Welcome to the website
NO COPIES OF "LITTLE STORIES" LEFT!
Thanks to everyone who bought a copy and to everyone who has taken time to tell me how much the CD means to them.
Tom Clelland
There is a possibility "Little stories" may be reissued later this year with additional tracks.
New CD
Tom is currently recording tracks for the next CD "What's waiting for you", which
will include the prize-winning songs "Carrion Craw", "What's waiting for you", "I think he liked the ladies", "Dig" and "Next time". Musicians on the CD include Clive Gregson, Steven Polwart, Wendy Weatherby, Russell Ballantyne, Fiona Cuthill ,Mairearad Green and Norman Chalmers. The CD is being engineered and co-produced by Kris Koren at Sound Sense.
Provisional tracklist - still in progress
1. Carrion Craw
2. What's waiting for you
3. Dig
4. Jack Jackson
5. All your troubles
6. Send me another smile
7. Sleepyhead
8. Could fade away
9. I think he liked the ladies
10. Fishing for the blues
11. You never know
12. Next time
FROM A GARDEN OF SONGS - ON SALE FROM THE SHOP. You can read some of the great reviews below. The songs will be performed at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2012- more news later.
"From A Garden of Songs" produced by Tom, in which Scottish songwriters set thirteen of their favourite poems from The Child’s Garden of Verses to music.
With songs and music by Robin Laing, Tom Clelland, Davie Scott, Christine Kydd, Duncan McCrone, Wendy Weatherby, Pete Clark, Norman Chalmers, Billy Stewart, John Malcolm, Ursula Laing, Mair Sethi, Heather Young, Rebecca Keay and Kris Koren.
The CD also includes Wendy Weatherby’s arrangement of Robert Louis Stevenson’s own composition “Aberlady Links” and is accompanied by a 28-page colour booklet of the poems with wonderful artwork by Peter Nardini.
Reviews below from Froots, Taplas, Scotland on Sunday,
Living Tradition and Scottish Memories
Review from June issue of Froots - the U.K.'s leading folk music magazine
A group of Scottish Songwriters have set to music 13 poems by Robert Louis Stevenson. These deceptively simple poems find infinity and eternity in ordinary things, and the newly- composed musical settings underpin the poetry's Zen - like simplicity and intensity. The measured and evocative instrumental accompaniment is perfectly judged and is provided by A - list musicians on guitar, cello, harp, keyboards, fiddle, violins, mandola. whistle, clarinet, concertina, bouzouki and bass. The various songwriters have sought to capture the music (as Stevenson does in words ) the autumnal beauty of childish things recalled in adulthood. Especially successful is the quirky lyricism of Tom Clelland's compositions for KEEPSAKE MILL, PICTURE BOOKS IN WINTER and HOW FAR IS IT TO BABYLON? Tom's voice is slightly reminiscent of a young Cat Stevens, and these songs would not sound out of place in ' Tea for the Tillerman'.
Equally fine are Robin Laing's arrangements and renditions. His composition for WHERE GO THE BOATS? is an instant classic, with a yearning melody and addictively hypnotic harp riff. Robin has also composed rich and plangent tunes for THE LAMPLIGHTER, SHADOW MARCH and BLOCK CITY, which fit the poems so snugly that it's hard to believe that words and music were created 120 years apart.
The album includes Wendy Weatherby's stately arrangement of one of Stevenson's own airs, ABERLADY LINKS, here performed and recorded for the first time since Stevenson wrote it. The CD's attractive booklet sets out each of the poems and, on each facing page, matches it with a Peter Nardini painting that impressionistically reflects the poem. The whole package is a splendid labour of love. With each listen I grow fonder of this elegant, moving album."
From Froots - the UK's leading folk music magazine
“…The poems make good songs. Specially composed tunes, the arrangements, the singing and playing combine to bring the poems to life in a way that is, surprisingly, both innocent and sophisticated.
“Peter Nardini’s paintings illustrate each poem on the sleeve, making this suitable for children and equally appropriate to nurture the child in us all.”
From Taplas, the voice of Folk Music in Wales and the Borders
"In this little gem of a CD, (Stevenson's) exquisite poems are very tastefully set to music and performed by a variety of contemporary folk singers who make each poem spring to life.
"This is an excellent example of giving a new lease of life to some beautiful short poems from one of Scotland's greatest authors.
"An excellent production."
Scottish Memories Magazine February 2010
"Brought into being by Lanarkshire songwriter Tom Clelland - who, with Robin Laing, contributes the bulk of the music and songs - this is a magical evocation of Robert Louis Stevenson's poetry for the child in us all. Peter Nardini's luminous paintings shine throughout the 28-page cover notes, and contributions from fiddler Pete Clark, cellist Wendy Weatherby and singers Christine Kydd, Davie Scott and Duncan McCrone are other glowing facets of this wee gem."
Scotland on Sunday 21st February 2010 - four stars out of five
"... The poetry of Robert Louis Stevenson, for so long neglected, is brought to life with gusto here by the addition of Scottish musicians of note. This could have gone so pear-shaped in the way that most folk concept albums go… This one differs in that the source material is so vibrant and is handled with customary reverence.
"Davie Scott positively beams his way through The Land of Counterpane. Christine Kydd is an absolute delight on Escape at Bedtime. Robin Laing reassigns some of his best tunes to stupendous effect and provides rock-steady guitar backing throughout. The CD even includes a song for which RLS contributed the tune, handled with due care by Norman Chalmers and given a suitably appropriate reprise by Wendy Weatherby.
"I let my son listen to the songs and he loved them all. As with his prose work, Robert Louis Stevenson had an inexplicable connection with young people.
"If I had to choose an outstanding moment it would be Christine Kydd’s handling of Escape at Bedtime but as far as I’m concerned it’s all good. "
Living Tradition Magazine April 2010
The poems in the 28 page booklet are illustrated by paintings by one of Scotland's finest artists,
Peter Nardini.
