Songs of Scotland's Martyrs Rogues & Worthies
(Album for release on CD & digital download.
Release Date: 14th February 2011)

Alan Reid joined Battlefield Band in 1969, at a time when they were morphing from a 'covers band', into a 'folk group'. They quickly became pre-eminent in the emerging Scottish Traditional music scene, becoming established firmly at the forefront and still remaining there today. Alan has traveled the world with the group on every step of their journey, which along the way saw them declared 'a national treasure', and has been involved in over 30 outstanding and critically acclaimed albums.

Over these years, while other members came, honed their talents and moved on to develop solo careers, Alan remained in the keyboard engine room, becoming what I see as the 'father and son' of Battlefield Band. So you can imagine that it was a bit of a shock to the band and their fans when in 2010, after four decades, he decided that it was time to bow out, in order to develop his writing and to follow other musical paths and partnerships.

Alan is a fine songwriter - held in high regard by his peers - and his songs cover a great range of subjects and emotions. It has been a pleasure to see where his muse has led him, from broad sweeping historical ballads to perceptive and intense character studies and deceptively simple and engaging love songs. These songs have been an important part of Battlefield Band's repertoire but, now that he has stepped down, it gives us the opportunity to highlight some of his personal favourites in their own right.

These are fine pieces of writing and a record of a distinguished and continuing career in Scottish music but, most importantly of all, they're just great songs.

www.reidvansante.com