Gerry Cinnamon: Live At Hampden Park

Side A opens with ‘Lullaby’ the traditional concert opener for Gerry Cinnamon, this version has much more power than the album version. It’s a song that is carried and accelerated by the crowd. ‘Lullaby’ is the perfect opening to a gig, and the perfect opener to this album. ‘Sometimes’ is the next song and it picks up where the previous song left off, it’s a live classic, made all the better by an army of loud Glaswegians singing it. A vinyl version of a Gerry Cinnamon gig really gives a different perspective of these songs compared to studio releases. The crowd really are an extra instrument. ‘What Have You Done’ completes a trilogy of debut album tracks. This has always been one of my favourite songs by Gerry Cinnamon and the live version certainly packs much more of a punch. Track four the latest release from Mr Cinnamon, ‘Ghost’ a song I feel should have been on his second album, this live version more than makes up for that though. Lyrically this song is a highlight of the record. It’s amazing to see fans lap up a relatively new song at the time the gig was recorded, in exactly the same way they lap up the hits. Ending Side A is ‘Fortune Favours the Bold’ another song from his debut record, that is elevated by a crowd. This song is a true highlight of Gerry’s discography and it really showcases what he is all about. 

Side B opens with ‘Sun Queen’ a fan favourite, and a song that has always sounded better live. I’m not a massive fan of the album version! Live however the song comes to life a little more. Especially in the chorus. It’s still one of the weaker tracks on the album though! ‘Fickle McSelfish’ slows things down a little with it’s almost folk like delivery. It’s quite different to the rest of the record and this change of pace is welcome. ‘Dark Days’ from ‘The Bonny’ is the next song on Side B, another song that is improved by the live dynamic, it’s got a chorus that was made for venues like this. Hearing it within those circumstances goes a long way. In reinforcing how good it is. ‘Roll the Credits’ slows things down again, and brings us back down to earth. It’s a beautiful, yet sad song. I don’t usually associate Gerry with melancholy but this song is really beautiful yet is full of despair. ‘Belter’ ends Side B, it’s easily Gerry’s most commercially successful song, and a song I have fallen in and out of love with. This version reminded me of what the song is all about though. In that place with all of those people, with him on stage. It’s what that song was made for! 

Side C opens with a new unreleased song ‘Sacred’ and if it’s a look to the future, us fans have got a lot be excited about. Backed by a piano and some of the best lyrics he has written to date. It’s a very different song. Unlike anything we’ve heard from Gerry before. The future is an exciting time. ‘War Song Solider’ is the next song, another of Gerry’s underrated songs. Lyrically this song is a highlight. It doesn’t have the big choruses of say ‘Belter’ or ‘Sometimes’ but it doesn’t need it, it’s a welcome change of pace and talks about an important change in Gerry’s life. One of my favourites is next. ‘The Bonny’ I’ve always loved this song, it’s an overriding sense of hope and optimism. When things get bad. A song that has a festival anthem feel, yet is beautiful and soulful. A difficult feet. 

‘Mayhem’ ramps things up again, it almost has a dance drum beat, and in this live environment. You see it really come to life. The crowd are not just participating, they are actively part of the song for this one. Ending Side C is ‘Diamonds in the Mud’ a love letter to Gerry’s hometown of Glasgow. It’s quite fitting that this gig was recorded in Glasgow. We get one of the most emotional performances of this song we’ve ever got. ‘Diamonds in the Mud’ may be this albums crowing jewel, and the best song Gerry has ever written. It perfectly encapsulates both him and the place he is from. 

Side D opens with the thing many of us have waited a very very long time for. A recording of ‘Discoland’ a medley of three songs (Discoland/Wonderful Days/I Wanna Be a Hippie) performed by Gerry at every live gig. The originals are all dance tunes from the 90s and yet Gerry performs them with an acoustic guitar and a kick drum. Mixing elements from all three to create this anthem. It was definitely worth the wait. This moment is a staple from Gerry live shows and having it on vinyl is special! ‘I Wish I Was in Glasgow’ completely changes gear and slows things down again. A cover of a song originally by Billy Connolly. Gerry performs it beautifully, and gives another love letter to the place he is from. Following on from this we pick the pace up again with festival anthem ‘Where We’re Going’ it’s almost as if he wrote the song knowing what was coming. He knew he would be playing on stages like this, to all of these people. ‘Where We’re Going’ predicted this meteoric rise. One the oldest songs on the album acts as the penultimate song ‘Kampfire Vampire’ is one for all of the fans who have been there since the beginning. It’s even more of a haunting affair live, complete with that ear piercing harmonica. One of the very best. 

‘Canter’ brings down the proceedings and brings down the house for the final time, he need not play a note. The crowd do it for him, as if their lives depend on it. Throughout the song they drown him out, it’s testament to two things. One how good the song is, and two how loyal Gerry Cinnamon fans are. 

This album is a must have for Gerry Cinnamon fans. Watching him live, is a truly unique experience, and hearing those songs within that environment elevates them so much. Let’s face it. He’s not reinventing the wheel. His instrumentation is primitive, and that can be seen and heard when listening alone. Yet when you’re in an arena, field, football stadium and there’s 50/60/70,000 people chanting the lyrics like their lives depend on it. You can see what al the fuss is about. 

Thank you for reading x