| Nancy Whisky | From "Live from Scotland Volume 2" |
| The Bricklayer's Song | From "Stovies" |
| Jerusalem (Yur Losin Them) | From "Live from Scotland Volume 2" |
| The Rattlin Bog | From "Live from Scotland Volume 3", |
| also appears on "'Live' A Live O" | |
| Looseal (Lucille) | From "Stovies", |
| titled "Ye Picked a Fine Time To Leave Me (Lucille)" | |
| Kids on The Range | From "Scotland Will Flourish" |
| The Bantam Cock | From "Stovies" |
| La Di Dum | From "Live from Scotland Volume 2" |
| The Birth Of The Corries' Blues | From "Scotland Will Flourish" |
Side 1:
North Sea Shoals
Jock O' Braidislee
The Tortoise
Rise, Rise
Loch Lomond
Dashing Arts
Side 2:
Twa Recruiting Sergeants
Waters O' Tyne
The Folker
Barrett's Privateers
Strangest Dream
Rosin the Beau
Side 1:
The Bonnie Blue
Oh Dear Me
The Clingfilm Wrapper Blues
A Tiree Love Song
Tramps and Hawkers
The Garten Mother's Lullaby
Side 2:
Who'll Take The Ball from Maggie Thatcher?
Thw Winter It Is Passed
Er Fa La La Lo
Bonnie Gallowa'
The Hieland House Hunter
Lowlands Awa'
Flower of Scotland
The Road To Dundee
The Skye Boat Song
Will Ye Go Lassie Go
Annie Laurie
Parcel O'Rogues
Lord Of The Dance (studio recording, 1969 single version)
Ae Fond Kiss
Wild Rover
October Song
Highland Lament
Tiree Love Song
Blow Ye Winds
Kishmul's Galley
The Lowlands Of Holland
I'm A Rover
Stirling Brig
Kelvin Grove
The Vicar And The Frog
The Bona Line
The Loo Song
The Black Douglas
The Bonnie Ship The Diamond
Mothers, Daughters, Wives
Tibbie Dunbar
Shenandoah
The Castle Of Drumore
The Food Blues
Flower of Scotland from "Live in Scotland, Volume 1"
In August 1990, Roy Williamson died of a brain tumor, and the Corries were no more.
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Sheriffmuir
Sound The Pibroch
Kate Dalrymple/Petronella
Where Two Hawks Fly
The Bluebells Of Scotland
The Heidless Cross
Rattlin' Roarin' Willie
Jock O' Hazeldean
The Black Douglas
Wha Wadna Fecht For Charlie
Helen Of Kirkconnel
Scots Wha Hae
The Isle Of Skye
I Know My Love/The Lark In The Morning
Shetland Tunes Medley:
The Hens' March
Peeire Hoose Ahint The Burn
Norwick Wedding
A Man's A Man
Westering Home
The Dowie Dens O' Yarrow
The News From Moidart
Garten Mother's Lullaby
Killecrankie
Rise! Rise!
The News From Moidart
Johnny Cope
Lock the Door, Lariston
Scots Wha' Hae
I Will Go
Loch Lomond
The Skye Boat Song
Welcome Royal Charlie
A Parcel of Rogues
Barrett's Privateers
The Queens Maries
Jock O' Braidislee
The Bonnie Lass o' Fyvie
The Haughs o' Cromdale
The Rose of Allendale
Westering Home
Twa Recruiting Sergeants
The Wild Mountain Thyme (Will Ye Go, Lassie, Go)
Flower of Scotland
The Massacre of Glencoe
The Roses of Prince Charlie
Scotland Will Flourish
The 1990 and 1997 EMI CD re-releases included two additional songs, and this HMV re-release under a different title includes three more, marked by an asterisk. As it has a different title and three more songs, I've listed it here as a separate collection issued after Roy's death. It can just as easily be considered yet another re-release of "The Very Best ...".
The Black Douglas
The Heidless Cross *
The Castle of Drumore *
Wha Wadna Fecht For Charlie
The Isle Of Skye
I Will Go
Dream Angus *
Sound The Pibroch
Derwentwater's Farewell
Flood Garry
Bonnie Dundee
The Collier Laddie
The Bluebells Of Scotland
Peggy Gordon
The Boys of Bluehill and Derry Hornpipe
Abigail
Gartan Mother's Lullaby
Maids When You're Young
The Rose Of Allandale
Kiss The Children For Me, Mary
Westering Home
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Tom Beveridge: Love is Teasing/O Waly Waly is a Waverley single (with picture sleeve) from 1964. Bill Smith takes vocal on the first, with Paddie doing vocal services on the flip. I can see why it was a single. I don't yet have a catalogue number.
Tom Beveridge: the "How Shall I Get There/October Song" release is credited to the Corries. Fontana's very next release (TF 739) charted in Sept. 1966, and TF 717 was issued in July, so we can be pretty sure of a summer '66 release--probably August. So this must have been a fairly early recording session in the life of the Corries.
George MacPherson from Glasgow reports "I've just been reading your Corries
discography on the Internet ...I can definitely recall buying
a single of 'October Song' around 1967 here in Glasgow."
