Wednesday 29 October 2008

Scotland Argentina Tickets

The SFA have just released general sale tickets for the Scotland v Argentina match on the 19th of November - a game that may see the return of Diego to Hampden.

Tickets can be bought over the phone by calling the SECC ticket hotline on 0844 481 1818 or by logging onto www.ticketlink.co.uk/scotlandtickets.

And for no other reason than it's there - how about another wee look...

Monday 27 October 2008

Half Time Dream Across Scotland

It is hoped that the first play of We have A Dream will be this weekend at football grounds across the length and breadth of Scotland.

The first batch of CD's are being run off just now but will be in our hands later this week in time to distribute to DJ's at football grounds all over Scotland for a first play at half time with your pie and bovril.

We thought that as the song features football supporters it would be best played to football fans first, so look out for a wee bit of community singing at your ground next week.

Red Hot Chilli Pipers New Album

Good luck to The Red Hot Chilli Pipers who today launched their latest live CD and DVD at HMV in Stirling.

The Chills (as they are known as on their own site!) provide much of the musical accompaniment for the rerecorded We Have A Dream and since there victory on the BBC's When Will I Be Famous and have since then have hardly been short of work or coverage.

Having booked them last year for a dinner in St Andrews and then watched them blow a traditionally staid audience away the Red Hot Chilli Pipers have added a harder edge to the remixed single and it's all the better for their involvement.

So if you're only going to buy two CD's this year make it the Chilli Pipers and WHAD.

The Gospel Truth Have A Dream...

When I went into the recording studio at CaVa in Glasgow a few weeks ago the first sound that greeted me was an amazing solo vocal of the last chorus of WHAD. Stunning it was too. Soon transpired that it was The Gospel Truth Choir.

The Gospel Truth Choir (www.thegospeltruthchoir.com) are a collective of talented Scottish vocalists who have become the "choir to have" in Scotland. Originally formed to perform as a surprise at a friends wedding, they are increasingly busy at a range of corporate events and wedding ceremonies. Led by Tracey Braithwaite (former backing vocalist with KT Tunstall and Horse), choir members include people like Tom Urie (Chewin' the Fat, the Karen Dunbar Show, Tutti Frutti stage show), Chris Judge (Lulu, Joe Walsh, Alex Harvey Band) and Madaleine Pritchard (The Commitments, Average White Band, Edwin Starr) in a line-up that goes from 8 members to "as many as you want".

The choir were delighted to be asked to join in with the "We Have a Dream" project for Children in Need - but it nearly didn't happen for them. "I read the original email as though it was a request to sing at a wedding ceremony - we do a lot of those - and responded accordingly" says their manager. "Fortunately BA's team were persistent and we realised quickly what the job was and signed up straight away !"


They play a major role in the new version giving an incredibly strong vocal feel to the song. They compliment the pipes and fiddle and if it was possible they make the song even more anthemic.

As a result of the recording they will also be performing We Have A Dream - amongst others - at the annual Awards Dinner for the Golf Tourism industry at Cameron House the night before they appear live on Children in Need. The dinner last year raised nearly £2000 when the Red Hot Chilli Pipers played live; this year The Gospel Truth will lead the guests in a rousing rendition of We Have A Dream...

The Unofficial "Official Single" for Children in Need

Or is that the official unofficial Children in need single! Whatever it would appear that after outselling the officail 2007 single by the Spice Girls, The Tartan Army are going to have a free run at the charity record fro Children in need this year. We understand that tehre is no official single so that must make We have A Dream the Offical unofficial single!

Anyway regardless, we're still hoping that we can get somewhere near the success of last year when Loch Lomond charted at Number 9 in the national charts and went on to seel more than 45,000 copies on CD and download.

Last year was a one off with the deciding Qualifying match against Italy coming the day after Children in Need's live performance of Loch Lomond with Runrig and 300 Tartan Army. This year there's no match but hopefully the broadcast on BBC Children in Need night - 14th November can generate sales across the whole of the UK.

Make sure of your copy and visit HMV, Amazon or Zavvi and pre-order for delivery now.

