Five Hand Reel
Encyclopedia
Five Hand Reel was a Scottish/English/Irish Celtic rock
band of late 1970s that combined experiences of traditional Scottish and Irish folk music with electric rock arrangements. Members: Dick Gaughan
(1948), Bobby Eaglesham (18 June 1942–14 October 2004), Tom Hickland, Barry Lyons (1950), Dave Tulloch and later Sam Bracken
and keyboards, and drummer Dave Tulloch. Enlisting two Scottish musicians, fiddler Chuck Fleming and singer/guitarist Bobby Eaglesham, they decided to call themselves Five Hand Reel. They started gigging in late 1974, playing their first London show at King's Cross
Cinema. However in early 1975, Chuck Fleming, returned to his previous band. His replacement was legendary Scottish singer and guitarist Dick Gaughan
, an ex member of The Boys of the Lough
. The live debut of the renewed band was at the Half Moon in Putney
in summer 1975.
Five Hand Reel signed with Rubber Records in 1976 and recorded their first album, "Five Hand Reel", at Impulse Studios in Newcastle on Tyne. It was voted as "Folk Album of the Year" for 1976 by Melody Maker
.
The second album, "For A' That", was recorded, now in courtesy of RCA Records, in July 1977, at the height of the punk
summer of discontent. The opening "Bratach Bana" was one of the first Gaelic
songs to be recorded using rock elements. The Irish band Horslips
had recorded the same song in Gaelic on their album "Happy To Meet - Sorry to Part", also in a rock arrangement. As Dick Gaughan says in his notes to the album:"It seems odd in these days when it is now perfectly normal to sing Gaelic songs in a contemporary fashion that this was regarded as extremely daring and adventurous in 1977. We've come a long, long way since those days."
Much of Five Hand Reel's live work was on club, college, and Folk festivals of England and Northern Europe. They were very popular in Scandinavia and recorded an album of traditional Danish songs "Ebbe, Dagmar, Svend og Alan" with Danish folk singer and radio presenter Alan Kiltgaard. In England they were rather unpopular, though appreciated in the Punk clubs as a live act.
In 1978, Five Hand Reel's third RCA album, "Earl O'Moray", was recorded in Rockfield Studios in Monmouth, Wales and produced by Simon Nichol of Fairport Convention. It was rather different from the two previous LPs: a darker sounding, more seriously minded album with a rich passionate undercurrent. Creatively speaking, it was probably their finest album.
In late 1978 Dick Gaughan decided to leave the band, mainly due to alcohol and substance abuse, but mostly because of the long distances away from his family. He later resumed his solo career. His replacement for a short time was Sam Bracken, a guitarist and singer from Belfast. Bracken's Irish accent sounded fresh but the rejuvenated band recorded only one more album, 1979's "A Bunch Of Fives" for Topic Records before finally splitting in 1980. RCA also issued a compilation, "Nothing But The Best", that year.
After the break-up, the members of Five Hand Reel pursued various solo projects. Bobby Eaglesham released his second (after 1973's "Bobby Eaglesham") album, "Weather The Storm" in 1982. He contributed backing vocals on Dick Gaughan's 1988 solo album, "Call It Freedom", started "Festival Folk" at the Royal Oak Pub in Edinburgh, toured with Chuck Fleming, and contributed to the compilation CDs of The Songs of Robert Burns. Later he graduated as an artist from Edinburgh College of Art, with residencies in the USA and UK. Bobby Eaglesham died on October 14, 2004.
Drummer Dave Tulloch rejoined forces with Dick Gaughan on "A Different Kind Of Love Song". Tom Hickland played in a trio called The Pub Band, doing The Beatles/Buddy Holly/folk rock material. Sam Bracken recorded with his wife Elaine, a singer/flautist, a duet CD "Once More Around The Block" in 2003. Barry Lyons played both in a duo and band with Jamie Marshall
until his departure to Canada in 1996. He now works for Canadian company, Long & McQuade
Musical Instruments in Toronto. For Dick Gaughan's solo career see his article: Dick Gaughan
. Bobby Eaglesham later recorded 2 solo albums but unfortunately passed away in October 2004
Celtic rock
Celtic rock is a genre of folk rock and a form of Celtic fusion which incorporates Celtic music, instrumentation and themes into a rock music context...
band of late 1970s that combined experiences of traditional Scottish and Irish folk music with electric rock arrangements. Members: Dick Gaughan
Dick Gaughan
Richard Peter Gaughan usually known as Dick Gaughan is a Scottish musician, singer, and songwriter, particularly of folk and social protest songs.-Early years:...
(1948), Bobby Eaglesham (18 June 1942–14 October 2004), Tom Hickland, Barry Lyons (1950), Dave Tulloch and later Sam Bracken
History
Five Hand Reel was formed originally in 1974 from the remnants of UK electric folk band Spencer's Feat: bassist Barry Lyons (ex Mr.Fox & Trees), Tom Hickland on fiddleFiddle
The term fiddle may refer to any bowed string musical instrument, most often the violin. It is also a colloquial term for the instrument used by players in all genres, including classical music...
and keyboards, and drummer Dave Tulloch. Enlisting two Scottish musicians, fiddler Chuck Fleming and singer/guitarist Bobby Eaglesham, they decided to call themselves Five Hand Reel. They started gigging in late 1974, playing their first London show at King's Cross
Kings Cross, London
King's Cross is an area of London partly in the London Borough of Camden and partly in the London Borough of Islington. It is an inner-city district located 2.5 miles north of Charing Cross. The area formerly had a reputation for being a red light district and run-down. However, rapid regeneration...