This must have been one of the first recording sessions as the Corries duo. Bill Smith left in early 1966, and the first Corries LP, "Bonnet Belt and Sword", was released in 1967. "October Song" also appears on the 1968 LP "Kishmul's Galley". It is possible this later release is a different version.
Alan Turnbull notes that this studio version appears on the 1989 "The Best of the Corries" Pickwick compilation, but nowhere else. There may well be other Fontana singles.
Alan Turnbull: "I believe that these are the same recordings as appear on Volume 1 of Live from Scotland. However, I'm not sure. They are live but have no verbal preamble as on Volume 1 with Flower of Scotland. I do know, however, that this recording of Flower of Scotland is the one that appears on the Flower of Scotland (Moidart/BBC) CD, which is all original songs except for this track." Ronnie Browne thinks Alan is probably correct.
Tom Beveridge: 'This is obviously a trailer for "The Very Best of the Corries"'.
These are unique studio versions.
"Mothers" taken from the album "The Corries - Flower of Scotland".
"Green Fields" taken from the album "The Dawning of the Day".
There may have been other singles. Does anyone out there know of more? I suspect Bothwell Castle was released as a single in 1964-1965, due to it not appearing in the "legitimate" Waverley LP or EP releases that I currently know of.
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Assembled after Roy Williamson's death, some cuts by the Corries, some by Ronnie Browne, Ronnie Browne narrating.
| Sterling Brig | |
| The Black Douglas | |
| Scots Wha Hae | (Ronnie Browne solo) |
| The Lammas Tide | |
| The Battle of Harlaw | |
| Lock the Door, Lariston | |
| The Haughs of Cromdale | (Ronnie Browne solo) |
| Bonnie Dundee | (Ronnie Browne solo) |
| The Braes O' Killiecrankie | (Ronnie Browne solo) |
| The Sherramuir Fight | |
| The News From Moidart | (Ronnie Browne solo) |
| Johnny Cope | (Ronnie Browne solo) |
| King Fareweel |
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Side 1:
The Long Journey South
Laggan Love
The Skye Boat Song
Donald Og
Peggy Gordon
Side 2:
Nicky's Theme
Number One
Tuscan
The Long Journey South (reprise)
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Donald McGillavry
The Hielan' Man
Afton Water
Black is the Colour of My True Love's Hair
The Effen Bee
No More Wild Rover
Scotland is the Place for Me
The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face
Blackwaterside
A Scottish Holiday
Flower of Scotland
We're No' Awa' Tae Bide Awa'
The Wild Mountain Thyme
Dumbarton's Drums
My Love is Like a Red Red Rose
The Touch and The Go
The Bonnie Lass o' Fyvie
Loch Lomond
The Canvas of My Life
The Bonnie Earl o' Murray
Kate Dalrymple
Leezie Lindsay
The Massacre of Glencoe
Mary Hamilton/The Queen's Maries
Willie's Gan' Tae Melville Castle
Come All Ye Fair And Tender Maidens
The Parting Glass
Recording company:
SCOTDISC, B.G.S. Productions LTD.
Newtown Street, Kilsyth, Glasgow,
Scotland G65 OJX.
The theme from the film "The Bruce". A new version recorded for the film by Ronnie.
The film premiered in Glasgow March 1st 1996.
Rise! Rise! Lowland and Highland Man
The Bonnie Wells O' Wearie
Stirlin' Brig
Such A Parcel O' Rogues In A Nation
The Floo'ers O' The Forest
Where Two Hawks Fly
Cam' Ye By Atholl
I Once Loved a Lass
Lochnagar
Helen of Kirkconnel
The Chevalier's Muster Roll
My Faithful Fond One
Kishmul's Galley
Ye Jacobites by Name
Roses of Prince Charlie
Ae Fond Kiss
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Tom Beveridge: "The Scottish Rugby Team recorded 'Flower of Scotland' with Ronnie Browne. It was issued in 1990 on Greentrax STRAX 1001, and reached #73 on the UK charts. It charted in June 1990 (so before Roy's death, but he must have been too ill to participate). This was the Grand Slam team which sang 'Flower of Scotland' as their anthem against England at Murrayfield. God, how I wish I'd been there!! The full name is 'The Scottish Rugby Team and Ronnie Browne with Lothian & Border Police Pipe Band'. If Ronnie's in there, he must be at the back! It features some of Bill McLaren's commentary on the 1990 match with the "Auld Enemy". The flip side is "Flower of Scotland" by the pipe band alone--a different version with electric guitar. It's a charity single, issued to boost the "David Millar Appeal Fund" (Millar was injured during a match in New Zealand). "
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I Know Where I'm Going *
The Lark in The Morning
Come By The Hills *
Star of Munster
The Lark in The Clear Air **
Pretty Saro
If I Were a Blackbird *
Three Lovely Lasses From Bannion *
The Sligo Maid
The Verdant Braes of Scree *
Down by The Sally Gardens *
The Spanish Lady
My Laggan Love **
Roisin Dhu
* Paddie sings
** Paddie sings unaccompanied
Tom Beveridge: Several of these, and songs from "Herself" (see below) show up later on Corrie releases, or on Paddie's two solo efforts from the 1990s. It's a warm wonderful album--as Irish as waking with a hangover on the banks of the Liffey after a night of draught Guinness. Paddie never sounded more at home. Clearly, there was a lot of cross-pollination. One of the tracks is "Spanish Lady" which became "Ettrick Lady". Of the two, the album with the Fureys is far better. Paddie sounds much more comfortable and "authentic". The solo album, as you can see, contains a diversity of material--Scottish, Irish, English, American--that often falls a bit flat. A reliable correspondent reports of Paddie about 3 LPs on Waverley in concert with artists other than the Trio.
