Runrig - Original Album Series (2014)

Runrig are a Scottish Celtic rock group formed in Skye, in 1973 under the name 'The Run Rig Dance Band'. Since its inception, the band's line-up has included songwriters Rory Macdonald and Calum Macdonald. The current line-up also includes longtime members Malcolm Jones, Iain Bayne, and more recently, Bruce Guthro, and Brian Hurren. To date, the band has released fourteen studio albums, with a number of their songs sung in Scottish Gaelic.
Runrig's music is often described as a blend of folk and rock music, with the band's lyrics often focusing upon locations, history, politics and people that are unique to Scotland. Songs also make references to agriculture and land conservation.
Since 1999, the band has gained attention in Canada, following Nova Scotian singer Bruce Guthro's entry to the band. ~Wikipedia




If you are Scottish and don't already own this album, shame on you. Buy it immediately. Other nationalities: you may need some further persuasion. But that's easy enough. The Cutter And The Clan is chock full of big-hearted tunes, beefy arrangements and potent singalong choruses. The lyrics burst with such Scottish pride that the rest of us begin to feel a little jealous, and every track has a great hook, guaranteed. Non-Scots: play "Pride of the Summer" and try to avoid bellowing along to "Beat the drum / Beat the drum / Like a heartbeat / Lonely and strong"; or listen in silence to the chorus of "Hearts of Olden Glory." It can't be done. Even the two gaelic songs–including the classic anthem "Alba"–are irresistibly catchy. Call it folk rock if you like–Runrig count accordion, mandolin and bagpipes among their arsenal of instrumentation–but there are no traditional tunes on this album and Runrig's way with their music is the stuff of 20,000-seater stadiums not quiet country pubs. ~Mark Walker

Track listing
01. Alba (4:01)
02. The Cutter (3:48)
03. Hearts Of Olden Glory (2:13)
04. Pride Of The Summer (3:59)
05. Worker For The Wind (3:29)
06. Rocket To The Moon (4:59)
07. The Only Rose (3:51)
08. Protect And Survive (3:22)
09. Our Earth Was Once Green (4:00)
10. An Ubhal As Airde (3:47)







Not recognized in the States for their inspiring lyrics and uplifting music, Runrig is one of the best Scottish bands around. In just seconds they can take you from the height of love and wonder to the deep depths of the soul. Even the most skeptical person will find themselves humming the lyrics of City of Lights or tapping their foot to the drumbeat of Tear Down These Walls. An absolutely wonderful album. My second favourite of theirs next to The Gaelic Collection. ~Amazon

Track listing
01. News From Heaven (3:33)
02. Every River (4:44)
03. City Of Lights (4:22)
04. Eirinn (4:54)
05. Tir A' Mhurain (3:53)
06. World Appeal (2:20)
07. Tear Down These Walls (4:05)
08. Only The Brave (3:57)
09. Siol Ghoraidh (5:19)
10. That Final Mile (3:05)
11. Smalltown (4:01)
12. Precious Years (4:43)







This album is somewhat of a transitional recording for Runrig as it bridges their four-minute anthem-laden '80s approach to songwriting with the lengthier, more textured treatment found to a greater degree on their subsequent '90s releases. With indeterminate influences ranging from U2 to Big Country Runrig has, nevertheless, created a style uniquely their own. Always advancing the Scottish Gaelic language, they include their customary two such numbers with "Abhainn an T-Sluaigh" and "An Cuibhle Mor." One of their most well-known songs "Flower of the West" concludes this album in typical grandiose Runrig fashion. ~Allmusic

Track listing
01. Headlights (5:09)
02. Healer In Your Heart (5:34)
03. Abhainn An T-Sluaigh / The Crowded River (5:17)
04. Always The Winner (5:41)
05. This Beautiful Pain (4:15)
06. An Cuibhle Mor / The Big Wheel (6:07)
07. Edge Of The World (5:00)
08. Hearthammer (4:27)
09. I'll Keep Coming Home (2:33)
10. Flower Of The West (7:25)







Runrig's eighth studio album was their most successful in terms of chart position in the U.K., peaking at number two in March 1993, and it's not difficult to hear why. The folk genre that dominated their early independent albums had virtually disappeared and had been replaced by an anthemic rock sound heavily influenced by their fellow Scots countrymen Big Country and Irish band U2. In keeping with their tradition, three of the 12 tracks were sung in Gaelic and the first of these, "Pog Aon Oidche Earraich" which translates as "A Kiss One Spring Evening" was mainly a somber spoken passage interspersed with harmonic singing and chanting. Both the other two Gaelic language songs, "Sraidean Na Roinn Eorpa" ("Streets of Europe") and "Ard" ("High") were more rock oriented, and the final track, "On the Edge," was a haunting guitar instrumental. Both the title track and the first single to be taken from the album, "Wonderful" were heavily influenced by the more rock oriented Big Country, keyboard player Peter Wishart having been a member of that band in their early days, although Malcolm Jones played the bagpipes for real, not a synthesized version. Wishart would soon leave the band to follow a career in politics as a member of parliament for the Scottish constituencies of Tayside North and Perth and North Perthshire. The song "Greatest Flame," the second hit single from Amazing Things was a stadium rock anthem designed to sway with a lighter held high, and one of the greatest strengths of Runrig was their ear for a good melody, shown on the ballads "Dream Fields" and "Forever Eyes of Blue." Runrig never again hit the heights in the charts of Amazing Things. ~Allmusic

Track listing
01. Amazing Things (4:17)
02. Wonderful (4:11)
03. The Greatest Flame (5:03)
04. Move A Mountain (5:12)
05. Pog Aon Oidhche Earraich (A Kiss One Spring Evening) (3:37)
06. Dream Fields (5:54)
07. Song Of The Earth (4:52)
08. Forever Eyes Of Blue (4:09)
09. Sraidean Na Roinn-Eorpa (Streets Of Europe) (5:23)
10. Canada (5:12)
11. Ard (High) (5:59)
12. On The Edge (3:52)







Mara opens in subtlety with the song 'A day in a boat' and listening you would think you were actually doing just that. The album keeps to the mara theme with the superbly arranged orchestra on the song 'The Mighty Atlantic,' and the traditional Gealic roots with 'Thairis Air a'Ghleann' , (Beyond the valley). The more rock sounding tracks of 'Road and River' and 'Things That Are' add that bit of flare that most albums lack and the record finishes superbly with the final beat of the drum in the lively track 'Lighthouse', a complete contrast to the first note on the album. All in all a superb way to spend money and time. ~Amazon

Track listing
01. Day In A Boat (2:56)
02. Nothing But The Sun (7:15)
03. The Mighty Atlantic / Mara Theme (6:43)
04. Things That Are (4:55)
05. Road And The River (4:28)
06. Meadhan Oidhche Air An Acairseid (4:53)
07. The Wedding (4:11)
08. The Dancing Floor (5:29)
09. Thairis Air A Ghleann (3:47)
10. Lighthouse (3:51)




Thx to ALLexxess