T R E A S U R E U N T O L D

FURTHER SELECTIONS FROM THE THOMAS FRASER RECORDINGS

BiographyThomas Fraser was born in the Shetland Islands

in 1927. Thomas became interested in music from

an early age and learned to play the fiddle and

later, the guitar. His musical outlook took on a

new dimension when he was exposed to the US

armed forces radio network broadcasting from

Europe. It is likely that this is where he first

heard his idol, Jimmie Rodgers. Thomas went

on to buy Rodgers’ discs religiously and began

to practice the Brakeman’s unique singing and

guitar style. Thomas’s musical interests developed

into blues, jazz, country and traditional music

forms. Over the years and despite his remote

location, he accrued a vast knowledge of the

various genres.

In 1953, following the arrival of electricity

to his remote home island of Burra, he

purchased a Grundig reel-to-reel tape

recorder. Thomas threw himself into

recording and over the next 25 years

went on to tape thousands of his own

interpretations of favourite songs. Thomas

was intensely shy and rarely performed

out-with these private recording sessions.

A lone fisherman and crofter, Thomas lived

a hard life and following two accidents at

sea, he died in 1978 aged only 50.

At Thomas’ own request, the vast recorded archive was passed

on to his nephew after his death. Following the discovery of

the archive some 25 years later by Thomas’s grandson in

2002, the first CD collection of Thomas Fraser’s work was

released. ‘Long Gone Lonesome Blues’ at last gave Thomas

some of the recognition he so richly

deserved. Thomas’s story

has since been cited as one

of the most remarkable in

recording history.

S O M E T I M E S F A I R Y T A L E S C O M E T R U E .

And just occasionally, the most amazing and unexpected things happen. Over the past three years or so, that much I have learned.

The Thomas Fraser recordings have taken on a whole life of their own. The process of resurrecting the

recordings – sometimes stressful and always emotional – has provided Thomas’s surviving family and

friends with some truly fantastic experiences.

It all started with the release in November 2002 of the first

Thomas Fraser CD ‘Long Gone Lonesome Blues’. What

began as essentially as a personal project to restore of a

collection of our favourite songs as a family memento quickly

evolved into a phenomenon that went beyond our wildest

dreams. Following an emotional launch at the first Thomas

Fraser Tribute Concert, the disc went on to receive great

critical acclaim and airplay from all corners of the globe.

What followed next was even more remarkable and indeed,

far more important. Throughout 2003, relatives and close

friends of Thomas began discovering ‘new’ Thomas Fraser

tapes stored away long-forgotten in the recesses of their

houses – most notable was Thomas’s friend Scott Christie of Burra who unearthed dozens of songs, some

never heard in over 40 years.

These fruits were combined with the existing family archive to produce the second CD ‘You and My

Old Guitar’, which was released in November 2003. Once more, the release received many plaudits and

Thomas’s name was cemented as one of the true legends of country music.

In the back of my mind I thought that it was quite possible that ‘You and My Old Guitar’ would be the last

official Thomas Fraser release. However, there were more surprises to come.

A certain Mr Danny Allen happened upon the Thomas Fraser Tribute Concert while holidaying in

Shetland in November 2003 after asking where he could hear some traditional Shetland music. Danny

heard some traditional music but unwittingly being caught in

a country music outpost in the middle of the North Sea, he

got something a little more familiar!

Danny had a great night and is now a firm family friend. He

returned to the United States to inform his friend Dr James

Akenson of his remarkable discovery. Now James happened

to run the International Country Music Conference. The

Conference, held annually in Nashville, was being arranged

for May 2004 and there was one slot remaining.

The Thomas Fraser story was going to the home of country

music.

A chance meeting – unexpected tape finds. These things found me taking the car out of the drive at Setter

on Thursday 20th May 2004 – the first steps on a long journey to give my Grandfather what surely would

be his greatest musical achievement. Just before I left Setter, I stopped outside my Grandparent’s house

and considered what I was doing and what they would have thought. I was going to Nashville, USA

– thousands of miles away to tell their remarkable story to an International Music Conference.

Following the Conference we all invited to stay at the McWilliams family home in Meridian, Mississippi.

Rick’s wife Terri took us round the sites: the Jimmie Rodgers museum, the gravesite and past his family

home. My grandfather would have been in musical heaven…

Friday 12th November 2004: since the release of the first CD, the TF Tribute Concerts have become an

annual event, which attracts musicians from all over the world. Just after 10pm, a tall American gentleman

TREASURE UNTOLDTwenty-five more tracks from the late, great Thomas Fraser of Shetland, restored from newly-discovered original tapes.

