THE CLUTHA - Live From Harvard
Private Label CLUTHA2019CD
For those of you who were around when The Clutha were at their peak, purchase of this CD is an absolute must. It will bring back the memories of a straightforward, no messing about group who got stuck into their mainly Scottish songs with minimal instrumental introductions, despite the huge musical ability of the various group members. In the early days of folk clubs, instruments were played mainly to accompany the singer. The Clutha had a wealth of superb material, often gleaned from the shelves of The Mitchell Library in Glasgow where Erlend Voy, John Eaglesham and Don Martin worked. Those three, along with Ronnie Alexander, created the group in the mid-1960s. They were later to be joined by Callum Allan and Gordeanna McCulloch.
On this recording you get ample opportunity to hear the incredible voice of Gordeanna, plus a couple of fine pipe-tunes from Tom Johnstone. The rest of the songs are a mix, with either Ronnie or Erlend doing the vocals. The album was recorded ‘live’ at a concert way back in 1981 at Harvard University’s Lowell House, when the group were touring in the States. The resultant tapes had lain ‘lost’ for nearly 40 years until Iain Allan, Callum’s son, got hold of them and decided to create this CD. It is great! It is The Clutha!
For those of you who were not yet around when The Clutha were at their peak, purchase of this CD is an absolute must. It is a perfect opportunity for you to hear just why The Clutha were so popular and so influential on the Scottish folk scene since 1964.
I won’t pick out individual songs because they might be my choice but not yours. Just buy the CD and enjoy it.
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Fraser Bruce
This review appeared in Issue 131 of The Living Tradition magazine