Information about The Clutha (Scottish folk group)

Subject: Information about The Clutha
From: GUEST,Larry M
Date: 25 Jan 00 - 06:58 AM

Does anyone have some information about the Scottish Folk Group The Clutha? I borrowed an album called Scotia from a friend and it was great. Are any of their recordings available today?

Subject: RE: Information about The Clutha
From: john c
Date: 25 Jan 00 - 12:35 PM

Ive been trying to get hold of a copy of Scotia for years -anybody know where I can find it? The singer from Clutha, Geordeanna McCulloch released a couple of solo CDs a few years ago but Im afraid I cant help with much information there either.

Subject: RE: Information about The Clutha
From: AndyG
Date: 25 Jan 00 - 01:21 PM

Look here for a CD by Geordeanna McCulloch.

Roots & Rhythm

AndyG

Subject: RE: Information about The Clutha
From: Malcolm Douglas
Date: 25 Jan 00 - 03:50 PM

Besides Sheath and Knife, there's:

In Freenship's Name (Gordeanna McCulloch) Greentrax Recordings CDTRAX 123, 1997

And, by The Clutha:

Scotia! Argo ZFB 18
The Clutha Topic LP 12TS 242
Bonnie Mill Dams Topic LP 12TS 330

So far as I know, these last three are still out of print, but it's always worth checking out specialist secondhand dealers.

Malcolm

Subject: RE: Information about The Clutha
From: Susanne (skw)
Date: 25 Jan 00 - 05:15 PM

Larry, a guy at the Real Music Shop in Glasgow runs (or used to run) a second-hand business on the side, and he had the most amazing things. Would their phone number be any good to you?
The Clutha reunited for the Tonder Festival less than ten years ago, and I was lucky enough to hear them there. They sang - among other things - 'The Balaena', and I've been looking for their recording of it ever since. Anybody got it, or knows where to find it? I could offer a tape of 'The Bonnie Mill Dams' in return, as someone was kind (or careless) enough to give me that album a few years ago. I don't think The Balaena is on 'Scotia!' either, so it must be on 'The Clutha'. Any help? - Susanne

Subject: RE: Information about The Clutha
From: john c
Date: 26 Jan 00 - 01:26 AM

Susanne, the phone number of the Real Music Shop would be of GREAT use. Really would be appreciated if you could let me know it. And if I find The Balaena, I promise to make you a copy in return! John.

Subject: RE: Information about The Clutha
From: Susanne (skw)
Date: 26 Jan 00 - 06:17 PM

John, the Real Music Shop is at 23 Parnie Street, Glasgow G1 5RJ, phone [phone] - just three doors away from Adam McNaughtan's second-hand bookshop, actually! However, I can't remember the guy's name and I didn't see him the last time I was in there (last August), but ask them anyway. They always have some second-hand stuff. Good hunting! - Susanne

Subject: RE: Information about The Clutha
From: Malcolm Douglas
Date: 26 Jan 00 - 08:10 PM

These are the track listings for the two Clutha albums on Topic Records:

12TS242 The Clutha: The Clutha: Ronnie Alexander / Soor Milk Cairt / Donald Blue / Dell in the Lum / Jigs / Andro and his Cutty Gun / Rigs o'Rye / Johnny Sangster / Wha's Fu / Andrew Ross / Gaberlunzie Man.

12TS330 Bonnie Mill Dam: The Clutha: My Apron / Binnie Susie / Farewell Tae Kemper / Kilworth Hills / High, Jeanie, High / Braes o'Lochie / Terrible Twins / Banks of Allan / Ochitree Walls / Binnorie-o / Logan Water / Neil Gow / Captain MacDuff's Reel / Among the Blue Flowers and the Yellow / False Bride / Maids o'the Black Glen / Back o'the Moon / Donald Willie and his Dog / I Laid a Herrin' in Saut / Mossie and his Mare.

I don't have any information about the Argo LP.

Malcolm

Subject: RE: Information about The Clutha
From: Malcolm Douglas
Date: 26 Jan 00 - 08:32 PM

It's also worth trying Little Pot Stove Records:  they keep a good stock of out-of-print stuff, and I've had several hard-to-get vinyl things from them.  (Including early recordings of Gordeanna McCulloch)  You can get a list by E-mail from: [e-mail] -also worth trying for Nic Jones records.

