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in
November 1987 and December 1987 respectively. The single was released in 7", 12", and 10" versions. The 10" vinyl single of the song featured an unusual double groove pressing, with the two versions - acoustic and orchestral - interwoven on the same side of the disc, so that placing the needle on
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economic policies. Both of these themes are portrayed on the sleeve artwork for the single - a painted image of a man and woman from the time of the clearances (from the John Watson Nicol painting
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238:'s long history of emigration, with Scots leaving behind economic depression in their own nation to start new lives in America and Canada ("the day you sailed from
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The track was a Top 3 hit in
Ireland and the United Kingdom, whilst making the Top 30 in Belgium and The Netherlands and also charting in Germany.
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334:) subsequently issued a statement criticising Lamont for "distorting our song as part of Labour's anti-independence cabal with the Tories".
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when wealthy landowners forcibly evicted whole communities in order to turn their land over to the more profitable enterprise of raising
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The song was later recorded, as a single, in a fuller arrangement with producer
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541:"Quote us no more! — The Proclaimers hit out at Johann Lamont's use of lyrics"
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the record would result in a random playing of one or the other version.
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Carla
Rafferty, Gerry Rafferty and Kenny MacDonald – choir (4th chorus)
278:, and became a hit in November 1987, peaking at No. 2 and No. 3 on the
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301:, playing in the background at a wedding, and also in the 2013 film
262:) superimposed onto a black-and-white photograph of the interior of
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512:"Labour leader riffs on Proclaimers in independence jobs warning"
246:"). There is also an allusion to the enforced emigrations of the
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The Irish Charts – Search
Results – Letter from America"
576:"The Proclaimers - Letter From America (Band Version)"
485:"The Proclaimers – Letter From America (Band Version)"
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342:Personnel are taken from the CD single liner notes
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307:, along with several other Proclaimers songs.
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326:said it might leave Scotland if the country
310:In February 2014, the song was parodied by
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322:after the savings and investment business
217:, that appears on their 1987 debut album,
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456:The Virgin Encyclopedia of Eighties Music
328:voted to separate from the United Kingdom
76:"Letter From America (Acoustic Version)"
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266:steel works after its closure in 1986.
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34:
346:Charlie Reid – acoustic guitar, vocals
209:" is a song written and performed by
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785:The Very Best Of: 25 Years 1987–2012
539:Andrews, Kieran (28 February 2014).
64:"Letter From America (Band Version)"
295:The song appears in the 1991 film
14:
617:"Official Singles Chart Top 100"
358:Arum Ahmun – drums, percussion
16:1987 single by the Proclaimers
1:
623:. Retrieved August 30, 2021.
607:. Retrieved August 30, 2021.
352:Ian Maidman – bass, keyboards
234:Lyrically, the song reflects
361:Mick Dyche – electric guitar
940:Works about human migration
771:The Best of The Proclaimers
956:
739:Let's Hear It for the Dogs
320:First Minister's Questions
925:Chrysalis Records singles
167:
26:
824:I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles)
621:Official Charts Company
555:D. C. Thomson & Co.
332:Scottish National Party
930:The Proclaimers songs
312:Scottish Labour Party
22:"Letter from America"
318:during a session of
207:"Letter from America
935:Songs about poverty
810:Letter from America
605:Irish Singles Chart
349:Craig Reid – vocals
280:Irish Singles Chart
248:Highland Clearances
183:Letter from America
803:Throw the 'R' Away
725:Notes & Rhymes
520:. 27 February 2014
459:(Third ed.).
426:"Lochaber No More"
291:In popular culture
174:Throw the 'R' Away
163:singles chronology
907:
906:
897:Sunshine on Leith
889:Sunshine on Leith
859:Let's Get Married
831:Sunshine on Leith
817:Make My Heart Fly
683:Sunshine on Leith
676:This Is the Story
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304:Sunshine On Leith
220:This Is the Story
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192:Make My Heart Fly
155:& Hugh Murphy
126:Chrysalis Records
98:Lingfield, Surrey
96:Comfort's Place,
50:This Is the Story
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876:Related articles
852:Whole Wide World
845:King of the Road
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260:Lochaber No More
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463:. p. 392.
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298:The Commitments
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161:The Proclaimers
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140:Reid & Reid
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47:from the album
41:The Proclaimers
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373:Chart (1987)
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324:Standard Life
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316:Johann Lamont
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899:(soundtrack)
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763:Compilations
753:Dentures Out
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522:. Retrieved
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496:13 September
494:. Retrieved
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461:Virgin Books
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451:Colin Larkin
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433:. Retrieved
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883:Discography
732:Like Comedy
586:13 November
560:28 February
546:The Courier
524:27 February
256:Thatcherite
244:Nova Scotia
240:Wester Ross
147:Producer(s)
78:"I'm Lucky"
914:Categories
558:Retrieved
412:References
396:UK Singles
891:(musical)
697:Persevere
430:Artuk.org
383:Ireland (
378:position
338:Personnel
517:STV News
264:Gartcosh
236:Scotland
211:Scottish
83:Released
795:Singles
580:Discogs
490:Discogs
435:19 June
314:leader
196:(1988)
187:(1987)
178:(1987)
778:Finest
582:, 1987
551:Dundee
467:
104:Length
92:Studio
71:B-side
59:A-side
37:Single
366:Chart
252:sheep
230:Theme
213:band
121:Label
588:2023
562:2014
526:2014
498:2017
465:ISBN
437:2024
385:IRMA
376:Peak
282:and
128:Ltd.
86:1987
400:OCC
242:to
39:by
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398:(
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