Dick Gaughan – The Harvard Tapes
Greentrax Records – 2 August 2019
As we reported on Folk Radio last week Greentrax Records are about to release on CD of a recently discovered vintage Dick Gaughan performance, recorded in 1982 at The Old Cambridge Baptist Church, near the Harvard University Campus in Cambridge, Massachusetts. The Harvard Tapes features some of Dick’s best-known songs, an instrumental treat, and a handful of bonus tracks from more recent performances.
The album perfectly reflects the eclecticism of Dick’s repertoire, and his mesmerising live performances – the virtuoso guitar playing, the informative, often comical, asides during the seemingly absent-minded tuning, and his habit of never playing to a setlist. The simple combination of voice and acoustic guitar has always been the best way to enjoy his music, and this is exemplified by the typically commanding rendition of Erin-go-brah that opens the CD, immediately placing the listener directly in the auditorium. As ever, his passion for traditional Scots song is manifest, the result of a lifetime steeped in traditional music, and throughout the set Dick calls upon the Scottish and Irish traditions, with the social commentary of Erin-go-brah going hand in hand with the balladry of Glenlogie (Bonnie Jeannie O’ Bethelnie) and, of course, with Robert Burns’ eternally beautiful Westlin Winds. Described by Dick as the perfect song, Westlin Winds celebrates the seasons, nature and love; and never fails to elicit a number of tear-filled eyes. Often contemporary song can wield similar power, and his performance of Phil Colclough’s Song for Ireland is equally emotive,
Unfortunately, in 2016 an MRI scan confirmed Dick had suffered a stroke, and since then has had to forego live performance as part of a lengthy recovery. To help provide support through this difficult time, the recordings for this CD were provided free of any charge or royalty, while production costs have been met by Ian Green and Ian McCalman. Given the huge respect Dick Gaughan has earned among the community of folk fans and performers, The Harvard Tapes will play an important role in supporting him during his recovery.
Dick Gaughan first took to the guitar at the age of seven and has been a professional musician and singer since 1970, releasing his first solo album, No More Forever, in 1972. In addition to being an early member of Boys of the Lough, he also founded, and recorded three albums with, Five Hand Reel and formed, with a host of great Scottish musicians Clan Alba in the early 1990’s. It’s his 1981 album, Handful of Earth (recently re-issued on Topic Records), for which he’s best known. Widely recognised as one of the greatest folk albums ever made, and was chosen by a critics’ poll in fRoots as the ‘Best Album of the 1980s’.
Gaughan once said at a gig that, when he was younger, he wanted to be the fastest guitar player that ever lived. He has also said, though, that fancy fretwork (of which he is an undeniable master) is a means to an end. Thankfully there are times, like the blissful entirety of his instrumental album Coppers & Brass, where the end is pure music, represented on this album by a set of three tremendously popular reels, not available, as far as I’m aware, on any other recording. The Gooseberry Bush offers a light and peppery opening, The Chicago Reel employs a touch more thunder and Jenny’s Welcome to Charlie brings the set to an immaculate conclusion.
Political song, of course, is just as important as traditional in Dick’s music and is well represented on The Harvard Tapes. Tommy Sands’ Your Daughters and Your Sons sees hope for freedom, justice and equality in how we teach our children, while John Brown’s Upon The Road is another song that Gaughan clearly loves, and loves to share. It’s a song for peace – but whether a love song or a lament can very much depend on your mood. Either way, it’s always a fine performance, and this recording is no exception.
The Harvard Tapes also includes a typically passionate rendition of Leon Russelson’s anthem to land rights and radicalism, The World Turned Upside Down, quite possibly the most requested song at a Dick Gaughan gig. This is immediately followed by one of the finest ever renditions of Ed Pickford’s The Worker’s Song. The live set closes with Hamish Henderson’s call for internationalism, The Freedom Come All Ye. Dicks fervent rendition of the finest contemporary song in the Scots tongue (it can’t be only me who thinks that) is augmented by the sublime charms of the late Johnny Cunningham’s fiddle, making this particular rarity one to cherish. It’s thought to be the only time the two performed on stage together.
The Harvard set being a smidgen short of what’s considered a full album, Greentrax have thoughtfully provided a trio of very well-chosen bonus tracks. Gaughan is typically irascible in his own song Lemmings, and there’s another fine instrumental in the shape of the beautiful 18th-century slow air Sliabh na mBan. Dominic Behan’s Connolly Was There emerges from the Greentrax archives to close the album.
Dick Gaughan is a man of many talents – guitarist, singer, songwriter, musical director, producer and sound engineer. He’s also something of a computer whizz-kid, and has been building web sites since before most of us were even aware there was such a thing. His greatest talent, though, has to be his ability to share his music with skill, passion and humour. That fact is abundantly clear on The Harvard Tapes, a unique and unmissable opportunity to relish a vintage Dick Gaughan performance.
The “Harvard” Tapes – Definitive Gaughan Concert From 1982 is released on August 2nd via Greentrax.