Rum Scum Scoosh is the second release in an ongoing series of recordings made by the Elphinstone Institute at the University of Aberdeen that seeks to “celebrate the oral and cultural traditions of the Travelling people of North-East Scotland” (CD liner). This set includes two CDs from Stanley Robertson’s repertoire; one focuses on songs, the other on stories. Overall, Stanley’s performances are compelling and the recordings are clean. The liner notes are detailed and well-written, connecting the individual pieces to variants in standard indexes.
Although born and raised in a house in Aberdeen, Stanley Robertson is a Traveller--a minority, ideally nomadic, Gypsy-like subculture in Scotland that is often referred to by the ethnic slur “tinker.” While the exact origin of Travellers is still debated, Travellers have maintained vital oral traditions of their own while often absorbing elements of verbal artistry from surrounding communities. Stanley is intimately connected with these traditions. During interviews I conducted with him in 1993, he talks of his interest since childhood in learning from many great singers and storytellers in his extended family--including his aunt who was the well-known Jeannie Robertson and his cousin Lizzie Higgins. While some of the material on these CDs comes from this heritage, many of the street songs and games have roots in the fluid, culturally-diverse street culture of which Stanley was a part during his childhood.
Each CD in the set includes a different aspect of Stanley’s repertoire. The first CD focuses on street songs and games. Here are presented a wide range of “clapping songs,” “ball songs,” and “ropie songs” that would be used to accompany play; “war songs” in circulation during his childhood (Stanley was born in 1940); “jingles,” “parodies,” and “dance songs”; and even popular songs that derive from American influences. Given the large number of individual items, this disc may primarily appeal to folklorists seeking variants or teaching examples.
The second CD contains a range of stories that will be of particular appeal to children (my six-year-old daughter loved them). “The Wee Bannock,” “Rum Scum Scoosh,” “The Old Woman in the Vinegar Bottle,” and “Silly Jack” are variants of well-known tales that have been infused with Traveller worldview and Stanley’s skill as a performer. “Monkey See” and “The Tailor” have recently entered Stanley’s repertoire--originating from stories circulating among tellers in the storytelling revival. Two stories stand out: “Nippt Fit, Clippit Fit,” a Traveller variant of Cinderella, and “The Lass o Benachie,” an etiological tale involving a marriage proposal from the devil. These stories are particularly rich in their uniqueness and complexity.
If there is any disappointment in this CD it is that I know Stanley’s repertoire extends far beyond the material included here. I have heard him sing ballads with rare grace, subtlety, and understanding. I have listened to him tell many more stories--literary, personal, and traditional--that are subtly crafted, captivating, and rooted deeply in tradition. While we get a taste of Stanley’s ability in these recordings, I find myself longing for the full range of what I know he can offer. It is therefore my hope that this is only the first release of recordings of Stanley’s repertoire from this project.
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[Review length: 534 words • Review posted on September 26, 2007]