Track Listing

1. Erin Go Bragh
2. Now Westlin' Winds
3. Craigie Hill
4. World Turned Upside Down
5. Snows They Melt The Soonest
6. Lough Erne
7. First Kiss At Parting
8. Scojun Waltz
9. Randers Hopsa
10. Song For Ireland
11. Workers' Song
12. Both Sides Of The Tweed

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #21219 in Music
• Released on: 1995-05-16
• Number of discs: 1
• Dimensions: .20 pounds

CD Description
Fiercely political, this was the work that cemented Gaughan's reputation for outspoken topicality and burning Scots nationalism. It is a milestone and traditional music would doubtlessly be the poorer without it. The mix of vitriol and conciliation is startling: there are no punches pulled in "The World Turned Upside Down", yet contrast that with the tender"Snows They Melt The Soonest" or the hands-across-the-waterbrotherhood expressed in "Both Sides The Tweed". The unobtrusive, atmospheric backing allows Gaughan to range freely across the principles and influences by which he still stands as loyally to this day. A truly passionate record.

Customer Reviews

Superb
I got this album back in 1982, when it first came out. It sounds as good, fresh and timeless now as it did then. Every track is excellent. My favourite changes from time to time, but the one that has consistently tugged at my heartstrings is Craigie Hill. Please, for the good of your soul, give it a try. You won't regret it.

A great introduction to Celtic folk music.
I am a total jazzer, and even though I'm from Scotland I'm a bit wary of the "kilts n' shortbread" that can be associated with Scots/Irish folk music. I got this as it was presonnally recommended to me by someone who simply said he was good and I should listen to it, so I kind of shrugged and coughed up and when the CD arrived had some preconceptions about how I would react to it...

Make no mistake, this album is nothing more than an artist at the height of his powers. His guitar playing and vocals are just incredible.
It communicated such a powerful and beautiful musical message that this album, within a few days of hearing it, went straight into my top ten of all time (and I think I have only one other "folk" album in my collection).

It's a reminder that the old adage "there's two kinds of music... good and bad" holds true. This is essential listening, whether you think you like folk music or not.

If you thought you hated folk music, listen to this
Staggering in its simplicity, breathtaking in its beauty, this is quite simply one of the best collections of folk songs ever recorded. Gaughan's version of Burns' 'Song Composed in August', called here 'Now Westlin Winds' brings the Scots' master's lines to life in an unforgettable way: I challenge anyone to listen to this, and to the last lines 'Not vernal show'rs to budding flow'rs / Not Autumn to the farmer / so dear can be, as thou to me, My fair, my lovely charmer!' without being moved to tears.

There's rousing stuff, too, with a fine version of 'World Turned Upside Down' ('In 1649, to St George's Hill...'). Every kind will find their pleasure here, as Burns put it, the savage and the tender.