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Think Positive!

by The Whisky Priests

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  • Compact Disc (CD) + Digital Album

    Comes in a jewel case with an attractive 16-page booklet including lyrics to all songs, a selection of individual photographs of each contemporary band member who played on these sessions, recording details and additional credits, etc.

    NB: - CD is the original 13-track version and does not include the 2 bonus tracks available with the digital version.

    IMPORTANT MESSAGE for non-UK buyers:
    Please be aware that if you are ordering from outside the UK, due to reasons beyond our control, you may be liable for additional charges, e.g. customs tax. Please note: we will NOT refund payment for any items refused or returned to us due to non-payment of these charges at point of delivery.

    Includes unlimited streaming of Think Positive! via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.
    ships out within 7 days

      £4.99 GBP or more 

     

  • Streaming + Download

    Includes unlimited streaming via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.

    Download version includes two bonus tracks not on the original album: 'Alice In Wonderland (Remix)' and 'Full Circle'.
    Purchasable with gift card

      £6.99 GBP

     

1.
A BETTER MAN THAN YOU He's a better man than you will ever be His heart is a lion his soul is free He exudes the greatest triumph with the purest dignity He's a better man than you will ever be His voice is louder than yours will ever be He says more in a moment than your whole life can achieve He captures people's lives and hearts with words of great beauty In a louder voice than yours will ever be And if through trouble he should falter I will be there to break his fall I will be his comfort, his shelter from the storm I will be his flower among them all He's a stronger man than you will ever be Fighting with such passion for all that he believes Against prejudice, injustice, deceit and apathy He's a stronger man than you will ever be And if he's prone to break my heart sometimes I know that he still cares for me For I know he hides a deeper sensibility He's a better man than you will ever be He's a nobler man than you will ever be Giving so much of himself with a natural selfless ease And should disaster strike, he will face it gallantly He's a nobler man than you will ever be And if you doubt the measure of this man You need look no further than me For I am his and I know he's the one for me He's a better man than you will ever be He's a better man than you will ever be He's a better man than you will ever be (Gary Miller) Copyright © 1998 Gary Miller / Whippet Records
2.
SIDE BY SIDE Mother close the curtains Kiss me on the brow Wish me "Good-night and God bless" before you go Your eyes full of pride For each little child Where did it all go? Where did it all go? Blood on our noses Blood on our knees But flowing thicker than water in our veins Fighting with each other Then fighting for each other Where did it all go? Where did it all go? Side by side we will fight Belief our strength, truth our might From despair our hope will rise Stand or fall, side by side Together we will survive Instead of doubling our trouble We can double our score Turn our differences around With a passion shared Two is better than one The battle still goes on The battle still goes on Side by side we will fight Belief our strength, truth our might From despair our hope will rise Stand or fall, side by side Together we will survive Stand or fall, side by side Together we will survive (Gary Miller) Copyright © 1998 Gary Miller / Whippet Records
3.
My Ship 03:44
MY SHIP I left my friends and my family behind Sailing away on a fast-rolling tide No thoughts of a future or what I might find On a wave of destruction through the passage of time Blinkered, unguided with sails to the wind Through the eye of a storm I drew my ship in No thought to all hands on this voyage of the damned Desperately seeking an unreachable land For the ocean is deep and destructive In my pride I thought I could conquer its soul But my ship is now wrecked; I sailed out of my depth Sinking into a bottomless hole So many ships passed this wreckage of mine I spared barely a glimpse I had barely the time Lost to indifference, tragic and blind I claimed each discovery as no other's but mine 'Though my ship sailed on glorious seas I never caught more than a soft-flowing breeze The once bright harbour lights have now faded to dim It's time for my ship to come in For the ocean is deep and destructive In my pride I thought I could conquer its soul But I forsook all I had, I must have been mad No longer shipshape, I'm alone I left my friends and my family behind (Gary Miller) Copyright © 1998 Gary Miller / Whippet Records
4.