1 MISSISSIPPI RIVER BLUES (McWilliams, E & Rodgers, J) 2.17

Recorded circa 1960 Courtesy Robbie Cumming collection;

Radio Clip Courtesy Aggie Fullerton collection

This was one of Thomas’s favourite tracks and he recorded it many times. Despite this, we did not have a

take of sufficient sound quality until Robbie Cumming discovered a small suitcase of reels on his loft last

November. It is wholly appropriate that Robbie should have been the person to present this track as it is one

of his most cherished memories of Thomas. Indeed, he sings a heartfelt rendition at each memorial Concert.

2 MY PHILLIPINO ROSE (Snow, C E) 2.31

Recorded circa 1960

This unique track, alongside track 19 ‘Old Pal of My Heart’, were recorded on a specially made tape and

sent by Thomas to the ‘ Deroy Sound Service’ company in Lancashire, England. Sometime later, a shiny

shellac 78rpm disc made its way back to Setter, Hamnavoe with the two Thomas Fraser tracks cut into its

grooves. A novelty in its day, the disc originated from an advert Thomas had seen in the popular ‘Exchange

and Mart’ magazine. Thomas loaned the disc out to relatives and after his death it was assumed lost. In

2003, the record turned up safe and sound at Willie and Kathleen Henry’s house.

3 BEYOND THE REEF (Pitman, J) 2.38

Recorded circa 1960 Courtesy Philip Johnson collection

‘Beyond the Reef’ was one of a small number of songs where Thomas experimented with double-tracking

his vocals to produce his own harmonies. This was achieved by the use of two tape machines – one playing

the pre-recorded basic accompaniment & vocal and the other machine recording the harmony part. Unlike

other examples in the archive, this track does not suffer so much from the sound limitations, which the

technique presented. Later in life, Thomas would harmonise with his daughter May.

wearing a Stetson takes the stage and strikes up a Jimmie Rodgers number. He is Rick McWilliams – the

Grandson of Elsie McWilliams and Grand-nephew of Jimmie Rodgers. The McWilliams-Rodgers song-writing

partnership is one of the most important in popular music history and Rick and his family and friends have

travelled thousands of miles from Rodger’s birthplace in Meridian to pay homage to one of his great Uncles

greatest fans – Thomas Fraser.

How many more twists there are remaining in the Thomas Fraser story it is impossible to tell. When I set out to

produce ‘Long Gone Lonesome Blues’ in 2002, I would never have envisaged embarking on a third release.

What with the remarkable tape finds in 2003, surely there could be no more? Thankfully, I was wrong. Two

tapes surfaced from the late Philip Johnson of Burra and Hugh Arthur of Mossbank. Thomas’s nephew Bobby

found more songs on a cassette-based archive as did his friend Eddie Williamson. Amazingly, a long-lost 78rpm

recording turned up and to cap it all off, Thomas’s friend Robbie Cumming discovered a small suitcase of reel to

reels – untouched in 44 years. One cannot begin to describe the feeling of placing one of these reels on the tape

machine and waiting in anticipation for what sounds have been captured on its brittle surface.

The inclusion of these remarkable finds along with more selections from the existing family archive serve to make

this release a truly magical one – a real ‘treasure untold’.

What would Thomas think of all this? I have pondered over this time and time again. I just

hope that they somehow know of what has happened all these years later.

It is unlikely that any more tapes shall surface. I have been amazed and what has already

turned up and for that I will be eternally grateful. Of all the amazing things that we have

experienced over the past few years, nothing can quite compare to the thrill of placing

a long lost reel to reel tape on the machine and being the first to hear a ‘new’ Thomas

Fraser song flood through the speakers. I hope that some of you can experience

something of the same when you listen to this ‘Treasure Untold’.

Karl Simpson May 2005

4 MAYBE (Flynn, A & Madden, F) 2.44

Recorded late 1950s Courtesy Bobby Fraser collection

Thomas Fraser’s experiments in jazz influenced work were common but unfortunately, very little of his

output in this respect has survived. The main reason was the genre’s relevant lack of popularity in Shetland

generally. People were more pre-disposed to requesting country songs from Thomas and therefore, his

country music tracks are far more prolific in number. This is in juxtaposition to Thomas’s love of jazz

and blues. Many other Inkspots tracks were laid down and Thomas was known to perform material by

Django Reinhardt but to date, nothing like this has seen the light of day. I am very grateful for this version,

discovered on the cassette-based archives of Thomas’s nephew Bobby Fraser.

