Woody Fuller's Love Is Like A Red Red Rose.
What first caught my attention when sampling Robert Burns and Mike Ogletree's "The Kilmarnock Edition" this past evening, was not the fact that Mr. Robert Burns has been long dead; he died in 1796. I was not concerned with what a dead man was doing on the cover of a rock/reggae cd, I was not concerned with how this CD found its way into my hand, and eventually onto my iTunes, ( Iman has a way of doing things). I was concerned with one of my favorite poems of all time, "Red, Red, Rose," and how it had been transformed from a Scottish classic dating back to the 16th century into a reggae song I could beat my feet to. I was happily confused with what I was hearing; I dug deeper into The Kilmarnock Edition. 'Chiefly in the Scottish Dialect- The 'Kilmarnock Edition' was the title of Burn's original collection of poems, which were sold for 3 shillings a copy, and sold out all 612 copies in under a month. Beat that Hova!! I know you are double platinum multiple times, but I bet you've never gone triple shilling before. Hah! Mike Ogletree, a Scottish drummer best known for his role in 70's band Simple Minds, has 'remixed' the classic words of Robert Burns into a soulful, reggae/rock CD. A very novel and interesting concept for a musician's project, I give it three thumbs up. Not only does "Red, Red, Rose" really rock, but "Man was Made to Mourn" most definitely is a turn on.This is a very chill CD, reggae vibe really works with Burns' powerful, well thought out and even better organized messages, and the fact that its all in Scottish dialect just makes it that much more entertaining for us Americans. "A Man's a Man," is also another track worth giving a listen to; you can sample and buy all the tracks online. Just use google. Not only has this album inspired me to revamp and give my career as a poet another chance, but it as given me hope that one day my sweet words correlating the majestic hillsides of Italy( as seen from the Eurorail) to my broken heart and insane brain, will be made into a fancy, smooth sounding jam. So Mike, if you ever want to record "Cheifly in a Moco Dialect - The Woody Edition", I am more then game, and can even assist in production, or at-least some voice over.
On Jan 24th 2010 Mike was invited to give the Immortal Memory speech at the New York Caledonian Clubs' Burns supper. The letter frae Lesley MacLennan, 78th Chief o' The NYCC, says it all.
Robert Burns Ina Reggae Style Added To
US Library of Congress
With his latest CD, "Songs, Chiefly In The Scottish Dialect by Robert Burns and Mike Ogletree", Simple Minds and Fiction Factory drummer Mike Ogletree has a new fan at the US Library of Congress in Washington DC. After reviewing Mike's unique funky/reggae versions of the Burns classics Jennifer A. Cutting, Folklife Specialist from the Library of Congress had this to say: "What an inventive project. "To a Mouse" ends up working very well with a dance groove; "A Man's a Man" works well with the Reggae treatment; but if I have favorites, I suppose they are "Scots Wha Hae" and "The Deil." Congratulations on the publication of your CD. I will make sure that one copy goes over to our Recorded Sound division with a recommendation that it be added to the collections." "It is truly an honor," said Ogletree now living in New York, "to have the fruits of my musical collaboration with Burns evaluated in such a positive way and added to such a prestigious body is like a dream come true." With a second Burns album in the works and set to perform live at the Oran Mor venue in Glasgow on July 28th Mike, a devoted Burnsian is spreading the Bard's immortal message ever further and wider.
Robert Burns Benefit Concert
Glasgow Summer 2009
Dear Mike, I hope you are well and in good spirits. Just to say that Chris Tait has handed in the £700.00 cheque (photo attached). Than you so much for thinking about our fund-raising campaign for the new Robert Burns Birthplace Museum. It really was a great night and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Now Please remember that the offer to take you down to Alloway and meet the Museum Director and Curator is still there. Take care of yourself.
With best wishes.
David W McKinnon
The National Trust for Scotland
With best wishes.
David W McKinnon
The National Trust for Scotland
Group's Burning Ambition To help
Yorkhill Children's Foundation
25 Sep 2009
A group of dedicated Robert Burns enthusiasts, were able to use their passion for the poet to raise a wonderful £700.00 for Yorkhill Children’s Foundation. The group held a Burns Benefit concert at the Oran Mor Venue in Glasgow on 28 July 2009 with proceeds from the ticket sales going to YCF and the Robert Burns Birthplace Museum. The evening played host to a multitude of talented performers including Mike Ogletree from Simple Minds, The Skunnered and Eilidh Grant, and we were delighted to benefit from such a magnificent show’s success
A group of dedicated Robert Burns enthusiasts, were able to use their passion for the poet to raise a wonderful £700.00 for Yorkhill Children’s Foundation. The group held a Burns Benefit concert at the Oran Mor Venue in Glasgow on 28 July 2009 with proceeds from the ticket sales going to YCF and the Robert Burns Birthplace Museum. The evening played host to a multitude of talented performers including Mike Ogletree from Simple Minds, The Skunnered and Eilidh Grant, and we were delighted to benefit from such a magnificent show’s success