ALICE IN WONDERLAND First she dries the dishes then she dries her eyes 'Though her tears could fill an ocean, her own river's running dry She's moved to Dead End Street from Opportunity Rise Where the spirits of dead dreams haunt the back lanes of her mind Sometimes he shows affection in a way that makes her proud But mostly he can't stand her; she's just a stupid cow To one who doesn't love her or respect her anyhow And cares nothing for their future just his own here and now So come on now, get your head out of the sand You're just like Alice dreaming of a wonderland But yours could be reality if you just take a hand Think positive! Think confidence! Think, "I am in command!" Time is a prison time is our own Hell Time is the destroyer; it's the fire in which we burn And on this one-way ticket, which offers no return Time never heals is something you will learn And as time slips away, it seems such a crime To see one so young growing old before their time Life offers too few chances don't let them pass you by For perhaps the greatest crime is never to have tried So come on now, get your head out of the sand You're just like Alice dreaming of a wonderland But yours could be reality if you just take a hand Think positive! Think confidence! Think, "I am in command!" So come on now, get your head out of the sand Don’t waste your whole life trapped in dreams of wonderland The reality could be yours if you just make a stand Think positive! Think confidence! Think, "I am in command!" Think positive! Think confidence! Think, "I am in command!" Think positive! Think confidence! Think, "I am in command!" (Gary Miller) Copyright © 1998 Gary Miller / Whippet Records
5.
SONG FOR EWAN Hello precious one, so small and frail May you grow to be strong and may your strength never fail 'Though you enter a world of sorrow and pain May you find peace and may wisdom be your reign Go forward with laughter and joy in your heart Be positive in everything you do Always believe in what you seek to achieve And I will believe in you This whole world is yours to paint and explore May your colours be vibrant, may your canvas be broad May each path you choose be sure and bold May the secrets of the universe be yours to unfold May your journey be exciting, may you reach for the stars May all your dreams come true Should you walk on Mars or through war-torn lands May your aim always be true The love I feel is deep and real It's pouring down on you My heart is on my sleeve for all to see As I sing this song for you But hush for now, may your life bring joy And may you find happiness too And when I am blessed with a child of my own May he or she be beautiful like you And when I am blessed with a child of my own May he or she be beautiful like you (Gary Miller) Copyright © 1998 Gary Miller / Whippet Records
6.
THE MAN WHO SOLD HIS TOWN I stood and watched the last boat leaving here for the last time Alone among my townsfolk without a tear in my eye As the weeping sky took pity on the souls I'd left to bleed For all life was my victim in my battle to succeed Like a young tree seeking rich soil uprooting from a barren land I went seeking greener pastures in the city far away With profit as my master I returned with the gift of death For one man's final chapter is another's opening page I never shed a tear for my family torn apart My proud father disowned me, my poor mother broke her heart And my brother swore he'd kill me if I crossed his path again When I turned my back on all I knew I left without a friend So where do I go from here? Where does my life now stand? Where are all the choices I once held at my command? Now I've become the victim of this selfishness and greed Heed this broken mind in the weak hands you now see The brass band fading out of sight and out of sound at last Blows a final farewell fanfare to my present and my past And then I know that they have marched like ghosts across my grave Lamenting something dead in me to which I can put no name (*) I stood by my beliefs as they tore my town apart No stranger to indifference with no sleeve to place my heart But now I've come to realise just where my heart does lie A traitor to my conscience as well as my own kind Now I find there's no one else can clear the shadow from my name No one else can share my sorrow or the burden of my shame Or know my mental anguish or shoulder any of my blame When guilt is the safety valve which so selfishly I claim [* Additional verse not used on recording] (Gary Miller) Copyright © 1998 Gary Miller / Whippet Records
7.
GOING TO THE MINE Into the smoky morning And I'm trudging down the line Past the dirty tanky engine Going to the mine Rows of pit folks' houses Like regiments in time Taste the gritty daylight When you're going to the mine Whistle of the buzzer Time to rise and shine How I long for Sunday When I'm going to the mine Falling snow around us Turning into grime Down the coaly track-way When you're going to the mine Flying birds and freedom But I must serve me time One day I'll be flying too From going to the mine Falling down the shaft And I'm leaving the sun behind Born to be a human mole Going to the mine Into the smoky morning And I'm trudging down the line Past the dirty tanky engine Going to the mine (Johnny Handle) Copyright © Johnny Handle
8.
