Information/Write-up
Fergus O'Byrne and Dermot O'Reilly later formed Sons of Erin, Sullivan's Gypsies and Ryan's Fancy. Bonnie Scots were regulars at McVeigh’s New Windsor Tavern in Toronto, at Church & Richmond (Nicholas Jennings).
The Canadian version of Pete Seeger's 'This Land is Your Land' was originally performed by The Travellers for Canada's Centennial in 1967. The lads modified the lyrics a bit to make their own unique version:
This land is your land,
This land is my land,
From Bonavista
To The Vancouver Islands,
From the Arctic Circle,
To the Great Lake Waters,
This land was made for you and me.
As I went walking,
On a ribbon of highway,
I saw above me
That endless skyway,
I saw below me
That golden valley.
This land was made for you and me.
I've roamed and rambled
And I've followed my footsteps
To the snow capped rockies
Of the mighty mountains
And all around me a voice kept calling
This land was made for you and me.
We come from England
We come from Ireland
From Bonnie Scotland
And Italy too
All over Europe....
We came to make a dream come true
The fog was lifting a voice come chanting
This land was made for you and me.
THE BONNIE SCOTS were transplanted from their home towns, not far from Glasgow, to Canada in 1965. The success which they enjoyed in the pubs and clubs of Glasgow has followed them to Canada, because they are the type of entertainers who are quick to make themselves at home, along with their audiences, in any environment. The lads make no secret of the fact that their common platform is their nationality, and no one is more proud of being Scottish than this delightful duo, who love to sing and joke of their native land.
Politicians and bigots alike could learn a lesson from their good-humoured approach to the age-old problems that split countries down the middle. As McLuhan says, "the medium is the message", and it's only by listening to this record that you can appreciate the involvement of these delightful characters.
The good-humoured "Ranger's and Celtic" rivalry of the boys creeps into the old ballad "All Bali Be". Liberties are also taken with "Scotland 'Ra Brave" which, according to Mick and Jackie, is the "land of Pakistannis, Andy Capps and Setterday Sannies…" But enough of this blethering. Stick the record on and "Laugh and Cry" with THE BONNIE SCOTS.
-Bill Burt, Assistant Editor, Canadian Printer
Mike Madden: vocals
Jackie Dixon: vocals
Fergus O'Byrne (Sons of Erin, Sullivan's Gypsies, Ryan's Fancy): banjo, organ
Dermot O'Reilly (Sons of Erin, Sullivan's Gypsies, Ryan's Fancy): electric and acoustic guitars, mandolin
Merrill Mills: bass
Tom Henderson: drums
Engineered by Martin Hurst
Recorded at Sound Canada Recording Center, Don Mills, Ontario
Executive Producer: Art Snider
Album coordinator: Frances Handelman
Special Thanks To Mike Clancy and Terry McAloon for their assistance
Front cover photo by Neil Evans
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