70's Tribute Pipe Band plays 1970's Shotts and Dykehead medley

This is the 70's Tribute Pipe Band, Pipe Major David Caldwell and Lead Drummer John Scullion playing a recreation of Shotts & Dykehead's winning medley from the 1970 World Championships. The drum scores are the originals written by Alex Duthart who was Lead Drummer with Shotts at the time.

The music played is:
March The Hills of Alva [Tom Muirhead]
Air Loch Broom Bay [David Ross]
Strathspey The Keel Row [traditional]
Strathspey Stumpie [traditional]
Reel Sgt E MacDonald [Sgt E MacDonald]
Reel Sandy Duff [attrib. D. Campbell]
Jig Banjo Breakdown [traditional]
Hornpipe: Pipe-Major George S. Allen [PM Donald MacLeod]
March: Cullen Bay [Ian Duncan]

The 1970 World Pipe Band Championships were held in Hazelhead Park in Aberdeen. It was the first time that medleys were incorporated. Shotts, playing under Pipe Major Tom McAllister. Jun. and Lead Drummer Alex Duthart, narrowly beat Muirhead and Sons, Grangemouth into second place. Muirheads had held the title since 1965 - and were to retrieve it again in 1971.

Perhaps the most immediately noticeable difference is that there are only two tenor drummers (still the case with UK army pipe bands). Full midrange sections did not appear until 2005.

[eamodec]

I think I've found it; the most niche cover band of all time

[sambapixiescot]

Wow! i'm having a moment! My dad Tom Turnbull played in the Shotts band at this time. I was only 6 years old but these tunes are still so to me having heard them over and over. Ian Duncans lovely tunes and Aex Dutharts amazing drum scores standing the test of time, a great tribute to them all. x

[sonkaldo]

Finally can hear a bass drum do what it is there to do and NOT a thousand side drummers. Plus music that is music. Oh and a REAL slow air.
Finally.

[igorGriffiths]

Great medley and balance between pipes and drums allowing the tunes to breathe rather than every second being filled

[wivory]

I totally accept the technical excellence of todays Grade 1 bands, but sometimes wonder about some of the tunes played in their medleys. Good to hear some of the old time tunes, played well and at a good tempo.

[Merq-kodi]

🎶🎼🎵 I played grade 2 & 1 during this magnificent musical 🎼 era and only ever had a maximum of ONE hole ever taped on my Billy Sinclar WOODEN chanter ... OMG what has happened and are there any present day " pipe majors " who have the skills to set up chanters without a plastic goudging tool rather than an educated ear for true sound ... progress my ar*e 🤔😱

[Andrew_Lewis]

Reminds me of bands when I was a kid, as good as the bands are today this performance was very nostalgic and the march off made the hairs on the back of my neck stand up. Great stuff well done.

[davidslobod]

So wonderful to hear the tunes of my youth. I remembered every one.

[manuelduran]

Fascinante. Me gusta más, que muchas bandas de ahora.

[gordonstirling]

One of the many highlights over the weekend.. well captured ..thank you

[moniquevanaken]

What a great medley! And I was surprised to read the reference to Muirhead and Sons. That last opened my heart to bagpipe music. For my 10th birthday in 1963 I got their album Champion of Champions, not understanding at that age what an amazing band they were. And how my aunt got hold of it in the Netherlands, where I live, I've never known. That album is one of my most precious possessions! I'm so grateful for that gift and the band's music🙏❤

[patrickwallace]

Thank you so much for posting this just amazing minds me of my dad.

[johnminer]

Brilliant. That was most enjoyable. Does anyone know who the band was comprised of? Were there original members of that band? If so, that is most impressive since it's been 52 years!

[jonshellsr.]

Great post! From albums I had as a kid in the 70's, I always loved Shotts. Just curious, any of the former Shotts players in this tribute group?

[norsegleeclub]

Do I see James w a rk ex pm of strothclyde police pipe band

[yasdnilknarf]

I think this is the correct pace and nice variation in the songs. Am I correct in thinking they had an album called Right of the Line?

[safarinjema]

Was the tuning a bit lower than usual?

[norsegleeclub]

Tenor drumming is wrong is 1990 threw 2000

[ChefLynnGB]

It would have been better had they played it at the 1970s pitch too! Modern bagpipe pitch is just unpleasant to listen to IMO.