King Of Scotland
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Our seventh album has been a long time in the making. There are songs that have recently been written and songs that Jock was forming in his teenage years. ‘Screaming In Private’ was written when he was just 15 and was the name of his first band who went on to tour Germany in the 80’s with his songs, but without him. ‘None of Us Are Getting Out Of Here Alive’ is right up-to-date and a nod to Filthy & Vicious, who faced heartbreak with characteristic positivity and determination. ‘Dance Stramash’ has been written to recognise our first two tours of Scotland and the overwhelming acceptance our music received in Jock’s homeland. Particularly at one of Edinburgh’s most famous and best loved venues, Stramash. ‘Too Rye Aye’ was also written and inspired by our Scottish tours and at the time Jock's youngest sister, Stacey was emigrating to Australia. Which brings us to the title, ‘King Of Scotland’. Jock found his biological father whilst writing this album, and in fact found that as a Scot his love of Irish music was in his genes. His biological Grandfather was one of a family of 7 children, 5 boys and 2 girls, all born on St Martin Street, Dublin. Tracing his mother’s family line to The Mclelland Castle in Kirkcudbright also brought some very interesting links and so the ‘King Of Scotland’ was penned. ‘Sometimes’ was also written about this time of revelation for Jock. ‘The Ballad Of David Mallet’ is a true story about our friend and pianist, Hammer McKeys. There is nonsense as usual with, ‘Mother’s a Dawg’, and, ‘Now I am Dead’. Taking themes and actions to extremes that we hope the listener will understand are not real! ‘Highway to Hell’ depicts Jock & Joolz and their first feelings about each other. ‘Parallels’ was written just after the death of Joolz’s father in 2018 and ‘Broken Down’ is a stripped back, simplistic recording of an old song that has been around since Jock’s teens. ‘The Boxer’ is one of our favourites on the album, it talks about loyalty and love in all it’s forms. The pace and vocals work beautifully. Finally, a tribute to Joolz, ‘My vision Of Angel – Happy Christmas’. It was completely started and finished by Jock, a rare moment of romance from a Scottish man! We hope you enjoy our album and find something in it that you can identify with.
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Pussycat
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And so we bring you our sixth, original album 'Shifts & Changes'.
The name seems appropriate for many reasons, firstly because the album itself was recorded in three different studios: Metway, Brighton, Bluewater, Ollerton and finally at The Chapel, Alford where the album was produced and mixed by Manchester producer Jim Spencer. Also, the songs reflect the times politically of shifts & changes, a time of recession and worry and a time of keeping things together and having the courage to be positive about the future. We had shifts & changes in band members and musicians recording their parts, the style of the songs and the genre of music that you would categorise them in also shifts & changes but make no mistake this is BFCH, these are McLelland songs and as ever the album is unique and produced with great care and passion. |
The Ballad of Charlie Dowd
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Ghosts & Spirits is the band's fifth, original album with ten new songs.
The album was recorded mainly in Youghal, County Cork under the watchful eye and ear of Maurice 'Mugger' Mulligan (band's bass player) and the so laid back and so committed, Warren. Recording this album was the most fun the band had ever had in a recording situ (the Irish craic never being far away!) and on the front cover are the two people who definitely made their mark on the music – Mad Dawg (drummer) and Ben (fiddle, accordion, whistle, piano and pipes). The opening song 'The Ballad Of Charlie Dowd' is a tribute to John's (Mad Dawg's) father who passed away in 2005 and 'Ghosts & Spirits' is a tribute to a BFCH friend, Peter Lane, who depped for the band on bass and who also died in 2005 of cancer aged just 47. The album was released through Redmuze Publishing, London and was also made available for download. 'The Ballad Of Charlie Dowd' has also since been made available as a DVD single and this particular song has proved to be a favourite song for airplay and live performance. |
Do these things happen to you?
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This is an album of 12 strong songs with yet again a variance of instruments and styles.
The band was without an experienced drummer at this time so the drums were put down in a basic form plus full use of the bodhran (played by Scarecrow) – the album has been a great success and continues to sell worldwide. Favourite songs for airplay from this album have been 'Darryl Days Gone By', 'Santa Claus' and 'Glasgow Gangsters' but in contrast the favourite songs live have been 'Boom, Boom, Boom' and 'Never Going To Drink That Stuff Again' – the lyrics of this song were written by McLelland & McLelland after a notable Irnham Beer Festival that continued until dawn!! BFCH folllowers who have been to this annual event can really identify with the sentiment of the song… 'In Love In 2002' has been one of the band's favourite ballads to play live. |
Prison Walls
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In My Mind is the band's third, orignal album. It's about life and the struggles that we all have from day to day coping with work (Killing Time), children (Oor Lassie), rejection (I'd Like To Get To Know Ya), deceipt (You're A Liar), escape (Hero), drunkards (This Small Town), serious illness (But It Did), injustice (Prison Walls), loneliness (It's In My Mind) and just nonsense (Jimmy Baker).
Favourite songs for airplay from this album include 'Killing Time', 'Prison Walls' and around the Christmas season……the manic 'Jimmy Baker'. It has been critically acclaimed as a classic Celtic, rock album and continues to sell worldwide. |
Tears Like Acid
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Brand new is BFCH's second album release – recorded at Gems Recording Studio in Boston – and introduces a lot of new sounds and dimensions as the band is growing.
The song 'Born To Be' has proved to be one of BFCH's classics and has received airplay around Europe and in particular is a favourite with Canadian Prairie Radio Station. 'The Dream Team' was a song commissioned through Cherry Red Records for a release on a tribute album entitled 'Ibrox Anthems'. This song was written by Steven McLelland who had some doubts about this at the time as he was brought up with a mixed influence of catholic and protestant beliefs. This album has been sold worldwide with the song released in its original form. The tribute to Celtic FC is written but not yet recorded for release, it will be released sometime in the future of BFCH. Favourite songs on this album for live shows include 'Fag Ash Lill', 'These Words' and 'Wasn't Mean't To Be'. |
What The Hell
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Money Worries was the band's first album and was recorded at The Stables Recording Studio in Rauceby, Lincolnshire.
Tracks from the album that have been published include 'Lazy Days' which has been used by French (SACEM) Films for soundtrack and 'Champions' has been licensed for use by Cherry Red Records to be included in an MUFC tribute album entitled 'Move, Move, Move'. This album has been sold worldwide with the song still in its original form as recorded and written by Steven McLelland. Favourite songs on the album that have been gigged over the years include 'Money Worries' and 'What Do You Bloody Know'. 'She Played The Fiddle' is a particularly beautiful song with moving lyrics about a lady who was admitted to Rauceby Hospital, near Sleaford. The lady was a fantastic piano player but at the time of recording this album we did not have a piano in the band! and so the song became 'She Played The Fiddle'. |