CD-Charts Position 1

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Peace and Plenty

by: McCalmans

Release Date May 15, 2006

CD-Charts Position 2
Average Rating:

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Honest Poverty

by: McCalmans

Release Date December 31, 1993
The title track is Rabbie Burns poem set to music and explains the reason for the CD - an unexpected tax demand is reported to have caused the Macs to release this one - and some of the tracks and the sleeve seem to be having a gentle poke at the Inland Revenue.

'Single handed sailor' is a lovely, gentle song and 'Portnahaven' is very pictorial. Ian McCalman's 'War Outside' has some reflective lyrics too, whilst the instrumentals, title track and 'Wha'll be king But Charlie' are boisterous and lively.

However, the reason for the release, if true, does not get in the way of quality in any way. This is a particular favourite for car listening, with some great words and memorable tunes. As a teacher, I particularly ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 3
Average Rating:

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Where the Sky Meets the Sea

by: McCalmans

Release Date May 20, 2002
As a long time fan of the much loved but seldom seen on television Scottish folk trio, The McCalmans have shown they are as vibrant and fresh as ever.

With the sad loss of Derek Moffat, the arrival of Stephen Quigg comes at a price. However with a voice that compares to Nick Keir, The McCalmans have taken on a new and exciting sound that will stand them in good stead for many years to come.

Main highlights include the melancholic "Farm Auction", the reflective "Applecross Bay"; the Scottish desire for the old country in "Highlands Tomorrow" and "Running Home"; not forgetting the comic "Galway to Graceland"

For fans of Scottish music, both traditional and contemporary, The McCalmans provide a very suitable bridge. ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 4
Average Rating:

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Keepers

by: McCalmans

Release Date October 01, 1999
A solid contribution to the McCalmans' enormous recording history. It is not their most consistent or varied CD (I am very much a devotee of "Songs from Scotland" and "Flames on the Water"), but nevertheless there is much to love here, and there are some stand-out tracks, including the lively "The Back of the North Wind" and the moving "Battle of Waterloo". "Nowhere Else to Go" and "Keepers" are not among Nick Keir's best work, but they certainly aren't bad - the man has high standards. "Our Glens" is not beautiful music, but the lyrics are another great example of the Macs' use of rather melancholy hilarity, with an almost Gilbertian lack of shame about comic bad rhyming.

As usual the voices and instrumentation are both wonderful. The ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 5
Average Rating:

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Scots Abroad

by: McCalmans

Release Date May 07, 2007
A solid contribution to the McCalmans' enormous recording history. It is not their most consistent or varied CD (I am very much a devotee of "Songs from Scotland" and "Flames on the Water"), but nevertheless there is much to love here, and there are some stand-out tracks, including the lively "The Back of the North Wind" and the moving "Battle of Waterloo". "Nowhere Else to Go" and "Keepers" are not among Nick Keir's best work, but they certainly aren't bad - the man has high standards. "Our Glens" is not beautiful music, but the lyrics are another great example of the Macs' use of rather melancholy hilarity, with an almost Gilbertian lack of shame about comic bad rhyming.

As usual the voices and instrumentation are both wonderful. The ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 6
Average Rating:

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Songs from Scotland

by: McCalmans

Release Date December 31, 1993
A solid contribution to the McCalmans' enormous recording history. It is not their most consistent or varied CD (I am very much a devotee of "Songs from Scotland" and "Flames on the Water"), but nevertheless there is much to love here, and there are some stand-out tracks, including the lively "The Back of the North Wind" and the moving "Battle of Waterloo". "Nowhere Else to Go" and "Keepers" are not among Nick Keir's best work, but they certainly aren't bad - the man has high standards. "Our Glens" is not beautiful music, but the lyrics are another great example of the Macs' use of rather melancholy hilarity, with an almost Gilbertian lack of shame about comic bad rhyming.

As usual the voices and instrumentation are both wonderful. The ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 7
Average Rating:

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Flames on the Water

by: McCalmans

Release Date December 31, 1993
A solid contribution to the McCalmans' enormous recording history. It is not their most consistent or varied CD (I am very much a devotee of "Songs from Scotland" and "Flames on the Water"), but nevertheless there is much to love here, and there are some stand-out tracks, including the lively "The Back of the North Wind" and the moving "Battle of Waterloo". "Nowhere Else to Go" and "Keepers" are not among Nick Keir's best work, but they certainly aren't bad - the man has high standards. "Our Glens" is not beautiful music, but the lyrics are another great example of the Macs' use of rather melancholy hilarity, with an almost Gilbertian lack of shame about comic bad rhyming.

As usual the voices and instrumentation are both wonderful. The ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 8
Average Rating:

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The Best of the Mccalmans

by: McCalmans

Release Date November 06, 2000
A solid contribution to the McCalmans' enormous recording history. It is not their most consistent or varied CD (I am very much a devotee of "Songs from Scotland" and "Flames on the Water"), but nevertheless there is much to love here, and there are some stand-out tracks, including the lively "The Back of the North Wind" and the moving "Battle of Waterloo". "Nowhere Else to Go" and "Keepers" are not among Nick Keir's best work, but they certainly aren't bad - the man has high standards. "Our Glens" is not beautiful music, but the lyrics are another great example of the Macs' use of rather melancholy hilarity, with an almost Gilbertian lack of shame about comic bad rhyming.

As usual the voices and instrumentation are both wonderful. The ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 9
Average Rating:

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Scottish Songs

by: McCalmans

Release Date July 23, 2007
A solid contribution to the McCalmans' enormous recording history. It is not their most consistent or varied CD (I am very much a devotee of "Songs from Scotland" and "Flames on the Water"), but nevertheless there is much to love here, and there are some stand-out tracks, including the lively "The Back of the North Wind" and the moving "Battle of Waterloo". "Nowhere Else to Go" and "Keepers" are not among Nick Keir's best work, but they certainly aren't bad - the man has high standards. "Our Glens" is not beautiful music, but the lyrics are another great example of the Macs' use of rather melancholy hilarity, with an almost Gilbertian lack of shame about comic bad rhyming.

As usual the voices and instrumentation are both wonderful. The ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 10
Average Rating:

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Honest Poverty [CASSETTE]

by: Mccalmans

Release Date January 02, 1998
The title track is Rabbie Burns poem set to music and explains the reason for the CD - an unexpected tax demand is reported to have caused the Macs to release this one - and some of the tracks and the sleeve seem to be having a gentle poke at the Inland Revenue.

'Single handed sailor' is a lovely, gentle song and 'Portnahaven' is very pictorial. Ian McCalman's 'War Outside' has some reflective lyrics too, whilst the instrumentals, title track and 'Wha'll be king But Charlie' are boisterous and lively.

However, the reason for the release, if true, does not get in the way of quality in any way. This is a particular favourite for car listening, with some great words and memorable tunes. As a teacher, I particularly like 'The ... Read More: