Flower of the West

Last updated
"Flower of the West"
Flower of the West by Runrig.jpeg
Single by Runrig
from the album The Big Wheel
B-side "Ravenscaig"
Released28 October 1991
Studio Castlesound Studios, Edinburgh, Scotland
Label Chrysalis – CHS 3451
Producer(s) Chris Harley
Runrig singles chronology
"Every River"
(1989)
"Flower of the West"
(1991)
"Wonderful"
(1993)

"Flower of the West" is a 1991 single released by Scottish celtic rock band Runrig, released as the lead and only single from their seventh studio album The Big Wheel (1991). The single was released on 28 October 1991 and was released by Chrysalis. [1] Upon its release, "Flower of the West" became the highest-charting entry for the band on the UK Singles Charts, following its peak at number forty-three. [2]

Contents

Background

"Flower of the West" features an "intensely emotional evocation of a micro-historical landscape" as described by the National Museums Scotland. [3] AllMusic said that "Flower of the West concludes The Big Wheel in typical grandiose Runrig fashion". [4]

Commercial performance

The release of "Flower of the West" brought Runrig the closest they had been to entering the UK Top 40 Singles Charts, after the song debuted at number forty-three in the United Kingdom. It spent a total of two weeks within the UK Top 100 Singles Charts, falling to number forty-seven in its second and final week, before falling out of the UK Top 100. [5]

Track listing

CD, EP, single (UK)

  1. "Flower of the West" – 4:55
  2. "Ravenscraig" – 4:30
  3. "Chi Mi'n Geamhradh" (featuring Karen Matheson) – 4:12
  4. "Harvest Moon" (Live at Loch Lomond)

Vinyl, 7", 45 RPM, single (Germany)

  1. "Flower of the West" – 4:55
  2. "Chi Mi'n Geamhradh" (featuring Karen Matheson) – 4:12

Chart performance

Chart (1991)Peak
position
UK Singles (OCC) [6] 43

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Runrig</span> Scottish Celtic rock band

Runrig were a Scottish Celtic rock band formed on the Isle of Skye in 1973. From its inception, the band's line-up included brothers and songwriters Rory MacDonald and Calum MacDonald (percussion). The line-up during most of the 1980s and 1990s, which was the band's most successful period commercially, also included Donnie Munro (vocals), Malcolm Jones (guitar), Iain Bayne (drums), and Pete Wishart (keyboards). Munro left the band in 1997 to pursue a career in politics and was replaced by Bruce Guthro. Wishart left in 2001, also to pursue a career in politics, and was replaced by Brian Hurren. The band released fourteen studio albums, with a number of their songs sung in Scottish Gaelic. At the height of their success during the 1980s and 1990s, Runrig were described by Billboard as one of the "most celebrated" Gaelic language bands in Scotland.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Icehouse (band)</span> Australian rock band (initially known as Flowers)

Icehouse are an Australian rock band, formed in Sydney in 1977 as Flowers. Initially known in their homeland for their pub rock style, the band later achieved mainstream success playing new wave and synth-pop music and attained Top 10 singles chart success locally and in both Europe and the U.S. The mainstay of both Flowers and Icehouse has been Iva Davies supplying additional musicians as required. The name "Icehouse", adopted in 1981, comes from an old, cold flat Davies lived in and the strange building across the road populated by itinerant people.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Crazy (Seal song)</span> 1990 single by Seal

"Crazy" is a song written by English singer-songwriter Seal and English songwriter Guy Sigsworth. Produced by Trevor Horn, it was released by ZTT Records on 26 November 1990 as the lead single from Seal's debut studio album, Seal (1991). The song became his first commercial hit, reaching No. 2 in the United Kingdom, while becoming his first top ten single in the United States. It has since been covered by several artists, including Alanis Morissette, whose version was released as a single from her 2005 compilation album, The Collection.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">You Got the Love</span> Single by The Source featuring Candi Staton

"You Got the Love" is a song by British songwriting team the Source featuring American singer-songwriter Candi Staton. Originally released in 1986, the song was remixed and re-released in 1991, 1997, and 2006. It reached number three on the UK Singles Chart, number two on the UK Dance Singles Chart and number one on the UK Club Chart.

<i>Play Gaelic</i> 1978 studio album by Runrig

Play Gaelic is the first album by the Scottish Celtic rock band Runrig. It was released in 1978 on LP and tape by Neptune Records. In 1990 it was re-released on CD by Lismor Recordings with different cover art.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Deacon Blue discography</span>

The discography of Scottish band Deacon Blue consists of ten studio albums, two live albums, seven compilation albums, and one album that is both a studio and a compilation album. As of 2020, Deacon Blue's total album sales stood at seven million, with twelve UK top 40 singles, along with two number one albums in the UK. Their debut album, Raintown (1987) reached number fourteen in the United Kingdom, and received a Platinum certification. It reached number fifty-four on the Dutch Album Top 100, and spawned the successful singles "Dignity", "Chocolate Girl" and "Loaded". Their follow up album, When the World Knows Your Name (1989), was a major success for the band, peaking at number one in the United Kingdom, achieving a double platinum certification. It charted in other European countries, including Sweden and Germany, and in international markets including Australia and New Zealand. Its lead single, "Real Gone Kid", peaked within the Top 10 of the UK Singles Chart, and peaked at number one in Spain and number five in New Zealand.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gary Innes</span>

Gary Innes is a Scottish musician, shinty player, composer and broadcaster from Spean Bridge, Lochaber, Scotland.

