Amazing Things (Runrig album)

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Amazing Things
Studio album by
Runrig
Released15 March 1993
StudioCastlesound Studios, Pentcaitland, Scotland
GenreCeltic rock
Length57:40
LabelChrysalis[1]
ProducerChris Harley
Runrig chronology
The Big Wheel
(1991) 		Amazing Things
(1993) 		Mara
(1995)

Amazing Things is the eighth studio album by the Scottish Celtic rock band Runrig, released on 11 March 1993 by Chrysalis Records.[2] It spawned a total of three singles – "Wonderful", "The Greatest Flame" and "Song of the Earth".

The cover features a close-up photo of the Hugh MacDiarmid Memorial near Langholm created by sculptor Jake Harvey.

Release and promotion

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The album Amazing Things was released on 11 March 1993 by Chrysalis Records. It was released by the record label in the United Kingdom, Japan and mainland continental Europe. In 2001, the album was re–released in a packaged 3 CD boxset alongside The Cutter and the Clan and The Big Wheel, and again in 2014 as part of a 5 CD boxset alongside four other studio albums released by the band.[3]

Following its release, Amazing Things debuted at number two in the United Kingdom, behind only Their Greatest Hits by Hot Chocolate. It became the highest charting entry for Runrig in the United Kingdom.[4] Additionally, it debuted at number forty-seven in Germany, remaining within the Top 100 of the German Albums Charts for a total of eleven weeks.[5] It was later certified Silver by the British Phonographic Industry (BPI), indicating sales in excess of 60,000 copies.[6]

Recording

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The album was recorded by the band at Castlesound Studios in Pentcaitland, Scotland. For the recording sessions of the album, Runrig was joined by a number of session musicians to accompany the band for the recording of the album. Singer Marie Brennan provided both vocals and backing vocals on the album, with further backing vocals provided by Dee Brennan, Bridin Brennan, Olie Brennan, Mary Kiani, Lorna Bannen, Martin Piggot and Chris Harley.[3]

The band was also accompanied by The Glasgow Islay Gaelic Choir, conducted by Kirsteen Grant, alongside The Breakish Horns, who provided bass material during the recording sessions.[3]

Album cover

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The cover features a close-up photo of the Hugh MacDiarmid Memorial, near Langholm, created by sculptor Jake Harvey.[7]

Critical reception

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Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[8]
Calgary HeraldB[9]
The Encyclopedia of Popular Music[10]

The Waterloo Region Record wrote that "Runrig is relentlessly serious, their music always skirting the edges of overkill."[11] The Times opined that the band sounds "like a rockier version of Chris De Burgh on 'Dream Fields' and 'Move a Mountain'."[12]

AllMusic noted that "the folk genre that dominated their early independent albums had virtually disappeared and had been replaced by an anthemic rock sound heavily influenced by their fellow Scots countrymen Big Country and Irish band U2."[8]

Track listing

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  1. "Amazing Things" – 4:18
  2. "Wonderful" – 4:11
  3. "The Greatest Flame" – 5:04
  4. "Move a Mountain" – 5:13
  5. "Pòg Aon Oidhche Earraich" (A Kiss One Spring Evening) – 3:38
  6. "Dream Fields" – 5:54
  7. "Song of the Earth" – 4:52
  8. "Forever Eyes of Blue" – 4:09
  9. "Sràidean na Roinn-Eòrpa" (Streets of Europe) – 5:24
  10. "Canada" – 5:12
  11. "Àrd" (High) – 6:00
  12. "On the Edge" – 3:53

Personnel

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Chart performance

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Charts

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Chart performance for Amazing Things
Chart (1993) Peak
position
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)[13] 47
UK Albums (OCC)[14] 2

Certifications

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  • United Kingdom (BPI) – Silver

References

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  1. ^ Horn, David (5 October 2017). Bloomsbury Encyclopedia of Popular Music of the World, Volume 11: Genres: Europe. Bloomsbury Publishing USA. ISBN 9781501326103 – via Google Books.
  2. ^ "Runrig Biography, Songs, & Albums". AllMusic.
  3. ^ a b c "Amazing Things". Runrig Rocks. Retrieved 30 December 2024.
  4. ^ "Official Albums Chart on 21/3/1993". Official Charts. Retrieved 30 December 2024.
  5. ^ "Offizielle Deutsche Charts". www.offiziellecharts.de. Retrieved 30 December 2024.
  6. ^ "Kelly Rowland , Work, Single". BPI. Retrieved 30 December 2024.
  7. ^ Windsor, Alan (10 September 2020). British Sculptors of the Twentieth Century. Routledge. ISBN 9781000160529 – via Google Books.
  8. ^ a b "Runrig – Amazing Things Album Reviews, Songs & More | AllMusic". AllMusic.
  9. ^ Bell, Mike (23 May 1993). "Runrig: Amazing Things". Calgary Herald. p. C2.
  10. ^ Larkin, Colin (27 May 2011). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music. Omnibus Press. ISBN 9780857125958 – via Google Books.
  11. ^ Randall, Neil (22 April 1993). "Amazing Things Runrig". Waterloo Region Record. p. D9.
  12. ^ Sinclair, David (19 March 1993). "RUNRIG Amazing Things". Features. The Times. p. 37.
  13. ^ "Offiziellecharts.de – Runrig – Amazing Things" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved 9 September 2021.
  14. ^ "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 9 September 2021.
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