Who is Isla St Clair ?

Subject: Who is Isla St Clair ?
From: Wesley S
Date: 01 Aug 02 - 01:46 PM

Coming to town { Ft Worth Texas } next month is Isla St Clair and the Gordon Gunn Band. I've never heard either of these artists but that doesn't mean a thing. There are a lot of wonderful singers I've never heard. So I was wondering if any of the Mudcat folks would be familar with either performer and could clue me in.

She's discribed as Scotlands leading traditional singer. So if this is a concert not to be missed I'd like to know about it and a little more about the artists. Thanks - Wesley

Subject: RE: Who is Isla St Clair ?
From: Jock Morris
Date: 01 Aug 02 - 02:00 PM

I would never have classed her as Scotland's leading traditional singer. She had a short tv singing career in the uk about 20 years back and seemed to disappear from the public eye (here in Scotland at least).

I vaguely remember her as being a reasonably good singer, but a bit too sugary sweet for my liking.

Probably better than sitting at home watching the TV, but nothing to bust a gut to get to see.

Scott

Subject: RE: Who is Isla St Clair ?
From: nutty
Date: 01 Aug 02 - 02:02 PM

Try here for more info and a sound clip

Isla St Clair

Subject: RE: Who is Isla St Clair ?
From: Long Firm Freddie
Date: 01 Aug 02 - 02:12 PM

I saw Isla St Clair at an open air concert in Cannon Hill Park in Birmingham in the 70s. She was magical, and just as good some years later at The Red Lion in King's Heath. Most people in the UK remember her from being on a game show, Larry Grayson's Generation Game, but it was a waste of her undoubted talent. I'd definitely recommend seeing her.

LFF

Subject: RE: Who is Isla St Clair ?
From: katlaughing
Date: 01 Aug 02 - 02:42 PM

Thanks for asking, Wesley. Thanks, nutty, for the link. She's got a lovely voice. I love learning on the Mudcat!

Subject: RE: Who is Isla St Clair ?
From: Peter K (Fionn)
Date: 01 Aug 02 - 03:07 PM

OK, but not worth a big effort to see - and that was 20-plus years ago. I'm in Jock's camp on this.

Subject: RE: Who is Isla St Clair ?
From: Bullfrog Jones
Date: 01 Aug 02 - 03:25 PM

Nice lady, good singer, much better than she was 20 years ago (but aren't we all?)
BJ

Subject: RE: Who is Isla St Clair ?
From: Malcolm Douglas
Date: 01 Aug 02 - 03:30 PM

I've heard quite a lot of her again in recent years. Certainly not "Scotland's leading traditional singer" -that's concert promoter's hype- but entertaining and very good value; rather better than Jock and Fionn suggest, I'd say. I should see her if I were you.

Subject: RE: Who is Isla St Clair ?
From: harvey andrews
Date: 01 Aug 02 - 03:43 PM

Very popular with the "ordinary" folk of my village who enjoy a fine professional with a winning manner and some excellent songs combined with a good voice.

Subject: RE: Who is Isla St Clair ?
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 01 Aug 02 - 03:49 PM

I used to really fancy her when I was about 20. A year or two ago... But then again I really fancied Wilma Flintsone as well!

She does indeed have a good voice nowadays but adding tae the above 'Scotlands leading traditional singer' is pushing it a bit.

Enjoy anyway.

Cheers

DtG

Subject: RE: Who is Isla St Clair ?
From: Skipper Jack
Date: 01 Aug 02 - 04:07 PM

Have any of you heard her since her "Generation Game" days? She is, as it's already been said a fine traditional singer of Scottish folk songs. She came down to Swansea one year and was rewarded with a pitifully small audience. I met her at Scarborough about two years ago when she was relegated to singing in a shopping precinct somewhere. In spite of her TV "fame", it has never done her any favours.Isla certainly deserves better.

I wish her well on her America tour. Wesley S, go and see her. I think that you will be presently surprised.

Subject: RE: Who is Isla St Clair ?
From: radriano
Date: 01 Aug 02 - 04:17 PM

I have an old lp of her. Haven't heard anything from her in a number of years but she's a fine singer - I'd go see her if I had the chance.

Sugary? Yeah, maybe a bit, but not overly so.

Radriano

Subject: RE: Who is Isla St Clair ?
From: Ron Olesko
Date: 01 Aug 02 - 04:30 PM

I interviewed her a few years ago for my radio program on WFDU-FM.

Very pleasant voice, interesting stories and knowledge of her material, and I would certainly go see the show!

