In the latest edition of The Newsletter of The International Brigades Memorial Trust Jim Jump reviews a new CD of songs which commemorates the contribution of Scottish volunteers to the defence of the Spanish Republic against fascism 75 years ago. He has given me permission to reproduce his review here and it includes details of how to obtain the CD which is only £5 including p&p.

I have not yet heard the CD but have ordered one the strength of Jim's review. As he points out, this CD contains a recording of the words written by Scotsman Alec McDade when he created the original version of Jarama Valley . These words are almost never sung now and even more rarely has this version been recorded - most versions sung and recorded are of the commemorative version such as is sung by Pete Seeger.

Review of FROM BLANTYRE TO BARCELONA written by Jim Jump

With help from Unison Scotland, musicians in the Lanarkshire Songwriters Group have produced this superb collection of songs inspired by the Scottish volunteers in the Spanish Civil War.

Most songs are new compositions, but included on the 13-track CD are some re-workings of traditional Spanish songs and tunes.

A highlight of the album is "Jarama Valley", using the original words penned by Inter­national Brigader Alex McDade, killed at the Battle of Brunete in July 1937. Sung to the tune of the cowboy song "Red River Valley", the Glaswegian's sardonic lyrics were later rewritten to become the anthem of the British Battalion – which is still sung at IBMT events. Performed here by Billy Stewart, with guitar, banjo, mandolin and fiddle backing, this is the first time that McDade's song has been properly recorded.

The idea for this compilation arose from the project led by Unison South Lanarkshire Branch's Stephen Smellie to raise the memorial to three Blantyre volunteers killed in Spain that was unveiled in 2009. The CD was launched at a concert at the Blantyre Miners Welfare Social Club on 24 November last year to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the International Brigades.

There are songs on the CD from John Young and Gordon Neil dedicated to Blantyre Brigaders Thomas Brannan (killed at Jarama) and George Douglas and songs telling the stories of Scottish anarchist volunteer Ethel McDonald (by Chris Rogers) and the Spanish poet and dramatist Frederico García Lorca (by Robert Armour), murdered by the fascists early in the civil war.

Other stand-out tracks are two songs written and performed by Heather Young and Claire McGhee, exploring the feelings of women and mothers fearing for their loved ones in Spain, and a rousing closing song, "Fighting Against Franco" by John Malcolm.

Written by Jim Jump and reproduced with permission from the Newsletter of the International Brigades Memorial Trust, Issue 31, Jan 2012


HOW TO ORDER: The CD "From Blantyre to Barcelona" is available from the IBMT for only £5, including p&p. Send cheque (made out the IBMT) with your name and address to: IBMT, 6 Stonells Road, London SW11 6HQ.

WITH THIS LINK YOU CAN READ THE WHOLE NEWSLETTER IN FULL COLOUR

When I have received my copy of the CD I shall add the new songtitles to the Perma Thread reached by this link Mudcat Thread: Songs in English about the Spanish Civil War