WHAT I COULD HAVE BEEN Here's to the glorious failure, here's to the great unknown To another wasted burnt-out case, washed up and alone The circus has departed leaving one more sad old clown One more night goes by; one more drink goes down, down, down In this small-minded town You need the courage of your dreams I never stopped believing I would make it to the top With a single-minded tunnel vision no one else could stop One day I rocked it with the best of them Every backslapper come backstabber seemed to know me then Maybe because I was ahead of my time or because I never compromised All I'd sacrificed came to nothing in the end Going, going, going, gone Now all I've got left are my songs My memories and my unfulfilled dreams Of what I could have been And how my workmates love my stories Of rock 'n' rollers bound for glory Now I'm bound for the building site My leathers and good looks departed For tatty jeans and a hairy arse And how my sad mates love my stories But it’s just a piss-head's faded glories Now I'm bound for the bar again As they laugh at me behind their pints And mock me when I'm out of sight (I never liked them that much anyway!) Going, going, going gone Now all I've got left is this song The memories and the unfulfilled dreams Of what I could have been Now I hate this fucking business after all its done to me But it’s in my blood now and for another crack at it I'd give anything And 'though people say to me "It was never meant to be So keep your feet still Geordie Hinny" They'll never drive those bonnie dreams away For I'll keep up the hope, I'll keep writing songs 'Though no-one might hear them to me they're so strong They'll tell of my life and the things that I've seen And serve to remind me of what I could have been (Gary Miller) Copyright © 1998 Gary Miller / Whippet Records
9.
CAR BOOT SALE I went to the car boot sale At the racecourse one fine June I had nothing else better to do On a boring afternoon There were cars and stalls and people obsessed As far as the eye could see But there wasn't a fucking horse in sight At the sale of the century Oh me lads, you should've seen them gannin' Millin' around like flies 'round shite With no real sense of plannin' Hagglin' and fussin', hustlin' and bustlin' In search of the Holy Grail Some folks' rubbish is other folks' gold At the car boot sale There were people arriving while others were leaving A lot of them pushing prams I hope the ones that had just been bought Were the unoccupied ones Amidst the clamour you could hear a man cry "Everything fifty pence!" But you wouldn't have bothered to look in his box If you had any sense There were second-hand clocks and watches With a history to tell They might have been worth a fortune If they told the time as well Broken toys, torn books, scratched records Electrical goods of every degree Finding they don't work when you get home Is your only guarantee There was Mister Softee ice cream Next to a burger van from Hell In a cone or a tub with monkey's blood Next to people with no sense of smell I was trying to find one of those Backward-facing baseball caps 'Cos no matter how hard I've looked I've only seen forward ones in the shops So if you're bored or depressed With the National Lottery Come along for a grand day out With the shell-suit family Grab a piece of the action Of this latest national craze Rogues by the score amid bargains galore At your local car boot sale Oh me lads, you should've seen them gannin' Millin' around like flies round shite With no real sense of plannin' Hagglin' and fussin', hustlin' and bustlin' In search of the Holy Grail You might find it for a couple of quid At the car boot sale (Gary Miller) Copyright © 1998 Gary Miller / Whippet Records
10.
WHEREVER YOU GO Tell me what you're thinking, open your heart Let me into your world Those magnificent mansions buried deep in your mind Hold treasures so precious don't lock them inside I can recall every moment we've shared When we walked on the beach in the cool night air When you taught me the names of the stars in the sky And sparked an unending fire in my life But time is precious and life is too short One shot at happiness may be all that is ours So grab it, treasure it, never let go And keep it with you wherever you go And I will be with you wherever you go Don't hate me for taking up your precious time Or spend it as though living's a crime If I owned all your dreams I would give them to you For I love you But time is precious and life is too short A gift we must learn to appreciate more So grab it, treasure it, never let go And keep it with you wherever you go And I will be with you wherever you go (Gary Miller) Copyright © 1998 Gary Miller / Whippet Records
11.
