Gavin Sutherland

A Traveller's Tales . . . .

from where the old road ends and a whole new world begins . . .

Release date 6th May 2019

"A precise and insightful piece of musical art. A terrifically presented album, one that befits a master of their trade," Ian D. Hall, Liverpool Sound and Vision Magazine.

"The Japanese have a word, 'shibumi', for the true sophistication of simple things and 'A Traveller's Tales' is rather like that. Above all, what you have is Sutherland's ability to write a cracking song undiminished by time, enhanced rather by life's lessons along the way. It's almost as though an elder is talking to those around him. They won't fully understand (because they haven't lived the same life) but might just be helped to shorten the journey to get to a better place." Mike Wistow, Folking

"Couched in a blend of rootsy folk and country, as the title suggests these are songs of the road, literal and metaphorical. Walk with him and share the stories." Mike Davies, Fatea Magazine.

Interesting review from Ian D. Hall in 'Liverpool Sound and Vision'

Album of the Week on Celtic Radio FM 21st - 28th September '19.

With musical friends old and new I recorded 'A Traveller's Tales' in Gardenstown, Banffshire, during the summer of 2018 and the early months of 2019. Joining me on this one are a couple of folks I haven't had the pleasure of working with before, Heidi Browne on fiddle and fellow clansman Dave Sutherland on double bass. My old pals Dave McGarry and Terry Butters take turns at the piano, Nick Zala pedals his steel guitar, Sam Lumsden hits the tubs and Steve Watts fires up his vintage synthesizers to add a splash of electronic colour here and there. Nancy K Dillon sings a duet with me from way out west as Heidi Browne, Debi Doss, Claire Kennedy and Gillie Nicholls do their backing harmony thing. It's been a real pleasure working with such a lovely bunch of people, a worthy crew indeed, and I hope you like what we've done.

Tune in if you fancy a listen . . .
Hit the dial for a taste of what we've been up to. It's a quick mix of "The Weary Traveller" from the latest sessions.

Sam would like to say hi and thanks to James at Beier Drums and Dil at Porter & Davies and I would like to thank Tim Berners-Lee for making it possible for us all to work together. Recording techniques have changed in many ways since I first got involved way back in the sixties but, no matter how sophisticated and versatile the technology becomes, it's still all about people, their ideas and how they communicate. Big thanks to everyone who helped me tell these tales. Cheers. GS.

Produced by Gavin Sutherland for 'Spaceman Productions' 2019
Mastered by Richard Werner at B and B Studios, Edinburgh
Additional Recording, Malcolm Atkin, Shepperton UK, Jack Butters, Keele UK,
Olly Nicholls, Stafford UK, Garey Shelton, Seattle USA
Released through Birnam CD, Dunkeld, Scotland
Graphics, Calum Hadden
Ilustration, Gavin Sutherland
All songs Gavin Sutherland©2019

A Traveller's Tales

1. The Master's Voice

Drums - Sam Lumsden
Piano - Dave McGarry
Bass - Dave Sutherland
Pedal Steel Guitar - Nick Zala

It's all out there, go and get it
The master's word, I won't forget it
The time is right it's now or never
The bitter blast won't last forever
Go find your way

Take your chances, stake your claim
Get out there, play the game
Sons and lovers, kings and queens
Spread your wings and dream your dreams
Go find your way

I saw you down the road with a suitcase in your hand
The way it had to be
You pulled the winning card and laid it down on me
Well, c'est la vie

Hold fast and run the weather
The boys out there are boxing clever
Fight your corner, turn the page
Bite the bullet, rattle the cage

Go find your way . . . .

2. Righteous Road

Fiddle - Heidi Browne
Piano - Terry Butters
Harmonies - Heidi Browne, Gillie Nicholls
Drums - Sam Lumsden
Double bass - Dave Sutherland
Synthesizers - Steve Watts
Pedal Steel Guitar - Nick Zala

In the palace of wonder they made their way
A museum of greatness from a distant day
The painters and poets put a mark on me
A light in the darkness, a calm on a restless sea

They're rolling down the righteous road following their destiny
Rolling down the righteous road, the way it has to be
Rolling down the righteous road, a star to guide the way
Rolling down the righteous road to a better day

No-one can temper a young man's dreams
Lost days of madness and wayward schemes
When time stood still and let the dream unfurl
A silent conversation with a changing world

3. In The Eye Of The Storm

Drums - Sam Lumsden
Piano - Dave McGarry
Double bass - Dave Sutherland

I believe in something but I don't know what it is
Maybe somebody can help me out with this
I see the same old dog barking up the same old tree
We're all in the same boat
Drifting on the same sea

More hope than glory out there right now
Same old story, got to hang on somehow
The book is written, what will be will be
We're all in the same boat
Drifting on the same sea

Lord have mercy on this fragile craft
She's taking water fore and aft
With a crew of isolatoes and misfits
Bad to the bone
We're all in the same boat
Drifting in the eye of the storm

4. The Weary Traveller

Fiddle - Heidi Browne
Harmony voice - Nancy K Dillon
Drums - Sam Lumsden
Piano - Dave McGarry
Double bass - Dave Sutherland

You came here, a weary traveller.
You came here with trouble on your mind
You came here empty handed
But you're leaving here with hope and good things in your heart

