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05 Dec 01 - 09:42 PM (#604656) Subject: Dark Island From: GUEST,irbabey My Mum had a beautiful, haunting version of Dark Island (Last line: "That lovely Dark Island where memories stray"). This was on a 78 rpm record and sung by a lass with a beautiful voice accompanied by the pipes. This recording has to be quite old, so does anyone have any thoughts of who could have sung this years ago? Search for "dark island" threads |
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05 Dec 01 - 09:56 PM (#604666) Subject: RE: Dark Island From: Amos Couldn't have been Caroline Paton, could it? Maybe not that far back. The "current version" of the trad Hebrides song can be found here as Caroline and Sandy did it but I susp[ect there is a more ancient version with different words out there somewhere. A |
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05 Dec 01 - 10:01 PM (#604669) Subject: RE: Dark Island From: Sorcha It was written by Iain McLachlan, (1927-1995) so the dates ought to narrow the search some. (anyway, that is what GoogleGod said.....) |
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05 Dec 01 - 10:19 PM (#604674) Subject: RE: Dark Island From: Dicho (Frank Staplin) Melody written by Iain McLaclan "for BBC thriller" in 1963 (not trad.) The Caroline Paton version follows the words in the DT but in different order. Found midi on www.cromarty.freeserve.co.uk/dark_1.wav I have visited the Dark Isle of Cromarty and the weather was beautiful, but I understand it can be bad for long stretches. Now- Some sites refer to a trad. Hebridean melody, which may have nothing to do with the McLachlain melody, or he may have revised it. |
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05 Dec 01 - 10:20 PM (#604675) Subject: RE: Dark Island From: George Seto - af221@chebucto.ns.ca The Dark Island song isn't old enough to have been on a '78. It's only around 40 years old. The song we traditionally know is from about 65. There are several threads about the song in the Forum, as well as a couple of versions in the DT database. |
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05 Dec 01 - 10:30 PM (#604680) Subject: RE: Dark Island From: George Seto - af221@chebucto.ns.ca Dark Island #1
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05 Dec 01 - 11:01 PM (#604703) Subject: RE: Dark Island From: Jeri The lyrics irbabey refers to were written by Stewart Ross in 1963. They were posted by Mr Ross's son, in the last thread George linked to above - "Dark Island - New Information." When did they stop making 78's? I swear my mom was still buying them in '63. In any case, irbabey heard someone sing it. Mr Ross's son ("GUEST,rossey" in that thread) said that over 40 recordings had been made of his father's lyrics to the MacLachlan tune, written in 1958, and originally titled "'Dr. Mackay's Farewell to Creagorry." |
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06 Dec 01 - 07:34 PM (#605303) Subject: RE: Dark Island From: Bernard Dicho - that isn't a MIDI on my website, it's a recording of me playing it (that's why it's a .WAV file)! It's also the reason why Alan Ross posted to Mudcat - after contacting me by email. My full name is Bernard Cromarty, BTW... 78's definitely carried on into the early '60's, but it's unlikely that Dark Island was released on one...
