HEEEEEEEEELLLPPP!Someone just told me, "It’s Christmas next week!" Well, they might have warned me, at least. So, here I am again combining my Christmas and mailing lists.
Let’s think - what news?
On the recordings front - The Songs of Robert Burns ( Vol. 4) arrived yesterday. Its official release date will be the middle of January, sometime. Having just received my copy, I haven’t had time to appraise it yet. Dr. Fred Freeman, though, is his usual ecstatic self about it. More often than not, reviewers concur with his, possibly, slightly biased opinion.
Dr. Fred has also completed the production of my own latest effort. That one, I must confess, I have given a fair old listen. Big headed me is very pleased with its content and progress to date. I have good reasons to be proud of it; Catriona Macdonald, Ian Lowthian, Dougie Pincock, Malcolm Stitt (from Deaf Shepherd) and Greentrax’s acceptance to release it, in early March. Also, it will be released on Fenn Records, in Germany, in January. (That’s a bit of a tongue twister for me.)
I know I’ve told you before, but, the songs are mainly traditional and were suggested by Dr. Fred. We’ve kept the arrangements very simple. None of this trying to bring it into the modern day with electronics. That’s not really necessary. These days, I believe more people of all ages are more willing to accept folk music in its slightly rarer state. For me, this album seems to sound automatically modern. It feels refreshing to me. I’ve exorcised an old ghost.
It was, as threatened, recorded on my own equipment, ( the main cause of my current poverty). The resultant sound quality, I think, may surprise some of you. If you want to hear it, that is.
I’m in such a hurry to get this letter out that I can’t think what to tell you. I suppose, I’d better point out that my e-mail address is different now. ( For the Christmas card list, my whole address has changed since last year). I can now pick up e-mail and faxes when on the road. I can thoroughly recommend the Nokia 9000. It’s a great road companion and nothing at all to do with yuppyism. The road can be very lonely at times, so it’s good to have a life line. I wonder if Nokia would pay me for advertising?
Looking back on ’97, I feel, in the main, pretty satisfied. The festivals were brilliant; Bromyard, Warwick, Cleckheaton, Upton on Severn, Nurnberger bardentreffe, Tonder and Strib ( Denmark). At times I was made to feel quite special and can’t thank you/everybody enough for your/their support.
Next year is shaping up nicely. Although, I’m not thinking of taking on Albert Hall yet. He’s a rotten singer anyway. You’ll see, from my itinerary, what’s afoot. Unfortunately, the US tour will be shortened due to agents’ lack of interest. I’m fed up with making no advance over there. I may sometimes look complacent, but I hate stagnating. Europe and Britain are blossoming much more positively. So, I’m not sure what to do about The States this year. I’d best make up my mind soon before May is upon us.
A few gigs were arranged by people who saw blank spaces in the diary. Many thanks to them and, of course, that would, again, be most welcome in the coming year; especially in America.
Especial thanks to Heidi and Oscar Music for keeping me fed and watered for another year. They’ve been terrific.
Well, I’m going to finish off now with my best wishes for Christmas and the coming year. There’s plenty to tell, but what would we talk about when we meet up in ’98? I hope we will.
Keep well and happy.

IAN