Most Helpful Customer Reviews
|
|
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Decent start to the collection, possibly, 27 Mar 2003
If you want to get interested in Scottish music, but do not know where to start, then this may well be ideal for you. The big names, such as Texas, Simple Minds and Del Amitri are there as well as classic artists: most of the Eighties crowd, when Scottish music burst into market dominance and some of the cult heroes from the Seventies. All genres are covered and the amount of artists on board require this release to be a double CD. To be honest, a triple CD would also be good and would cover all bases.
While it is a good start to the collection, it is a bit of a let down. All of the following - Travis, Belle & Sebastian, Wet Wet Wet, Love and Money, The Sweet, The Waterboys, Teenage Fanclub, Goodbye Mr MacKenzie, Shirley Manson, Orange Juice, Bay City Rollers, Jack Bruce, Maggie Bell, Bronski Beat, Annie Lennox, The Big Dish, - have been overlooked. To be honest, the Sweet have been on countless glam rock compilations as have the Rollers but it is still music with strong associations with Scotland. The argument of only "one Scottish band member so no admittance" is also not really applicable as "Kayleigh" by Marillion makes an appearence (personally, something from Fish's first solo effort would have been better). The mid-90s release "Pride: The Very Best of Scotland" included some of the omitted and particularly bands with one Scottish band member: Ultravox's masterpiece of "Vienna" makes it onto "Pride" while the weaker "If I Was" is the sole representation of Midge Ure's work on the new collection (what about Slik???). Why the Proclaimers get two songs on this is beyond me.
To the already established listeners of Scottish Pop, this will be quite a nice addition to your collection, particularly those who like the early years:. Frankie Miller and his bluesy growl, Alex Harvey's madcap antics, the raucous Fifers Nazareth, all of Gerry Rafferty's music schemes (including The Humblebums, the folk group set up with Billy Connolly) and the quite ridiculous, though not musically, Rezillos. Even the traditional aspect of Scotland can be found as the Silencers, Runrig and The Munros pay tribute to their roots in a most fitting way - Runrig particularly as "Loch Lomond" has become an anthem. As for the heavy Eighties content - though not heavy enough - those artists that do appear sing their best known work (Dignity by Deacon Blue, Happy Birthday by Altered Images, and the unforgettable vocal capacity of Billy MacKenzie's Associates shown in Party Fears Two, to name but a few names).
Basically, you shouldn't let this one pass you by. "Pride" has been deleted so it's difficult to get a copy so this CD will launch you into the world of Scottish Pop. You can then choose which direction to go in, or stick to this CD. You won't be let down - unless you are really picky, then you will be.
|
|
|
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Excellent Album, 6 Jun 2003
This is, all in all, an excellent compilation of songs. Thankfully, Rod Stewart wasn't included - he has been on other Scottish albums, yet he is NOT Scottish.Two songs from the Proclaimers was a mistake, IMHO. Annie Lennox/Eurythmics would have been a better choice instead of the second Proclaimers track. Or even Sheena Easton.
|
|
|
|
~ Various Artists
See all 21 tracks on this disc
![Mamma Mia! [DVD] [2008]](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51JKaVKdu7L._SL75_SS50_.jpg)
With an Amazon.co.uk Gift Certificate, you can get them what they want (even if you don't know what that is). 
Make sure you always get what you want with an Amazon.co.uk 
Amazon Home