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06 Dec 01 - 07:47 PM (#605309) Subject: RE: Dark Island From: GUEST,former scot always thought Benbecula was the dark island. |
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07 Dec 01 - 12:04 AM (#605470) Subject: RE: Dark Island From: George Seto - af221@chebucto.ns.ca IT was. Check out my page: |
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07 Dec 01 - 12:40 PM (#605784) Subject: RE: Dark Island From: Dicho (Frank Staplin) Bernard, that's the ultimate insult to confuse your playing with a midi. Please forgive. I saw that little gray bar on a white background and immediately thought midi. I was tootling through google, and didn't give it a listen until today. Google went directly to the Dark Island page, so I didn't see your home page. The location on my server said www.cromarty... so I said ha! the dark isle of Cromarty, as I was told it was called. Of course, I knew about Dark Island beer. Again, please forgive. |
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16 Jul 03 - 08:41 AM (#984371) Subject: RE: Dark Island From: GUEST In reply to all this old correspondence, I have just newly discovered that the version of the Dark Island which the writer is referring to was indeed written by Stewart Ross in 1963. Calum Kennedy recorded it on an LP and single in 1967. The female version was recorded by his 15-year-old daughter Fiona Kennedy in 1969 and issued on vinyl LPs as well as being used in a TV series (Round at Calum's) and theatre performance. This is the lovely voiced singer the writer is referring to. Otherwise memories are becoming fuddled. It has never in UK terms been on 78's as it was only written in 1963, and taken up by the Kennedy family. The first recording was made in 1965 by a singer called Argo Cameron. After this a dispute over the origin of the tune caused both versions to get mixed up. Sheet music with the words properly credited to Ross was first issued in 1963. Alasdair Gillies, Fiona Kennedy's uncle through marriage recorded both the Ross lyrics "In the years long gone by..." after first recording the David Silver lyrics "Away to the west...". |
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16 Jul 03 - 01:51 PM (#984560) Subject: RE: Dark Island From: Leadfingers The Hell with the song I will stick to the beer IF I can gt hold of it Hebridean Breweries - a VERY dark bitter beer and well worth trying if you can find a Hostelry that stocks it. |
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16 Jul 03 - 04:15 PM (#984658) Subject: RE: Dark Island From: Big Tim One of the lovliest melodies that I have ever heard. |
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16 Jul 03 - 05:43 PM (#984702) Subject: RE: Dark Island From: Strupag Dorcha, Cromarty (the place)is on the Black Isle which is not an island. Confusing eh! |
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12 Dec 06 - 06:03 PM (#1907824) Subject: RE: Dark Island From: GUEST,Homesick scot any one figured out chords? |
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12 Dec 06 - 11:58 PM (#1908070) Subject: RE: Dark Island From: Big Mick This is how I do it. ADm way to theAmwestward I'm Flonging to C be, Cwhere the beauties of Amheaven unCfold by the Gsea (hammer on) GWhere the Dmsweet purpleAm heather blooms Ffragrant and Cfree, on a hillside high aG7bove the Dark CIsland CHORUS: C Oh, isle of my childhood, FI'm dreaming of C thee, as the steamer leaves AmOban,andCpasses TirGee GSoon I'll Dmcapture theAmmagic that Flingers for C me, when I'm back once more upG7 on the Dark C IsFlaCnd. |
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13 Dec 06 - 06:31 AM (#1908251) Subject: RE: Dark Island From: GUEST,Brian Peters About fifteen years ago I had the pleasure of hearing Ian McLachlan playing his accordion in the lounge of the Castlebay Hotel, Isle of Barra (next-but-one island down from his native Benbecula). He had an eclectic repertoire including a stirring version of "Ghost Riders in the Sky", and played "Dark Island" several times in response to proferred fivers. He was very gracious in encouraging me to play a couple of tunes on my concertina, as well. |
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13 Dec 06 - 06:56 AM (#1908263) Subject: RE: Dark Island From: The Sandman its on my next recording. |
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13 Dec 06 - 08:32 AM (#1908328) Subject: RE: Dark Island From: kendall I always thought the lyrics were somewhat Chamber of Commerce, but Caroline Paton makes it a real jewel with that Nightingale voice of hers. |
