One of the most remarkable stories in recording history
Thomas Fraser of Burra Isle, Shetland, passed away in 1978 aged only 50. Thomas had been a fisherman and crofter - ordinary you might say - yet he left a stunning legacy: thousands of songs recorded at home in his small croft house using a reel-to-reel recorder. Not music traditionally associated with Shetland entirely, for Thomas was an exponent of the American country and blues styles and his passion was the guitar.
THE STORY
Nearing his death, Thomas quietly observed that maybe someday, his music may see the light of day. His tapes lay undisturbed for 25 years until his Grandson discovered them and inspired by what he heard, compiled a 25-track CD release in 2002. The release of 'Long Gone Lonesome Blues' gave Thomas Fraser the recognition he so richly deserved. The critics called it "one of the most remarkable stories in recording history" and "some of the greatest American music you will hear". Two more discs soon followed: 'You and My Old Guitar' (2003) and 'Treasure Untold' (2005).
What startled the critics and fans of country music was the authenticity and sheer passion poured into each track. Not only that, here was music with a story to tell - an amazing story of undiscovered talent and long-lost music unearthed in a remote Shetland Island community. The success of the posthumous release of the three Thomas Fraser volumes established his name as a true country music legend. Despite being reclusively shy and self-deprecating (he never even considered himself a musician), experts now mention the name Thomas Fraser in the same breath as his idols Jimmie Rodgers and Hank Williams.
Amazingly, the Thomas Fraser legacy is one that is still being mined. 'That Far Away Land', released in November 2008, featured a further 25 stunning tracks, unearthed during the previous two years. The story continued with the release by Moon Guitars of the Thomas Fraser Commemorative Guitar and its launch at the Thomas Fraser Memorial Festival, held in Burra Isle each November. In December 2008, Thomas's life was the subject of a major BBC TV documentary 'Shetland Lone Star'. This documentary, along with a full length Festival feature was released on DVD in April 2009. Later that year, the National Theatre of Scotland toured a production of the Thomas Fraser story across the country.
In 2012, in perhaps the most significant event since the project began, the National Theatre of Scotland took the Thomas Fraser story to the USA. In a way, Thomas Fraser's life had come full circle.
READ THE FULL STORYDiscography
Click the album for track listingLong Gone Lonesome Blues
2002
Catatlogue number:DA DA1
Year of Release: 2002
Running Time: 65 Minutes, Tracks: 25
Special Features: 12 page full colour booklet, picture disk
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- 1. Brakeman's Blues
- 2. The Mississippi Shore
- 3. Lonely Boy on the Prairie
- 4. When did you Leave Heaven?
- 5. Long Gone Lonesome Blues
- 6. Down the Trail of Aching Hearts
- 7. Loose Talk
- 8. Star Spangled Waltz
- 9. Rye Whisky
- 10. To the East
- 11. to the West
- 12. Don't be a Baby
- 13. Peach Pickin Time in Georgia
- 14. TB Blues
- 15. I Saw your Face in the Moon
- 16. Traditional Reel
- 17. Lullaby Yodel
- 18. My Little Old Home Down in New Orleans
- 19. The Garden of Roses
- 20. Everyone is Saying Hello Again
- 21. Whippin' that Ole TB
- 22. Waltz of the Wind
- 23. Palamino Pal of Mine
- 24. Hobo Bill's Last Ride
- 25. Over the Rainbow
You and My Old Guitar
2003
Catatlogue number:DA DA2
Year of Release: 2003
Running Time: 65 Minutes, Tracks: 25
Special Features: 12 page full colour booklet , picture disk
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- 1. Blue Yodel No1
- 2. You & My Old Guitar
- 3. Carolina Moon
- 4. Cowhand's Last Ride
- 5. The Letter Edged in Black
- 6. Cowboy Johnny's Last Ride
- 7. Lonesome Town
- 8. Act 1 Act 2 Act 3
- 9. Away out on the Mountain
- 10. Pottinger's Reel
- 11. I'm Glad I came to see you Once Again
- 12. Unwanted Sign Upon My Heart
- 13. Yodelling Cowboy
- 14. Blue Yodel No2
- 15. Louisiana
- 16. Abilene
- 17. Careless Hands
- 18. Blue Yodel No5
- 19. The Homesteader's Reel
- 20. A Talk with My Heart
- 21. Muleskinner Blues
- 22. Little Old Wine Drinker Me
- 23. Sadie My Little Girl
- 24. 'Tis Sweet to be Remembered
- 25. Lovesick Blues
Treasure Untold
2005
Catatlogue number:DA DA3
Year of Release: 2005
Running Time: 65 Minutes, Tracks: 25
Special Features: 12 page full colour booklet , picture disk
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- 1. Mississippi River Blues
- 2. My Philipino Rose
- 3. Beyond the Reef
- 4. Maybe
- 5. Wedding Bells
- 6. Irish Hornpipe (Traditional Reels)
- 7. Lamp Lighting Time in the Valley
- 8. Treasures Untold
- 9. Blue Yodel No 4 (California Blues)
- 10. When the Cactus is in Bloom
- 11. My Carolina Sunshine Girl
- 12. Rambling Cowboy
- 13. The Mason's Apron (Traditional Reel) Waiting for a Train
- 14. Whistle Blow (I Heard That)
- 15. We'll Never Say Goodbye
- 16. Why Should I be so Lonely?
