Jim Byrne is an artist with FoxStar Records.
A Scottish Child From The 1960s
A Scottish Child From The 1960s is the latest release from Jim Byrne, the Scottish songwriter who signed his first solo record deal at 59 years of age.
…sounding more and more like one of Scotland’s great musical best-kept secrets but I reckon it’s time for him to no longer be a secret and to find a much wider audience. Duglas T Stewart
Born in 1962, the year the Beatles released, Love Me Do, aged 4 when Bob Dylan released Blonde on Blonde and 14 when punk hit in 1976. Jim Byrne made national news when he signed his first solo record deal with Fox Star Records at 59. Two years later, he delivers, ‘A Scottish Child From The 1960s’.
‘A Scottish Child from the 1960s’ is a set of songs about family, imperfection, transcendence, romance, the fragility of relationships, love, comfort, childish wonder, and the summoning of friendly Scottish spirits. This album takes you on a journey, one that starts and finishes with birdsong: recorded by Jim on his phone as they sat outside the Artisan Cafe near Crainlarich, where he and his wife Pat stopped for a rest on their journey north.
“There are so many twists and turns in there it is an emotional journey. I know the Artisan Cafe and I knew I recognised those birds!“ Carol Laula
What they are saying about ‘A Scottish Child From The 1960s’:
“Jim Byrne is getting better with age. He is sounding more and more like one of Scotland’s great musical best-kept secrets. His music sounds so genuine and from his soul and that makes a strong connection with me”. Duglas T Stewart“Just JOYFUL. There are so many twists and turns in there it is an emotional journey. The harmonies there are wonderful. Smile, with the fab Mary Kathleen Burke. Gorgeous harmonies.” Carol Laula
“…getting even better with time – wish I knew the secret…. There’s true art here, best work to date.” Duncan McCrone
“He’s a storyteller, the likes of Johnny Cash and Leonard Cohen. Perhaps Scotland’s best. This new set of songs is sure to get him the attention he deserves.” Michaela Foster Marsh
“Jim Byrne has lived. He has lived deeply and openly, and this authenticity is reflected in the songs that he writes.” Christine Sparks
“This is vintage and contemporary folk-country; a battered acoustic, a fiddle, and high-lonesome female harmonies cradle Byrne’s half-spoken, half-crooned smoked-caramel baritone.” Robin Miller
“…immaculately performed, arranged, played and sung with the voice of a writer and performer who knows exactly the weight of each word. The whole collection of songs seems like an offering; one that seems to reward the writer and performers and the listener equally. A joy.” Tom Fairnie
About Jim Byrne
Born in Clydebank Jim spent his teenage years playing in punk bands and many subsequent years playing in garage bands, (most notably, The Primevals). When he set out on a solo career in 2008 he picked up his acoustic guitar and headed towards the Americana/Folk genre.
An award-winning songwriter and accomplished guitar player, prior to signing with Fox Star Records he had self-released 4 critically acclaimed solo albums. The three most recent, ‘Oh My Beautiful You’, ’The Innocent’ and ‘Every Day is Sunshine’ where particularly well received by listeners and press alike (Q Magazine, UNCUT, Maverick, Folk Blues and Beyond, Spiral Earth).
Jim has toured internationally and has supported artists such as Benny Gallagher (of Gallagher and Lyle) and shared the stage with Blues performers Hans Theessink and Whizz Jones, famed for influencing Eric Clapton. As a songwriter he has written with, among others, the Jazz singer Carol Kidd, pop singer Marti Pellow and many writers and poets including Janet Crawford, professional storyteller Lesley O’Brien and his wife Pat Byrne.
Talk to Jim about his latest release
Jim is an entertaining guest and would love to chat about his songs and the story of the new album. Send him an email to arrange an interview:
Email: [email protected]
FoxStar Records: https://www.foxstarrecords.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/SongwritingMagc
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/musicbyjimbyrne
4 Country & Folk Songs
‘4 Country & Folk Songs’ is a mix of roots-based influences (contemporary folk, Scottish folk, Americana, country and blues) and melodic singer-songwriter sounds from the 1960s.
On ‘The Yellow Clock’ and ‘This Heart of Mine is a Blind Blind Fool’ Jim is joined by fellow country music lover and singer/storyteller Lesley O’Brien (Carlton Jug Band) – to great effect – as Lesley’s voice complements his own.
