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The Cutter and the Clan

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The Cutter and the Clan is the fifth album by the Scottish Celtic rock band Runrig. It was the band's breakthrough album, taking them from cottage industry to the international stage. It was also the first Runrig album to feature keyboard player Pete Wishart – forming the "classic" line-up of the band through what would be their most commercially successful period.

The Cutter and the Clan
Studio album by
Runrig
Released1987
RecordedREL / Palladium Studios, Edinburgh, Scotland
GenreCeltic rock
Length37:32
LabelRidge / Chrysalis
ProducerChris Harley
Runrig chronology
Heartland
(1985) 		The Cutter and the Clan
(1987) 		Searchlight
(1989)

Background and release

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The bands first four albums – Play Gaelic (1978), The Highland Connection (1979), Recovery (1981) and Heartland (1985), failed to have any impact on national charts, leading the band to part ways with two record companies in the process – Neptune Records and Ridge Records.

Eight out of the ten tracks on The Cutter and the Clan had lyrics in English, and the album had material dealing with Gaels who had moved away from Scotland to the new world.[1]

Originally, The Cutter and the Clan was recorded on the band's own Ridge label, it was taken on board by Chrysalis Records as part of a 1987 major recording contract which heralded a string of hit albums that would last until the mid-1990s with singer Donnie Munro's departure from the band a decade later. The release of The Cutter and the Clan marked their first release by Chrysalis Records.[2]

In 2024, The Cutter and the Clan the album was remastered, printed, and pressed entirely in Scotland, and released through original record label for its initial release, Chrysalis. [3]

Promotion

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Highlights include the song "An Ubhal as Àirde", which was later to become the first and only Scottish Gaelic language song to reach the UK Top 20, reaching #18 in 1995,[4] following its use in an advert for Carlsberg lager.

Commercial performance

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Upon its release, the album followed a similar trend to the bands previous albums in which it failed to chart. In 1995, the album debuted at number forty-five on the UK Albums Charts, where it remained for two weeks.[5] The Cutter and the Clan was certified Silver by the BPI in the United Kingdom in 1995, seven years following its original release.[6] In their native Scotland, it reached a peak of thirty one on the Scottish Albums Charts, again, in 1995 upon its re–release.[7]

In August 2024, The Cutter and the Clan re–entered the albums charts in their native Scotland at number twelve.[8]

Track listing

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All songs written by Calum Macdonald and Rory Macdonald.

  1. "Alba" (Scotland) – 4:02
  2. "The Cutter" – 3:51
  3. "Hearts of Olden Glory" – 2:14
  4. "Pride of the Summer" – 3:59
  5. "Worker for the Wind" – 3:30
  6. "Rocket to the Moon" – 4:59
  7. "The Only Rose" – 3:51
  8. "Protect and Survive" – 3:23
  9. "Our Earth Was Once Green" – 4:01
  10. "An Ubhal as Àirde" (The Highest Apple) – 3:47

Chart performance

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1995 release

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Chart (1995) Peak
position
UK Albums (OCC)[9] 45
Scottish Albums (OCC)[10] 31

2024 re–issue

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Chart (2024) Peak
position
Scottish Albums (OCC)[10] 12

Personnel

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Runrig

References

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  1. ^ Brown, Jamie (16 January 1988). "Gaels who brought a wind of change". The Evening Times. p. 8. Retrieved 12 September 2024.
  2. ^ "Runrig The Cutter & The Clan (Expanded Edition) Vinyl LP Clear Colour 2024". Assai Records. Retrieved 1 September 2024.
  3. ^ "Runrig The Cutter & The Clan (Expanded Edition) Vinyl LP Clear Colour 2024". Assai Records. Retrieved 1 September 2024.
  4. ^ "everyHit.com". Retrieved 10 October 2011. Name of artist: "Runrig", Title of song: "An Ubhal As Airde (The Highest Apple)". Position: 18, Date: May 1995.
  5. ^ "RUNRIG". Official Charts. 8 January 1983. Retrieved 1 September 2024.
  6. ^ "BRIT Certified". BPI. Retrieved 1 September 2024.
  7. ^ "RUNRIG". Official Charts. 8 January 1983. Retrieved 1 September 2024.
  8. ^ "Official Scottish Albums Chart on 16/8/2024". Official Charts. Retrieved 31 August 2024.
  9. ^ "Runrig | Artist | Official Charts". UK Albums Chart. Retrieved 20 May 1995.
  10. ^ a b "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 20 May 1995. Cite error: The named reference "ac_Scotland_Runrig" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).
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