Side 1:
The Gypsy Laddie
It Was in the Month of January
Johnny Todd
John Riley
Lie Cosily
The Gift O' Gowd
The Golden Vanity
Side 2:
The Last Thing on My Mind
Butcher Boy
She Moved Thro The Fair
The Spinning Wheel
Venezuela
The Praities They Grow Small
The Lowlands of Holland
Joys of Love
Side One:
The Dawn of a Brand New Day
Far Away in Australia
The Flight of Earls
Pretoria
My Dear and Only Love
Ulysses
A Trip Over the Mountain
Side Two:
Song for the Fox
The Dowie Dens o' Yarrow
1999
The Isle of Eigg
The Rigs o' Rye
Freewheeling Now
Make Me Want to Stay
If I Were a Blackbird
Trying to Get Over You
6000 Lonely Miles
Peace Must Come
Raglan Road
Who is He - Who am I
The Verdant Braes of Skreen
Somewhere in America
Every Time
Jamie Foyers
Johnnie Faa
The Meeting of the Waters
Ten Thousand Candles
Come to light
The Queens Maries
My Ain Countrie
Down by the Sally Gardens
Willie Archer
The Night Visiting Song
The Wings of the Sphinx
The Joys of Love
The Highland Lullaby
Sailing Through the Sky
An Irish Kiss
Reconciliation
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Notes, comments and most of this research courtesy of Tom Beveridge.
This is from a live concert in Nov. 1963, but was issued in 1964.
Other artists: Ray and Archie Fisher, Eleanor Leith, Dolina McLennan.
Contains:
Jug o'Punch (Corrie Folk Trio)
Hanger Johnny (Corrie Folk Trio)
Finnegan's Wake (Corrie Folk Trio)
She Mov'd Through the Fair (Paddie Bell)
This is how the tracks are listed on the album, although Paddie is present on the
Trio tracks.
The group is also included in the final song "We Shall Overcome".
The Trio and Paddie contribute one track, a live
performance of "The Roving Ploughboy" with a strong Irish infuence.
Other artists: Ray and Archie Fisher, Eleanor Leith, Roy Guest, Barney McKenna.
Featured the Dubliners, the Corrie Folk Trio and Paddie Bell, and Ray and Archie Fisher.
There's also an interesting Various Artists Waverley album (ZLP 2067) called
"Folk Favorites" issued in 1966.
Since companies often issue older material after an artist has left the label,
I wonder if it has anything by the Corries?
Finbar Furey, as I remember, once recorded a song called "Roy's Hands" for Roy Williamson and his "educated fingers." This was recorded on one of his Transatlantic albums (issued by Nonesuch in the U.S.).
Original UK compilation album entitled " The Big Folk" issued on the
Fontana label, SFXL55.
Artists included
Martin Carthy, Noel Murphy, Jeremy Taylor,
The Corries, Derek Brimstone,
The Tinkers, Stefan Grossman, The Spinners,
The Dundonald and Wally Whyton.
The latest track is 1970.
The cover advertises other albums, one of which includes a cover of
the Supremes song "Nathan Jones" (which came out late 1971), so this probably
dates to 1972.
Contains:
Wild Rover
Lord of the Dance
Paddy's Hogmanay (The Shamrock & the Thistle)
These are the standard Fontana tracks.
Contains:
Roving Journeyman
Skye Boat Song
This album pretends to be a party in the studio, but the Corries tracks (although introduced as if Roy and Ronnie are there) are the previously released tracks.
A limited edition with The Corries, Moira Anderson and Stuart Gillies.
Contains:
The Skye Boat Song
Twa Corbies
Lewis Bridal Song
The Road to Dundee
Annie Laurie
These are the standard Philips/Phonogram tracks.
Contains:
The Jolly Beggar
I'm a Rover
Wild Rover
Johnny Lad
Will Ye Go Lassie Go
This one's a bit interesting--I'm a Rover is the Trio (and is listed as such on the label, but not on the cover). It's the "Those Wild Corries!" track. Lists Johnny Lad, but the actual track is The Skye Boat Song--so now, at last, we know who was doing the rowing!
Includes 8 full-colour pages and a poster of the Loch Ness Monster.
Contains: Bluebells of Scotland (from Sound the Pibroch)
Mercifully the Corries track reaches us without an intrusive introduction from
Barbara Mullen (Janet from Dr. Finlay's Casebook").
