The New Album By Stuart A Jackson

During the Covid lockdown I gave myself the task of writing a Gaelic song. I had tried and failed previously, but this time I persevered. Given the prevalent mood at the time, it is hardly surprising that the song has a very sad theme.

This is the first of three songs, dealing with a story of unrequited love. The singer has been smitten by the grace, compassion, and kindness of the most beautiful fair-haired girl. However, he is already in a relationship, and he fights with the decision to keep his deep love for the girl a secret. Although he is unhappy, he resolves to continue his current commitment and to remain silent about his dilemma. As his health starts to fail, he feels helpless that he cannot care for the one he truly loves, so he asks God to always protect the girl, who has made his whole life worthwhile.

A sailor, far from home is pining for his sweetheart. While others have doubted their love, he has remained faithful and true to his beloved. Although he admits that he is not a wealthy man, he has found true happiness with his darling girl.

When I first came to Skye, the Incredible Fling Band were ever-present at ceilidhs and dances in the area. Some of you may remember their fiddle player, Willie Beaton, singing his iconic interpretation of this song. I have long been enthralled by the lilting melody and romantic lyrics and it was a certainty to be included in this album.

The bard, Hector Mackenzie, was a sailor from Ullapool, Loch Broom. He wrote this song while at sea, professing how much he missed the sweetheart he had left behind. The couple eventually married and hopefully his poetry played a significant part in his successful courtship.

Many moons ago, during my very early student days, I was at one of the regular Saturday night ceilidhs in the Dorchester Hotel, Glasgow. Tom Smith, along with his mother and his sister Christine, were the resident house band. It was during that evening that Tom asked if I would give them a song, and I picked this beautiful melody from their own native island of Mull. That one song changed things from then on……. Tom asked me to become a regular singer at the ceilidhs and I was delighted to be making “a few extra pennies”. To my surprise, I ended up getting other gigs, and that greatly supplemented my student grant with new income. I owe this song a lot, as it helped me to perform and gain confidence singing at ceilidhs, so I’m delighted to include it here in the playlist.

Neil MacLean, from Tobermory, gained the title of the Govan Bard during his stay in Glasgow. Here he has composed one of the most famous Gaelic songs ever written, outlining his own love for his mother, and wishing that he could return home to see her again. It would be very remiss of me not to dedicate this track to mothers everywhere, and specifically to my own dear mother Creina, who has probably played the largest part in my musical journey.

The song is a catchy, toe tapping melody telling us of the bird catching on St Kilda, what uses the birds were put to, and how the young men impressed the girls with their skill and catch.

In 1930, at the islander’s request, St. Kilda was evacuated, and the majority came to settle in Morvern. Mrs. Catherine Gillies came ashore at Lochaline, with her father-in-law Finlay, and her two sons, Donald and Ewen. They settled at Savary, some four miles from the village, and were to remain there all their lives. They were kind and considerate neighbours to our family at Fuinary, with Donald and Ewen regularly offering their help at the busiest times of the farming calendar. We were also lucky to receive regular knitted gifts from Mrs Gillies, who carded, spun and dyed her own wool. Wool that we were only too happy to provide. The song is sincerely dedicated to all the islanders who stepped ashore at Lochaline in August, 1930, and to all their descendants across the globe.

I wrote the tune, Skippy’s Hornpipe, to accompany this song, and it is named after the Ewen Gillies named above. Ewen, or “Skippy” as he was always called, became a close friend of my father and he was a very frequent visitor to Fuinary – Day and Night! He was dearly loved by all our family and his cheery disposition made him a very popular member of the whole community. It brings me great happiness to know that he would be absolutely “over the moon” to have a tune named after him! One for the Skipper!

I am extremely grateful to Calum Ailig Mac a’ mhaoilein and Seonaidh (Na Lochies) Mac a’ mhaoilein, for providing me with the song lyrics.

A love song for a beautiful fair-haired girl who the singer hopes will be his sweetheart. He praises the maiden, acknowledging that whoever wins her hand will indeed be very fortunate.