BROTHERS IN ARMS AGAIN You came to me with cap in hand While kid gloves were on mine I worked all the hours God sent me While you wasted my time But my best was never good enough for you I could never do right for doing wrong And now you want me to apologise For all the bad things that you've done When one man digs for buried treasure There's always another man standing close by Waiting to step in to take the glory Waiting to pluck out the other man's eyes Its a fact of life those who stand idle May find success when it isn't even theirs While those who break their guts And hearts while others profit Find life doesn't always deal fair shares So hold those feelings close to your heart Keep those devils in For when the saints go marching in Who will count your sins Or bang the bitter aching drum You've hammered on in vain While I must hang my head in shame Until we are brothers in arms again Some people might say that I'm bitter To them I say "What do you know?" I only know I'm feeling tired now I only know I'm growing old From propping up the deep dark tunnels Of your crumbling mind But 'though my mental back is broken Mine will heal in time So hold those feelings close to your heart Keep those devils in For when the saints go marching in Who will count your sins Or bang the bitter aching drum You've hammered on in vain While I must hang my head in shame Until we are brothers in arms again Until we are brothers in arms again Until we are brothers in arms again (Gary Miller) Copyright © 1998 Gary Miller / Whippet Records
12.
POSITIVE STEPS [Instrumental] (Glenn Miller)
13.
LEAVE HER JOHNNY, LEAVE HER I thought I heard the old man say Leave her Johnny leave her It's a long hard pull to the next payday And it's time for us to leave her Leave her Johnny leave her Leave her Johnny leave her Now the voyage is done and the winds don't blow And it's time for us to leave her Oh the skipper was bad but the mate was worse Leave her Johnny leave her He'd blow you down with a spike and a curse And it's time for us to leave her Leave her Johnny leave her Leave her Johnny leave her Now the voyage is done and the winds don't blow And it's time for us to leave her It's pull you lubbers or you'll get no pay Leave her Johnny leave her Pull you lubbers and then belay And it's time for us to leave her Leave her Johnny leave her Leave her Johnny leave her Now the voyage is done and the winds don't blow And it's time for us to leave her Leave her Johnny leave her Leave her Johnny leave her Now the voyage is done and the winds don't blow And it's time for us to leave her Leave her Johnny leave her Leave her Johnny leave her (Trad. arr. The Whisky Priests) Copyright © 1998 Gary Miller / Glenn Miller / Whippet Records
14.
ALICE IN WONDERLAND First she dries the dishes then she dries her eyes 'Though her tears could fill an ocean, her own river's running dry She's moved to Dead End Street from Opportunity Rise Where the spirits of dead dreams haunt the back lanes of her mind Sometimes he shows affection in a way that makes her proud But mostly he can't stand her; she's just a stupid cow To one who doesn't love her or respect her anyhow And cares nothing for their future just his own here and now So come on now, get your head out of the sand You're just like Alice dreaming of a wonderland But yours could be reality if you just take a hand Think positive! Think confidence! Think, "I am in command!" Time is a prison time is our own Hell Time is the destroyer; it's the fire in which we burn And on this one-way ticket, which offers no return Time never heals is something you will learn And as time slips away, it seems such a crime To see one so young growing old before their time Life offers too few chances don't let them pass you by For perhaps the greatest crime is never to have tried So come on now, get your head out of the sand You're just like Alice dreaming of a wonderland But yours could be reality if you just take a hand Think positive! Think confidence! Think, "I am in command!" So come on now, get your head out of the sand Don’t waste your whole life trapped in dreams of wonderland The reality could be yours if you just make a stand Think positive! Think confidence! Think, "I am in command!" Think positive! Think confidence! Think, "I am in command!" Think positive! Think confidence! Think, "I am in command!" (Gary Miller) Copyright © 1998 Gary Miller / Whippet Records
15.
FULL CIRCLE In the great days of steam I was the toast of the town My brand new paintwork gleamed As people flocked from miles around To see to touch to wave to cheer A newborn child of engineers And the hearts of my two thousand horses beat To the rhythm of their tiny lives I rolled and sped and hissed and with pride An iron beast of burden I tore through the veins and guts of the land Supplying mineral wealth Fed by a fireman’s lonely hand With the passion of a thousand suns My kisses scorched his bursting lungs Like a lover’s heart my fires were stoked By rough hands touched with tenderness As I held him in my warm caress I became a river supplying endless streams To valleys and mountains red and gold and green To fortune to fame to romance and to dreams I was privy to their secrets and their schemes As their lives touched me And I fed the hungry engines of war With the finest crop in England’s store An ocean of tears drowned the platform roar Through emotions never felt so deep before I fell to the diesel age Time and progress conquered me Withdrawn and derelict Nature laid cruel hands on me She turned my once bright coat to rust As my memory faded into dust Some small affection I could claim As a nest for lovebirds I became Or a secret den for children’s games Rescued and restored by loving hands In my former glory I now stand My paint gleams once more people flock again in awe To celebrate to see to touch to talk Of one reborn (Gary Miller)