There'll be times when you feel lonesome
There'll be times when it all goes wrong
There'll be times when dreams are broken
But you're leaving here with hope and good things in your heart

You crossed that troubled ocean
Now there's no going back
You came here a weary traveller
But you're leaving here with hope and good things in your heart

5. Wheels Are Rolling

Chorus Vocals - Claire Kennedy
Drums - Sam Lumsden
Double bass - Dave Sutherland

The wheels are rolling, rolling away

Oh my Lord, I must confess
I was out there in the wilderness
A little mixed up you might say
The wheels were rolling, but I lost my way

Been thinking things over for some time now
I need to turn it around but I don't know how
Maybe some words of comfort could lighten my day
I need some words of comfort but the words won't come my way

Just got word from a friend of mine
He was out there yeah he crossed the line
He got a little messed up, from time to time
But his wheels kept rolling, he's doing just fine

Oh my Lord, I must confess
I was out there in a wilderness
Got a little mixed up, some may say
But the wheels were rolling, now they're rolling my way

6. Voice of Reason

Piano - Terry Butters
Drums - Sam Lumsden
Double bass - Dave Sutherland
Pedal steel guitar - Nick Zala

I watch the silver river sparkle as she flows down to the sea
I hear the rumble of the ocean, crying out me
When I look out there I see no borders, no boundaries, no walls
From somewhere in the distance the voice of reason calls

The moonlight holds so many secrets, what a story it could tell
The good and bad and where the blame sits, the forever giving well
Now here's the thing, those bells will ring and one day bring us all together
The night has spoken and now gives way to the rising of another
Precious day

7. Bright Like The Sun

Backing vocals - Claire Kennedy
Drums - Sam Lumsden
Double bass - Dave Sutherland
Synthesizers - Steve Watts
Pedal steel guitar - Nick Zala

You got something on your mind you're not sure about
Well maybe we could find some time and work things out
If we walk and talk things through
In a way that only good old friends can do
And let the worry wash away in the summer rain

When it's hard to find the words you need to say
We can look out for each other and find a way
If we walk and talk things through
In the way that all those friends and lovers do
And let it all shine down
Bright like the sun in the summer rain

All the time we threw away, confused and down
Dark and distant days but a new day's come around
Now we can walk and talk things through
In a way that only good old friends can do
And let it all shine down
Bright like the sun in the summer rain

8. The Bend In The River

Rhodes piano - Terry Butters
Drums - Sam Lumsden
Double bass - Dave Sutherland

By the bend in the river, where the willows grow
We'll get together, in the twilight glow
Talk of the future, talk of the past
Share in the wonder, where the spell was cast

The sound of the river, the voice we heard
A tale of mystery, the hidden word
By the bend in the river, the place we know so well
The song of the river, what will it tell

By the bend in the river, where the willows grow
We'll get together, in the afterglow
Talk of the future, talk of the past
Share in the secret, where the river spell was cast
By the bend in the river, the place we know so well
The place we know so well

9. On Friday Hill

Drums - Sam Lumsden
Double bass - Dave Sutherland
Pedal steel guitar - Nick Zala

The birds have flown, all is peaceful, calm and still
As the sun goes down on Friday Hill

There's a yellow moon in a purple sky
So many colours out there when the wild geese fly

On a night like this there's a sense of wonder
So much magic in the air

In the quietude, I find an interlude
And watch the sun goe down on Friday Hill.

10. Gull With A Broken Wing

Piano - Terry Butters
Drums - Sam Lumsden
Double bass - Dave Sutherland

There's a gull out on the rocks with a broken wing
I think we know what the night will bring
Mother Nature, running wild
Mother Nature plays a tough game

There's a woman on the shore, a child at her hand
A long way to go to the promised land
Human nature, running wild
Human nature plays a tough game

Mother nature, plays a hard game sometimes.

11. Picture On The Wall

Drums - Sam Lumsden
Double bass - Dave Sutherland
Backing vocals - Debi Doss, Claire Kennedy

Bad news, down come the blues
Out on the street in a drifter's shoes
Tough luck, hard lines
Cold comfort and hard times

Wild nights, dark days
Hard roads, lost ways
Wrong place, wrong time
I find no reason, I hear no rhyme

I've been here before,
I know this place,
I know, for sure
I've seen that face,
In the picture on the wall
I recall,
The sound of rain on the window
And the late night squall

Looking out to the northern sky
Where the glow of the summer dim
Shines a light where the old road ends,
And a whole new world begins
Yeah, I've been here before . . . .

12. Home and Dry

Piano - Terry Butters
Drums - Sam Lumsden
Double bass - Dave Sutherland
Featuring 'The Seatown Choral Society' :- Terry Butters, Nancy K Dillon, Debi Doss,
Claire Kennedy, Sam Lumsden, Dave McGarry, Gillie Nicholls, Dave Sutherland, Nick Zala.

When he looks down from the big sky
I wonder what he'll see
When he looks down from the big sky
Will he be there for you and me.

Some may see you as a stranger
Some may take you as a friend
There'll be no dog in the manger
When we find the journey's end

And we're home and dry, home and dry
The journey's done we're home and dry
We're home and dry, home and dry
The journey's done we're home and dry