Buy direct from the artist:
4 Country & Folk Songs – on Bandcamp
What they are saying about ‘4 Country & Folk Songs’:
“…it feels like his soul is communicating directly with your soul. Duglas T Stewart (BMX Bandits)
“…dives headlong into Americana territory. Magic.” Dave Acari – Touring musician & songwriter
“a great songwriter. reminds you of the greats like Johnny Cash, Leonard Cohen.” Michaela Foster Marsh, Singer & musician, finalist of Scotswoman of the Year
“an undeniably ‘classic’ sound.. same time somehow sounding like a fresh take.” Jamie Flett, folk/folk rock musician, singer songwriter
About the songs
The Yellow Clock
A daughter arrives back home from the funeral of her mother; she contemplates the passing of time, mortality and previous generations. She can’t sleep, she looks at her mother’s possessions around her, the flowers sent by friends; the flowers act as a painful reminder of her loss.
This Heart of Mine is a Blind Blind Fool
A country song influenced by Cajun music (with a smidgen of 1940’s big band call and response). It’s about the tension between giving into the temptations of a wandering heart and staying with your true love.
Tell The Devil I’ve Stole His Crown of Pain
There is a sub-genre of songs called, Murder Ballads, which are traditional folk ballads (narrative songs) that describe a crime or a murder. This song is influenced by elements of that genre. It was written during the initial phase of the ‘Me To’ movement; which I suspect is where the manipulative charismatic male character comes from. There is also an element of the supernatural; that’s the Scottish influence.
The Holy Ghost
A country/Americana song – you will need to work this one out for yourself; there’s a man, a woman, the church; it seems like something’s gone wrong and perhaps someone is being protected from the consequences. Maybe?
Talk to Jim about his latest release
Jim is an entertaining guest and would love to chat about his new songs and the story of being signed to FoxStar Records. Send him an email to arrange an interview:
Other releases and projects by Jim Byrne
What they said about ‘Oh My Beautiful You’
- ‘Refreshingly full of honesty in lyric and delivery and cuts to some truth about being human…’ our job is just to listen well’. Like all good collaborations it weaves sensitively between artistic disciplines with imagination and re-invention, reminding us that it’s stories that bind us.’ Yvonne Lyon – Singer/songwriter
- ‘Strong songwriting. Hugely enjoyable!’ Duncan McCrone – Singer Songwriter, Former Member Of The Clydesiders
- ‘These are songs for settling down with, for listening to as they come, for listening to again… Something in the juxtaposition of mediums here made us think of the late, great David Bowie’s song ‘Sound and Vision’, in which melancholic lyrics sit side by side with exuberant musical lines.’ Zoe Strachan and Louise Welsh
Buy from my Bandcamp page or from any streaming platform.
What they said about ‘The Innocent’
- “a heady and exotic mix. ” Q Magazine.
- “..full of cinematic turns of phrase, dressed up in alluring melodies delivered by some of the most respected players on the modern-day Celtic Folk scene.” UNCUT
- Album of the week on Celtic Music Radio
- Added to ‘God’s Jukebox’ on Radio Two Mark Lamarr show
- “A beautifully produced collection of Americana” The Daily Record. Four Stars
- “Great record… a complete, compelling listen. “, Adam Levy (Songwriter/artist, guitarist with Nora Jones)
- “ten beautiful, atmospheric songs..”, Folk, Blues and beyond
- “a fresh, original album”, Eilidh Patterson (singer songwriter, vocalist with Beth Nielsen Chapman)
- Sounding like Johnny Cash never left Folsom prison…meditations on life that’ll soon sound like old friends. Spiral Earth
Buy from my Bandcamp page or from any streaming platform.
What People Have Said About Ten Writers Telling Lies
Ten Writers Telling Lies was a collaborative project between Jim Byrne and 10 writers. It produced a book and a CD of music.
- ‘Ten Writers is that rare delight – an anthology so consistently good that you read every piece in order.’ Zoë Strachan and Louise Welsh
- ‘Having been lucky enough to catch this show live I wasn’t sure if a book/CD would do it justice. It has… and here’s the proof.’ Dave Acari – Slide Guitarist & Songwriter
- ‘What better duet can you get than the perfect harmony of songs and stories, lyrics and poetry, memory and melody?’ Willy Maley – Scottish literary critic
- ‘Ten Writers is a creative treat for the mind and the soul. ’ Magi Gibson, First Makar of the City of Stirling.
- “Yet further proof, were it needed, of the ongoing vibrancy of Glasgow literature. The stories sing and soar, and these are definitely writers to watch. You read them here first, folks!” Alan Bissett.
- ‘Telling lies is an art form – morality clouded by beautiful adornment. Honestly.’ Stuart Cosgrove, Journalist, Author, Broadcaster