Live from the Ends of the Earth [Live, Import]

Fan favorites like "Caledonia" and "Ready for the Storm" are included. Dougie's more recent material fills most of the rest of the disc. To top it off, he throws in a rendition of Robert Burn's "Green Grow the Rashes."

I love the spare feeling that a lot of these songs acquire in their live settings. In particular, "She Will Find Me" and "Rite of Passage" gain a certain greatness that their studio versions only hinted at.

Possibly the most moving song (for me at least) is "This Love Will Carry." It speaks of love lifting us through the hard times. Dougie played this song at a memorial following the Pan Am air disaster over Locherbie Scotland. Still, to my mind, it is so much more than just a song for times of tragedy. It is a song that speaks to the daily struggles of everyday life.

As with all of Dougie's music, I cannot find words to praise "Live: From the Ends of the Earth" highly enough. I suggest that you get this disc. It is more than worth it.

Also an acoustic guitarist, Dougies folksy sound and infectious melodies will have you singing along in no time. His emotionally intimate lyrics speak clearly to the heart and his warm entertaining voice will have you wanting to call him friend. All his songs will teach you something new about life on this lovely spinning planet or remind you of something that you have sadly forgotten.

Live From the Ends of the Earth is a collection of some of this masterful performers best songs. The live album, containing portions of concerts from Dougies homeland of Scotland as well as Australia, features his often-hilarious anecdotes on life, musings on topics from mountain climbing to a night in the pub or a walk with his father. These sometimes inspirational, sometimes funny stories you will remember and tell your friends.

This CD is good company and you will find it one in demand by friends for borrowing. Mellow enough to relax to, and lively enough to travel with; were it not for the avid applause at the end of each song, it would be a perfect album for every occasion.

His Scythe Song features splendid allegorical lyrics about those things that you can't be taught, that you just somehow magically pick up along the way..."you've got to hold it right... feel the distance to the ground...".

Green Grow the Rashes, as you may have presumed, is based off of lyrics from the old Celtic poet, Robert Byron.

His best song is "Ready For The Storm", which has also been sung by Rich Mullins, and experiences quite a bit of popularity on Celtic public radio programs. It has an intricate guitar melody, with a passionate, driving feel.

After the 9/11 incident, it was "This Love Will Carry", that Dougie dedicated to the American people. "You look down at your blistered hands as turns another year but this love will carry...though by storms we're weakened and uncertainty is sure; like the coming of the dawn it's ours forever more- this love- and this love will carry...".

As with most live albums, the CD mastering was clearly a challenge. The audience accompanies Dougie, at his request, on many songs but they have a uniquely excellent blend- what is it about Dougie, that his audience actually has a good ear and can sing?

Hopefully, you'll be able to truly hear him `live' on his American tour taking place in the next few months- but don't forget to pick up this CD first so you can sing along! It will quickly become a favorite.