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Contains the following performances:
Come O'er the Stream Charlie
Lord of the Dance
Massacre of Glencoe
Strangest Dream
Green Fields of France
Loch Tay Boat Song
Loch Lomond
Jock O' Braidosly
Ae Fond Kiss
Kishmul's Galley
Parcel O' Rogues
Mingulay Boat Song
The Dawning of the Day
Flower of Scotland
Will Ye No' Come Back Again
Contains the following performances:
The Braes O' Killicrankie
Flower of Scotland
Cam Ye O'er Frae France
Toon O' Kelso
Scots Wha Hae
Jock O' Hazeldean
Hills of Ardmorn
Johnny Lad
The Rose of Allendale
Leezie Lindsay
News From Moidart
Bonnie Dundee
Ca' The Yowes
Kid on the Mountain
North Sea Shoals
Dark Lochnagar
Haughs O' Cromdale
Kate Dalrymple
Alex McEwan reports: "As you probably well know, The Corries did a 'regular' series for BBC Scotland. The last of these formed the basis of the video which was commercially released and which is on your list. It was a series of six shows, so obviously the video is not complete. Unfortunately neither is my collection, as my mother didn't realise it was on until the series was almost finished. They also made a few TV specials for Scottish Television (STV) over the years."
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The Corries Complete - a songbook designed and produced by New Town Studios, Edinburgh. This book contains music and words for 62 of their songs, including the chords used for the various songs. This is a combination of the three earlier songbooks mentioned above. Still available through Gavin Browne.
Song Titles:
| 1. Arkinholm | 32. The Hills of Ardmorn |
| 2. The Banks of Newfoundland | 33. I Once Loved a Lass |
| 3. The Battle of Harlow | 34. I Will Go |
| 4. The Battle of Prestonpans | 35. Jock o' Hazeldean |
| 5. Birnie Boozle | 36. Loch Tay Boat Song |
| 6. The Black Douglas | 37. Kate Dalrymple |
| 7. The Bloody Sarks | 38. The Lads Among Heather |
| 8. Bogie's Bonnie Belle | 39. The Lammas Tide |
| 9. Bonnie Dundee | 40. Liberty |
| 10. The Bonnie Lass o' Fyvie | 41. Lock the Door Lariston |
| 11. The Braes o' Killicrankie | 42. Lord Yester |
| 12. Braw Braw Lads | 43. MacPherson's Rant |
| 13. Ca' the Ewes | 44. Maggie Lauder |
| 14. Cam' Ye By Atholl | 45. The M-Hm Song |
| 15. Cam' Ye o'er From France | 46. Nancy Whisky |
| 16. Collier Laddie | 47. News From Moidart |
| 17. Come o'er the Stream Charlie | 48. Peggy Gordon |
| 18. Dark Lochnagar | 49. The Reiver's Galley |
| 19. The Dawning of the Day | 50. Rigs o' Rye |
| 20. The Dowie Dens o' Yarrow | 51. The Road Tae Dundee |
| 21. Dumbarton's Drums | 52. The Roses o' Prince Charlie |
| 22. Flodgarry | 53. Row Bullies Row |
| 23. The Flower of Scotland | 54. Sound The Pibroch |
| 24. The Friday Game | 55. The Sunday Driver |
| 25. The Haughs o' Cromdale | 56. Tiree Love Song |
| 26. Ho-ro My Nut-Brown Maiden | 57. Weep Ye Weel By Atholl |
| 27. Hugh the Graeme | 58. Wha Widna Fecht For Charlie |
| 28. Hunting Tower | 59. Where Two Hawks Fly |
| 29. The Portree Kid | 60. The Wild Rover |
| 30. The Heidless Cross | 61. Willie's Gan Tae Melville Castle |
| 31. The Rovin' Journeyman | 62. Ye Jacobites |
Original songbooks: All published by The Corries. Produced by the Graham Falconer Visual Arts Group, Edinburgh. All include a blurb on the songs similar to those in Corries programmes. No dates are given, but I'd guess 1974-76. When I tried to assemble my own discography, the record company ads in these songbooks gave me most of the info (Tom Beveridge).
First (white) original songbook: 2, 11, 14, 15, 23, 26, 31, 32, 33, 39, 41, 43, 49, 51, 53, 60, and "Roving Journeyman".
Second (black) original songbook: 6, 8, 9, 16, 23, 25, 37, 40, 45, 46, 47, 48, 54, 58, 59, 62.