Malcolm

Subject: RE: Information about The Clutha
From: john c
Date: 27 Jan 00 - 01:16 AM

Thanks very much, Susanne + Malcolm, for your help. J.

Subject: RE: Information about The Clutha
From: Barbara
Date: 27 Jan 00 - 01:32 AM

Susanne, could it be the Belamena that you are looking for? Sort of calipso song about a boat, line in it about "take the boat and paint it black? If so, it's on "Rogues Gallery for 12-String" by Gordon Bok, Folk Legacy.
Blessings,
Barbara

Subject: RE: Information about The Clutha
From: Malcolm Douglas
Date: 27 Jan 00 - 01:52 PM

There's a version of  The Balaena on A.L. Lloyd's Leviathan:  originally 1967, reissued on Topic CD TSCD497.

Malcolm

Subject: RE: Information about The Clutha
From: Susanne (skw)
Date: 27 Jan 00 - 06:03 PM

Thanks, Barbara & Malcolm. But it definitely isn't 'Bally Mena'. I've got that song by Harry Belafonte. The Balaena was a Dundee whaler, and we had a thread recently on a Newfoundland version, The Polina. I have Bert Lloyd's version, I just happen to like The Clutha's better. Seems I'd better get used to the idea they didn't get round to recording it - which makes it even worse that I accidentally deleted my bootleg of their Tonder gig! - Susanne

Subject: RE: Information about The Clutha
From: Big Tim
Date: 26 May 06 - 06:10 AM

The group iself was formed in Glasgow about 1964. Initially, as far as I can remember, it consisted of, alphabetically, Ronnie Alexander (guitar and vocals), John Eaglesham (squeezebox and vocals), Don Martin (guitar and vocals), Erlend Voy (fiddle and vocals). The guys all worked together in the Mitchell Library, Glasgow's central reference library (as I did, 1962-75).                           

Ronnie later left and became a teacher.

Early on, Callum (Calum?) Allen, a fiddler, then a student at Strathclyde University joined. Gordeanna McCulloch joined about the same time.   

The group was very, very "traditional", very, very, very anti "commercial", and they haven't softened that stance much since!
They loved Ewan MacColl in those days.

The group still get together rom time to time. Erlend celebrated his 70th birthday very recently, and is still as handsome as ever (!)

Subject: RE: Information about The Clutha
From:
Date: 26 May 06 - 06:19 AM

Fab band....Gordeanna was a guest at this years Girvan Festival. The Clutha have released new cd which is a cracker but I am having a senior moment and can't remember the name....I'll check the collection when I get home

Subject: RE: Information about The Clutha
From: Maryrrf
Date: 26 May 06 - 08:23 AM

I saw The Clutha in 2003 at the Kilmarnock Folk Festival and they were in fine form. It was great to hear Gordeanna belt out "With Ma Big Kilmarnock Bonnet"!

Subject: RE: Information about The Clutha
From: Big Tim
Date: 27 May 06 - 05:12 AM

"Big Kilmarnock Bunnet", they have indeed softened their stance! That would have been "kailyard" in the old days.

Subject: RE: Information about The Clutha
From: Stewie
Date: 27 May 06 - 05:30 AM

For those interested, the lineup for 'Scotia' Argo ZFB 18 was: John Eaglesham, Erlend Voy, Calum Allan, Ronnie Alexander and Gordeanna McCulloch.

The track listing:

John Maclean march
The border widow's lament
Captain Ward and 'The Reindeer'
Instrumental selection: Bride's march/Foula reel/The merry boys o'Greenland
The Gauger
We're geylie yet
The shearin's no for you
The Magdalene's lament
The Forfar sodger
Tail toddle
Marches: Highland Division at Akarit/The pibroch O'Donal Dubh
John Anderson
Jock Hawk's adventures in Glasgow
Jenny's bawbee
Cauld kail in Aberdeen
Doon in the wee room
The banks o' red roses
Jigs: Bannocks of barley meal/Farewell to the creeks
Harlaw

--Stewie.

