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Happy Feet - Album Reviews

The Benachally Ceilidh Band CD & Tape - 'Happy Feet'

Happy Feet - Smiddymade SMD610 & CSMD610 - consists of over one hour of ceilidh music played by the band at ceilidhs all over Scotland and the rest of Europe. A Foot tapping lively recording designed to take the ceilidh into your home and featuring favourite dances and songs.

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Happy Feet

Jim Leighton - Midi Accordion, Piano

Pete Clark - Fiddle

Martin MacLeod - Fiddle

Martin Hadden - Guitar, Electric Bass

Jake Donnelly - Banjo, Mandolin, Vocals

Martin Dibbs - Drums

1. Gay Gordons 2. Dashing White Sergeant 3. Old Time Waltz 4. Strip the Willow 5. Slow Foxtrot 6. Circassian Circle 7. St Bernard's Waltz 8. Highland Schottische 9. Cumberland Square Eight 10. Eva Three Step 11. Duke of Perth 12. Pride of Erin Waltz 13. Virginia Reel 14. Military Two Step 15. Canadian Barn Dance 16. Orcadian Strip the Willow 17. The Last Dance

You will require an MP3 player to listen to the sound clips . The clips have been produced in mono to achieve the best compromise between fast download times and sound quality. 
You can download the latest version of Microsoft's Media player at www.microsoft.com/windows/mediaplayer/  

What the music press said :

".............Well, how about "great" or "terrific" or "wonderful" or "a delight to listen to"? Perm as many of these as you like to come up with your personal opinion of this elegantly-melodious album." - Alasdair MacLean for Scots Magazine

".............with Dashing White Sergeant and Virginia Reel almost taking off. The Benachally Ceilidh Band on "Happy Feet" are an answer to a ceilidh fan's prayers." - John O'Regan for Rock 'n' Reel (England)

".............Just as the legendary Bob Wills based his western Swing round twin fiddles, so the Benachally boys play to the strengths of Pete Clark and Martin MacLeod in this department and I doubt if there's any band playing in Scotland could match them. With the accordion in the capable hands of Jim Leighton and Jake Donnelly on banjo, and the engine room of Martin Hadden on bass and Martin Dibbs on drums providing a full head of steam, the temptation to dance along is very strong indeed" - Alan Brown, ABC "Comment"

".............their music is lively and, with two fiddles, quite distinctive, as is their choice of tunes" - Bobby Harvey, Scottish Memories

".............If you are a member of a dance club, or you want to jig around at home, hold a ceilidh but can't afford a band or just have a yen for the good old days of Sandie McPherson and the White Heather Club, then this is the album for you." - SB, Folk on Tap

".............The instruments all blend well together to give a crisp, tight and clear sound with the twin fiddles in particular in the driving seat. All in all a fine performance, even if the choice of song for the last dance might take traditionalists by surprise. What is it? Buy the CD and find out!" - Gordon Potter, The Living Tradition

".............Ebullient, vigorous stuff but within self-imposed bounds. I'd imagine they serve their chosen purpose admirably." - Folk Roots

".............If you prefer your ceilidh band in a traditional vein, we recommend the Benachally Ceilidh Band and their aptly titled CD, Happy Feet. This is definitely a band of talented musicians................ The band's distinctive sound is found in the twin fiddles of Pete Clark and Martin MacLeod. Jake Donnelly adds the odd instrument (banjo or mandolin) to the mix as well as his warm voice. - U.S. SCOTS Magazine

".......great album for your Home Ceilidh." - Michael Moll, Folkworld

......The Benachally Ceilidh Band's debut release, sees the band ripping through an hour or so of electrifying dance music." - Chris Beynon, Traditional Music Maker

".........Anyone planning a ceilidh would be well advised to order this album." - SCOTS Magazine - Australia

"........The 17 tracks on Happy Feet are mostly bouncing medleys of traditional dance tunes, featuring a lot of reels and two-steps mixed with an occasional waltz or schottische, arranged with a classic Scottish dance hall sound that borrows a few licks from American country music, all of it good time barn dance music played crisply and with a steady smile." - TN, Dirty Linen - USA

"........If I were organising a Scots ceilidh then I'd happily let Benachally do the honours." - Mike Greenwood, Taplas  - Wales

 

 

 

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Last modified: 11 March 2008