Third (red) original songbook: 4, 18, 20, 24, 27, 29, 30, 34, 35, 36, 38, 42, 44, 52, 55, 57.
| 1. Ae Fond Kiss | 16. Jock O' Braidislee |
| 2. Annie Laurie | 17. Johnny Cope |
| 3. Blow ye Winds, in the Morning | 18. Johnny Lad |
| 4. The Bonnie Ship The Diamond | 19. Lowlands Away |
| 5. The Broom O' The Cowdenknowes | 20. Lowlands o' Holland |
| 6. The Castle of Dromore | 21. Maids When You're Young |
| 7. Cruel Brother | 22. On the Banks of the Roses |
| 8. Derwentwater's Farewell | 23. The Quiet Land of Erin |
| 9. The Flower of Scotland | 24. Rattlin' Roarin' Willie |
| 10. The Four Marys | 25. Shenandoah |
| 11. Gallus Bloke | 26. Sweet Tibbie Dunbar |
| 12. The Great Silkie (of Sule Skerry) | 27. Tramps and Hawkers |
| 13. Heiland Harry | 28. Twa Corbies |
| 14. Helen of Kirkonnel | 29. Twa Recruiting Sergeants |
| 15. The Highland Widow's Lament | 30. Welcome Royal Charlie |
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Karen Williamson and Gavin Browne are now working to commission a reprint of this work. Interested buyers are asked to contact Gavin at www.corries.com.
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Ronnie Browne appeared in the film "The Bruce". The film premiered in Glasgow March 1st 1996, and Ronnie had a speaking part. The film starred Oliver Reed and Brian Blessed. Ronnie played the part of "Maxwell the Minstrel".
He also reportedly sang "Flower of Scotland" at the end of the film over the titles. This is available as a CD single (see the Ronnie Browne Solo section in the discography).
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Corries concert programs were produced, probably on a yearly basis. The date of the one I have is uncertain, but is probably 1987 or 1988, given that it advertised "Barrett's Privateers". Gavin Browne unearthed a box of these in 1997, and sold them to people on his Corries mailing list.
A Ronnie Browne concert program was offered for sale at his solo concert tour in 1993.
Both programs contained pictures and information about the Corries and their history.
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Alan Turnbull visited the Corries exhibit in the Forres Museum:
"Forres is Roy's old home town. It's about half an hour's drive east of Inverness, near Elgin. A nice little town with a pretty high street and Mercat Cross."
His comments: "I visited the Corries' Exhibition at the Forres museum. It's a permanent fixture. It was interesting, but I was disappointed. There was on display case with an early Williamson guitar (a hole crunched in one side - ouch), his black concertina, and his black (English?) flute. The display is quite small. There is a video playing that was made especially for the exhibit (actually, some of it comes from the 'Flower of Scotland' video), but it is almost unwatchable cause the video has deteriorated - get a new one, guys! Some interesting interviews; here Ronnie is hilarious - Roy is too but he's much quieter - shy really -- can you believe that? There were some album covers including some 45s from the Trio and Paddie Bell on Waverley but no songs listed on the side showing, and the curator couldn't help me on that... frustrating.
The exhibit was really a shrine to Roy. It mentioned something I didn't know - that Roy suffered from terrible asthma and that he used to induce fits before a tour which somehow functioned to lessen the bouts during a tour... pretty wierd.
There was a cover (LP? - I didn't know there was one for this album) of The Bonnie Blue. The caption read something like, "This was the last recording made by the Corries." This isn't true, is it? I thought the BBC/Moidart "Flower of Scotland" was the last.
I spoke with a curator about providing a discography if they were interested. To be quite honest, they weren't that interested. They have received other artifacts (funny word in this context) which they are adding to the Archives but not! to the exhibit (Why the hell Not?!). She said she would look into what is in the archives and (perhaps) send a list. Not very promising."
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I saw them in September 1979 in Motherwell, Scotland. They told the audience that there were some folks from California, dedicated a song to us and asked that we come backstage after the concert. They were extremely gracious and pleased that folks had come all that way to see them -- in fact, I planned the trip around when we could hook up with their tour.
I went through some old trip stuff and found the programme they signed and remembered that they dedicated Dumbarton's Drum to us. What wonderful memories. I could tell you how I missed the train by 15 seconds and had to take a bus from Edinburgh to Motherwell (took forever) and when I got there, no one was at the hall. I mean no one. It was 6:50 p.m., the concert started at 7:30 and not a soul to be found. I learned from Helen (whom I met that evening, got me on the right train going home and has since become one of my best friends--of almost 20 years) that I was much too early!
We were married in 1963. My taste, at that time was Trad. Jazz. I had had one sour experience as I had obtained tickets to a Chris Barber concert featuring Wild Bill Davidson, Big Bill Broonzy, Blind Son Terry and Brownie McGee. I was making good money at the time and parted with a fair slice to get tickets for my beloved and myself. Her major contribution for the evening was to point out who had, and who had not, shined their shoes! It was with some trepidation, therefore, that I again invested in tickets to the Usher Hall for myself and, now, wife to see The Corries Folk Trio and Paddie Bell.
The reason for interest arose from the fact that one of the group had been my wife's young brother's Art teacher before quitting to play full time. Little did we know this was the start of 30 years of being Corries fans!