Subject: RE: Information about The Clutha
From: GUEST,Tom Johnstone
Date: 13 Feb 11 - 06:49 AM

Hi Folks,
Clutha is still performing [we didn't for a while due various things like minor illnesses]
We have a website at last which is basic but we'll add to it as time goes on.

www.cluthafolkgroup.co.uk

Regards,

Tom Johnstone

Subject: RE: Information about The Clutha
From: GUEST,Erich
Date: 14 Feb 11 - 03:24 AM

Some years ago I got a "new" CD by Clutha. It is called "On the Braes". This Cd came with little info, I think it must be recorded around 2001, it looks like a self-made CDR (no recording company or label nr mentioned). I think I bought it from their own website. Track Listing:

1. The Braes o Bonill
2. The Dun Broon Bride
3. The Forester
4. Lord Ronald
5. The Sodger Maid
6. The Silkie o Sule Skerry
7. The Barrin o the Door
8. The Maid gaed tae the Mill
9. The Parson's Sheep
10. Glesga Jean
11. Ye hae lien wrang Lassie
12. The Deerness Ram
13. The Braes o Strablane
14. Wi ma Big Kilmarnock Bunnit

lineup:

Ronnie Alexander (voc, guit), Erlend Voy (fiddle, conc, voc), Calum Allan (fiddle), Gordeanna McCulloch (voc), Tom Johnstone (small pipes)

Subject: RE: Information about The Clutha
From: GUEST,Edgware
Date: 30 Nov 13 - 05:03 AM

Apologies for what must seem like morbid curiosity, but given the coincidence of the name Clutha I wondered if the group of that name was in any way connected to place where the events of yesterday took place?

Subject: RE: Information about The Clutha
From: Megan L
Date: 30 Nov 13 - 05:38 AM

Edgeware Clutha is the old word for the Clyde Our main river in Glasgow, therefore it is likely the band the boat and the pub that was sadly struck by a falling helicopter last night took their name from the river.

Thankfully many were standing near the right hand door where a live band were performing and were able to escape or be pulled from the scene by passers by who ran towards the crash. Three have been reported dead with the possibility of more bodies to be found in the left hand side of the bar where the collision occurred.

Subject: RE: Information about The Clutha
From: Jack Campin
Date: 30 Nov 13 - 05:49 AM

The pub used to have a lot of folk gigs and sessions - it's just down the road from the Scotia, which still does.

This accident has been waiting to happen for a long time. British cities don't need helicopter snoops putting lives at risk by flying in circles over densely populated areas all day long doing nothing useful. Like the recent London crash, this would have been avoidable if the pilot had stayed above the river.

#Clutha on Twitter is the best source of news on this.

Subject: RE: Information about The Clutha
From: GUEST
Date: 09 Dec 13 - 11:16 AM

Continuing on the Pub, the latest AAIB news is that they're puzzled, there was no mechanical fault with the aircraft and it was fueled. The rotors were not turning, however.
It only had one pilot, however, and the question turns to the possibility of human error. One discussion left open was the exact technique of counter-rotation, and that begins to offer a viewpoint: was the pilot demonstrating counter-rotation but misjudged the 3rd phase, Recovery, because he thought the roof was the ground? The phase is, effectively, a flare-out, translating the vertical drop speed into horizontal then killing that in a flare-out much as any fixed-wing aircraft. It's done just a few feet above the ground, less than roof height. Put a roof there and there's no flare, just a crash.

Subject: RE: Information about The Clutha (Scottish folk group)
From: GUEST,Iain
Date: 03 Oct 14 - 11:20 AM

I thoroughly recommend The Bonnie Mill Dams and indeed all their vinyl stuff. Their albums can be found on ebay and various second hand sites and there are a few links on Youtube. Gordeanna must be one of the best singers Scotland has ever produced (check out Captain Wedderburn on Youtube).

Subject: RE: Information about The Clutha (Scottish folk group)
From: Thomas Stern
Date: 28 Jun 20 - 11:37 PM

recent CD: The Clutha Live from Harvard
1981 recording.

The Clutha - Harvard 1981

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Live-Harvard-Clutha/dp/B07VB9GQ49/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=clutha+harvard&qid=1593401560&s=music&sr=1-1

Thomas.