Description
The Stamping Ground is the eleventh studio album by the Scottish Celtic rock band Runrig, independently released in the UK on Ridge Records in May 2001. Also released in Europe by Columbia, distributed by Sony Music. The album was recorded at CaVa Sound Workshops in Glasgow, Scotland; at Lundgaard Studios in Vejen, Denmark; and at Junk! in Sao Paulo, Brazil; with Runrig producing (except tracks 1 and 4 produced by Kristian Gislason, track 11 produced by Runrig and Kristian Gislason, and track 9 produced by Runrig and Paul Mounsey).
Featuring Bruce Guthro on lead vocals; Peter Wishart on keyboards; Malcolm Jones on acoustic and electric guitars, bagpipes, bouzouki, bass, accordion, and dobro; Rory MacDonald on vocals, bass, and acoustic guitar; Iain Bayne on drums and percussion; and Calum MacDonald on percussion and vocals.
Trivia: A copy of the album was aboard STS-107 (the 113th flight of the Space Shuttle program), and it was among the personal effects that were recovered following the reentry destruction of Space Shuttle Columbia on February 1, 2003. The song “Running to the Light” had been used for astronaut Laurel Clark’s wake-up call during the mission.
Runrig have been around a long time and were hidden in Gaelic obscurity until 1989’s classic ‘Searchlight’ which awoke the rest of the UK to the secret. The following albums ‘The Big Wheel’ and ‘Amazing Things’ charted at four and two respectively. Mild flirtations with the singles chart in the 1990 and 1991 further raised their profile, as did featuring on TV ads. The departure of lead singer Donnie Munroe, to political life and the fickle nature of taste destined the band to fade over more recent years, leaving the faithful to pick over regular new releases. ‘The Stamping Ground’, with new Canadian singer Bruce Guthro, is a sparkling return to form. Mixing new technology and soaring Celtic melody has rejuvenated the sound, these guys know how to rock. Layers of percussion, drums, guitar and bass underpin hook after hook belying the ageing image. Calum and Rory MacDonald pen nearly all the songs and they are true poets, drawing inspiration from God’s creation and pointing to things much greater than themselves. «Wall Of China/One Man» says, “They built the wall of China with a million men, they thought their broken promises would wear you down/ But they didn’t count on things they couldn’t see, one island man of heart and steel… / One man to change the world, one word to bring it down/ One stand to right a wrong, only the meek can break the strong.” This is an extraordinary album – bringing a little more wonderment into your heart. Uplifting. [Robin Budgell, Cross Rhythms, September 2001]
> Apple Music (https://music.apple.com/us/album/the-stamping-ground/1071865367)
CD tracklist:
01. Book Of Golden Stories – 3:51
02. The Stamping Ground – 5:21
03. An Sabhal Aig Neill – 3:17
04. Wall Of China/One Man – 3:49
05. The Engine Room – 3:21
06. One Thing – 4:57
07. The Ship – 6:05
08. The Summer Walkers – 4:52
09. Running To The Light – 5:02
10. Oran Ailein/Leaving Strathconon – 6:06
11. Big Songs Of Hope And Cheer – 4:25
12. Oran – 5:31
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