She recorded a number of songs for a series of films on the bagpipe that aired on PBS a few years ago. Mostly traditional, but some original songs dealing with historical events. I enjoyed it. (The name of the films escape me at the moment).

The Gordon Gunn band who you also mentioned are also wonderful on CD! I hope they come through the NYC/NJ area!

Ron

Subject: RE: Who is Isla St Clair ?
From: Ron Olesko
Date: 01 Aug 02 - 04:36 PM

Just remembered - the documentary was called "When the Pipers Play". It was part of a trilogy that explored the history of the bagpipe as an instrument of war.

Ron

Subject: RE: Who is Isla St Clair ?
From: Morticia
Date: 01 Aug 02 - 06:35 PM

I have a more recent album of hers and was very impressed. She has a real feel for the folk heritage of her nation and a fine voice....and anyone who dated Aly McBain can't be all bad.

Subject: RE: Who is Isla St Clair ?
From: GUEST,Boab
Date: 02 Aug 02 - 02:34 AM

Morticia---perhaps you are confusing Isla's ex-husband with Aly Bain the Shetland fiddle maestro. Isla was, if I remember rightly, wed to Hamish Bain [McBain??], one of the original McCalmans group. She moved to London after the parting, and besides having a t.v. spell, gotinto some unfortunate personal problems [no names, no pack drill!], but seems to be making something of a comeback. Good luck to the Lassie---I like her singing.

Subject: RE: Who is Isla St Clair ?
From: alison
Date: 02 Aug 02 - 03:19 AM

I like her....... she did a kids program (at least it was put on in the kids time slot).... called "the song and the story" about 20 years ago... it was probably my first introduction to english and scottish folk songs.... I loved it..... and I think she had, and I'm sure still has a lovely voice..... but what I remember most is the way she told the backgrounds to the songs.... made them come alive..... I'd go see her...


slainte

alison

Subject: RE: Who is Isla St Clair ?
From: GUEST
Date: 02 Aug 02 - 06:43 AM

Yes - she's worth hearing.

Subject: RE: Who is Isla St Clair ?
From: GUEST,dograt
Date: 02 Aug 02 - 07:49 AM

A bit right wing - seems to think US gun culture worthy.

If you ignore what she has to say between songs and can cut through the sugar to the tune and the lyrics, you'll be fine.

Subject: RE: Who is Isla St Clair ?
From: GUEST
Date: 02 Aug 02 - 07:54 AM

For the record, Isla was married to Hamish BAYNE. She is a bloody good singer, and there are few if any Scottish female traditional singers I would rather spend an evening with.

Her success outside the realms of folk music is guaranteed to earn her the opprobrium of the Scottish folk community for ever. Just like Barbara Dickson.

Murray

Subject: RE: Who is Isla St Clair ?
From: Peter K (Fionn)
Date: 02 Aug 02 - 08:13 AM

I should have realised that she might have improved with age. Like Marianne Faithfull. I can't ignore the opinions of people like Ron and Marray - I'll make sure to get to one of her shows, and update my own!

Subject: RE: Who is Isla St Clair ?
From: Ned Ludd
Date: 02 Aug 02 - 08:15 AM

I'm in the 'bloody good singer' camp. And I still fancy her!

Subject: RE: Who is Isla St Clair ?
From: DaveP
Date: 02 Aug 02 - 08:34 AM

She appeared at a club I and my wife frequent a couple of years ago.

My opinion, for what it is worth.

An attractive, down to earth person. As in a lot of UK clubs some floor singers did their bit before her act. She did listen to the locals, unlike some 'super stars' who think they are 'super stars' She has a good voice and a good understanding of the origins of the songs she sings (at least those she performed when I saw her). Her accent is a 'soft' Scottish one which should be easier to understand than some of the more 'harsh'ones you may have come across.

She also appeared on a TV show with Morcombe and Wise, a very well loved UK comedy duo from the last century!

My advice - go and see her!

Subject: RE: Who is Isla St Clair ?
From: Trevor
Date: 02 Aug 02 - 08:45 AM

She's a fairly regular performer at one of our local haunts and she's good. Clear voice, good rep, worth listening to.

Subject: RE: Who is Isla St Clair ?
From: Nerd
Date: 02 Aug 02 - 01:21 PM

Isla, if I'm not mistaken, is from the Aberdeen area and before her TV career was in fact a purely traditional singer--I think as a youngster she recorded some songs for the School of Scottish Studies. She went into being a folk club performer in her teens, then the famous TV gigs followed, etc.