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13 Dec 06 - 04:17 PM (#1908721) Subject: RE: Dark Island From: Rowan I knew nothing about its origin in '75, having only ever heard it as an instrumental and only once or twice at that, it was the second or third tune I learned to play on the Anglo. I thank you all for the info above. Cheers Rowan |
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13 Dec 06 - 04:35 PM (#1908734) Subject: RE: Dark Island From: Pistachio Hi, my sister sent me the words she uses for the version Big Mick offered : The Dark Island. Away to the Westward I'm longing to be Where the beauties of heaven unfold by the sea Where the sweet purple heather runs fragrant and free On a hill top high above the Dark Island. Chorus: Oh Isle of my childhood I'm dreaming of thee As the steamer leaves Oban and passes Tiree Soon I'll capture the magic that lingers for me When I'm back once more upon the Dark Island Chorus So gentle the sea breeze that ripples the bay Where the stream joins the ocean, and young children play On the strand of pure silver, I'll welcome each day And I'll roam forever more the Dark Island Chorus True gem of the Hebrides bathed in the light Of the midsummer dawning that follows the night How I yearn for the cries of the seagulls in flight As they circle high above the dark island Chorus When I'm back once more upon the Dark Island. x x x x x x x (and this is the song that I have always sung - which I suspect is nearer to the 'last line' requested by GUEST irbabey back in 2001!) The Dark Island - Variation In the years long gone by when I first left my home I was young and I wanted the wide world to roam But now I am older and wiser you'll see That lovely Dark Island is calling to me Tho' I've wandered away from the land of my birth And been roamin' around to the ends of the earth Still my heart is at home in that land far away That lovely Dark Island where memories stray One day I'll return to that far distant shore And from that dear island I'll wander no more 'til the day that I die I will no longer roam That lovely Dark Island will be my last home. I don't know how I'd get the tune to you but I'll try if 'you' need/want me to. Hazel (nee McGregor) |
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13 Dec 06 - 04:40 PM (#1908741) Subject: RE: Dark Island From: Big Mick Birdseye, its been on many people's versions. I am with Kendall. Caroline Paton is the Gold Standard on this one. Mick |
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13 Dec 06 - 05:23 PM (#1908775) Subject: RE: Dark Island From: Cluin My band, Blarney, recorded it a few years ago. This is the chording we used.
There are a few bass runs on the in there in spots too on the C chord mainly and some Dsus4 hammer-ons. An oft-requested perennial favourite of ours. |
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13 Dec 06 - 08:20 PM (#1908960) Subject: RE: Dark Island From: Effsee Can we get one thing straight, teh "dark island" has nothing to do with the "Black Isle". |
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13 Dec 06 - 09:09 PM (#1908980) Subject: RE: Dark Island From: Barry T Here's a question about the melody I hope someone can answer... In the most popular pipe setting of the tune, the melody for the notes underlined below goes down to the first note of the scale... the same note that starts the first and third lines. Most accordion and fiddle players I've heard play the second note of the scale at those points. Away to the Westward I'm longing to be Where the beauties of heaven unfold by the sea Where the sweet purple heather runs fragrant and free On a hill top high above the Dark Island. Which is the original melody, as created by McLachlan? I personally play the accordion/fiddle version even on the pipes. Don't ask me why. It just sounds better! - - - - - |
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13 Dec 06 - 09:22 PM (#1908984) Subject: RE: Dark Island From: Barry T I know somebody's going to get me on my inaccurate reference to 'scale' above, so let me re-phrase: accordion and fiddle players play those notes a step higher than do pipers! ;-) |
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13 Dec 06 - 09:52 PM (#1909003) Subject: RE: Dark Island From: George Seto - af221@chebucto.ns.ca Thanks Hazel. IF you look at the other threads both versions are here. The first one you have there was written by David Silver. The second version is one that was written by Stewart Ross. We also have another song which uses the same tune from Carl PEterson. The DT used to have a set of lyrics from Alan Bell which was removed due to copyright restrictions. I used to have a copy of those lyrics but have since mislaid them. The tune is online and available at different places. This includes JC's ABC TuneFinder. They have it in MIDI, ABC and GIF formats. |