After emigrating to Canada in 1968 I hooked up with an Airdrie chiel who had a collection of Scottish traditional groups tapes. We were fervent Corries collectors and added everything from Archie Fisher, Gaberlunzie, McCalmans, Eric Bogle, Archie Fisher, Dick Gaughin and Alistair MacDonald to Runrig, Five Hand Reel and North Sea Gas. ( By the way, if you want to hear what's coming out of Edinburgh in recent years, try "Folk'n Hell")
Anyway, Lo and behold, on one of my trips home, there were the Corries appearing at the Playhouse. It was home to rock concerts mostly. An early ticket purchase, and I was sitting dead centre, front row, within spitting distance! It was a grand evening, but, being at the front, by the time I fought my way to the intermission bar, the boys were inaccessible.
Apart from those two occasions, separated by a good quarter century, I have admired from afar. My love of their 'live' performances is in their ability, and their fans willingness, to have the crowd sing. The beautiful voices of the women (usually) in the audience would put professional choirs to shame.
Their lighter moments bring a smile, my wife still plays and giggles at "The Portree Kid" when the refer to '... a riverboat gambler on the Ballachulish Ferry ...' We were there pre-Ballachulish bridge. That ferry held three cars and two bikes!
Yes, they were clear and open Scottish Nationalists. More power to them so were, and are, we. Roy was a massive loss. I have yet to hear Ron solo. The group have now given me pleasure for close to 35 years and have recruited my daughter who, when she moved away with her husband demanded copies of her favourite Corries and Gaberlunzie tapes to take with her. Only two concerts, but 17 tapes and records keep me in constant memory of how this group (duo) kept the auld sangs alive through several decades until Celtic music revived!
I'm a ex-Londoner, Canadian since age 11, now living on the West Coast of Canada. How did I, a Sassenach, come to fall under the spell of the Corries from thousands of miles away, never having visited Scotland at the time, or seen a Corries performance?
As an ex-rock/jazz drummer, I didn't expect to like Scottish traditional music, but had a habit of listening to everything, because occasionally you discover a jewel. Live at the Royal Lyceum was that jewel. I found a Corries cassette tape of this at our local library and took it home. Initially, surprise and delight! First cut I heard was "Wha Wouldna' Fecht For Charlie". I was hooked. Then "Tramps and Hawkers" and "The Great Silkie" (with combolins) finished the job. I have yet to play the Corries for a newcomer who was not impressed and delighted.
When I discovered the Corries for myself, I felt like I'd found the Beatles all over again, but a more mature Beatles. The songs have everything from bawdy humor to intense joy and sadness. The Corries music for me is the living oral history of a people. Of course many of the songs they did not write, but the Corries kept them alive, and brought them to a wider audience. I believe the Corries are as important to Scottish music as Planxty and the Chieftains are to Irish music. I'm still surprised that they are relatively unknown. Perhaps that's also part of the delight in being a Corries fan outside of Scotland -- it's nice to be one of the knowledgeable few, who can produce such delights as "Lowlands Away" and "Jock 'O Hazeldean" for friends who think they know Scottish music, having heard only more recent groups.
When I expressed my appreciation of the Corries music to a lady running a Scottish Shop, she said, "Well, ye must be part Scottish". Actually I am - the Dundee Wedderburns - on my mother's mother's mother's side. That may explain my love of many things Scottish, but I think there is more to it than that.
Perhaps some of us are so attracted to Scottish culture because our own culture lacks such a dramatic history. On the West Coast of Canada, Europeans have only been around for about one hundred and fifty years. Old buildings in the city of Vancouver have already largely been destroyed by fire or developers. To us, Scottish history (and song) appears larger than life. I suspect many Scots take it for granted, just as we often view the Coast Mountains and the Pacific Ocean here as background, living near them all our lives. Those outside a culture can find its history more fascinating than those that live within it.
After listening to the Corries, my wife and I visited Scotland in 1985, and became enchanted by the country and its people. In Edinburgh, my wife and I tried to contact the Corries to see if they were performing in Scotland that summer. Alas, we were told they were up North on holiday, perhaps fishing, and so we missed seeing them.
In Edinburgh, I pretty much cleaned out the local record shops of new and used Corries albums. They seemed hard to get then, even in the Corries' own city. As we drove through Scotland, from Edinburgh to Inverness, to the Isle of Skye, and down to Glasgow, the songs and stories we had heard suddenly came alive. Driving through the country, I couldn't stop hearing "Tramps and Hawkers". There's nothing to compare with being in the places the songs talk about, while the music runs through your mind. I think that all Corries fans should make that journey, and see the places they sang about.
We still listen to the Corries, and my youngest daughter says that the Corries and the Beatles are the two greatest musical groups ever. I'm not sure what the Corries thought of the Beatles...
