Who is Isla St Clair ?

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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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 - 06:43 AM

Yes - she's worth hearing.

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,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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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