Pipes and Drums of FreeRepublic ping!
This is an ultra-low-volume ping list (typically weeks to months between pings).
FReepmail sionnsar if you want on or off this list.
Going to the Games? Organize a Clan FReeper get-together!
Posted on 11/18/2007 10:17:46 PM PST by Cogadh na Sith
The Pipes and Drums of the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards, Scotland's only remaining tank regiment, have signed a £1 million record deal with Universal Music to record an album of songs which is set to storm the charts in time for Christmas.
The new album includes versions of Paul McCartney's Mull Of Kintyre and Rod Stewart's Sailing as well as traditional Scottish ballads such as Amazing Grace along with film themes including The Last of The Mohicans, Dances with Wolves, Watership Down and Sharpe.
The 24 pipers and drummers are part time musicians and fulltime soldiers. Military piping originated in the eighteenth century both as a way of instilling confidence in troops for battle, and for recruiting new soldiers. The Royal Scots Dragoon Guards have served in all the major theatres of war during the past two centuries including in Iraq where they have suffered two fatalities. The Regiment, which will donate all its record royalties to service charities, are busy training for future operations and have just completed an intensive exercise in Canada.
Pipe Major Derek Potter said:
"The pipes are an integral part of our regiment, and we take huge pride in our music. We're very excited to be able to share our music with the world."
Currently based in Northern Germany, the regiment have managed to record the album between tours of duty in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Pipe Major Potter, who has previously worked with Mark Knopfler, Mike Oldfield and Engelbert Humperdinck, continued:
"We recorded Amazing Grace in 1972 as a Pipes and Drums and Military Band and it got to number one in the UK pop charts for six weeks and also went to number one around the world and we were given 13 gold discs for Amazing Grace. One is in our home headquarters in Edinburgh Castle Museum and the other ones are all on the wall within the Pipes and Drums barracks back at Fallingbostal.
"It's 35 years since Amazing Grace got to number one and so we were in talks about doing Amazing Grace again, and it came about that a person who'd come and seen the Regiment asked us if we would want to record it again.
"And from there, he then suggested that possibly not just do Amazing Grace, but actually do a full album. So we then went and recorded a full album with Universal, and we did that in August, while we were on the Edinburgh Tattoo for a two-week period, so it was quite a busy summer schedule, trying to record an album and perform in the Edinburgh Tattoo in the evenings.
"All the Pipes and Drums were involved in one way or another with this album, we all went in the studios and various people within the band contributed in different ways. We got very involved with the production side, myself and a small team along with producer John Cohen, went into Heartbeat Studios, which was actually on a farm, and for the two-week period the Pipes and Drums were heavily involved with the different aspects of making the tracks. So we had a very good input in what the end product was."
Universal Music is home to artists such as Eminem and Amy Winehouse. The new album, entitled Spirit of the Glen, includes a number of traditional Scottish tunes and classical numbers all of which have inspired soldiers for centuries, from the battle of Waterloo to the assault into Basra in 2003.
Dickon Stainer, Managing Director of Universal Classics and Jazz, is convinced Spirit of the Glen will be a huge hit:
"Spirit Of The Glen is going to be one of his biggest sellers this year," he explained. "This is a once in a lifetime album. It's an honour to work with our nation's soldiers – they're a credit to their country, and to the musical world, too!"
Such is their reputation the pipers have also been asked to tour America and will embark on a tour in the New Year. Recording for the album was planned around the band's duties as serving soldiers. Jon Cohen, who has also worked with The Back Street Boys, Vanessa Mae and the Sugababes, produced the album.
Her Majesty The Queen is the Colonel in Chief of the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards. She succeeded her father, King George VI. The pipers last piped for The Queen in 2006 at Edinburgh castle.
Spirit Of The Glen is released to the public at the end of November 2007.
Soldiers, Warriors, Musicians, Pipers....
I'm pre-ordering my copy!
Ping the 'Piping List'!
FANTASTIC!!!
These guys are absolutely AWESOME! I just recieved “Highland Cathedral” Friday, and it now lives in my truck. I also have “The Gael: Theme from Last of the Mohicans” and it’s also great. I will be buying this new one I’m sure.
(bookmark for this afternoon)
Pipes and Drums of FreeRepublic ping!
This is an ultra-low-volume ping list (typically weeks to months between pings).
FReepmail sionnsar if you want on or off this list.
Going to the Games? Organize a Clan FReeper get-together!
Dickon Stainer?
Wasn't he Monica Lewinski's press agent for a while?
All kidding aside, a one million pound recording contract will have bands ( who are much better than these guys), like the top 5 of the Worlds, howling in their sleep.
You gotta love it!
Thanks!
Bump to remember to order.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.