Great! I think I have an album by him somewhere so I will have to check it out. I also have several albums by Will Starr, but not this one.

Hi Shandfan, while Jimmy played great Music per RSCD for all of their dances the Shand band were not an all round band, Iam 77 years old from Fife and danced in almost every village hallfrom 1957 to 1974 to most of the top Scottish dance band,s ie Wick, Wallochmore Jim Mcleod M ay Isle, even as far back as Jim Cameron and the howling trumpet, Shand couldnt hold a modern beat, I was married to Bob Grier from Largowards niece and we went all over to dance.

I like both but feel Starr had more of a 'concert' sound, for listening to. Virtuoso, sometimes fast, various musical styles. Whereas I'm more of a dancer myself and not very musical. Shand's skill was in getting the tempo spot on and in that mysterious thing 'lift'. If you can hear Shand and NOT be up dancing, even as an untaught 5 year old, then you need your hearing tested! Shand and a sprung floor are something non-dancers just don't get. I feel Gordon Shand has that too. As does Brandon McPhee. Jimmy Blair did as well. And Ian Powrie on the fiddle. Whereas J. Shand junior was overshadowed by his father I think. Went for a top heavy 3-box lineup to differentiate himself, but probably obscured his own abilities in the process. I sometimes wonder how he'd have turned out without the pressure of his famous connection?

@@wulliesdad Wonderful to hear! And you named the Wick Band(supposedly Harper Senior,who in turn had connections with Fergie. Did you ever know the (first) top ten of the SDB's? I'll name the whole thing.... 1.Shand 2 Bobby macLeod,3 Jim Cameron,,4 Ian Powrie,5 Alasdair Downie,6 Jimmy Blair,7 Wick Band,8 William Hannah, 9 George McAlpin,10 Adam Rennie. Had been prolific discussions about the first place for Shand or for Bobbie macLeod Anyhow,..it coud be said,that Shand was the trendsetter??? Nowadays I am a great admirer of Alasdair MacCuish-like bands,such as Tommie Orr,Gordon Shand,and the latest newcomers....Craig Paton,and David Kennedy,a fiddler as band leader. You are only ONE year younger as I am.So...you must have heard of the BBC Scottish Variety Orchestra,(leader Dennis macConnel,conductor Jack Leon,after his death Ian Sutherland) On monday they had their programme "Music On The Move"for several years. They operated(together with John Robertson's SCDP,) both from 1949.But in the course of time BBC wanted to get rid of this successful SVO Orchestra,presumably in order to promote "the new order"referring to the Celtic Connections.In initiated circles denoted as"Celtic Confectionaries". And another ensemble should be named....the Edinburgh Tim Wright Band,one of the oldest fiddle bands(30ies)

@@shandfan we used to listen to BBC Wed/Sat at 7.00pm I was raised by Grandparents Granpa Hated Tim Wright and the SVO also John Robertson SCDP called jisf a bunch O tin cans, Iam of a different earth as I do love the fiddlers, I live in North West BC Canada I we had the Alexander Bros and the Scottish Fiddle Orchestra put on concerts in oor area. You Tube is how I stay sane!!

@@wulliesdad Only thing I know with regard to Canada is Bobby Brown(Scottish Accent) We had some contact but Bobby sadly passed away shortly after.He had a 2nd band leader by the name of Stan Hamilton. However,here in Holland we have nothing.Only some older dance teachers using SDB's.

For what???

@@tandemwings4733 Anything

@@1950accordionman I wouldn't consider that an intelligent reply.

@@tandemwings4733 Music changes over time, I'm not knocking anybody it's just my opinion that tunes can be played too fast, music isn't a speed trial.

You're maybe more of a dancer than a concert-goer? (Agree I prefer a Shand style myself.)