This is a comprehensive listing of the discography of Celtic rock group Runrig. They released their debut album, Play Gaelic, in April 1978, followed by the albums The Highland Connection (1979), Recovery (1981) and Heartland (1985). The band achieved moderate breakthrough commercial success in 1987 upon the release of The Cutter and the Clan, which yielded the singles "Worker for the Wind" / "Alba" and "Protect and Survive", which peaked just outside the Top 100 of the UK Singles Chart. "News from Heaven" was released as the lead single from their sixth album Searchlight (1989), which peaked at number ninety on the UK Singles Chart. Searchlight reached a peak of number eleven on the UK Albums Chart, and was certified Silver in the United Kingdom and marked the beginning of a period of commercial success for the band across Europe.
The early 1990s continued a period of success for the band, particularly in the British and German music markets. The Big Wheel (1991) and Amazing Things (1993) both reached the top five of the UK Albums Chart, whilst Amazing Things gave the band their debut appearance on the German Albums Chart following a peak position of number forty-seven. "Flower of the West" was released as the only single from The Big Wheel and peaked just outside the UK Top 40 Singles Chart, whilst "Wonderful" and "The Greatest Flame" which were the two singles to be released from Amazing Things gave the band their first appearance in the UK Top 40.
In 1996, Runrig released a cover version of "Rhythm of My Heart" by Rod Stewart which was included on their compilation album Long Distance. The single reached number twenty-four on the UK Singles Chart, and was followed by the release of a remixed version of "The Greatest Flame" which reached number thirty in the United Kingdom. Long Distance achieved considerable commercial success across Europe, reaching number thirteen in the United Kingdom, six in Denmark, sixty in Germany and number one in their native Scotland, whilst achieving both Gold certifications in the United Kingdom and Denmark. Their tenth studio album, In Search of Angels (1999), marked their final appearance in the UK Top 40 Albums Chart, peaking at number twenty-nine, until their fourteenth and final studio album, The Story (2016) peaked at number twenty-six. In 2007, a remixed version of "Loch Lomond" featuring the Tartan Army, entitled "Loch Lomond (Hampden Remix)" gave the band their only appearance in the Top 10 of the UK Singles Chart, peaking at number nine and achieving a Silver certification in the United Kingdom.
Albums Studio albums Title Album detailsPeak chart positionsCertifications UK UK Indie DEN* For all albums except The Best of Runrig: Long Distance: For The Best of Runrig: Long Distance: GER SCO SWIPlay Gaelic Released: April 1978 Label: Neptune Formats: LP, MC——————The Highland Connection Released: 19 October 1979 Label: Ridge Formats: LP, MC——————Recovery Released: 1981 Label: Ridge Formats: LP, MC——————Heartland Released: 1985 Label: Ridge Formats: CD, LP, MC——————The Cutter and the Clan Released: 1 December 1987 Label: Ridge Formats: CD, LP, MC457——12— UK: SilverSearchlight Released: 25 September 1989 Label: Chrysalis Formats: CD, LP, MC11————— UK: GoldThe Big Wheel Released: 10 June 1991 Label: Chrysalis Formats: CD, LP, MC4————— UK: GoldAmazing Things Released: 15 March 1993 Label: Chrysalis Formats: CD, LP, MC2——47—— UK: SilverMara Released: 6 November 1995 Label: Chrysalis Formats: CD, LP, MC24——813— UK: SilverIn Search of Angels Released: 1 March 1999 Label: Ridge Formats: CD, MD29——266—The Stamping Ground Released: 4 May 2001 Label: Ridge Formats: CD64—332015—Proterra(with Paul Mounsey) Released: 25 August 2003 Label: Ridge Formats: CD84—161012—Everything You See Released: 14 May 2007 Label: Ridge Formats: CD61—11510— DEN: PlatinumThe Story Released: 29 January 2016 Label: Ridge Formats: CD, 2xCD, 2xLP, digital download26426451"—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that territory.
