Nigel Gatherer advises that this Edinburgh band was originally called Chorda Cleich but simplified its name in 1971.
The band members were all associated with the sessions in the Edinburgh pub Sandy Bells and and they featured on the long play record Sandy Bell’s Ceilidh. Individuals went on to join groups The Easy Club and Jock Tamson’s Bairns.
This selection comprises tracks recorded sometime in the 1970s by Kenny Hadden. Concertina is played by Norman Chalmers.
The Bob o’ the Fettercairn
Clean Pease Strae
Seaforth Highlanders
Four recordings made around 1983. The group (as featured in the photograph) comprised:
- Hamish Moore – Scottish smallpipes
- Ian Hardie – fiddle and vocals
- Rod Paterson – vocals, mandola, guitar and vocals
- John Croal – vocals and bodhran
The Braes o’ Gleniffer
Eyemouth Fishing Disaster
The Merchant’s Son
The Rock and the Wee Pickle Tow / Campbeltown Kilties’ Ball / The Train Journey North / Troy’s Wedding
This set of MP3 tracks of the same line up was recorded at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe in August 1984. The recording was kindly supplied by Ditte Andersson.
Geordie / Heights of Dargai / Eilish Kelly’s Delight / Blackthorn Bush
The Conundrum
The Braes o’ Gleniffer
Donald Don
Coshieville
Bingo Bella
Lonely Loch Maree
This track features two sets of Scottish smallpipes, including Hamish Moore on a set with a double-bore chanter.
Helen Black of Inveran / Mrs Lilly Christie / Miss Girdle / The Pigeon on the Gate
The Trooper and the Maid
Miss Herries Forbes’ Farewell to Banff / J F Dickie’s / The Spey in a Spate / Scott Skinner
The Rock and the Wee Pickle Tow / Campbeltown Kilties’ Ball / The Train Journey North / Troy’s Wedding
Swedish Polska / Peter Pratt Polka
The Braes of Castle Grant / Dalnahasaig / Dolina MacKay
The Merchant’s Son
This line-up was only together for about a year before Rod left to work with the Easy Club. Ian and John were then joined by Donald McDougal and continued to perform as a trio until August 1986 at least when this image was published: