Jim Malcolm - great Scottish folk singer

[Taras Bulba]

Jim Malcolm is my personal favorite Celtic folk singer! I very much like both his solo music and the work he's done with Old Blind Dogs.



http://www.jimmalcolm.com/html/main_biog.htm

"Malcolm has one of those pure, warm folk voices (two parts Archie Fisher,one part Dick Gaughan) that one never tires of listening to."-- Dirty Linen

"One of the finest singing voices in Scotland in any style." -- The Living Tradition


Jim Malcolm was brought up in Perthshire and Angus and was introduced to the traditional music of Scotland at an early age by his mother Helen, who is active in the Traditional Music and Song Association of Scotland. He learned to play guitar while at school and by his early twenties was winning songwriting competitions and playing in folk clubs all over Scotland.

His career began to take off when he hosted the open stage at Edinburgh Folk Festival, and through his own playing there secured a contract with Greentrax for his first solo album, Sconeward. Acclaimed by critics and chosen as one of the year's best by Radio Scotland's folk programmes Travelling Folk and Celtic Connections, the album brought in bookings at folk clubs and festivals in Britain and abroad, and established Jim as one of the leading songwriters in the traditional idiom in Scotland. He was dubbed: "The new male voice of Scotland."

Songs from Sconeward have been recorded and are regularly performed by international acts such as The McCalmans and The Poozies, and Jim was asked to give songwriting and song accompaniment masterclasses at many festivals, including Scotland's foremost festival, Celtic Connections in Glasgow. Next up was Rohallion, a collection of Jim's new songs recorded with gifted pianist and fiddler Dave Watt and percussionist Iain MacFadyen. "An intoxicating display of lyrical and musical genius" was how Rock On Reel described the CD, from which Jim's song Battle of Waterloo, to the pipe tune of the same name, was an instant hit.

Rohallion consolidated Jim's reputation as one of Scotland's most exciting young folk acts, and brought repeated requests for television and radio appearances. STV recently broadcast a documentary on Jim and Angus singer Jim Reid for its Artery series, and their singing was featured in the "best of" programme which rounded off the series. He also sang in the Northern Nights series on Grampian TV and STV.

In January 1999 Jim joined one of Scotland's most popular international folk acts, the Old Blind Dogs from north east Scotland, and has since worked with them all over the UK, in France, Spain, Italy, Denmark, Germany, USA, Canada and Bulgaria. His song Battle of Waterloo was recorded on their sixth album, The World's Room. In 2000 Jim released his third solo CD, Resonance, on Beltane Records. It features a collection of his favourite traditional songs alongside four of his own new compositions and some contemporary classics. Lochanside, his composition written to the popular pipe tune, is already being picked up by other professional acts.

To date career highlights also include solo tours in USA, Germany, Canada, Denmark, Ireland and England, solo studio spots on Travelling Folk, an appearance on STV's Hogmanay show and a tour in Uganda. His song Neptune featured on an award-winning documentary about a North Sea oil spill.

He was one of twelve leading Scottish singers who performed Andy Thorburn's epic work Tuath gu Deas, and has featured on volumes four, five and six of Linn Records Complete Songs of Robert Burns, produced by Dr Fred Freeman.

In December 2002 Jim released his fourth solo CD, Home, again on Beltane Records, and at time of writing we wait to hear what the critics think. See the reviews page to find out!

Spring 2003 is the release date for the Old Blind Dogs' third CD with Jim as lead singer. It's going to be good!

Jim now spends his time touring solo and with Old Blind Dogs, and 2003 will be an exceptionally busy year. When he's not on the road he likes to relax by the riverbank, trying, but rarely succeeding, to catch a trout. He likes to read Private Eye, revel in the woes of the Conservative Party, and drink far too much coffee.

[Taras Bulba]

You can listen to some of his songs here. http://www.jimmalcolm.com/html/main_cdli.htm

I personally suggest his version of Glenlogie.


http://www.jimmalcolm.com/html/main_cly_new1.htm

Glenlogie
(Trad, arranged Jim Malcolm MCPS PRS)

There were four and twenty nobles stood at the king¹s ha¹
And bonnie Glenlogie was the flooer o them a¹
There was six and six nobles rade thro¹ Banchory fair
And bonnie Glenlogie was the flooer o them there

There was nine and nine ladies sat in the king¹s ha¹
Bonnie Jean o Bethelnie was the flooer o them a¹
Doon cam Jeannie Gordon, she cam tripping doonstairs
And she¹s favoured Glenlogie o a¹ that was there
Glenlogie, Glenlogie gin ye prove sae kind
My love¹s laid on you and I¹ve told ye my mind
He turned him roond lightly as the Gordons does a¹
I thank ye, Jeannie Gordon but I¹m promised awa¹

She ca¹d tae her maidens for tae make her a bed
Wi ribbons and napkins tae tie up her head
Then oot spak her faither and a wise man was he
I¹ll wad ye tae Dumfendrum he¹s mair gowd than he

O haud your tongue faither for that maunna be
Gin I get nae Glenlogie for him will I dee
Then her faither¹s ain chaplain a man o great skill
He wrote a braid letter and indited it weel

A pox on ye Logie noo sin¹ it is so
A lady¹s love is on ye must she die in her woe?
A pox on ye Logie noo sin¹ it is time
A lady¹s love¹s laid on ye, must she die in her prime?

When Glenlogie got the letter he being amang men
It¹s oot spak Glenlogie what does young women mean?
When he looked on the letter a light lauch gied he
But e¹er he read ower a tear blint his e¹e.

Gae saddle me the black horse and gae saddle me the broon
Bonnie Jeannie o Bethelnie will be dead e¹er I win
But the horses werenae saddled nor led on the green
Till bonnie Glenlogie was three mile his lane

Pale and wan was she when Glenlogie cam in
But red and rosy grew she when she kent it was him
Whaur lies your pain lady does it lie in your head
Whaur lies your pain lady does in lie in your side?

Oh, na, na Glenlogie you¹re far frae the pairt
The pain I lie under it lies in my heart
Turn roond Jeannie Gordon turn on your side
And I¹ll be the bridegroom and ye¹ll be the bride

Noo, Jeannie¹s gotten mairried and her tocher doon told
Bonnie Jean o Bethelnie was scarce sixteen years auld
Bethelnie, oh Bethelnie, ye shine whaur ye stand
And the heather bells aroon ye shine ower Fyvie¹s land.