An Introduction To Dick Gaughan
Topic Records – 29 June 2018
Singer, guitarist, songwriter, composer and record producer, Dick Gaughan has been an ever-present on the folk music scene from the late 1960’s until ill health forced him to suspend taking bookings a couple of years ago. During that time he has made 15 solo albums, 6 albums with bands such as the Boys of the Lough (he was a founder member and appeared on the band’s first album) and 5 Hand Reel and contributed to over a dozen other albums. Of this extensive recording career, four solo albums appeared on the Topic label and it is from these that this collection of 14 tracks has been culled.
Dick grew up surrounded by music. Having learnt to play the guitar at a young age, it was perhaps no surprise that he became a professional musician in 1970 but it was his upbringing in poverty that, along with his nationality, did much to shape his repertoire which includes songs that celebrate both his working-class and Scottish roots. This is evidenced in the opening track on this album Both Sides of the Tweed, his re-working of a traditional song that tells of the shenanigans surrounding the Act of Union 1707 which linked England and Scotland although Dick’s reworking is perhaps a little more conciliatory. This is immediately followed by a powerful rendition of The Pound A Week Rise, Edward Pickford’s tale of how the British coal miners were ‘tricked’ out of a promised pay rise in return for increased productivity – they delivered but Lord Robens, then chair of The National Coal Board, didn’t! Dick returns to Edward Pickford’s songbook with his version of The Worker’s Song, a reminder that, as far as the workers are concerned, “he’s always the last when the cream is shared out, for the worker is working when the fat cat’s about”. The nimbleness of the guitar intro is a delight.
There are three tracks from the instrumental album Coppers and Brass, the first album that Dick recorded for Topic, which reminds us what an extremely capable guitarist he was. Even today, it is fairly unusual to hear guitarists tackling traditional tunes with the skill and sensitivity that Dick brought to his playing: his playing of Planxty Johnson is a delight. Likewise, his accompaniment to his singing is always neat and appropriate to complement the story of the song such as on his rendition of Mike and Lal Waterson ’s where his playing teases out the rather melancholic nature of the song.
As the sleeve notes point out, Dick Gaughan was described by John Peel – who was not averse to playing folk tracks in amongst his wonderfully eclectic record ramblings – as, “one of the five or six great voices of our time” and it is hard to disagree with his assessment. Dick never disguised his Scottish accent and whilst some may find it impenetrable at times, it has at turns both a directness – as on Leon Rosselson’s World Turned Upside Down – or a gentleness – listen to his rendition of The Snows They Melt The Soonest – which brings immense variety to his performance.
In 2010, Dick received a Lifetime Achievement Award at the BBC’s annual folk awards and whilst we may never see or hear Dick Gaughan perform live again, this compilation CD is ample evidence, if evidence were needed, of what a terrific artist he is.
Out Now on Topic Records – Order it here