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Windward Away | 
 enlarge | Artist: Archie Fisher
Label: Red House
Category: Music
List Price: $17.98
Buy New: $11.75
You Save: $6.23 (35%)
New (27) Used (6) from $10.99
Avg. Customer Rating:  2 reviews
Sales Rank: 20911
Media: Audio CD
Discs: 1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.2
Dimensions (in): 5.6 x 4.9 x 0.4
MPN: 124
UPC: 336510124296
EAN: 0033651012429
ASIN: B001AI7KCW
Release Date: July 22, 2008
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Shipping: International shipping available
Condition: Brand New and Factory Sealed Item Fast Shipping
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| Tracks:
| • | Borderlands - Archie Fisher, Quin, Roger | | • | Ontario Dust | | • | Bonnie Border Lass | | • | Windward Away | | • | Surge of the Sea - Archie Fisher, MacVicar, D. | | • | River and the Road | | • | Shepherd on the Hill - Archie Fisher, Miles, Graham | | • | Every Man's Heart | | • | Ride Through the Rainbow | | • | Speak Your Name | | • | Before Eternity | | • | Final Trawl | | • | The Winter It Is Past - Archie Fisher, Burns, Robert | | • | Silver Coin - Archie Fisher, Hiscock, Terence | | • | Star of Belle Isle - Archie Fisher, Traditional | | • | Ashfields and Brine | | • | Eire Lingers | | • | Cuillins of Home - Archie Fisher, Traditional | | • | Joy of My Heart - Archie Fisher, Traditional |
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| Editorial Reviews:
Album Description
Windward Away is the long-awaited new release from acclaimed Scottish Folk patriarch Archie Fisher, his first new studio recording in 20 years that not only presents his up-to-date material, but also includes 8 bonus tracks intended for a 1980 release that never was issued. A haunting collection of introspective ballads invoking the wild and rough beauty of the Scottish Border country, with songs of sea and land, love and loneliness, Windward Away is Fisher's masterwork from a career stretching back to the early 1960s. The story of the album starts in the mid-1990s, when Archie toured the U.S. The late founder of Red House Records, Bob Feldman, was an immense fan - their meeting resulted in the label's 1995 release of Sunsets I've Galloped Into, Fisher's 1988 recording never distributed in America. Feldman also signed Fisher to Red House for a new recording. Archie went into the studio soon after, but writing and production was slow, seemingly unfinished to Fisher's liking. The protracted birth of Windward Away took a piece of musical archeology to complete the picture. While moving his Edinburgh studio, engineer Neil Ross came across a safety copy of an album Archie recorded for Tommy Makem and Liam Clancy's Blackbird label in the 1970s. Blackbird folded before the 1980 release date and the album subsequently never left storage. Fast forward to 2008 when a package arrives in Fisher's mailbox: a recording and note from Ross asking, "is this the missing master?" Thus the fitting notation of the final 8 tunes as "The Missing Master." Many of these "bonus tracks" were later rerecorded and issued (some only as live performances), yet these original versions take on a wonderfully fresh air being backed by orchestra and string section. To many Archie Fisher fans, they will prove the definitive versions.
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| Customer Reviews:
Nice collection of tunes old and new by Fisher December 2, 2008
I've been a fan of Archie Fisher for decades. This new album compiles some old songs that never got to vinyl as planned and some new recordings of both his own compositions and those of others. Fisher makes every song his own. It is interesting to me how he can write contemporary lyrics and meld them with melodies that feel very traditional. His voice is still rich and melodic. I continue to be amazed at how unfamiliar Americans are with his music. Along with Canada's Ian Tyson (of the old Ian and Sylvia duo)music lovers who don't listen to their music are missing out on some of the finest contemporary balladeers around today.
The only issue I have with this album is that the arrangements on two of the songs are off-putting. Final Trawl, his own composition, is a gorgeous fisherman's song, but I had a hard time holding onto the mood of the song as the harmonies were distracting. Listen to Bok, Muir and Trickett for the definitive interpretation several decades ago on Folkways. The same was true for Ashfields and Brine, also his own composition. You will find a much more satisfying arrangement on Fisher's album "Sunsets I've Galloped Into". I am surprised that Fisher chose such distracting accompaniment for these two stunningly beautiful songs, especially given that he has tended in the past to rely upon relatively simple, straight forward accompaniment that enriches his delivery of his lovely songs.
That said, I still highly recommend this album. And if you like it try some of his others: "Archie Fisher", "Man with a Rhyme", "Sunsets I"ve Galloped Into" and "Off the Map" are all delightful. Then hop on your pony and amble over to sample Canada's own great balladeer, Ian Tyson, for more mesmerizing contemporary folk by musicians of exceptional talent as both composers and performers.
Highly recommended October 10, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
I am a big fan of Scottish folk legend Archie Fisher, particularly his 1976 masterpiece, "Will Ye Gang, Love". So when I heard that he was releasing his first new album in twenty years, I was both thrilled and a bit nervous. Would he be too over the hill? Hardly. Fisher's voice, a gentle, supple brogue that makes every song sound timeless, is in fine form on these songs. The album also includes eight vintage recordings from the 1970s that were recorded for a record that was later shelved -- a bonus treat for longtime devotees. If you're an Archie Fisher fan from many years back, or if you're new to his work, but appreciate Celtic folk that skilfully encompasses modern influences, then you'll definitely want to check this out. Highly recommended! (DJ Joe Sixpack, Slipcue World Music Guide)
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