She suffers from her publicity a bit, I think. Because her publicists call her Scotland's leading traditional singer, we folkies rebel against what we rightly perceive to be unfair hype and decide that she's crap! But in fact, as several have said here, she's very good. I bought two recent CDs she put out of trad ballads. The only complaint I have is that they were only about 35 minutes long, so they both would have fit on one CD!

Subject: RE: Who is Isla St Clair ?
From: GUEST
Date: 02 Aug 02 - 02:30 PM

The Kate Rusby of her day? I have some old issues of Folk Review magazine in which a very young Isla St Clair appears, complete with glowing write-ups. She was, indeed, one of the best of her generation before being seduced by television game shows. As the Steve Benbow thread suggests, once you down the road to commercial success, we folkies can be a nasty bunch with extremely long memories.

Subject: RE: Who is Isla St Clair ?
From: Wesley S
Date: 02 Aug 02 - 04:51 PM

Thanks for the imput folks. I was a bit put off by the ad I was sent in the mail. I was especially nervious when they said she had worked with Charton Heston and Phil Collins. Not exactly pillars of the traditional music world. Thanks again.

Subject: RE: Who is Isla St Clair ?
From: GUEST
Date: 02 Aug 02 - 05:02 PM

Her latest release, that I know about, consists of songs written by her late Mother, which Isla discovered post mortem, and put to music. What I've heard of it is good, she is a lovely lassie wi' a lang pedigree, and as has been said earlier some of the finger-in-the-ear traditionalists resent her small commercial successes outwith the folk scene. Go see her, you'll enjoy yourself.
Failte....Giok

Subject: RE: Who is Isla St Clair ?
From: Mac Tattie
Date: 03 Aug 02 - 06:29 AM

I'ts not her commercial successes that are resented I'ts her thin, reedy, uninspireing voice and, too often, chringe makimg stage performances that get most folks dander up. I have suffered her in concert(but not concert pich)and won't be repeating the experience. The Gordon Gunn Band are worth a listen and are a big step up from the usual "tartan-for-the-tourist" band. cheers

Subject: RE: Who is Isla St Clair ?
From: Tam the bam fraeSaltcoatsScotland
Date: 03 Aug 02 - 07:34 AM

Isla St Clair, came form the North east of Scotland, she then lived in Troon in Ayrshire.

I think that she is a great singer, and I would go and see her.

Tom

Subject: RE: Who is Isla St Clair ?
From: GUEST,Julie B at home
Date: 04 Aug 02 - 08:47 AM

Went to see her earlier this year. I'm sure that she is good at what she does, but, not being Scottish myself, I found it hard work trying to understand the many traditional dialect songs (which formed the majority of the set). Most of the audience were also unable to join in with choruses, as encouraged, for the same reason. One of my friends found the songs in th first half just too 'same-y' and left in the interval. I have to admit, I wanted to enjoy it more than I did. But I'm certain that if you are Scottish, or like to hear mainly dialect singing then you would enjoy it. The second half was more accessible, with less dialect and some more familiar songs.
Julie

Subject: RE: Who is Isla St Clair ?
From: GUEST,Sloop
Date: 04 Aug 02 - 09:17 AM

Isla is a beautiful lady (who - like a good bottle of wine gets better with age - she was 50 this year)with a beautiful personality, speaking and singing voice (the best I've ever heard). Definitely go and see her. She has appeared on radio 2 when it had folk music programmes (especially with Jim Lloyd) when she was outstanding. Yes buy those two "Tradition Collection" CD's mentioned earlier - they are very short but are also inexpensive. I've never seen them in the shops so seek out the website. Beware! Some of her other recordings are overproduced with innapropriate backings.

Subject: RE: Who is Isla St Clair ?
From: Jim McLean
Date: 04 Aug 02 - 01:05 PM

Wesley S, give her my warm regards, Jim McLean

Subject: RE: Who is Isla St Clair ?
From: Harry Basnett
Date: 05 Aug 02 - 04:35 AM

Not sure but I think we've booked Isla for the Open Door next year...we do not make bookings lightly!!

I remember 'The Song and the Story'...come to think of it, I've even got the book!

All the best............Harry.

Subject: RE: Who is Isla St Clair ?
From: GUEST,T-boy
Date: 05 Aug 02 - 08:15 AM

Her mother was a genuine traditional singer who also wrote stuff. Isla sings a lot of material from her mother which otherwise would not be sung. So that makes her too important to miss, IMHO. Don't forget, you don't know what you've got till it's gone.

Subject: RE: Who is Isla St Clair ?
From: Nerd
Date: 06 Aug 02 - 01:13 AM

Sloop--as to the CDs being inexpensive, I bought them in a shop and they were full priced CDs. So buyer, beware! But they are good, despite the brevity and some silly sleeve notes.