Advance Sales Picking Up

The sales of pre launch singles are picking up quite well this week with the single now in the top fifteen fastest selling pre release singles on HMV and just outside the top twenty for yet to be released tracks on Amazon.
It's also available at Zavvi and confirmed that it will be on the shelves from the 10th of November at Asda, Tesco, Woolies, Zavvi, HMV and a host of independant record stores. We've also had a call from Hampden and the track will be available from the shop too.

Friday 24 October 2008

We Have An AC/DC Dream...

Okay with apologies for a minor hijacking of a We Have A Dream theme for Children in Need but having had to sit in front of my laptop in my hotel room last Friday morning typing "submit" for forty minutes I still remain more than a little narked off that the legendary AC/DC are not coming to Scotland (yet) on their 2009 World Tour.

Now I know their not everyone's cup ot tea (why the hell not?) but the connection with Scotland is legend. Bon Scott with his own memorial in Kirriemuir; Angus and Malcolm born in Glasgow and not a Scottish date on the Tour!

If You Want Blood - recorded at The Apollo Theatre Glasgow 1978 and not a Scottish Date on the Tour!

Necxt year is a celebration of Homecoming Scotland 2009; Scots coming back to their homeland; and not a Scottish Date on the Tour.
So here's the shout guys...We Have (another) Dream

April 30th 2009 - 31 years to the night after that recording at The Apollo.

The Tartan Army are inviting you to return for one last homecoming performance. A performance for your own, to celebrate, to recall to share...

AC/DC with the Tartan Army - Let There Be Rock...


Thursday 23 October 2008

The Competition for Top Twenty!!

last year all we had to worry about was Kylie's new single! This year is a little bit tougher. This is what iTunes does to single releases. So if we're going to get Top Twenty again we're going to need some serious help from the Tartan Army and Friends!
  • Alesha Dixon - The Boy Does Nothing
  • The Automatic – Magazines
  • Chromeo - Momma's Boy
    Coldplay - Lost
  • Emmy The Great - We Almost Had A Baby
  • Enya - Trains and Winter Rains
  • Esser - SatisfiedFrankmusik – 3 Little Words (EP) (10”)
  • Friendly Fires – Paris (12”)
  • Gabriella Cilmi – Sanctuary
  • Grace Jones – William’s Blood
  • Honey Ryder - Fly AwayHowling Bells – Into The Chaos (7”)
  • James Blunt – Love Love LoveThe Kills – Tape Song
  • Lemar – If She Knew
  • Liam Finn - Better To Be
  • Manda Rin - Guilty Pleasure (7”) [Limited]
  • Nickelback – Gotta Be Somebody
  • Oasis - I'm Outta Time
  • Pudsey’s Beautiful Dreamers and The Tartan Army – We Have A Dream
  • The Revelations – Its You The Script – Break Even
  • Seasick Steve – Walkin’ Man
  • The Shortwave Set - Glitches 'N' Bugs (7”)
  • Sigur Ros - Vid Spilum Endalaust
  • Simply Red - Go Now
  • The Smiths – Hand In Glove (7”)
  • The Smiths – This Charming Man (7”)
  • Taio Cruz - I Just Wanna Know
  • Tom Jones - If He Should Ever Leave You
  • Twisted Wheel - Lucy

We can do it... buy now at HMV online

Tuesday 21 October 2008

CD available on Zavvi


The CD single is now also available on Zavvi for pre order. The single will be released on the 10th of November but can be prepurchased online from today from the We Have A Dream catalogue page

Monday 20 October 2008

Pre order CD Now

The We Have A Dream single has been mixed, remixed and sent to press. The final versions are now all done, the vocals have been done, the finish polished off and it is now available to pre order from HMV on line.

The CD single includes three versions of the track - the main single version, a radio edit and a live version by BA Robertson himself recorded at The Gilded Ballooon in Edinburgh.

If you want to order your copy and help The Tartan Army hit the Top Ten once more - and of course help Children in Need at the same time - just click on the HMV We Have A Dream link.

Monday 13 October 2008

Upload Images on the Road to South Africa

We've made it even easier for the Tartan Army to upload their images onto the site - simply click the link below and we'll add them on. Anything from The Ferry or Hampden? Tartan Specials? Macedonia or Iceland? Just hit the link and add images and they will appear in a series of Google Galleries over the next few days.
Just visit the image upload page for Tartan Army

The We Have A Dream Choir...