Mary Flora Macdonald, from the beautiful Isle of Tiree, wrote this very complimentary love song with a lovely flowing melody. I have only previously heard David Solley perform this song, but it really merits more attention from other singers.

This song is probably part of most male Gaelic singers’ repertoires, because of both its bàrdachd, and it’s beautiful melody.

I still have very clear recollections of my in-laws, Jimmy and Mary Nicolson, singing it together at family gatherings. There was such an easy harmony to their voices and a warmth of sentiment that will always remain in the memory. This recording is dedicated to them.

The composer, Donald Alex, was originally from Harris but his family came to live in Skye when he was a boy. After WWII, he had a grocer’s shop in Govan, and that’s where he met Rachel Ross from Marishader, Staffin. They courted for some time, but Rachel eventually moved to Crieff, where she met her future husband, Murdo John MacQueen.

It was only years afterwards that Rachel discovered that Donald Alex had written this song for her.

This is the second in a group of three songs I composed, all linked to the same love story. In this song, the singer is very ill and close to death. He is lamenting his previous decision not to tell the girl that he is in love with her. His greatest fear was that, if he had declared his hand, then she may have rejected him and he would have lost even her friendship, forever. Although he holds her above all others, he is resigned to carry his silence and sorrow, with him to the grave. The tale of this song is the perceived fear of rejection leading to regret and sadness. That emotion is perfectly captured by Archie and Finlay’s stunning arrangement.

The female voice (Riona Whyte) reminds him that true love always has a cost.

A comic anti-authoritarian song written about the two scourges of the singer’s life, The Minister and The Baillie! A great ceilidh favourite and a very popular choice for inclusion here.
Those of you who knew or remember my father, Alasdair, will probably not recall him as a singer! He played the accordion, in the Morvern Ceilidh Band, at most of the local dances in Lochaline, but only sang on very, very rare occasions. Consequently, his performances were usually limited to select company during the aftermath of Strontian or Salen Show, or the Morvern Games. This was the only Gaelic song that he would sing from start to finish and it holds dear memories for all the family.

I’m thrilled to be joined by my talented singing sisters Riona and Mairi, on this recording.

The song captures the beauty and landscape of the Isle of Harris, a place that took my breath away on my first visit to the island. Although almost the entirety of my time there was spent working, I could not help but marvel at its natural beauty. My work, with the then DAFS, took me to the remotest of corners, and even out to Pabbay and some of the other islands. I was very lucky to enjoy the island at my employer’s expense and Harris still holds very happy memories for me.

Willie John MacAuley, on his “Lewis to Lochindaal” album, sang this song with such a deep pride and it attracted me to John Angus’ composition. Originally from Tarbert, Harris, John Angus MacLeod was a much-respected Gaelic bard, and a great advocate for the Gaelic language. I am in awe of Sileas’ and Finlay’s very atmospheric and empathetic arrangement.

Once again, a sailor is missing the loved one he has left behind. He is longing for the girl waiting on the shore and begs the crew to turn the boat around so that he can be with her.

It was Murdo John Mackenzie’s singing of this song that first drew me to it, but I thought then, it was one of those songs that was best left to the dialectic nuances of the Long Island. In the end, I hope that they can forgive my reasoning that it is much too good a song not to share.

Murchadh Iain Geinidh, from Fivepenny, Ness on the Isle of Lewis composed this song of heartbreaking longing, but thankfully gave it a happy ending of love and marriage.

It was a fun filled day at Watercolour when we recorded the Gunna Sound Big Band Experience! I am delighted that Campbell and Johnny agreed to sing on this set, and having the whole band there, will remain a highlight for me during the whole recording process. To take part in something you enjoy is always a pleasure, but to do it with your best friends is very special.

Eilidh (John Bannerman/James Mackenzie) (Taigh na Teud Music)

Sung by Stuart – This is a wee “tip of the hat” to the late Eilidh MacPhail, who along with her husband John, were the hosts at Sonachan Hotel, Kilchoan for many years. Eilidh was dearly loved by the community, in which she grew up, and to me personally, she was always a very supportive and encouraging audience. Eilidh and John became Campbell’s in laws when he married their eldest daughter, Janet in 1987.

