Handful Of Earth

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Total Tracks: 10   Total Length: 44:46

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Steve Hochman

eMusic Contributor

Steve Hochman has been a music critic since he was 7 -- when the Beatles came to America -- but didn't turn pro until he was 27. He covered pop music for the L....more »

04.22.11
A fantastic mix of traditional material and worthy originals.
1981 | Label: Topic / IODA

His forthright voice and foursquare guitar prowess made Scotsman Gaughan a stalwart standout in the ’70s and ’80s, arguably the successor to Ewan MacColl in the way he combined traditional material with worthy originals. Having well-established himself as a member of the progressive-folk bands Boys of the Lough and Five Hand Reel as well as with solo albums, he hit a peak with this 1981 set, notable for the range of material — from Robert Burns'idyllic "Now Westlin Winds" to Leon Rosselson's social criticism "World Turned Upside Down" to the solo guitar turn "Scojun Waltz/Randers Hopsa" — and for the ace backing by Lough-mate Phil Cunningham, Brian McNeill and Stewart Isbister. Bookending are two distinctive highlights: The traditional "Erin Go Bragh" would appeal to fans of Jethro Tull's "Songs from the Wood," while the simmering original "Both Sides the Tweed" favors Cunningham's keyboards and a mordant, spare electric guitar solo.

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Dick's Best Album

andrewseacliff

"Dick Gaughan's best album - bookended by the wonderful Erin Go Bragh and Both Sides of the Tweed. Poetry!"

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Terrific Album

folkmew

I love Gaughan's variety and passion of ethics. I really enjoy his interesting covers of songs such as "Ruby Tuesday" or "My Back Pages" but I keep returning to this album. Gaughan's guitar work is wonderful, his vocals rich and warm, and this album just hangs together so well somehow. This would probably make my "desert island" picks.

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A Classic.

Mike38

I've been enjoying this album for over 25 years. It’ll always have a place in my Top Five Folk/Roots albums. Gaughan sings with real soul - he cares deeply about the subject matter of the songs and the tradition that they follow. The quality of the singing and guitar accompaniment is unsurpassed. All of this brings an integrity and authenticity to the recording that others doing get anywhere near. Buy it - you won’t be disappointed.

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scottish folk and politics

swartz

HIs voice is warm and moving, the musical accompaniment does not overwhelm the vocals (as some other Celtic bands do) and the mix of romance and politics makes a good album. The best songs are The Snows They Melt the Soonest, Erin Go Bragh, and Gaughan's signature work on The World Turned Upside Down. One of the tunes is an instrumental, Scojun Waltz/Randers, which has some lovely solo guitar.

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A wonderful album...timeless music

ClassicalBill

This is one of my all time favorite albums, though I tend to be a classical music listener. Dick Gaughan does in a folk way what a great modern recorded performance of a Beethoven symphony does- shows that great music in a great idiom is timeless and speaks to all. Dick sings with a thick Scottish brogue, and for my American ears to understand what was being sung was initially a struggle - but a struggle well worth undertaking. English never sounded so comforting and rich. If you must sample first, take the first two tracks - Erin Go Bragh - about a man made a criminal due to his race, and the lovely Now Westlin' Winds - Robert Burns wrote it and Dick sings it so that my heart also loves the Scottish countryside, though I have never been. Strongly recommended.

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They Say All Media Guide

Another fine album. “Song for Ireland” is a classic. Features Brian McNeill, Phil Cunningham, and Stewart Isbister. Voted Album of the Decade of the ’80s by Folk Roots magazine, A Handful of Earth is Gaughan’s best blend of traditional and contemporary songs. – Chip Renner & Steve Winick