Awesome. Absolutely awesome.
The game has and will be dissected from all other sources and the disappointment will remain for a while so this is looking at the positives - I mean a We Have A Dream site for Scotland fans will always have a certain spin on it won't it?
The Dream is alive - the only people who think we can't qualify are radio "journalists" with newspapers to sell. Some of the comments being made by some nameless individuals on Saturday evening were quite outrageous and don't merit national radio coverage.
Positive criticism is good, complete negativity and cheap point scoring does nothing but harm for those involved including the the radio stations that are giving them the air time.
The dream is still alive. We can play better, we can take our chances and we can qualify. Sure it's more difficult but when did Scotland ever do anything the easy way?

So the awesome refers to the Tartan Army and that amazing vocal performance at half time. Loch Lomond 2007 was loud but the passion and belief that came from that half time performance should be broadcast forever more in the dressing room five minutes before the players come out.
The track has been mixed with the vocal and the feedback from the studios is that it is simply unbelievable! That even those with no Scottish blood in them had the hairs on the back of the neck rising.
So just in case you weren't there or didn't hear it on Radio Scotland or Sportsound there's a little flavour from Hampden on the right hand side of the page...

Friday 10 October 2008

Who Remembers The Dream of '82?


Good day for coverage of the single today with a full five minute piece on Reporting Scotland previewing the recording of the single and looking back at 1982. Great footage of the Scottish squad and those awesome haircuts and moustaches! And BA with that jacket and John Gordon Sinclair looking about fourteen! Those were the days. The days when we all fancied Gregory's Girl!

There was a wee snatch of Ayr Tartan Army and it made me realise watching some of the guys in that pub not having a clue what the words were that it's just as well we put the words up for the younger audience!

Do you remember where you were? It's a 9/11, JFK moment. We all remember where we were and what we screamed when Miller and Hansen assasinated each other on the right touchline and we exited another World Cup.

I was in Aviemore working at The Coylumbridge. I remembered missing the Brazil game instead preparing three hundred loaves of melba toast when some eejit came screaming through the kitchen saying that we'd gone one up and two loaves of aforementioned accompaniment were left to smoulder slowly under those enormous gas grills... I've still got a photo of me and Ronnie Young in Killie with one of those polaroid camera jobs celebrating with the New Zealand game in the background.

Great days indeed, pre college, paid accommodation, great guys from Greenock such as Joe and Archie; brothers Trevor and Graeme and a host of other Coylum Bears! The Russia game was in the Woodshed as usual - one of the worst things that ever happened to The Highlands - okay hyperbole - was its closure. Wooden hut, wooden floors, whisky barrel tables, half whisky barrel seats and just a riot almost every night of the week. Amazing place and well know to anyone who skied in Avimore in the 80s - there was always a promotional night on; I seem to remember Peter Stuyvesant? I definitely remember the Pernod Party nights. Every week. 50 p Pernod and Black and two days gut rot.

The days not only of We Have A Dream but Duran Duran, Human League, Spandau Ballet - but more impressively chart hits from AC/DC, Motorhead, Maiden...

Do you remember the Top Five when 'Dream' charted? You do? Sad git. I had to Google it... The single actually came out on May 1st for some reason and went to number five. But I can't actually find an offical chart anywhere. Best I can find is that Nicole and Madness both had number ones that May with A Little Peace and House of Fun. Rember I Won't Let You Down by PhD; Ebony and Ivory, Only You, Papa's Got A Brand New Pig or Goody Two Shoes? I think we should make the Ferry a 1982 zone tomorrow. Or should that be 1982 free zone.

Okay who's going to join me for a Pernod and Blackcurrant...

'Dream' Comes True for Glasgow Youngster

Glasgow youngster Mark Wood is celebrating even before Scotland kick off against Norway in this weekend’s vital World Cup Qualifier – Mark, aged 11 from Glasgow, has been selected form auditions to be the opening voice on the 2008 version of We Have A Dream.

The track which was first recorded by the Scotland World Cup Squad of 1982 has been given a fresh lease of life at recent Hamden internationals and will be rereleased in aid of Children in Need on November 10th complete with the vocals of many of Scottish entertainment’s top names and of course the backing vocals of the Tartan Army at Hampden this weekend.