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14 Dec 06 - 06:12 PM (#1909753) Subject: RE: Dark Island From: Pistachio Thanks George - I'm not familiar with all the info that appeared and as my company business is on this slow old machine I don't like to overload it at this time. But I will have a go once I know I've more time and space to play with. I do not read music - I can follow at a snails pace.... excuses..endless excuses... I'm sure it's as recorded by Alasdair Gillies, it runs steadily up the keyboard with almost a word for each note/note for each word. I believe it then turns to a different tune, my mind always wants me to 'continue', something I can 'hear in my head' played on pipes...but my young brain hasn't opened the right file even now. Bother. What kind people. I love the way the 'cat' is so helpful and considerate. I can, and have, sat for hours getting lost in some threads - there's soooo much interesting stuff on here.. and no loud arguments about whose turn it is next to clear up ( ! ) how madly domestic is that? Must be past my bedtime. G'night all. H |
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15 Dec 06 - 12:38 AM (#1909978) Subject: RE: Dark Island From: George Seto - af221@chebucto.ns.ca YEs, you can get lost in the massive amount of information in the threads of the Mudcat. I've spent the last week going through the first 500 messages and was able to clear a dozen or so unsolved questions. There are still lots more in that region, as well there are literally thousands of Unanswered Requests still begging... If you get a chance to help, check them out. |
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15 Dec 06 - 05:40 AM (#1910070) Subject: RE: Dark Island From: GUEST,Julia in Northumberland Anyone know who to apply to for copyright permission to publish the tune (not the words)? Thanks for any info.... |
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17 Dec 06 - 04:56 PM (#1912074) Subject: RE: Dark Island From: George Seto - af221@chebucto.ns.ca Iain MacLachlan I believe would be who you'd ask since he wrote the tune in the 1950s. Read the threads for more details |
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01 Feb 14 - 06:06 AM (#3597237) Subject: RE: Dark Island From: GUEST,jim bainbridge Came across this today- would think the best man to ask about details would be Pete Shepheard, who recorded Ian McLachlan playing it his way. You'll find it on a Springthyme cassette recorded at Kinross Festival about 1976. It may be on CD by now- ask Pete. Don't think Ian ever claimed it as his own composition, tunes run in the blood up there. I do recall that he played a big accordion most of the time that weekend, but Pete was keen to record him playing the melodeon. So at one stage, Ian borrowed my DG melodeon in a session & Vic Smith said my chin was nearly on the floor in amazement when I heard what he could do with it & Pete was determined to record him playing it. So Ian borrowed my old Hohner so if you want to hear what he did, some of it's on the recording, one of the best collections ever of such 'Island Music' (the title, I think). I do recall asking Ian why he was leaving so early on the Sunday (just after the recording session) not realising the complications of a trip to Benbecula, where he lived and worked. |
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01 Feb 14 - 10:47 AM (#3597299) Subject: RE: Dark Island From: GUEST Saw it on the white heather scottish dance club in the sixties. Similarly, the tune Inis Oirr or Inisheer is only recent 1940s, where many players believe it to be traditional and hundreds of years old. I suspect the author may well have lost out on many royalties becaus of that!! |
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02 Feb 14 - 09:31 AM (#3597575) Subject: RE: Dark Island From: kendall I love this melody. Dm to Em is interesting . |
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02 Feb 14 - 12:48 PM (#3597612) Subject: RE: Dark Island From: Vic Smith I was going to tell the Ian MacLachlan/Jim Bainbridge story but Jim has beaten me to it. I do remember the incident very well and Jim's reaction to Ian playing his G/D box. When the amazed Mr. Bainbridge eventually recovered his power of speech, he said that he had no idea that fast reels could be played on the instrument. It was not long before Jim was playing them himself. I think that this happened on a late session of the festival (the Saturday?). Ian Maclaclan had been playing the piano accordion all weekend and I don't think that he actually owned a melodeon at that time. He certainly found his way around Jim's box and to my ears that was the more exciting of the two. |
