Product Description

This is the first 'Best Of...' compilation of material by the Scottish folk-pop duo, Craig and Charlie Reid. It includes both of their top ten singles, 'Letter From America' and 'King Of The Road'. The material has been selected from theirfirst three albums, 'This Is The Story', 'Sunshine On Leith' and 'Hit The Highway'.

Track Listing

1. Letter From America
2. There's A Touch
3. Let's Get Married
4. I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles)
5. Doodle Song
6. I'm On My Way
7. King Of The Road
8. Ghost Of Love
9. Throw The R Away
10. What Makes You Cry
11. Sunshine On Leith
12. When You're In Love
13. Cap In Hand
14. I Want To Be A Christian
15. Act Of Rememberance
16. Lady Luck
17. Make My Heart Fly
18. Light
19. Joyful Kilmarnock Blues
20. Oh Jean

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #12011 in Music
• Released on: 2002-05-13
• Number of discs: 1

Amazon.co.uk Review
Though The Proclaimers have been having hits since 1987, when "Letter from America" became an unlikely but welcome chart-topper, they have recorded only sporadically. So while the time feels right for a Best Of collection, this is mostly drawn from just four albums. In what is either an apology, or a genuine attempt to provide value for money, or both, three fine new songs are included, plus The Proclaimers' justly popular cover of Roger Miller's "King of The Road" (a collection of cover versions by The Proclaimers remains one of the best albums never made).

What is clear from this 20-track retrospective is that The Proclaimers have not developed at all since they first picked up guitars. Craig and Charlie Reid seem to believe they got it right the first time, and it's difficult to argue otherwise. Certainly, there has never been anyone else like them: The Proclaimers have stuck doggedly to their guns, refusing to forsake their treacle-thick Scottish accents (a decision they sang about on "Throw The R Away") or their worldview (how many self-proclaimed rock & roll outlaws would dare to sing a song called "I Want To Be A Christian" or "Let's Get Married"?). In their perverse and obstinate way, The Proclaimers are about as rock & roll as it gets.

These are simple and direct songs, but they're great simple and direct songs, performed with unashamedly earnest passion by two extraordinary singers--their harmonies merit comparison with those of the brothers Louvin or Righteous. The Reids' awkward appearance made them a staple of parodists, but the way they look should not distract anyone from the way they sound. Anyone who fails to weep at "Sunshine on Leith" is dead, or might as well be. --Andrew Mueller

Amazon.com
When the Scottish duo Craig and Charlie Reid appeared on the scene in 1987 they were immediately compared to The Everly Brothers. This comparison makes some sense considering their energetic, melodic folk rock but they didn't truly sound like the Everlys. Instead, they were was a pop band, aggressively using their thick accents on sweet, infectiously melodic songs infused with a sense of humour were about love, politics, drinking, and life in Scotland. This `Best Of' gleans the best of their 4 albums and 1 EP and 2 tracks, produced by Edwin Collins, written and recorded especially for this release.

Customer Reviews

Beating the Blues
One of the best CDs ever for beating the blues. Just infectious tunes that carry you along - the Proclaimers have never been fashionable but they're extremely good at what they do.

Scotland at it's best!
I went to see the Proclaimers live 2 years ago in Falkirk (and i'm English!) and they sound exactly the same as theirs albums. As previous reviewers have said, there are some great songs on this "Best of....". We all know "500 miles" and "Letter From America", but there is still songs on here that put the hairs up on the back of your neck. So who cares if they sound quite similar...............don't fix what isn't broken. It's a pity that Scotland didn't export these much beter than they did! Excellant band and not ashamed to keep that "Scottish twang" in their songs.
I live back in England now and if they ever come my way I would have no hesitation to go see them again. So I will just have to "make do" with their album..............not that i'm complaining!!
Go buy it, it's brill!!

Gary.

Och, Ah'm No Too Sure...
I love the Proclaimers, and fully sign up to their passion, commitment and loyalty to Scotland. This CD contains plenty of great moments - everything from "Sunshine on Leith", the early tracks "Letter from America", "Make My Heart Fly", "Throw the R Away" were genuinely innovative and excellent songs. "King of the Road" is one of those rare things - a cover that's better than the original.

The remaining tracks just kind of drifted by, though - not that they were terrible, but didn't make such a strong impression as those mentioned above. I don't believe Craig and Charlie have ever made a dreadful record, but they set the bar very high with "Sunshine on Leith" and didn't always make it over the bar in later years.

My fantasy Proclaimers compilation then would be: all of the Sunshine on Leith album, the above early acoustic tracks and "King of the Road". You can't fault their integrity, artistry and commitment one bit, though.