I first "discovered" the Corries when I was living in Paris, ostensibly studying French, but in reality I spent more time studying Scottish Country Dancing with the three groups that met four nights a week in Paris. The first chance I got I went to Edinburgh and bought every record album I could lay my hands on, and ordered more when I came home, so I have quite a few, but obviously not enough. I attended a concert at a theater in Edinburgh on April 1, 1976, which I remember with awe as I sat on the front row at their feet in the very middle seat - I had sent for tickets from Paris, and was lucky to get my request in before they were really accepting requests for tickets, so I got the very best seat in the house. And I sat next to one of their next door neighbors, who was a delight, and very informative. She said Bill Smith was a lawyer, as I recall and left the group to pursue that career? Is my recollection right? I was very definitely a star struck kid, because I thought they were the cat's meow, and I really haven't changed my mind! I had never seen them, so when these two guys came out, one in an orange shirt and the other in yellow, I think, I thought - gee, they don't really appeal in looks - then I discovered it was an April fool's joke - it wasn't the Corries at all! Then the real Corries came out, and they sounded and looked like the real thing! I asked the ushers if I could take pictures, and they said I could, then at intermission the ushers came back and said the flash blinded them so I could take photos if I didn't use a flash. So I have a couple of photographs of them in concert, which I enjoy. And I got autographs and song books, plus a single of "Flowers of Scotland", and some albums - I can't remember which I bought.
They were worth the trip from Paris - I was a student, so went cheap cheap cheap - an all day bus to the coast, then the hovercraft across the Channel, then another bus to London, then an ovenight bus to Edinburgh. By the time I arrived in Edinburgh, I was bushed, but then I was only 22 then so recovered fast, and I considered it a small price to pay. It was probably the highlight of my two years in Paris
For me the reason to get hooked on the Corries was the Jacobite-song. I heard it on a recording of a broadcast from the German radio (A broadcast from the series "Matinee der Liedersaenger") some ten years ago. It turned out to be the beginning of a 5 or 6 year quest for more of the Corries. It seemed as if I was the only person in Holland to have ever heard of them. But finally after sending letters to various countries I managed to get hold of the address of the DARA label and more of the Corries.
Later on I met the owner of a Scottish restaurant in Alkmaar (Holland) who provided me with all of the early recordings of the Corries (Many thanks to him!).
I ended up being transplanted from the Texas plains to the Scottish moors courtesy of Motorola, Inc. (Yeah, that's right -- just another semi-conductor brat.) The culture shock was extreme, aided little by my stereotypical southern drawl -- barely discernable stateside, but comic in the wild environs of East Kilbride (just south of Glasgow). But my family and I struggled on in the face of adversity and widespread ridicule: being the only American in the school was similar to being the only black in school back home.
Life was pretty grim for a while, until my Mom -- in her ongoing effort to expose us to all facets of this new and strange culture to which we had to assimilate -- brought home our first Corries album. The songs told of ancient battles, bloody victories, angry defiance, and more. This was a music I had never heard before -- full of patriotism and love for a country no bigger than one of our Texas counties. The first song I learned was "Speed Bonnie Boat", which I attempted to sing in my squeeky, pre-adolescent twang. (Unfortunately, a tape recording of this ignominious performance still exists today.)
We ended up buying evey Corries album we could find, and had the good fortune to see them perform live twice (in Motherwell, Scotland). The tapes have all but worn out from overuse, and I still have an autographed tour poster from 1981 hanging on my living room wall. The Corries were entertainers in the truest sense of the word, and their renditions of the "classics" are still the versions I prefer. More than anything else, their music helped us see the beauty in the people and places around us, and to make the best of a less than ideal situation. Sad to say, but the Corries' music was the only unreservedly positive experience we brought back with us when we returned to Texas.
After many years of listening to this music, I have now undertaken to perform it with my own group called "Two O'Clock Courage". While we may not be as traditional as Ronnie and Roy (and nowhere near as talented), I hope that I'll be able to pass the musical torch on to the next generation of musicians.
It had always been my dream to someday make it back to Scotland and see them perform live again. I guess that wasn't in the cards...
I got hooked on the Corries through my mother who used to listen to their albums while cleaning the house when I was but a wee laddie. In fact I was about 11 when I realized that being an Englishman, I was the villain in most of their songs! Heritage aside, I still enjoy a rousing Jacobite tune, and considering I married into a Scottish family that has proved to be nothing short of divine intervention.
Anyway, I had the distinct pleasure of hearing one of their last concerts in St. Andrews, Fife, Scotland in 1988 at "The Burn". The lads were in rare and highly ribald form which played well with the audience, which was mostly old Scottish ladies who joined in with gusto on the chorus to "Maids when you're young." They also did a fair bit of promoting for the Scottish Nationalist Party and when I went to talk to them later, they were just a bit curious as to "what the hell a young Sassenach was doing at their concert?" They were promoting "Barrett's Privateers" which had just been released and I managed to get a signed copy for my dear old mum.
Hmmmm....No stories per se. The concert I went to was excellent, though, they did so much to blend the serious historical stuff with the frivolous silliness of their comedic songs. The "Birth of the Corries" blues was played there and I laughed hard. As an aside on their comedic music, it has been one of the mysteries of my life for years to know what is going on during much of 'Maids When You're Young' on one of the early albums. Lots of audience interaction which sounded like fun but is strange to listen to with audio only. Anyway, after the concert we hung around and they came down to talk. Ended up talking with them for almost an hour! They were happy to see younger fans of their music, and were pleased to get the chance to meet with us. We left there with autographed pictures and happy memories...