about

The Whisky Priests sixth and final studio album.


Media Reviews:

“After a succession of strong albums and a string of line-up changes, County Durham’s own diehard Geordie folk-rockers have taken a clever and largely effective side step, producing their most assured and confident album to date. Generally substituting brains for bluster, frontman and songwriter Gary Miller has matured into a writer of cleverly composed mini-epics, which, as well as offering a nod to their ‘pitmatic’ roots, also traces the path the band has walked since forming, close on fifteen years ago.

‘Think Positive!’ features a clutch of self-compositions rich in that rugged quality which has secured The Whisky Priests’ reputation, yet this time the grittiness has been finely gold-plated, with ‘part-time Priest’ Chuck Fleming adding delightfully melodious colour on piano, fiddle and mandolin – especially effective on the poignant ‘My Ship’ and in the punch-drunk swagger of Johnny Handle’s ‘Going To The Mine’.

The band displays an impressive Celtic subtlety on ‘Wherever You Go’, with flute adding more Celtic flavourings than previously noticeable on a Whisky Priests recording. Having said that, fans of the band’s fiery roots rock will not be disappointed, as opener ‘A Better Man Than You’ is as fine as – if not better than – anything they have come up with before. Some superbly delivered harmonies add a classy edge, and elsewhere they show a fine line in riff rock on the hugely infectious ‘The Man Who Sold His Town’. The killer blow comes via the social realism and satire of ‘Car Boot Sale’.

There’s quality here by the bucket-load, plus class and authority and a healthy dose of genuine style. ‘Think Positive!’ features The Whisky Priests at the peak of their form.”

Sean McGhee, ‘Rock ‘N’ Reel’, UK, Issue 30, Spring 1998.


“Perhaps the title’s something of a credo for Gary and Glenn Miller. More than a couple of times they’ve been dealt a lousy hand. Less driven individuals would have shut up shop long since, but not these two. Tenacity reaps its own rewards; besides which the Priests always listen to their fans first and bugger what anyone else thinks. The punters it is who run the motor.

Born of soul-searching, ‘Think Positive!’ is perhaps the most considered Priests album. For starters it was laid down in Scottish seclusion; this version sounds like a band and not the Millers with latest additions; it’s shot through with the exuberant but steady virtues of ex-JSD / Five Hand Reel worthy Chuck Fleming; and the vocals, less fraught and wild, go for harmonies. (Is this really the Priests?).