Mark who is a student at the Glasgow Academy of Musical Theatre and Arts has already been into the studio and has recorded the first four lines of the track which it is hoped will match the success of last year’s top ten hit Loch Lomond. If it had been 1982 he might even have had a Top of the Pops appearance!

His piece was recorded on Tuesday at the famous Ca Va studios in Glasgow and is being remixed with the rest of the stars and crowd over the weekend before being pressed and distributed for the release ahead of the Children in Need show.

Shaaron Graham principal at GAMTA said of Mark, “We’re delighted for him as he’s such a lovely lad. He’s is a seasoned performer and great in front of live audiences. Glasgow panto audiences may already have seen him in the role as the Dame’s son at the SECC. He’s an all rounder with fantastic prospects, he really epitomises what’s best in some of Scotland’s young talent.”


Mark pictured, is delighted to be part of The Tartan Army ahead of the big match. “I don’t have a ticket to see the match but it’s great to be part of new song. I was over the moon at being picked and can’t wait to hear the finished version with all the stars on it. It’s just brilliant!”

Mark’s ticketless position however was rectified by SFA’s Marketing Manager Colin Banks last night, “We’ve managed to get a ticket for Mark for the match against Norway. He’s playing a major role in the success of the record for Children in Need so we thought it only appropriate that he was there on Saturday.”

One kid who is seeing the dream come alive.

Thursday 9 October 2008

We Have a Dream Goes Full Circle!

The rerecording of the 2008 version of We Have A Dream featuring a host of artists and 50,000 Scottish fans tonight joins a circle that has been twenty six years in the making.

The track, part of which, is being recorded and mixed at the famous Ca Va studios in Glasgow is being engineered by studio owner Brian Young who was involved – at a very early age he points out! - in recording the original single with the Scottish Football Squad and BA Robertson.

Brian will be sitting alongside Pudsey Bear for the next couple of days pulling elements of the final track together, with a whole host of Scottish talent already having laid down their vocals. The last twenty four hours has seen Scottish musical legends Aly Bain and Phil Cunningham lay down the instruments for the new version supported by young bagpipe maestro Lorne MacDougall from the Red Hot Chilli Pipers.

Brian was pleasantly surprised at the request to rerecord We Have A Dream and it took him back to the early eighties and the recording with all the stars of the time.

“The original track featured most of the Scotland squad in the studio and a few other personalities including Miss Scotland, singer Christian, boxer Jim Watt, jockey Willie Carson and sprint gold medallist Alan Wells. It was all really good to do and the Scottish squad at the time had legends like Alan Rough, Gordon Strachan, Willie Miller and Alan Hanson. Some of them could even actually hold a note!”

Brian’s lasting memory however was of Big Jock Stein acting as bandleader and keeping his vocalists in line! “Even in the studio they knew who was in charge!” said Brian.
“We knew we had a great football song on our hands but I’m not sure that anyone expected the longevity of the song and how it has become part of football legend. Certainly never thought we’d be rerecording it more than quarter of a century later!”

The song is being rerecorded at Ca Va and will feature the backing vocals of the Scotland crowd, the Tartan Army, at Hampden on Saturday during the half time break against Norway.
The match which is important to the World Qualifying will provide a superb backdrop to the backing vocals and it is hoped that the song which is due for release on the 10th of November ahead of the Children in Need bight will become a hit once again following in the top ten success for the Tartan Army with Runrig last year.

George Burley backs We Have A Dream


Daily Record confirmed this morning that Scotland boss George Burley has thrown his weight behind the Tartan Army's latest World Cup anthem yesterday.

The manager recorded a part for We Have A Dream in a bid to raise money for Children In Need. He said: "Luckily they didn't ask me to sing. I just shouted 'penalty'. But I know the song is going to make a great anthem. Children In Need is a great charity and I know the Tartan Army will be on top voice at the weekend."

Burley will join a host of celebrities including Samuel L Jackson, Dougray Scott and Ally McCoist on the single, with all proceeds going to need kids in Scotland.

Ugly Betty star Ashley Jensen also joined the line-up when she recorded a part in Los Angeles yesterday.

