One of the great Scottish folk revival bands, Silly Wizard formed in Edinburgh around 1970 and toured tirelessly for the next couple of decades. As with many long-running bands, the lineup changed many times, though most notably included the late fiddler Johnny Cunningham (1957-2003), his brother Phil Cunningham and singer Andy M. Stewart (1952-2015), who each also recorded prolifically as solo artists and in other bands. The group officially disbanded in 1988.
Silly Wizard "Caledonia's Hardy Sons" (Shanachie Records, 1978)
Silly Wizard "So Many Partings" (Shanachie Records, 1980)
Silly Wizard "Wild And Beautiful" (Shanachie Records, 1981)
Silly Wizard "Kiss The Tears Away" (Highway/Shanachie Records, 1983)
A later album by this Scottish quartet... Both lead singer Andy M. Stewart and instrumental whiz Phil Cunningham have a tendency towards the sugary and florid, which is quite pronounced on this disc. It's not a bad record, by any means -- the instrumentation is mostly all acoustic, and their performance is low-key and effective. But as with many Silly Wizard albums, the folk-scene mellowness and understated tone make it seem a bit too reserved and mannered. It's okay, but it didn't really wow me. Plenty of other folks really dig this album, though, so take my comments with a grain of salt.
Silly Wizard "A Glint Of Silver" (Green Linnet Records, 1986)
Silly Wizard "Live Wizardry: The Best Of Silly Wizard In Concert" (Green Linnet Records, 1988)
Silly Wizard "Live Again" (2012)
An archival recording, originally performed in 1983...
Silly Wizard "The Best Of Silly Wizard" (Shanachie Records, 1985)
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