Why, the closing, sole trad. arr., ‘Leave Her Johnny, Leave Her’, recalls nothing less than Shane MacGowan’s brilliant ‘A Rainy Night In Soho’. Elsewhere they set Johnny Handle’s ‘Going To The Mine’ in a stately pit march. For their own stock they still draw heavily on tales of the ordinary and everyday but they’ve shot them through with great melodies and a rhythm section hot to trot. Celebrating failures, dreams, loves, quirks, characters and the best put down of a car boot sale you’ll ever wrap your lugs round.”

Simon Jones, ‘Folk Roots’, UK, July 1998.


“The Whisky Priests were formed in 1985 by brothers Gary and Glenn Miller from the North East of England, who were then mere teenagers with no professional musical experience, just one hell of a determination to succeed. Since those early days there has been some 40 changes in the band’s line-up and some long legal battles with the business side of music, like record companies.

To many artists it would have been disheartening but to the Miller brothers it was like pouring petrol on the fire of commitment and dedication. Today they have Yorkshire men Hugh Bradley and Andy Tong plus country music drummer Cozy Dixon in the line-up. When you here the music, nearly all original, it will say one thing loud and clear, this band does think positive because this is their 17th release since 1987.

Live performances have also brought excellent reviews and a large army of dedicated fans both home and abroad but no way do they fall into the pure country music category but I think this band is just one chart song away from success.

When you hear the music on the album I am certain you will detect strains of Celtic/Northumberland folk, American bluegrass, blues, roots and country that ‘The W.P.’s’ have coiffured to a style of their very own. Lyrically at times they had me thinking of them as new wave folky punk.
The ‘W.P.’s’ give themselves a great introduction to the listener. If you want to sample their great humour try ‘Car Boot Sale’ to an arrangement of the tune of ‘Blaydon Races’. Certainly an album I am only too pleased to add to my collection in the alternative side.”

‘Country Music News & Routes’, UK, Vol.14, No.12, October 1998.


“Another great batch of songs from the prolific pen of songsmith Gary Miller, who has the ability to draw on aspects of his own experience and adapt and develop these into strong story lines. Many of these new songs have a seemingly introspective and personal quality – songs such as ‘A Better Man Than You’, ‘Side By Side’, ‘My Ship’, ‘Song For Ewan’, ‘What I Could Have Been’ and ‘Wherever You Go’ – these are songs to identify with. Amongst the others are two all-time favourites – ‘Going To The Mine’ (Johnny Handle) and the shanty ‘Leave Her Johnny, Leave Her’; but my favourite is Gary’s lightweight and upbeat new 50 words per second version of ‘Blaydon Races’ – ‘Car Boot Sale’, which is nothing short of brilliant, and perfectly illustrates his gift for the words! I look forward to hearing a lot of singers attempting that one! In summary, another Whisky Priests album full of dreams, drama and drive, drive, drive – irresistible!”

Jenny Coxon, ‘Folk Buzz’, UK, Autumn/Winter 1998.


“Following a lengthy lay-off, brought about as a result of being badly beaten during a nightclub gang attack in Slovenia, compounded by Glenn Miller contracting pleurisy, as a result of overwork and stress, The Whisky Priests return with yet another line-up and more songs about life in England’s north east and beyond.

The quality of Gary Miller’s songwriting remains their greatest strength and, from this album, it would seem that his recent conversion to teetotalism has had a positive effect on the creative process. Songs like ‘Side By Side’, ‘My Ship’ and ‘Alice In Wonderland’ stand up to any number of comparisons, particularly to the atmosphere-laden version of Johnny Handle’s ‘Going To The Mine’, which is included here. A sense of fun creeps in with ‘Car Boot Sale’ being a quite hilarious look at one of Britain’s strangest pursuits.

Musically, ‘Think Positive!’ has a more traditional feel than we’ve come to expect and is, arguably, the band’s finest moment to date, with the Miller twins coaxing a fine performance from all involved.”


Dave Haslam, ‘Taplas’, UK.