And at Saturday's World Cup qualifier against Norway, more than 50,000 supporters at Hampden will be recorded roaring along to the track at halftime, helped by a karaoke style prompt on the big screen.

The remix of the classic 1982 World Cup anthem is being produced by BA Robertson, who wrote the original song.

And Children In Need's Pudsey was in the studio yesterday to give him a helping hand.
The charity mascot joined the Gospel Truth Choir and Miss Scotland Nieve Jennings at Ca Va studios in Glasgow - where the original version was recorded.

Tuesday 7 October 2008

On Track for Hampden

So as the Daily Record revealed this morning there are a whole host of stars who have already recorded their vocals for the new version of We Have A Dream amongst them Fred MacAulay, Chris Hoy, Ally McCoist, Dougray Scott Ashley Jensen, Elaine C Smith and Karen Dunbar. There's a list as long as your arm of others who are due into the studios over the next few days and it's all leading up to a wonderful collage of Scottish acts performing on the track - accompanying the Tartan Army of course!
The big surprise on the track so far must be Samuel L Jackson. Hardly a Scottish icon but forever associated with the kilt after his appearance as Elmo McElroy in The 51st State. Elmo arrives in Liverpool donning his kilt and carrying his golf clubs.
and although the film is never explicit about why he's wearing the kilt, Elmo's slave-name, McElroy, gives the best clue as he's heading for the McElroy castle to buy the land and so, make some kind of statement about property and birthright and reclaiming a sense of dignity from the system that oppressed his ancestors! If that's not enough to make him honorary Tartan Army what would be!
Anyway, the big man recorded his piece while golfing at St Andrews (again approriate I guess - does anyway know how he scored?) so thanks for your contribution Samuel and when you're back next year how about joining us for the Scottish Homecoming Golf Classics? We'd love to see you...

Wednesday 1 October 2008

We Have A Dream... A Number One for Children in Need 2008!

Following the chart success of Loch Lomond in 2007 for Children in need, the Tartan Army are at it again with a follow up to their first Top Ten Chart Hit!

The single which is being recorded this week features top Scottish entertainers and celebrities from the worlds of music, sport, TV and film and will once again be lead by the vocal harmonies of 52,000 Scottish supporters recorded at Hampden this week during the Norway match.
The track which is going to be a major part of the BBC Scotland evening is a remix of the classic 1982 World Cup song We Have A Dream written by Scottish singer/ songwriter BA Robertson and was fronted first time round by John Gordon Sinclair.

The new version stays close to the classic version but instead of a single performer features a line up of Scots' stars singing in a style similar to the famous Lou Reed "Perfect Day" which was done a few years back for Children in Need.

Loch Lomond took the charts unexpectedly by storm last year and indeed outsold the official Children in Need song by The Spice Girls peaking at Number 9 in the BBC Top Forty and staying there for four weeks. It is hoped this year that national coverage on the night may lead to an even higer chart position than last year.

Project manager Ian McCaig from Ayrshire marketing company The Edge, was delighted that it was all coming together again this year.

"After the unexpected success last year we felt that we couldn't just leave it as a one off and it didn't take long to eye up We Have A Dream as the perfect follow up track. The "Dream" from a footballing perspective is clearly qualification for South Africa 2010 but the title quickly becomes a metaphor for helping children fulfill their own potential and have their own dreams."

BA Robertson was approached earlier in the year about remixing and releasing the track and he immediately saw the potential for the fundraising campaign.

The new version allows The Tartan Army to breathe further life into a song that has remained a positive and popular part of Scottish football culture and hopefully will help raise enormous amounts of money for Children in Need.

We've all been delighted by the list of Scottish personalities willing to give of their time - all we need is a truly heroic Scottish performance on the field on Saturday and the loudest rendition ever of "We Have A Dream" off it!

The backing track of the Tartan Army choir will be recorded at half time at Hampden on Saturday and be lead by a yet as unnamed Master of Ceremonies and the single will be mixed next week and will be available for online pre purchase on HMV and Amazon (with a bit of luck) as early as this weekend with the single being released on Monday November 10th.

More information on how you can help "We Have a Dream" for Children in Need visit www.tartanarmy.com