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Isla St Clair
"A POWERFUL AND EVOCATIVE VOICE"

 

"HER DISTINCLY WARM CLEAR TONE AND EXUBERANCE BRINGS SONGS TO LIFE"

"St Clair's voice is something to be savoured...attacking the lively material with a gusto and obvious sense of enjoyment, while the unaccompanied 'Flowers of the Forest' is given a beautifully sympathetic poignancy thanks to the purity of her singing."   Rock 'n' Reel magazine

"There's something about Isla St Clair...maybe it's that her voice all at once puts the listener at ease with her mellow tones. Whatever, the end result is always pleasing and let's face it, in the hands of co-producers Ian Lynn and Patrick King you won't go far wrong. Both are established for their work in film scores and the dramatic opening title track (of When the Pipers Play) with solo piper backed by military style drumming, before the grandiose string section and 100 pipers to round everything off in a Run Rig sort of way, will certainly stir the Celtic blood in the listener. Isla's folk roots including a measured version of 'Teddy O'Neill' have served her well since her days as a TV personality and their loss is once again folk music's gain."   Pete Fyfe 'Fyfe on Folk'

TITLES AVAILABLE
Celtic Legends (CD/cassette)
When the Pipers Play (CD/cas/vid)
Murder & Mayhem (CD)
Royal Scandels & Lovers (CD)

BACKGROUND

ISLA ST CLAIR is known to millions for her numerous television appearances, which include all the top entertainment and chat shows, the Royal Variety Show and most notably as co-host on the BBC's long running 'The Generation Game'.

Isla started singing at the tender age of ten. Within a few short years she was touring the world professionally, winning several awards including 'Best Female TV Personality' and 'Best Female Folk Singer'. Her BBC television series 'The Song and the Story' won the coveted European award 'Prix Jeunesse'.

Although the essence of Isla's performances reflect her traditional roots of Scotland, her talent has matured to encompass other aspects of the entertainment business. Her career has now taken a different and more challenging direction. Forming her own production company Isla is co-producing music and films for a wider international audience. When the Pipers Play is one of a series of 'theme' albums produced by Highland Classics, including Celtic Legends, Murder & Mayhem and Royal Scandel & Lovers.

 

DISCOGRAPHY

further information about this title

WHEN THE PIPERS PLAY
Isla St Clair
"This is an evocative collection...elegantly and confidently expressed as ever by Isla... 'When the Pipers Play', a celebration of the Scottish and Irish pipes, and their North American connection, is impressive, moving and entertaining throughout, not least in that she managed to involve 100 pipers from all the Scottish Regiments."  Scots Magazine (Apr/May 99)

catalogue numbers: REHCV049 (video) 
REHCD528 (CD) REHCS528 (cassette)

Isla is a great singer and her performance on this album can best be summed up by the critics, the newspapers recently wrote of Isla —

"Her singing has acquired a new sense of dramatic emphasis, her distinctly warm clear tone and exuberance brings songs to life."  The Scotsman

 

When the Pipers Play is a project particularly close to Isla's heart, she believes that the powerful effect of the pipes on people throughout the world is a story which needs to be told. On the title track Isla is accompanied, literally, by 100 pipers which was a technically demanding live recording at Holyrood Palace Edinburgh. Many of the songs on the album are also featured in her film, also calledWhen the Pipers Play'. This film is part of the award winning Celtic Legends series which includes Instrument of War – The Powerful Story of the Great Highland Bagpipes on video, and the album Celtic Legends available on CD and audio cassette.

Tony Barrel of The Sunday Times wrote —

"The powerful and evocative voice of Isla St Clair has produced an album of enchanting original and traditional tunes. When the Pipers Play deserves equal ranking with those other haunting pipe themes Mull of Kintyre and Amazing Grace."

  further information about this title MURDER & MAYHEM
Isla St Clair
The Scottish ballads in this album are brimming with intrigue, murder, blood feuds and betrayals, supported by the pride and courage of the heroes, or victims of Scotland's turbulent past.

catalogue numbers: 
REHCD533 (CD) 
  further information about this title ROYAL LOVERS & SCANDALS
Isla St Clair
The nobility of Scotland and England are the heroes or villains of these often scandalous songs, which enthral with their tales of legends, romance and tragedy.

catalogue numbers: 
REHCD532 (CD) 
 

further information about this title

CELTIC LEGENDS
Isla St Clair
The accompanying soundtrack to the award winning series 'The Powerful Story of the Great Highland Bagpipes'.

catalogue numbers:
REHCD507 (CD) REHCS507 (cassette)
       

OTHER TITLES

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INSTRUMENT OF WAR - PART ONE
various
The first part of The Story of the Great Highland Bagpipes, with Tom Conti, Hannah Gordgon and Charlton Heston: also featuring Phil Collins, Jackie Stewart, and HRH The Prince of Wales

catalogue numbers:
REHCV041 (video)
 

further information about this title

INSTRUMENT OF WAR - PART TWO
various
The second part of The Story of the Great Highland Bagpipes, with Tom Conti, Hannah Gordgon and Charlton Heston: also featuring Phil Collins, Jackie Stewart, and HRH The Prince of Wales.

catalogue numbers:
REHCV042 (video)
 

further information about this title

SCOTLAND THE BRAVE
various Pipers
One of the most famous and awe inspiring sounds ever to have come out of Scotland is that of the sound of the Great Highland Bagpipe. This album brings you some of the best tunes written for the pipes so that you can hear the sound of 'Scotland the Brave'.

catalogue numbers:
RECD516 (CD)  RECS516 (cassette)
 
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