Traditional Music

Hamish Imlach 1

(1940-1996) Scottish entertainer

Hamish Imlach was one of the greats in the Scottish folk scene of the 1960s to 1980s. Although he was born in Calcutta, he was a Scotsman and a Glaswegian of note. He had a huge reputation for generosity and is fondly remembered by all who met him.

According to Ewan McVicar, Hamish Imlach was "...one of the founders of the Folk Revival in Scotland, a raconteur who taught Billy Connolly, a singer who taught Christie Moore, a blues guitarist who taught John Martyn"

Some of Hamish's recordings are detailed below.
With thanks to Susanne Kalweit and Andreas Martens.

	Ray & Archie Fisher: Edinburgh Folk Festival Vol.1 (Decca LK 4546, 1963) with Owen Hand, Ian Campbell Folk Group, Ann Briggs, Lou Killen, Matt McGinn, Ray & Archie Fisher, Nadia Cattouse; Dolina McLennan Side Two: Johnny Cope
	Edinburgh Folk Festival Vol.2 (Decca LK 4563, 1964) with Owen Hand, Ian Campbell Folk Group, Ann Briggs, Lou Killen, Matt McGinn, Ray & Archie Fisher, Nadia Cattouse; Dolina McLennan, Jill Doyle, Jean Hart Side One: MacPherson's Rant
	Hamish Imlach (XTRA 1039, 1966) Side One: Johnny O'Breadislee; Men Of Knoydart; The Zoological Gardens; Street Songs; Cod Liver Oil and Orange Juice; The Gaudie Side Two: If It Wasn't For the Unions; The Cumbie Boys; Erin Go Bragh; The Soldier's Prayer; Black Is the Colour; Foggy Dew Hamish Imlach (vocals, guitar)
	Hamish Imlach, Live (XTRA 1050, 1967) Side One: I Was a Gay Spark In My Time (Wattie Wright); Whisky You're the Devil (trad arr Imlach); Early Morning Blues (Blind Blake); The Ballad of Timothy Evans (Ewan MacColl); It's Better In the Dark (Gordon McCullough) Side Two: Campbell (Pink Anderson); Castlereagh (Banjo Patterson); The Wind Blew the Bonnie Lassie's Plaidie Awa' (trad arr Imlach); Paddy Lay Back (trad) Hamish Imlach (vocals, guitar)
	The Best of Scottish Folk Music (XTRA 1053, 1967) with Lorna Campbell; Luke Kelly; Isla Cameron; Owen Hand; Matt McGinn; Bert Jansch; Alex Campbell; Ian Campbell Side One: The Gaudie Side Two: Scottish breakaway (Thurso Berwick) Hamish Imlach (vocals, guitar)
	Before and After (XTRA 1059, 1967) Side One: Tall Tale (Watt Nicoll); Let Ramensky Go (Roddy McMillan); Coppers' Song (trad); The Klan (trad); McPherson's Farewell (Davie Stewart); Candy Man (John Hirt) Side Two: The 37 Bus (M Toner); I Am A Miller (Lucy Stewart); The Castle of Drumboe (Hugh MacDonald); The Dundee Cat (Watt Nicoll); Sporting Life (Brownie McGhee) with Oscar St Cyr (mandola, Concertina); Bobby Campbell (fiddle)
	Ballads of Booze (XTRA 1094, 1967) Side One: Beer Is Best (Murphy, Ross. Trad); The Mountain Dew; Little Maggie; Scottish Sabbath (Jim McLean); Maids When You're Young; As Usual (Murphy, Zanetis); Good Bye Booze Side Two: Drunk, Drunk Again (anon., Ross); Twelve and a Tanner a Bottle (Fyffe); Whisky Seller; The Moonshiner; The Calton Weaver; The Poor Beasts (anon, new words Imlach) all songs traditional, arranged Imlach unless otherwise indicated with Tom Harvey, John MacKinnon, Iain MacKintosh, Daryl Runswick, Mike Whellans
	The Two Sides of Hamish Imlach (XTRA 1069, 1968) Side One: Jean Harlow (Died the Other Day); Clapped Out Motorcar; I Got Fooled; Bourgeois Blues; The Horny Bull; The Happiest Day; Side Two: The McGreggors; Anthony Riley; History of Football; The Priest and the Minister; Clive's Song with Clive Palmer (banjo, kazoo); Archie Fisher (banjo, concertina); Ray Warleigh (flute); John MacKinnon (fiddle); Martin Frey (tuba)
	The Hamish Imlach Sampler 1 (Transatlantic TRASAM 9, 1969)