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The Combolins were first introduced in 1970 on the LP Strings and Things. Roy and Ronnie played about fourteen instruments between them, so Roy got the idea to build instruments that would (hopefully) combine all those sounds. They were built in the summer of 1969. What he got were two magical instruments that sounded like nothing else. The name Combolin was derived from "combination" and "mandolin", a combination of mandolin and guitar. (The guitar part got left out of the name.)
The two instruments are dissimilar, and complement each other. They seem to make each other resonate - almost to talk to each other. One has bass strings and the other has sympathetic drone strings like the Indian sitar. Listen to "The Great Silkie" - it sounds like four people rather than a duo.
Roy's instrument combined bandurria (Portugese mandolin), guitar and thirteen sympathetic strings. Ronnie's instrument combined mandolin, guitar and four bass strings with movable slides. Although the cover of Strings and Things mentions only two such slides, three slides are visible in several later pictures. It was possible for Ronnie to play guitar or mandolin and simultaneously thumb-pick bass lines without having to fret them, given the movable slides. Roy's instrument in the meantime would resonate in sympathy as he played guitar or bandurria, and perhaps occasionally stroked the sympathetic strings.
How Were the Combolins Tuned?
Ronnie Browne's recollection in January 2001 is that Roy's combolin was normally tuned to
open D, and Ronnie's was tuned to standard guitar and mandolin tunings.
Alan Turnbull asked Ronnie about the Combolins: "One of the biggest problems with them was the immense strain placed on the joints between the necks and the body due to the number of strings and their associated tension."
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Contributed by Alan Turnbull - answered by Ronnie, via Gavin Browne
How were the Corries miked on their live recordings?
I also asked him about the microphone set-up question and he basically said that there is no real secret to success apart from trial and error and learning your craft over a number of years. When you don't have a sound man constantly adjusting your levels during a show you have to use the preset levels and use your distance from the mikes to create the effects you want people in the audience to hear. Apart from that always use the best equipment you can without getting over complicated, I don't think they ever used more than 2 mikes each and a very simple mixing desk.
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If you enjoy the Corries music, and the sense of Scottish history in the songs, here are some other things you might also enjoy.
Scottish Music with a Traditional Flavour
Not a canonical list - just some of my favorites.
Scottish Historical Fiction
Books on Scottish History
These books are not easy reading, being about horrendous times in Scotland's history. (I never made it to the end of The Gulag Archipelago, either.) They do have indexes, and are useful for finding out more about key people and events mentioned in songs.
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Ronnie Browne still has control of the Corries releases from about 1974 onwards, when they formed their own Dara label. All of the Corries pre-1974 material was recorded for record companies who still retain control of it. It is this material that companies like BGO and Moidart are getting permission to re-release under their own label on CD. At the same time, Ronnie is slowly re-releasing the Dara recordings on CD and tape. Gavin will sell and ship all Corries recordings currently available.
I bought both the BBC videos and a book, and it all arrived promptly and safely. (I don't get a commission, and have no connection with Gavin other than the friendly exchange of information. I can vouch for his honesty and promptness in business dealings.)
Corries CDs and Cassettes currently available
Note that some are "twofers" (two LPs in one CD package), and that some recordings are available on more than one "twofer". This is because EMI licensed both BGO and Moidart to re-release some of the albums.
Recordings listed are available on CD only unless otherwise specified.
Check the website for details and prices. Starting out? I heartily recommend Strings And Things/Live At The Royal Lyceum Theatre, Edinburgh. I feel these are two of their best recordings, and the sound quality is excellent. I also highly recommend the Dara Live From Scotland series of recordings. These give one a good feel for what it must have been like at a mid-70s Corries concert. Oh, for a time machine...
Also Available from www.corries.com:
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Facts (and opinions) here are gleaned from records, tapes, CDs, concert programs, and Roy's biography by Karen Williamson, plus a LOT of help from Tom Beveridge, Jim Bishop, Bonnie Chaikind, Douglas Clark, Jim Delgrande, Jim Duncan, Virginia Garber, John Hair, Bob Kool, Alex McEwan, Alex Nisbet, Mark Loescher, Raymond McCracken, Mairi McKissock, George McPherson, Gerard Manning (who managed the Ceolas Celtic archive at Stanford), Ken Miller, Robert Murray (see the links for his Corries Appreciation page), Blair Stringfellow, Talisker, Alan Turnbull, Philip Williamson, Grant Winton, all those who wrote of their memories and impressions, and no doubt some I forgot to include here (let me know). Hopefully I haven't missed anyone.
In particular, Tom Beveridge continues to amaze with his constant research on the early recordings, singles, compilations and songbooks, and Alan Turnbull provided much material he had gathered, intending to do a similar discography. This wouldn't have been complete without their work.
Ronnie and Gavin Browne have been very generous with information and confirmation of many of the details here. Any errors or omissions here are mine, not theirs.
Many thanks to all!
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The Corries.com The Official Corries
Internet Merchandising Site
The Diana Gabaldon
Home Page
Music links: Scottish
and Folk (from Scottish Dance Web pages)
Scots Magazine
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