5 WEDDING BELLS (Boone, P) 3.15

Recorded 1961

One of Thomas’s most renowned interpretations, at last this track sees the light of day. It narrowly missed

inclusion on ‘Long Gone Lonesome Blues’ and ‘You and My Old Guitar’ due to my Mother’s concern over

the lyrical adaptations! It stands as one of the more definitive Thomas Fraser recordings, and is a welcome

reminder of his keen sense of humour and often-comical demeanor.

6 IRISH HORNPIPES (Traditional Reels) 1.57

Recorded late 1950s Courtesy Scott Christie collection

It is likely that Scott Christie accompanies Thomas on this track.

7 LAMP LIGHTING TIME (Poulton, C & Upson, D & Goodman, H) 1.47IN THE VALLEY Recorded circa 1959 Courtesy Robbie Cumming collection

On Robbie’s tapes you can occasionally hear some background speaking. This is Eddie Williamson and

Robbie Cumming – exchanging excited comments on their own private Thomas Fraser performances.

8 TREASURE UNTOLD (Cozzins, E & Rodgers, J) 3.19

Recorded 1956

Taken from the same session as ‘My Lullaby Yodel’ which was presented on the first CD. The session again

presents Thomas’s infant daughter, May, on guest vocals!

9 BLUE YODEL NO.4 (California Blues) (Rodgers, J) 2.47

Recorded 1961

10 WHEN THE CACTUS IS IN BLOOM (Rodgers, J) 2.27

Recorded mid 1960s Courtesy Jeanie Fullerton collection

11 MY CAROLINA SUNSHINE GIRL (Rodgers, J) 1.54

Recorded circa 1953 Courtesy Bobby Fraser collection

Another Thomas favourite, this track was rescued from another archived cassette recording made by cousin

Bobby Fraser. The original reel has vanished.

12 RAMBLING COWBOY (Copyright Control) 3.41

Recorded circa 1959 Courtesy Robbie Cumming collection

13 THE MASON’S APRON (Traditional Reel) 1.11

Recorded mid 1960s Courtesy Scott Christie collection

Thomas had a very wide appreciation of music. Country, blues, jazz, pop, traditional & Scottish dance

were among the various genres heard regularly in the house. Surely the strangest sounds to be heard

at Setter were that of ‘Mercado’. Mercado was a classical violinist who toured the Islands during the

1960s. Like most musicians living in or visiting Shetland, Mercado found himself at Setter in session

with Thomas Fraser.

14 WAITING FOR A TRAIN (McWilliams, E & Rodgers, J) 2.17

Recorded 1958

15 WHISTLE BLOW ( I HEARD THAT) (Davis & Williams, H) 2.44

Recorded 1961

The core of this collection again comes from the family’s archive – passed to Bobby Fraser in person by

Thomas shortly before his premature death in 1978.

16 WE’LL NEVER SAY GOODBYE (Copyright Control) 2.22

Recorded mid 1960s Courtesy Jeanie Fullerton collection

17 WHY SHOULD I BE SO LONELY (Lovell, E & Rodgers, J) 2.54

Recorded 1956

18 LONESOME BLUES (Copyright Control) 2.02

Recorded 1971

An outright blues-based delivery, which opens with a guitar riff often employed by Thomas.

19 OLD PAL OF MY HEART (Mason, J & Rodgers, J) 2.51

Recorded late 1950s

The 78 rpm ‘B’ side to ‘My Philipino Rose’. The tracks on the record were barely audible due to the

scratches and first attempts to revive the recording failed. Andrew Rose of Pristine Audio came to the

rescue: “I used a custom-made truncated elliptical diamond stylus from Expert Stylus Co. Ltd. of Ashtead,

Surrey. I strongly suspect I used a 2.8 thousandths of an inch stylus for this, though as I have about 10

different sizes I can’t be absolutely sure! EQ and pre-amplification was handled by a specialist Graham

Slee Projects “Jazz Club” pre-amp”. Needless to say the recordings showed up bright and clear!

20 THE ATHOLL HIGHLANDERS’ (Rose, W) 1.54FAREWELL TO LOCH KATRINE Recorded late 1950s Courtesy Bobby Fraser collection

This tune is dedicated to the late Andy Inkster of Da Houlls who died in May 2005. Andy was a great

accordionist and, along with his brother Garry, was a regular visitor to Setter for music nights.