<i>Once in a Lifetime</i> (Runrig album) 1988 live album by Runrig

Once in a Lifetime is a live album by Scottish Celtic rock band Runrig. It was released in 1988.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rhythm of My Heart</span> 1991 single by Rod Stewart

"Rhythm of My Heart" is a song written by Marc Jordan and John Capek that was first recorded by Dutch rock and roll artist René Shuman, included on his 1986 self-titled debut album. In 1991, British singer Rod Stewart recorded the song for his album Vagabond Heart with production by Trevor Horn. It is the album's opening track and was released as its second single on 4 March 1991 by Warner.

<i>The Big Wheel</i> (album) 1991 studio album by Runrig

The Big Wheel is a studio album by the Scottish Celtic rock band Runrig, released in 1991. The album peaked at No. 4 on the UK Albums Chart.

<i>Long Distance</i> (Runrig album) 1996 compilation album by Runrig

Long Distance is a compilation album of seventeen of Scottish Celtic rock band Runrig's songs.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Runrig discography</span>

This is a comprehensive listing of the discography of Celtic rock group Runrig. They released their debut album, Play Gaelic, in April 1978, followed by the albums The Highland Connection (1979), Recovery (1981) and Heartland (1985). The band achieved moderate breakthrough commercial success in 1987 upon the release of The Cutter and the Clan, which yielded the singles "Worker for the Wind" / "Alba" and "Protect and Survive", which peaked just outside the Top 100 of the UK Singles Chart. "News from Heaven" was released as the lead single from their sixth album Searchlight (1989), which peaked at number ninety on the UK Singles Chart. Searchlight reached a peak of number eleven on the UK Albums Chart, and was certified Silver in the United Kingdom and marked the beginning of a period of commercial success for the band across Europe.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Loch Lomond (Runrig song)</span> 1982 single by Runrig

"Loch Lomond" is the debut single by Scottish celtic rock band Runrig, released in December 1982 as a non-album single. "Loch Lomond" is a cover version of the traditional Scots song, "The Bonnie Banks o' Loch Lomond". The song was released via Ridge Records, and was recorded at Castlesound Studios in Edinburgh.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">News from Heaven</span> 1989 single by Runrig

"News from Heaven" is a 1989 single released by Scottish celtic rock band Runrig, released in September 1989 as the lead single from their sixth studio album Searchlight (1989). The single marked the second appearance of the band on the UK Top 100 Singles Charts following its peak at number ninety on the week of 16 September 1989. It remained on the UK Singles Charts for two weeks.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wonderful (Runrig song)</span> 1993 single by Runrig

"Wonderful" is a 1993 single released by Scottish celtic rock band Runrig, which was released on 22 February 1993 as the lead single from their eighth studio album Amazing Things (1993). The release of "Wonderful" marked the first appearance of Runrig in the UK Top 40 Singles Chart, after the song debuted at number twenty-nine on the UK Singles Chart on 6 March 1993. It spent a total of three weeks on the UK Singles Chart before falling to number forty-three in its second week and number seventy in its third week.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Greatest Flame</span> 1993 single by Runrig

"The Greatest Flame" is a 1993 single released by Scottish celtic rock band Runrig, released as the second single from their eighth studio album Amazing Things (1993). It was released by Chrysalis in the United Kingdom and across continental Europe.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">An Ubhal as Àirde (The Highest Apple)</span> 1995 single by Runrig

"An Ubhal as Àirde " is a 1995 single released by Scottish celtic rock band Runrig. The release of the single marks the second stand alone single release by the band, preceded by "This Time of Year" a year earlier in 1994. The song gave Runrig their highest placing to date on the UK Singles Charts, becoming their first UK Top 20, debuting at number eighteen in May 1995.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Things That Are (song)</span> 1995 single by Runrig

"Things That Are" is a 1995 single released by Scottish celtic rock band Runrig, released as the lead and only single from their ninth studio album Mara (1995). A commercial success for the band in their native Scotland, it debuted at number nine on the Scottish Singles Chart. It debuted at number forty in the United Kingdom where it remained for two weeks before falling to number sixty-eight in its second and final week.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Maymorning</span> 1999 single by Runrig

"Maymorning" is a 1999 single released by Scottish celtic rock band Runrig, released as the second single from their tenth studio album In Search of Angels (1999). Its release was preceded by the single "The Message". Written by Rory MacDonald and Calum MacDonald, it was released via Ridge Records in the United Kingdom, and by Columbia Records across continental Europe. The release of the single marked one of the first releases of new lead singer for the band, Bruce Guthro, following the departure of original lead singer Donnie Munro.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Book of Golden Stories</span> 2001 single by Runrig

"Book of Golden Stories" is a 2001 single released by Scottish celtic rock band Runrig, released as the lead single from their eleventh studio album The Stamping Ground (2001). The single failed to match the earlier success that the band had came to experience, particularly during the 1990s, charting outside the UK Top 100 Singles Charts at number one hundred and ninety one in May 2001 in the United Kingdom.

References

  1. "Music Week - 2 November 1991" (PDF). Musicweek. Retrieved 7 September 2024.
  2. "RUNRIG". Official Charts. 8 January 1983. Retrieved 1 September 2024.
  3. "Music, Land and People: Runrig and Highland History". National Museums Scotland Blog. 28 July 2019. Retrieved 1 September 2024.
  4. "The Big Wheel - Runrig | Album | AllMusic". AllMusic.com. Retrieved 1 September 2024.
  5. "RUNRIG". Official Charts. 8 January 1983. Retrieved 1 September 2024.
  6. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company.