Fàgail Bràigh Bhalla (Mackinnon/Macrae) (Taigh na Teud Music)

Sung by Campbell – I’m very grateful that Campbell agreed to exercise his vocal cords and he has chosen a song from his native island. The bàrdachd was by Tiree bard, John Mackinnon (Seònaidh Beag), Vaul, and the catchy melody by John Macrae. The song was made popular by another native of Vaul, Gold Medallist, Mairi MacArthur.

Fionnphort Ferry (Evelyn Sharpe/Harold Boulton)

Sung by Johnny – This song has always been a firm favourite with the band and it’s flowing waltz tempo pulls you into the lyrics. The composers have really painted a beautiful picture for any exile from the island of Iona, or the Ross of Mull. Johnny has tapped into his Mull genes, first learning this song when still only “knee-high to a grasshopper”!

The Bard describes waking early in the morning and climbing to the top of the hill to survey the marvels of Nature that surround him. He reveals that sadly, this will be his last visit as a boat awaits him on the shore. He has come to say farewell to the splendour that has been his home.

Iain MacLachlan was undoubtedly one of the elite bards of his time. Born on the farm at Rathuidhe, (Rahoy), in Morvern, he became a brilliant and popular doctor, covering a vast area that at times encompassed Morvern and parts of Ardnamurchan, Mull, Coll and Tiree. He also gained notoriety as a bit of a womaniser and a drinker, but neither diminished the respect and good standing that he was held in by his parishioners. His bàrdachd was also held in very high esteem among Gaelic scholars and his literary legacy to Morvern is beyond measure.

This sea song describes a stormy crossing of the Sound of Mull, from the sheltered anchorage at Ceann Loch Àlainn (Kinlochaline), on the Morvern side, over to the east side of Mull. The crew brave the wild weather, getting a good soaking for their trouble, and are glad to warm their hands to the fire, once safely across.

This song has served me well over the years and I have used it both as a ceilidh song and for Mod competitions. However, I feel it lends itself to a more freestyle approach rather than the constraints of a set piece.

This is the third song in the love trilogy that I started writing during the Covid lockdown. The previous two songs had quite a sad undercurrent of unrequited love, but this song starts brightly! The singer is full of excitement to see his darling again and finally tells her how he truly feels! He offers his thanks for her kindness, and his praise for her beauty. He has dreamed of their meeting, and says he is forever in her debt, for the compassion and understanding that she has always shown him. However, as the song nears the end, it’s revealed that he has waited for her, “on the other side”. At last, free from his earthly constraints, he can tell her of his love, and they can be together, forever, in Paradise. I wanted this song to have a different “feel” to the other two and I am forever indebted to Alasdair and Ross for this stunningly beautiful arrangement and performance.

Backing Vocals – Creina Jackson, Laura Jackson, Ailsa Jackson, Morvern Jackson, Stuart Malcolm Jackson, Cole Collins, Mairi Jackson, Riona Whyte, Alasdair Mac ‘Illebhàin, Megan Whyte.

I am always slightly embarrassed when I’m asked to explain the reason behind this song-

In April 1981, I had arrived in Thurso to take up a post with The Department of Agriculture and Fisheries for Scotland, as a Livestock Field Officer. Alone one night in my hostel room, I realised that the summer was fast approaching and, far from home, I would miss all the usual Games, Shows and Dances that were part of the summer calendar. A wave of “cianalas” crashed over me and I wrote all the lyrics, to this popular melody, in about twenty minutes! I spent the rest of the night singing these words and feeling very sorry for myself.

Regardless of this, I loved my three years stay in Caithness and have only kind words for the place and its people! It is therefore slightly embarrassing to sing of “this barren land” etc, and I sincerely hope that all my Caithness friends have forgiven me.

The song is now a wee bit of a family anthem and I’m very proud to have them all join me for this track.