Recorded at Black and
Gold Studios, Blanefield. Owned by the brothers, Eric and Ian McCreadie, from the popular
70s band, Middle of The Road. (Chirpy Chirpy Cheep Cheep, Soley, Soley, Tweedledee
Tweedledum????)
This album must have been recorded sometime in 1981. The label says it was released in
1982. There was a sizeable time lapse between recording and release.
Gus Macdonald of Klub Records (Lochshore) had taken on their first L.P, Mrs. Bruce's Boys
Volume 1, which must have created enough sales that he sanctioned this album's recording.
Well, Gus wanted them to become all tartan and haggis and this recording could not have
been further from that. In fact he was desperate for them to record "Loch
Lomond". Ian says that he couldn't go with that. These were the days before Runrig's
smash hit with . If only they had known!
Klub Records were sitting with the finished article, which they were very reluctant to
release. Until, one day, it was played to a member of "Slik" (the group
that spawned Midge Ure of Ultravox, Feed The World,etc.) and he didn't laugh, which
encouraged its go-ahead. Release was now imminent. So, the title, "Veil of The
Ages" was chosen, from the opening track, "Nostradamus" by Al Stewart.
A photographic session was arranged with Gavin McNae. Ian continues, "We had agreed
our need for a mystical cover, Nostradamus being the main subject. Quite honestly, his
choice of location was more mysterious than the result. He drove us up Kinnoull Hill, that
cliff face that you see, on your left, as you drive towards Dundee, from Perth (I might
add, he drove us up the back way.) Apparently this is a popular rendezvous for young
Perthshire lovers. How did you know about this place, Gavin?
I've also been told that it's a common suicide spot. A more likely motive, judging by the
erratic leaping, of our photographer, from ledge to ledge.
By the way, there was a little ruined look-out tower with a wire mesh on its long unglazed
(if ever) window. The guard was added after a lady's pet pup decided to leap through, into
thin air, very shortly before its inevitable plunge to death.
We were there for a shot of Fraser and me with a sky backdrop. Instead, because of the
heavy rain, we resembled a couple of drenched Irish Wolfhounds, indistinguishable from the
surrounding grey. All that for nothing.
Gavin decided to get technical. We were to meet in his Glasgow studio and have a straight
snap, of ourselves super- imposed onto a shot of a predetermined cloud formation. We quite
fancied that idea.
All was fine until the finished cover emerged.
We always went by the name "Fraser and Ian", in that order. Big brother first,
an' all that stuff. We were the wrong way around. Here was, without doubt, an album of
"Ian and Fraser Bruce". That was one thing, but Fraser's real objection was
being stuck behind the cloud which would have otherwise been mine. It was right across his
eyes.
" Too late!" was the cry. The album was released, clouds 'n' all.
It was simply another collection of our favourite songs. What better reason to record?
We included folk song from Scotland, England, USA, Australia and New Zealand. As with the
first album, a cosmopolitan offering.We recruited Colin Forgrieve and, brothers, Alan and
Rob Mairs. (Their efforts had been outstanding on Mrs. Bruce's boys Volume 1) Carol
Jamieson, from Shetland. What a girl she is. There's nothing musical she can't do. I can
still see the back of her head, in the studio, on the other side of the glass, beside that
huge french horn as she ably supplied bass lines for "I Don't Belong To
Glasgow" and "Sally Wheatley". Sorry Carol, but it still makes me giggle.
Chris Miller, who played superb small pipes and fiddle in the local called "The Ideal
Band", was a fine crew member.
Ken Meikle and Ian Harkness supplied the rhythm section. They were frequent session
players at that studio.The reason was soon apparent.
The texture of this album was quite different from the last. If I were to be honest, I
prefer this one; as did most. In fact, I've been told recently, by one or two, that this
album has stood the test of time; and has remained their favourite album....ever!
Good to know." |
