Tracks
| Track No. | Track Title (Information) |
|---|---|
| 1. | Buccaneer (1998 re-recording, originally a Springbok Radio #1 hit in 1977) |
| 2. | Chinese Junkman (1998 re-recording, originally a Radio 5 #2 hit in 1978) |
| 3. | She (1998 recording) |
| 4. | Free (1998 recording) |
| 5. | Why Can’t It Rain? (1998 re-recording, originally a Springbok Radio #12 hit in 1970) |
| 6. | Maneater (1998 recording) |
| 7. | Sweet Fields Of Green (1998 re-recording, originally an LM Radio #2 hit in 1971) |
| 8. | Guinevere (1998 re-recording, originally a Radio 5 #10 hit in 1975) |
| 9. | Heat (1998 recording) |
| 10. | The Millers Tale (1998 recording) |
| 11. | Birds Flying High (1998 re-recording, originally an LM Radio #6 hit in January 1972) |
| 12. | Weather The Weak End Down (1998 studio jam) |
Musicians
- Mike McCully: Drums, vocals
- Tully McCully: Vocals, bass
- Rupert Mellor: Keyboards, vocals
- Richard Black: Guitar, vocals
Additional musicians
- Kevin Gibson: Drums
- Allan Faull: Guitar
Release information
1998, Micmac Sound, MS001
Comments
McCully Workshop re-recorded some of their classic songs for the digital age in 1998 at Tully’s Spaced-Out Sound studios in Cape Town. They also recorded a number of new tracks. This is a great album. Wonderful male vocal harmonies, epic guitar solos, superb keyboard flourishes and a thundering rhythm section make this an album that needs to be listened to, over and over again.
All songs written by Tully McCullagh except ‘Buccaneer’ and ‘Chinese Junkman’ composed by Mike McCullagh.
1998 Recordings
All tracks were recorded in 1998. Most of the original versions can be found on The Best Of McCully Workshop released in January 2005.
Birds Flying High
The original version of ‘Birds Flying High’ is available on a Retrofresh CD compilation called ‘Astral Daze – Psychedelic South African Rock 1968-1972′ (though omitted from the streaming version on Spotify). This album, released in January 2006, features 18 classic, rare and obscure tracks (16 of which have never previously been released on official CDs before). This compilation CD was compiled by Benjy Mudie and Brian Currin with major input from SA rock collector Tertius Louw.
SHE – McCULLY WORKSHOP
from SA Rock Digest Issue #37, 24 October 1999
This superb Beatlesque track, recorded by the reformed McCully Workshop in 1998, would not be out of place on any Oasis album. That begs the question why Oasis sells millions of CDs and this track is ignored? Even by South African radio programmers!
‘She’ is one of 6 new songs on the 12-track ‘Buccaneer’ compilation CD released in 1998. The McCully brothers (Mike and Tully McCullagh) decided to rework some of their classic songs and record some new ones. They went into Tully’s renowned Spaced-Out Sound studios in Cape Town in 1998 and a while later they emerged with a freshened-up ’98 version of their 1977 chart-topper ‘Buccaneer’. The original late 70’s band members, Richard Black (lead guitar and vocals) and Rupert Mellor (keyboards and vocals) were recalled to help flesh out these songs. Mike McCully played drums and Tully handled the guitar, bass and vocals while Kevin Gibson (drums) and ex-Falling Mirror guitarist Allan Faull helped out as well.
McCully Workshop have lost none of the spark that made them one of SA’s greatest pop/rock bands and ‘She’ is a great example of how good they still are at writing and playing catchy, listenable pop/rock songs.
~ Brian Currin, 1999