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02 Feb 14 - 12:49 PM (#3597613) Subject: RE: Dark Island From: GUEST,it'smagic Just by the way, North Sea Gas has a very nice version of this. |
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02 Feb 14 - 02:57 PM (#3597648) Subject: RE: Dark Island From: PHJim Here's a thread on The Dark Island on The Session site. The Session on The Dark Island |
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02 Feb 14 - 03:00 PM (#3597649) Subject: RE: Dark Island From: Brian Peters I met Ian MacLachan during an evening at a hotel on (I think) South Uist, where he was providing entertainment. He played 'Dark Island' at least three times on the big accordion at the request of punters, who would slip him a fiver. The second most popular request (which he made a very good job of) was 'Ghost Riders in the Sky'. I had my concertina with me, but sadly he didn't pick it up and do something dazzling. Re the copyright, I know someone in the US tried to publish my concertina arrangement, and got so bogged down in competing claims that he gave up. |
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02 Feb 14 - 03:03 PM (#3597651) Subject: RE: Dark Island From: Brian Peters Bloody hell, I'd already said most of that seven years ago. Memory's going... [note to self] Read the whole thread next time! |
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02 Feb 14 - 06:25 PM (#3597696) Subject: RE: Dark Island From: Steve Shaw It makes a lovely tune in its own right without the words. I was amazed to find that it was such a recent composition. At one time we played it in a set of two waltzes, the first of which was Margaret's Waltz. Give 'em a whirl, but keep that nice, light waltzy bounce, as Dark Island can end up a bit heavy otherwise! Think of that set as a valuable Burns Night special! |
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02 Feb 14 - 07:33 PM (#3597716) Subject: RE: Dark Island From: PHJim It used to be used (perhaps still is) as a pipe tune, in Owen Sound, to close their Summerfolk Festival. |
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03 Feb 14 - 11:00 AM (#3597869) Subject: RE: Dark Island From: GUEST,leeneia Here's a nice site that plays the song and gives info on 'The Dark Island.' http://www.wtv-zone.com/phyrst/audio/nfld/11/darkisland.htm It also has gif's and MIDI's of the music. Very nice! |
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04 Feb 14 - 05:32 AM (#3598129) Subject: RE: Dark Island From: GUEST refresh |
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06 Feb 14 - 04:23 PM (#3598942) Subject: RE: Dark Island From: GUEST,Vin2 Hey Leeneia just visited the site you posted - lovely rendition Ryans' Fancy. I went into the utube site and found another version sung by Canadian singe Jessie Fergusson from Cornwall, Ontario, Canada. Thanks for that ! http://youtu.be/hQPXcZay-NY The other Dark Island is of course the song penned by Alan Bell to the same tune and I must add often sung by the great Mike Canavan sadly no longer with us and sorely missed. |
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07 Feb 14 - 06:28 AM (#3599071) Subject: RE: Dark Island From: GUEST,jim bainbridge I recall the BBC TV series starring Robert Hardy, which was broadcast about 5pm in the BBC's then 'childrens' slot- it was a thriller, and starred Robert Hardy, who went on to greater things. I'd guess that it was broadcast in the early 60s- the BBC say that they do not have the series, although the later (1969) radio version is available online. Haven't looked, but maybe the tune in question was used there as well. As I said earlier, Ian McLachlan never claimed to have written it, but renamed it for the TV series from an earlier tune 'Dr Mackay's Farewell to Creagory'. The origin of THAT is another subject & I never heard any words until recently. I agree that it's a wonderful tune, very tolerant of being played at various speeds and rhythms. It is justifiably popular among accordionists in Scotland and Northern England, but is not improved by some of the ghastly improvisations inflicted upon it, mainly in competition situations in those areas in the name of originality and virtuosity. It's great tune, and like all great tunes, IMO is best kept in its original relatively simple form, unless you know what you are doing. |
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07 Feb 14 - 04:11 PM (#3599294) Subject: RE: Dark Island From: Irene M I recall the radio series from my childhood; and the tune being used for it. Dammned if I can recall the name of the playwright though. Double barrelled name. |