Cinema. However in early 1975, Chuck Fleming, returned to his previous band. His replacement was legendary Scottish singer and guitarist Dick Gaughan
Dick Gaughan
Richard Peter Gaughan usually known as Dick Gaughan is a Scottish musician, singer, and songwriter, particularly of folk and social protest songs.-Early years:...
, an ex member of The Boys of the Lough
The Boys of the Lough
-The early years:Their first album, called Boys of the Lough consisted of Aly Bain , Cathal Mc'Connell , Dick Gaughan and Robin Morton ....
. The live debut of the renewed band was at the Half Moon in Putney
Putney
Putney is a district in south-west London, England, located in the London Borough of Wandsworth. It is situated south-west of Charing Cross. The area is identified in the London Plan as one of 35 major centres in Greater London....
in summer 1975.
Five Hand Reel signed with Rubber Records in 1976 and recorded their first album, "Five Hand Reel", at Impulse Studios in Newcastle on Tyne. It was voted as "Folk Album of the Year" for 1976 by Melody Maker
Melody Maker
Melody Maker, published in the United Kingdom, was, according to its publisher IPC Media, the world's oldest weekly music newspaper. It was founded in 1926 as a magazine targeted at musicians; in 2000 it was merged into "long-standing rival" New Musical Express.-1950s–1960s:Originally the Melody...
.
The second album, "For A' That", was recorded, now in courtesy of RCA Records, in July 1977, at the height of the punk
Punk rock
Punk rock is a rock music genre that developed between 1974 and 1976 in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia. Rooted in garage rock and other forms of what is now known as protopunk music, punk rock bands eschewed perceived excesses of mainstream 1970s rock...
summer of discontent. The opening "Bratach Bana" was one of the first Gaelic
Scottish Gaelic language
Scottish Gaelic is a Celtic language native to Scotland. A member of the Goidelic branch of the Celtic languages, Scottish Gaelic, like Modern Irish and Manx, developed out of Middle Irish, and thus descends ultimately from Primitive Irish....
songs to be recorded using rock elements. The Irish band Horslips
Horslips
Horslips are an Irish Celtic rock band that compose, arrange and perform songs based on traditional Irish jigs and reels. The group are regarded as 'founding fathers of Celtic rock' for their fusion of traditional Irish music with rock music and went on to inspire many local and international acts....
had recorded the same song in Gaelic on their album "Happy To Meet - Sorry to Part", also in a rock arrangement. As Dick Gaughan says in his notes to the album:"It seems odd in these days when it is now perfectly normal to sing Gaelic songs in a contemporary fashion that this was regarded as extremely daring and adventurous in 1977. We've come a long, long way since those days."
Much of Five Hand Reel's live work was on club, college, and Folk festivals of England and Northern Europe. They were very popular in Scandinavia and recorded an album of traditional Danish songs "Ebbe, Dagmar, Svend og Alan" with Danish folk singer and radio presenter Alan Kiltgaard. In England they were rather unpopular, though appreciated in the Punk clubs as a live act.
In 1978, Five Hand Reel's third RCA album, "Earl O'Moray", was recorded in Rockfield Studios in Monmouth, Wales and produced by Simon Nichol of Fairport Convention. It was rather different from the two previous LPs: a darker sounding, more seriously minded album with a rich passionate undercurrent. Creatively speaking, it was probably their finest album.
In late 1978 Dick Gaughan decided to leave the band, mainly due to alcohol and substance abuse, but mostly because of the long distances away from his family. He later resumed his solo career. His replacement for a short time was Sam Bracken, a guitarist and singer from Belfast. Bracken's Irish accent sounded fresh but the rejuvenated band recorded only one more album, 1979's "A Bunch Of Fives" for Topic Records before finally splitting in 1980. RCA also issued a compilation, "Nothing But The Best", that year.
After the break-up, the members of Five Hand Reel pursued various solo projects. Bobby Eaglesham released his second (after 1973's "Bobby Eaglesham") album, "Weather The Storm" in 1982. He contributed backing vocals on Dick Gaughan's 1988 solo album, "Call It Freedom", started "Festival Folk" at the Royal Oak Pub in Edinburgh, toured with Chuck Fleming, and contributed to the compilation CDs of The Songs of Robert Burns. Later he graduated as an artist from Edinburgh College of Art, with residencies in the USA and UK. Bobby Eaglesham died on October 14, 2004.
Drummer Dave Tulloch rejoined forces with Dick Gaughan on "A Different Kind Of Love Song". Tom Hickland played in a trio called The Pub Band, doing The Beatles/Buddy Holly/folk rock material. Sam Bracken recorded with his wife Elaine, a singer/flautist, a duet CD "Once More Around The Block" in 2003. Barry Lyons played both in a duo and band with Jamie Marshall
Jamie Marshall
Jamie Marshall is an English singer - songwriter now living and working in Prague, Czech Republic...
until his departure to Canada in 1996. He now works for Canadian company, Long & McQuade
Long & McQuade
Long & McQuade is the largest chain of musical instrument retailers in Canada, and has 53 locations located in every province except for Quebec and the territories. The company also owns Yorkville Sound and carries their products in every one of its locations...
Musical Instruments in Toronto. For Dick Gaughan's solo career see his article: Dick Gaughan
Dick Gaughan
Richard Peter Gaughan usually known as Dick Gaughan is a Scottish musician, singer, and songwriter, particularly of folk and social protest songs.-Early years:...
. Bobby Eaglesham later recorded 2 solo albums but unfortunately passed away in October 2004
Albums
- Five Hand Reel (1976)
- For A' That (1977)
- Earl O'Moray (1978)
- A Bunch Of Fives (1979)