Origins: Glasgow Reel (Davey Arthur)

Subject: Origins: Glasgow Reel
From: David W
Date: 09 Oct 18 - 12:19 PM

Glasgow Reel, also known as Howling Winds and Tam Lin.

I was wondering what the origin was. Some people say a Davey Arthur original composition, some say he his version of an older tune. Or is there another origin.

Not to be confused with the Old Scottish Borders ballad Tam Lin.

Subject: RE: Origins: Glasgow Reel
From: gillymor
Date: 09 Oct 18 - 12:54 PM

Here's some info at slowplayers.org and I'm sure there's a discussion about it at session.org.
Great tune.

Subject: RE: Origins: Glasgow Reel
From: GUEST,kenny
Date: 09 Oct 18 - 01:37 PM

Davey Arthur composed it. He is on record as stating this categorically on a CD titled "The Reel Years : 1973 - 1983 by "The Fureys And Davey Arthur" which I used to have.

Subject: RE: Origins: Glasgow Reel
From: GUEST,kenny
Date: 09 Oct 18 - 01:48 PM

PS - the "Glasgow Reel" title is a later, incorrect, addition. I believe the first ever recording of the tune would have been by Davey himself playing it on "Emigrant", a "Fureys and Davey Arthur" LP record released on the Polydor label in 1977.
Track # 5, where the title is "Tamalinn" [sic ].
I've just listened to his introduction, which I saved on a hard disc recorder. He says he wrote the tune when he was 20 years old, and that - quote : "it is the best known and certainly most recorded of my compositions to date".

Subject: RE: Origins: Glasgow Reel
From: David W
Date: 09 Oct 18 - 04:21 PM

Thanks, that's great

Subject: RE: Origins: Glasgow Reel
From: CupOfTea
Date: 10 Oct 18 - 11:14 AM

A piper & guitar player who used to come to a favorite open mic was fond of this tune. His understanding of the multiple names was that Howling Wind was the original name, that it was popular with a group called Tam Lin, and picked up that name from them popularizing the tune. The group was based in Glasgow, which also led to another naming of the tune, from folks who learned it in sessions. This made sense to me, though I have no idea if this is the actual route to the multiple names.

Joanne in Cleveland, where it gets called "Tam Lin Reel"

Subject: RE: Origins: Glasgow Reel
From: GUEST,kenny
Date: 10 Oct 18 - 12:50 PM

".....Howling Wind was the original name, " -    Not true. The name "The Howling Wind" - another misnomer - was supposedly given to the tune by Irish accordion player Paddy O'Brien.
The tune was called "Tam Lin" , by its' composer Davey Arthur, and recorded by him before any Glasgow group could have played it. How it came to be known as "The Glasgow Reel", I have no idea.
Anyone disagreeing with what the facts I've posted above would be calling Davey Arthur a liar. Now why would he do that ? Do you really think that likely ?

Subject: RE: Origins: Glasgow Reel (Davey Arthur)
From: Gordon Jackson
Date: 11 Oct 18 - 11:55 AM

It was certainly named Tam Lin, after the Scots ballad (Child no. 39).

We worked out our own setting of the tune, recorded it and asked Davey if we could put in on our album. He said we could, so we did. There was no mention of it being called anything other than Tam Lin.

You can hear our version here.

Subject: RE: Origins: Glasgow Reel (Davey Arthur)
From: Helen
Date: 21 Feb 19 - 06:52 PM

I'm pasting a bit of the info linked to by kenny above, to the slowplayers site.

It says the tune was credited on a Steeleye Span CD as having been written by Davey Arthur but that Paddy O'Brien liked the tune but not the name so he called it "The Howling Wind". Meanwhile, the Scottish dancers tend to refer to it as The Glasgow Reel, but the info below says that Davey Arthur was originally from Edinburgh. Go figure! LOL A rose - or tune - by any other name would smell - or sound - as sweet.


The Glasgow Reel (Daeol)
By Eddie | Published May 6, 2014

“The Glasgow Reel” is more often called “Tam Lin” around KC and some other environs. It has been set in Daeol, Eaeol, and Aaeol, primarily. It is often heard in sessions played first in Daeol, then in Aaeol for a variation — and I have both here. Dublin musician Davey Arthur (originally from Edinburgh, Scotland) is credited, on Steeleye Span’s CD Time (1996), with writing this tune. Paddy O’Brien (b. 1945) liked the tune, but not the name “Tam Lin,” so he played a version in Daeol, as I have it here first, but he called it “The Howling Wind.” ........... [snip]

Currently the melody of “Tam Lin” is played for Irish step-dancing competitions, and has been recorded for step dance practice (and canned competition music) by piano-accordion player Pat King. Fèis musicians tend to refer to this tune as “The Glasgow Reel,” and dancers tend love it .............. [snip] This tune was recorded the Furey Brothers as “Tam Lin, Prince of Pipers” on the album Emigrant (Polydor, 1977), the first album in which the group was named “The Furey Brothers and Davey Arthur.”

Tam Lin has suddenly - well, to me it seems sudden - appeared in our session group. At a pub session last Sunday, about 20 musicians were playing it with great gusto, and I was completely blown away. What a great tune!

That's why I found this thread - via Google which is unusual, because usually I would just search for a tune here on the forum search.