Mara is the ninth album by Scottish Celtic rock group Runrig, released on 6 November 1995 by Chrysalis Records.[1] It spawned only one single "Things That Are", which reached the top ten in their native Scotland, and number forty in the United Kingdom.[2][3]
| Mara | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | 6 November 1995 | |||
| Genre | Celtic rock | |||
| Length | 48:29 | |||
| Label | Chrysalis | |||
| Producer | Runrig, Brian Young | |||
| Runrig chronology | ||||
| ||||
Release and promotion
editThe title of the album, Mara, comes from the Scottish Gaelic name, meaning "of the sea". In keeping with this title, much of the album has a broadly maritime theme. The album serves as the final album to feature lead singer Donnie Munro on vocals. Munro would leave Runrig in 1997 to pursue a career in politics.[4]
Mara was released by Chrysalis Records in the United Kingdom and Germany, and by Avalanche in the United States. In 2014, it was re–released in a repackaged box set containing four other studio albums released by the band during their tenure with Chrysalis.[5] The album was the fifth album to be released by the band under Chrysalis, and became their final album to be released by the label.
The album debuted at number twenty-four in the United Kingdom, spending a total of six weeks within the UK Top 100.[6] In their native Scotland, it peaked at number three on the Scottish Albums Chart,[7] and eighty one in Germany, spending a total of seven weeks within the Top 100 of the German Albums Chart.[8]
Mara was certified Silver by the British Phonographic Industry (BPI) in 2013, indicating sales in excess of 60,000 copies.[9]
Recording
editDuring the recording sessions for Mara, the band were joined by various sessions musicians to provide music and instrumentals to the albums tracks. Andy Shephard joined the band during the recording sessions, providing soprano saxophone alongside Joe Locke who provided vibes. Backing vocals were provided by Lorna Bannon, Billy Rankin and Amanda Lyon, with Lisa Sinclair providing additional lead vocals alongside Donnie Munro. Additionally, The Royal Scottish National Orchestra provided string sections, arranged by Eddie MacGuire, and The Glasgow Hebridean Gaelic Choir, conducted by Raibert McCallum, once again joined the band as they had done with their previous studio album.[5]
Track listing
edit- "Day in a Boat" - 2:56
- "Nothing but the Sun" - 7:15
- "The Mighty Atlantic" / "Mara Theme" - 6:43
- "Things That Are" - 4:55
- "Road and the River" - 4:29
- "Meadhan Oidhche air an Acairseid" (Midnight on the Harbour) - 4:53
- "The Wedding" - 4:11
- "The Dancing Floor" - 5:29
- "Thairis air a' Ghleann" (Beyond the Glen) - 3:48
- "Lighthouse" - 3:50
Chart performance
editCharts
edit| Chart (1993) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)[10] | 81 |
| UK Albums (OCC)[11] | 24 |
| Scottish Albums (OCC)[12] | 3 |
Certifications
edit- United Kingdom (BPI) – Silver
Personnel
edit- Runrig
- Iain Bayne - drums, percussion
- Malcolm Jones - guitars, hurdy-gurdy, accordion
- Calum Macdonald - percussion
- Rory Macdonald - vocals, bass guitar
- Donnie Munro - lead vocals
- Peter Wishart - keyboards
References
edit- ^ "Mara". runrig.rocks. Retrieved 16 February 2024.
- ^ "Official Singles Chart on 29/10/1995". Official Charts. 27 October 2020. Retrieved 30 December 2024.
- ^ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart on 29/10/1995". Official Charts. Retrieved 30 December 2024.
- ^ "Music: Runrig are gone but Munro journeys on". The National. 13 May 2019. Retrieved 30 December 2024.
- ^ a b "Mara". runrig.rocks. Retrieved 30 December 2024.
- ^ "RUNRIG". Official Charts. 8 January 1983. Retrieved 30 December 2024.
- ^ "RUNRIG". Official Charts. 8 January 1983. Retrieved 30 December 2024.
- ^ "Offizielle Deutsche Charts". www.offiziellecharts.de. Retrieved 30 December 2024.
- ^ "Kelly Rowland , Work, Single". BPI. Retrieved 30 December 2024.
- ^ "Offiziellecharts.de – Runrig – Mara" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved 9 September 2021.
- ^ "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 9 September 2021.
- ^ "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 9 September 2021.