“I am a big fan of The Whisky Priests, not only their music but their sheer tenacity and determination. This band has had over forty line-up changes since their inception but always there in the calm, in the eye of the maelstrom, have been the Miller brothers Gary and Glenn. With Gary being the main songwriter as well as vocalist/guitarist and Glenn on accordion, they are now joined by Hugh Bradley (mandola, mandolin, whistle, flute, electric guitar), Andy Tong (fretted and fretless bass) and Cozy Dixon (percussion). Chuck Fleming also made an appearance on violin, piano and mandolin.

This album has more depth to it than has been apparent with The Whisky Priests before. Prior to this their trademark has been rousing roots rock, but here even the more boisterous songs seem to have a more restrained element to it. That seems a little strange when you consider that this album was recorded basically live (no more than three takes a song) with a minimum of overdubs. Even though ‘What I Could Have Been’ fairly trots along there is the impression that in a sweaty hall the amps will be cranked up a little more and what is a bloody good song will be dragged kicking and screaming more into the classic. ‘Car Boot Sale’ is a comic number, which is nothing more or less than a ‘Blaydon Races’ for the 21st Century.

But out of the twelve songs and one instrumental there are two on which I would like to focus attention in particular. The first is ‘Alice In Wonderland’, which is a song about people attempting to take control of their lives, reaching for their dreams. It starts off as a fairly typical number with good mandolin/accordion work but as well as some wonderful fiddle parts what really lifts this is the vocals. There are some wonderful harmony vocals care of Hugh and Andy that are particularly effective. It is from this song that ‘Think Positive! Think confidence! Think I am in command!’ is taken. The other song is the longest on the album (only six minutes), which is ‘The Man Who Sold His Town’. What is effective about this is that for the first part there are no ‘folk elements’, with just a rock band format. It is only later during the instrumental part that these make an appearance, a radical departure to normal Priests material, which works extremely well indeed.

If you enjoy folk or roots rock then you must surely know The Whisky Priests. They are huge in Germany, where they are going to be shortly recording a live CD and Video, but they are also gigging over here and if you get the opportunity to see them, go along. I saw them a few years ago and they are one of the most powerful live experiences you can imagine, as they whip it into a folk roots frenzy. Sweaty and marvellous.”

Kevin Rowland, ‘Feedback’, UK, No.48, May 1998.


“New band, great attitude! The Priests have had a bit of bad luck over the last year. The last line up was a good solid back up for Glenn and Gary Miller, the brothers and main backbone of the band. For reasons which wouldn’t make interesting reading, they either call it a day, or move on, or… Anyway, despite several setbacks, the Millers have come shining through with this appropriately titled album. The album kicks off with ‘A Better Man Than You’, and rips through some cracking songs. As is often the case with Gary’s lyrics, there are some very poignant and atmospheric words that can be read on their own merit; ‘Alice In Wonderland’, ‘My Ship’ and the truly touching ‘What I Could Have Been’. Ironically, ‘Think Positive!’ does have some very downbeat vibes, and if the proof was in the pudding, then this is one hell of a dessert. All the songs show a good eye for gritty and earthy reality.”

Dave W. Hughes, ‘The Modern Dance’, UK, Internet version #11.


“Like the man said, there truly cannot be another band like The Whisky Priests, which is a good thing.

Here at BT Towers we are old friends of County Durham’s finest folk band and have followed the band through the 40-odd line-up changes, endless tours and myriad other challenges to the artistic process (including being beaten up in a Slovenian nightclub!).

Now they have their latest studio album out – their sixth – and they’re just getting better every time they do it.

The band are always at their most exciting on stage, where the power and passion that makes them so unique is at the fore.

But there is much to be gained from listening to ‘Think Positive!’ as well.
This 13-track collection is made up for the most part by new compositions by Gary Miller, one of the two brothers who have been the mainstay of the band throughout their dozen or so years, with Glenn, the other brother, penning one instrumental.

As has been noted on these pages before, Gary is a very gifted folk musician and songwriter, and this album gives the listener a chance to check out just how good he is.

Forget arran sweaters and fingers in the ear, this is folk music at its rawest, most passionate best; it is songs about the ordinary man and woman, about communities. It’s very good indeed.

