Misplaced Pages

It has been suggested that Protect and Survive (song) be merged into this article. (Discuss) Proposed since September 2024.

The Cutter and the Clan
Studio album by Runrig
Released	1 December 1987
Recorded	REL / Palladium Studios, Edinburgh, Scotland
Genre	Celtic rock
Length	37:32
Label	Ridge / Chrysalis
Producer	Chris Harley
Runrig chronology
Heartland (1985) The Cutter and the Clan (1987) Searchlight (1989)

The Cutter and the Clan is the fifth studio album by Scottish Celtic rock band Runrig. Released on 1 December 1987, it was the band's breakthrough album, taking them from cottage industry to the international stage. Initially, it peaked at number seven on the UK Independent Albums Chart in 1988, however, a re–release in 1995 saw it debut at number forty-five on the UK Albums Chart as well as a debut appearance of number thirty one on the Scottish Albums Chart. A further re–release in 2024 saw it reach a new peak in their native Scotland of number twelve.

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. A 1995 re–release produced the single "An Ubhal as Àirde (The Highest Apple)", which made history by becoming the first song to be performed in Scottish Gaelic to chart in the United Kingdom.

Background and release

The Cutter and the Clan features Donnie Munro on lead vocals, Rory Macdonald providing additional vocals and harmonies, as well as bass, Calum Macdonald provides backing vocals and performs percussion, Malcolm Jones contributed guitars, bagpipes and mandolin to the arrangements, with Iain Bayne on drums and percussion and Peter Wishart on keyboards and additional backing vocals. The band were joined by several session musicians for the recording of the album, including additional backing vocals provided by Kim Beacon, Chris Harley and Ann Turner, with Dougie Stevenson being credited for pedal steel contributions, John Martin for fiddle and Rab Howatt for additional guitar contributions.

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.

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. It was later re–released in 2001 as part of a 3 CD box set, released by EMI Records, alongside The Big Wheel and Amazing Things, and again, this time part of a five CD box set in 2014. 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.

Promotion

During the albums initial release period in 1987, Runrig appeared on Mod For Rockers which was broadcast on STV. The performance was recorded on 4 August 1987. Two singles were released from the album during its initial release in 1987 – "Worker for the Wind" / "Alba" (1987) and "Protect and Survive" which just missed the UK Top 100 by ten places. For the 1995 re–release and with their popularity growing, Runrig performed "An Ubhal An Airde" on Top of the Pops on BBC, broadcast on 4 May 1995. Additionally, the band appeared on The Rock That Doesn't Roll on STV, broadcast on 27 August 1995.

The 1995 re–release of The Cutter and the Clan was preceded by the release of "An Ubhal as Àirde (The Highest Apple)" in 1995, which was later to become the first and only Scottish Gaelic language song to reach the UK Top 20, reaching #18 in 1995, following its use in an advert for Carlsberg lager.

Commercial performance

Upon its original release in 1987, the album followed a similar trend to the bands previous albums in which it failed to chart on any national albums chart. It did, however, peak at number seven on the Independent Albums Charts in the United Kingdom. In 1995, following its re–release on the back of the bands popularity, the album debuted at number forty-five on the UK Albums Charts, where it remained for two weeks. The Cutter and the Clan was certified Silver by the BPI in the United Kingdom in 1995, seven years following its original release. In their native Scotland, it reached a peak of thirty one on the Scottish Albums Charts, again, in 1995 upon its re–release.

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

Track listing

All songs written by Calum Macdonald and Rory Macdonald.

1. "Alba" – 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

1987 release

1995 re–release

2024 re–issue

Certifications

• United Kingdom (BPI) – Silver

Personnel

Runrig

• Iain Bayne – drums, percussion
• Malcolm Jones – guitars, pipes, mandolin
• Calum Macdonald – percussion
• Rory Macdonald – vocals, bass guitar, guitar, accordion
• Donnie Munro – lead vocals
• Peter Wishart – keyboards

References

1. ^ "The Cutter and the Clan". Runrig Rocks. Retrieved 2 January 2025.
2. ^ "Indie Hits "R"". web.archive.org. 5 June 2011. Retrieved 2 January 2025.
3. "RUNRIG". Official Charts. 8 January 1983. Retrieved 2 January 2025.
4. ^ "Official Scottish Albums Chart on 16/8/2024". Official Charts. Retrieved 2 January 2025.
5. "RUNRIG – The Story (Ridge RR078)". Folking.com. 22 January 2016. Retrieved 2 January 2025.
6. Brown, Jamie (16 January 1988). "Gaels who brought a wind of change". The Evening Times. p. 8. Retrieved 12 September 2024.
7. "Runrig The Cutter & The Clan (Expanded Edition) Vinyl LP Clear Colour 2024". Assai Records. Retrieved 1 September 2024.
8. "Runrig The Cutter & The Clan (Expanded Edition) Vinyl LP Clear Colour 2024". Assai Records. Retrieved 1 September 2024.
9. "1987". runrig.rocks. Retrieved 2 January 2025.
10. "UK Singles Charts: 1988 (including chart panel sales)". UKMIX Forums. 23 June 2023. Retrieved 2 January 2025.
11. "1995". runrig.rocks. Retrieved 2 January 2025.
12. "AN UBHAL AS AIRDE". Runrig Rocks. Retrieved 2 January 2025.
13. "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.
14. "RUNRIG". Official Charts. 8 January 1983. Retrieved 1 September 2024.
15. "BRIT Certified". BPI. Retrieved 1 September 2024.
16. "RUNRIG". Official Charts. 8 January 1983. Retrieved 1 September 2024.
17. "Official Independent Albums Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 20 May 1995.
18. "Runrig | Artist | Official Charts". UK Albums Chart. Retrieved 20 May 1995.
19. "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 20 May 1995.
20. "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 16 August 2024.
21. "Official Independent Albums Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 16 August 2024.
22. "The Cutter and the Clan - Runrig". BPI. Retrieved 30 December 2024.

• 1985 albums
• Runrig albums
• Scottish Gaelic music