Subject: RE: Who is Isla St Clair ?
From: Bullfrog Jones
Date: 11 Oct 02 - 06:31 AM

So Wesley.... how was she?

BJ

Subject: RE: Who is Isla St Clair ?
From: Michael in Swansea
Date: 11 Oct 02 - 10:47 AM

Say her name with reverence. Say it loud and there's music playing, say it soft and it's almost like praying.
I love Isla

Michael

Subject: RE: Who is Isla St Clair ?
From: fiddler
Date: 11 Oct 02 - 05:35 PM

Load of old cynics -worse than me.

Lets think in 21st century when we use microphones and PAs and sing or play to audiences of thousands or more what is traditional.

Traditional now back before we were lads was pop!

Therefore shouldn't we all stand up and sing Spice gilrs, Oasis and who was Jimmi Hendrix anyway!

The Woman (who I don' personal get off on) has a good voice and a good patter and has been making a good living for years. Some folk as can be seen above adore revere and worship her.

Personally what about Moira Anderson?

A

Subject: RE: Who is Isla St Clair ?
From: Madam Gashee
Date: 11 Oct 02 - 06:38 PM

Revere is one description of michael's adoration!
I can tell you that he sleeps with a photo of her under his pillar and
when we stayed in the same hotel in Scarborough as her....

Subject: RE: Who is Isla St Clair ?
From: GUEST,Boab
Date: 12 Oct 02 - 04:21 AM

Moira Anderson? A great voice, and not the worst singer of Scottish songs by a long way---but she'd benefit her folksong style by a spell with Bab Dixon, or Jean Redpath---as happened to her pal McKellar who "learned" a thing or two when he did a series with Jean and Alastair MacDonald some years back----

Subject: RE: Who is Isla St Clair ?
From: Michael in Swansea
Date: 12 Oct 02 - 07:17 AM

Why would I keep a pic of Isla under a pillar?
I do have an Isla screen saver.

Subject: RE: Who is Isla St Clair ?
From: GUEST,shonagh
Date: 12 Oct 02 - 09:53 AM

Isla is from a fishing town called Buckie which is about half an hour from where i live. Personally, when i started out singing i had all her cd's but i didnt listen to her for her voice, i mean it is a good voice but not my kind of thing, but i listened to her cds for her songs. Wonderful ballads!

Subject: RE: Who is Isla St Clair ?
From: GUEST,Guest FC
Date: 17 Mar 12 - 03:57 PM

This is a few years late but maybe someone still follows this thread. I met Isla at Marylebone Station, London, in the early 90's while on a year's return to the UK from Canada. I was delighted to find she lived in a village near where I was staying and saw a fair bit of her over the next months. Born in Edinburgh, I loved her music and thought her voice was amazing, particularly as in those days we were both smokers - and both tried to quit together! We lost contact but I still check out her website and listen to her CDs. I would attend a concert in a flash.

Subject: RE: Who is Isla St Clair ?
From: stallion
Date: 17 Mar 12 - 05:56 PM

Byfield!

Subject: RE: Who is Isla St Clair ?
From: Tattie Bogle
Date: 17 Mar 12 - 07:33 PM

Seen her twice in concert in just the last couple of years, and was very impressed: good voice, presentation, and at her best when doing songs from the Banff/Buchan/Buckie (N-East Scotland) area, tho' I'd never describe the accent there as "soft'!

Subject: RE: Who is Isla St Clair ?
From: GUEST,Doc John
Date: 18 Mar 12 - 08:52 AM

I used the fancy her too like Dave above. She is - or was - an all round entertainer appearing with Larry Grayson on a game show and the like; not my style at all. But she's a beautiful singer and a beautiful lady. Those two CD's mentioned above show her at her best as - as mentioned above - much of her material is overproduced, a frequent problem, I find. She was superb on Folk on Two several years ago.

Subject: RE: Who is Isla St Clair ?
From: Steve Shaw
Date: 18 Mar 12 - 09:01 AM

There's a rumour that she married Barry White, divorced him then married Bryan Ferry. So now she's Isla White-Ferry.

I'll get me coat then...

Subject: RE: Who is Isla St Clair ?
From: Georgiansilver
Date: 18 Mar 12 - 09:02 AM

Found on Youtube recently... enjoy!

Subject: RE: Who is Isla St Clair ?
From: Steve Parkes
Date: 18 Mar 12 - 10:14 AM

Steve, I'm gonna pinch that joke & try it out on the caulkheads here!