{"product_id":"dick-gaughan-handful-of-earth-cd","title":"Dick Gaughan - Handful Of Earth | CD","description":"Deluxe CD issue of the classic Topic album.  Includes unseen photographs from the Topic LP photo session  plus new sleeve notes by respected folk  journalist Ken Hunt (Record Collector).  Melody Maker magazine's 'LP Of The Year,' 1981 and fRoots  magazine 'Album of the Decade,' 1989\r\n\r\nAlthough originally released in November 1981, time has been good to Handful Of Earth. The passage of the years has done little to erode its magisterial strength and potency as a milestone within traditional music - one that quickly established Dick Gaughan as one of the most passionate and fiercely political British folk singers.  Greatly inspired by the political turmoil in Scotland following the Conservative Party victory at the 1979 general election, the album was also Gaughan's first after spending several years largely avoiding playing music while regaining his health following a mental breakdown in 1979. \r\n\r\nInstantly recognised as a masterwork straightaway (a Melody Maker magazine album of the year), over the course of the decade, panegyrics and plaudits proliferated - Folk Roots (now fRoots) readers and critics voting it the album of the decade in 1989. In terms of influence, Handful Of Earth is up there with the select pantheon of The Watersons Frost and Fire, Martin Carthy and Dave Swarbricks Prince Heathen, Nic Jones Penguin Eggs and June Tabor \u0026amp; Martin Simpsons A Cut Above. Amongst its legions of fans, Billy Bragg and comedian\/writer Stewart Lee cite it as one of their favourite albums ever.  \r\n\r\nHandful Of Earth contains a quiver of traditional and contemporary songs - Robert Burns' lyrical, Now Westlin Winds, the feisty Erin Go Bragh, Phil \u0026amp; June Colclough's evocative, Song For Ireland and his own reworking of the traditional Both Sides The Tweed, which calls for Scottish independence without sacrificing friendship with the rest of the UK (as topical now as it ever was).  \r\n\r\nGaughans fifth solo studio LP and his third for Topic, with Mick Campbells apposite cover portrait of our man in black against the backdrop of an industrial\/agricultural landscape, was clearly a classic from the start.  The labels original press release, written by head honcho, Tony Engle, began :With his new record, Dick Gaughan has surpassed himself. Ive always had great respect for Dick, and admired all his records, but Handful of Earth puts him on a new and even higher level. I think its the most powerful and inventive record hes ever made. Engle goes even further : This is a record that actually advances music.\n\n1. Erin-Go-Bragh\r 2. Now Westin Winds\r 3. Craigie Hill\r 4. World Turned Upside Down\r 5. The Snows They Melt The Soonest\r 6. Lough Erne\/First Kiss At Parting\r 7. Scojun Waltz \/ Randers Hopsa\r 8. Song For Ireland\r 9. Workers Song\r 10. Both Sides The Tweed\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eFormat Detail: CD Deluxe CD reissue in 'O' card with 20 page booklet of new sleeve notes + unseen photos\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eInternal ID: JITRE\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eHandling Note: **Please allow an additional 72 hours for this item's shipment.**\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eFormat: CD\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eGenre: Folk\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eReleased: 6\/7\/19\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e","brand":"Dick Gaughan","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":41716617379899,"sku":"EVP-714822890052","price":14.87,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0375\/2873\/1707\/files\/handful-of-earth_QRX02.jpg?v=1777103496","url":"https:\/\/record-stop.com\/products\/dick-gaughan-handful-of-earth-cd","provider":"Record Stop","version":"1.0","type":"link"}