- 17. Lonesome Road Blues
- 18. Old Pal of my Heart
- 19. Farewell to Loch Katrine (Tradtional Reel)
- 20. The Mississippi Moon
- 21. Melancholy Blues
- 22. Blue Canadian Rockies
- 23. Winter Winds Blowing
- 24. Bluebird Island
That Far Away Land
2008
Catatlogue number:DA DA4
Year of Release: 2008
Running Time: 65 Minutes, Tracks: 25
Special Features: 12 page full colour booklet , picture disk
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- 1. With This Ring
- 2. My China Doll
- 3. Mother the Queen of My Heart
- 4. Jimmie's Mean Mama Blues
- 5. That Silver Haired Daddy of Mine
- 6. Irish Hornpipe Mexicali Rose
- 7. Into Each Life Some Rain Must Fall
- 8. Rattlesnakin' Daddy
- 9. All for the Love of a Girl
- 10. Gamblin Polka Dot Blues
- 11. I Want You to Know I Love You
- 12. Traditional Reel
- 13. The Hobo's Meditation
- 14. Someday You'll Call My Name
- 15. Winchester Cathedral
- 16. Now and Then (A Fool Such as I)
- 17. I Get the Blues When it Rains
- 18. Bucket's Got a Hole in It
- 19. Daydream
- 20. Traditional Reel
- 21. There's no Room in My Heart (For the Blues)
- 22. With Tears in My Eyes
- 23. This Song is Just For You
- 24. That Beautiful Land.
Just Call Me Lonesome
2010
Catatlogue number:DA DA5
Year of Release: 2010
Running Time: 65 Minutes, Tracks: 25
Special Features: 12 page full colour booklet , picture disk
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- 1. I Wonder Where you are Tonight
- 2. I Don't Hurt Anymore
- 3. Blue Hawaii
- 4. Old Grey Mare
- 5. Changing of the Tide
- 6. Highway to Nowhere
- 7. We Live in Two Different Worlds
- 8. The Household Brigade
- 9. Blueberry Hill
- 10. I Haven't Got the Right to Love You
- 11. My Travelling Night
- 12. De'll Among the Tailors
- 13. Ben Dewberry's Final Run
- 14. Blue Moon of Kentucky
- 15. Gamblin Dan
- 16. Within this Broken Heart of Mine
- 17. Maple Sugar
- 18. Just Call me Lonesome
- 19. I'm Sorry we Met
- 20. Cryin in my Beer
- 21. Traditional Reels
- 22. Born to be Happy
- 23. My Rough and Rowdy Ways
- 24. Confused with the Blues
- 25. Someday i'll Meet You Again.
For the Sake of Days Gone By
2012
Catatlogue number:DA DA6
Year of Release: 2012
Running Time: 65 Minutes, Tracks: 25
Special Features: 12 page full colour booklet , picture disk
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- 1. Harvest Home/Balkan Hills
- 2. Daddy and Home
- 3. Blue Yodel
- 4. I Aint got a Home in this World Anymore
- 5. I Cant Stop Loving You
- 6. The Prisoner's Song
- 7. Tears
- 8. The Marchioness of Tullybardine
- 9. I Saw the Light
- 10. There'll be no Teardrops Tonight
- 11. East Bound Freight Train
- 12. Born to Lose
- 13. Frankie & Johnny
- 14. Under the Double Eagle
- 15. A House Without Love
- 16. Goodbye Old Pal
- 17. Everybody's Had the Blues
- 18. Please Help Me I'm Falling
- 19. John MacFadyen of Melfort
- 20. I'm Standing at the End of My World
- 21. St Louis Blues
- 22. Waiting in the Lobby of Your Heart
- 23. My Old Pal
- 24. Mansion on the Hill
- 25. We Three (My Echo
- 26. My Shadow and Me.
- 1. In the Summertine/Blues
- 2. Blue Yodel No1 (T for Texas)
- 3. Release Me
- 4. The Green
- 5. Green Grass of Home
- 6. I Overlooked an Orchid
- 7. When my Blue Moon Turns to Gold Again
- 8. Nobody's Child
- 9. Frankie & Johnny/Careless Love
- 10. Georgia on My Mind
- 11. Old Shep
- 12. Scapa Flow
- 13. The Last Thing on My Mind
- 14. Lonely Little World
- 15. The Oslo Waltz/Life in the Finland Woods
- 16. I Ride an Old Paint
- 17. Just a Closer Walk With Thee
- 18. May You Never Be Alone
- 19. My Time Aint Long
- 20. Plains of Boyle/Stack of Wheat
- 21. For the Sake of Days Gone By
- 22. Say Goodbye
- 23. You Are My Sunshine
- 24. Too Many Parties and Too Many Pals
- 25. Swinging Doors
- 26. Nobody's Darling But Mine.
Disk 1
Disk 2
The Setter Sessions
2007
Catatlogue number:DA DA7
Year of Release: 2007
Running Time: 65 Minutes, Tracks: 25
Special Features: 12 page full colour booklet , picture disk
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- 1. I Overlooked an Orchid
- 2. Alright I'll sign the Papers
- 3. My Heart Skips a Beat
- 4. With This Ring
- 5. Rocking Rolling Ocean
- 6. Yellow Roses
- 7. My World's Losing You
- 8. Love's Going to Live Here Again
- 9. Amazing Grace
- 10. An Evening Prayer
- 11. Would You Mind?
- 12. Anniversary Yodel No.7
- 13. One Kind Word
- 14. Message from the Trade Winds
- 15. Loose Talk
- 16. Canadian Pacific
- 17. San Angelo
- 18. Lonesome Town