Buy the album, and see the band live, get the best of both worlds.”

Richard Lewis, ‘Bury Times’ UK, 1st May 1998.


“‘Think Positive!’ is more than just an album title for The Whisky Priests, it is an attitude which has seen them triumph over everything from line-up changes to disengaging themselves from dodgy record deals. Their sense of positivity overrides everything and emerges victorious again. ‘Think Positive!’ sees them encrusting their North of England background with healthy dashes of 60’s pop and an express train rhythm section. The bluster and passion of yore is still intact but it is now blended with a more melodic strain, which incorporates elements of Celtic music in ‘Car Boot Sale’ and ‘Wherever You Go’, where Hugh Bradley’s flute emphasises the lilting melody and a beautifully restrained ‘Leave Her Johnny, Leave Her’.

Both Glenn and Gary Miller are at the core and their impassioned vocal and instrumental inputs captures the essence of The Whisky Priests with commanding works such as ‘A Better Man Than You’ and ‘Alice In Wonderland’. Powerfully energetic and totally committed, The Whisky Priests have created in ‘Think Positive!’ their masterpiece.”

John O’Regan, ‘J,O’R’, Eire.

credits

released May 1, 1998

Original CD liner notes:

'Think Positive!' was recorded and mixed 15th-26th January at Watercolour Music in the beautiful and inspirational location of Ardgour, Lochaber, in the Scottish Highlands. It was engineered by Nick Turner, man of 1000 voices (most of which sound like 'Boycey' from 'Only Fools And Horses'!) and produced by Nick and the band.

The Whisky Priests line-up on this recording:

Gary Miller – Lead Vocals, Acoustic Guitar
Glenn Miller – Accordion, Piano
Hugh Bradley – Mandola, Mandolin, Electric Guitar, Whistle, Flute, Backing Vocals & Harmonies
Andrew Tong – Bass Guitar, Fretless Bass, Backing Vocals & Harmonies
Cozy Dixon – Drums, Percussion

‘Part-Time Priest’:
Chuck Fleming – Fiddle, Piano, Mandolin

In addition to the above, we all clapped, we all clapped, shouted, and made various noises where appropriate, with "Everything fifty-pence" courtesy of Chuck 'Bargain Bin' Fleming, while Booby rang his little bell on 'Car Boot Sale' and kept Andy's spirits up in his own special way (?!).

Jane fed us a couple of times and Chuck made a fine cheese omelette but Glenn cooked the lion's share of our meals for the duration of the session, although there were those among us who saw to it that there was precious little left for the poor old lion!

One morning, between and during takes, Kit Little snapped away at his camera and took the photos of us at the recording studio, which you see throughout this booklet, except for the odd one or two which Jane Miller took - Cheers!

And in case you thought it was all rock 'n' roll, we also managed to make time at the end of many a long hard day's recording session for what became an obligatory and highly enjoyable, if unsuccessful late-night UFO-spotting expedition among the rolling hills of Ardgour.

The design, layout and artwork was done by Keith Lawrence Palmer at 'The Creative Type'.


Track 14:
remixed by Nick Turner at Watercolour Music
Previously released on the Various Artists compilation album ‘Seka [“Sister”]’ (Twah!113/EFA61113-2 Twah! Records 1998)

Track 15:
Recorded at The Old Dairy Studio, York, 15th-17th September 1999
engineered & mixed by Phil Elliot
Previously released on the Various Artists compilation album ‘A Full Head of Steam’ (AFHOSCD001 Northern Sky Music 2000)


Original album ℗ & © 1998 Whippet Records
This Compilation ℗ & © 2016 Whippet Records

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The Whisky Priests Durham, UK

The Whisky Priests (1985-2002) was founded by twin brothers, Gary & Glenn Miller (“the Joe Strummer and Mick Jones of Folk Music”). The band was internationally renowned for its energetic live shows, released a number of critically acclaimed albums, toured extensively and developed a worldwide cult following. The band reunited to tour in 2018 and release a 12-disc Complete Discography CD Box-set. ... more

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