21 THE MISSISSIPPI MOON (McWilliams, E & Rodgers, J) 3.27

Recorded early 1960s Courtesy of the Arthur Family collection

A surprise find and the only recorded version surviving.

22 MELANCHOLY BLUES (Copyright Control) 2.17

Recorded early 1960s Courtesy Eddie Williamson collection

The only other surviving version of this unique track was spoiled by background noise. Thankfully, this

take was discovered on a cassette tape sent to Eddie Williamson by Thomas shortly before his death.

23 THE BLUE CANADIAN ROCKIES (Walker, C) 2.54

Recorded 1958

24 WINTER WINDS BLOWING (Copyright Control) 2.21

Recorded circa 1959 Courtesy Robbie Cumming collection

Judging by the amount of versions he recorded, this track was clearly one of Thomas’s favourites. Despite

this, Robbie’s collection enabled us to include it for the first time, as this is the only take where Thomas

sings the complete song.

25 MY SHIP SET SAIL FROM BLUEBIRD ISLAND (Snow, C E) 2.44

Recorded circa 1953 Courtesy Scott Christie collection

This track was first deemed unusable due to tape deterioration. However, sound quality aside, it is arguably

one of Thomas’s best (and earliest) recordings with his voice impeccably true.

CREDITS

Produced by Karl Simpson.

Restored and mastered ‘somewhere in France’ by Pristine Audio.

Art Direction and Graphic Design by Martin Parker.

Special thanks are due to all those who presented their Thomas Fraser collections. Without

you it would not have been possible. In no particular order: Robbie Cumming, the Arthur family in

Mossbank, Bobby Fraser, Scott Christie, Jennifer Hutchison, Tom Simpson, Maisie Anderson, Willie &

Kathleen Henry and Eddie Williamson. Thanks to Margaret Scollay for advice on the fiddle tunes and Paul

Hazell for advice on the background behind the country tracks.

Andrew Morrison of the Shetland Life, Vaila Wishart of the Shetland Times, Caroline

Moyes of Radio Shetland, Tom Morton of BBC Radio Scotland and Sheila Manson.

The Burra History Group for their commitment to Burra, long-standing support and involvement in

this project and the Thomas Fraser Tribute Concerts.

Danny Allen and Nancy – for coming all the way from the US to the concert.

James Akenson of the International Country Music Conference. To all the folks we met

at the conference.

The McWilliams family – thank you Rick and Terri for your wonderful hospitality and for coming

over to Shetland for the concert. Also Carol and Thomas Laing for their support.

Tim O’Brien for your help and support. Kenny Johnson for introductions and advice en route to

Nashville! Brian Nicolson for playing and kind words. Michael Marra – for ‘Thomas Fraser’.

All the performers at the Thomas Fraser Tribute Concert. Mam, Mackie, Rhonda &

Fraser. Alexis for her continued support.

As ever, Andrew Rose of Pristine Audio for his great work. Laurie Staff of Cadiz Music.

Dina Patel of Sound Performance. Davie Gardner of the Shetland Arts Trust. Niall

Irvine of Perspectives, John Coutts for photos and scanning. Last but not least, the

inimitable Martin Parker for his great artwork.

© 2005 Karl Simpson

Also available:

Long Gone Lonesome Blues © 2002

You and My Old Guitar © 2003

For more information on Thomas Fraser and future releases, please visit: www.thomasfraser.com

Or write to Karl Simpson, Setter, Burra Isle, Shetland. ZE2 9LB

Nellie 1991-2005

TREASURE UNTOLDTwenty-five more tracks from the

late, great Thomas Fraser of Shetland,

restored from newly-discovered

original tapes.

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

MCPS. ALL RIGHTS OF THE PRODUCER AND

OF THE OWNER OF THE WORKS REPRODUCED

RESERVED, UNAUTHORISED COPYING, HIRING,

LENDING, PUBLIC PERFORMANCE AND

BROADCASTING OF THIS RECORD PROHIBITED

13) The Mason’s Apron (Traditional Reel)

14) Waiting for a Train

15) Whistle Blow (I Heard That)

16) We’ll Never Say Goodbye

17) Why Should I be so Lonely?

18) Lonesome Blues

19) Old Pal of My Heart

20) Farewell to Loch Katrine

(Traditional Reel)

21) The Mississippi Moon

22) Melancholy Blues

23) Blue Canadian Rockies

24) Winter Winds Blowing

25) Bluebird Island

Total running time: 57.55

Da Da 3

© 2005 Nel Music