Live albums Title Album detailsPeak chart positionsCertifications UK UK Indie DEN GER SCO SWIOnce in a Lifetime Released: 14 November 1988 Label: Chrysalis Formats: CD, LP, MC61———59— UK: GoldTransmitting Live Released: 14 November 1994 Label: Chrysalis Formats: CD, LP, MC41——674—Live at Celtic Connections 2000 Released: 28 August 2000 Label: Ridge Formats: CD168——4843—Day of Days Released: 3 May 2004 Label: Ridge Formats: CD20023132540— DEN: GoldYear of the Flood Released: May 2008 Label: Ridge Formats: CD, CD+DVD——428—— DEN: GoldParty on the Moor Released: 28 March 2014 Label: Ridge Formats: 3xCD, 3xCD+2xDVD5110466—The Last Dance – Farewell Concert Released: 16 August 2019 Label: RCA Formats: 3xCD, 3xCD+2xDVD27—711—One Legend – Two Concerts Live at Rockpalast 1996 & 2001 Released: 30 October 2020 Label: MIG-Music Formats: 4xCD+2xDVD—12——11—"—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that territory.
Compilation albums Title Album detailsPeak chart positionsCertifications UK UK Indie DEN GER SCOAlba. The Best of Runrig Released: June 1992 Label: Chrysalis Formats: CD, MC—————The Best of Runrig – Long Distance Released: 7 October 1996 Label: Chrysalis Formats: CD, 2xCD, MC13—6601 UK: Gold DEN: GoldBeat the Drum Released: 16 February 1998 Label: EMI Gold Formats: CD, MC————93The Gaelic Collection (1973–1998) Released: 11 May 1998 Label: Ridge Formats: 2xCD71———26The Runrig Collection Released: January 1999 Label: EMI Formats: CD————87Scotland's Pride – Runrig's Best Released: 12 April 1999 Label: Chrysalis Formats: CD—————BBC – The Archive Series Released: 19 April 1999 Label: EMI Formats: 2xCD—————Celtic Glory Released: 25 October 1999 Label: Connoisseur Collection Formats: CD—————Scotland's Glory – Runrig's Ballads Released: 2000 Label: Ridge Formats: CD—————30 Year Journey – The Best Released: 29 March 2004 Label: Ridge Formats: CD——13867 DEN: GoldThe Essential Released: 2007 Label: Capitol Formats: CD————47The Collection Released: February 2009 Label: EMI Gold Formats: CD—————All the Best Released: April 2012 Label: EMI Formats: 2xCD—————Best of Rarities Released: 1 June 2018 Label: RCA Formats: 2xCD————67The Ones That Got Away Released: 8 June 2018 Label: Ridge Formats: CD—12——7"—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that territory.
Box sets Title Album detailsPeak chart positionsCertifications UK IndieDENGERSCO50 Great Songs Released: November 2010 Label: Ridge Formats: 3xCD+DVD3824322 DEN: GoldStepping Down the Glory Road (The Chrysalis Years 1988–1996) Released: July 2013 Label: Chrysalis Formats: 6xCD———72Original Album Series Released: 20 January 2014 Label: Chrysalis Formats: 5xCD————Rarities Released: 1 June 2018 Label: RCA Formats: 6xCD+3xDVD————Original Album Classics Released: 14 September 2018 Label: Sony Music Formats: 5xCD————"—" denotes releases that did not chart.
EPs Title EP detailsPeak chart positions UKCapture the Heart Released: September 1990 Label: Chrysalis Formats: 10", 12", CD49Hearthammer Released: 26 August 1991 Label: Chrysalis Formats: 7",12", CD, MC25Flower of the West Released: 28 October 1991 Label: Chrysalis Formats: 12", CD—"—" denotes releases that did not chart.
Singles TitleYearPeak chart positionsCertificationsAlbumSCOUKGER"Loch Lomond"1982—86—"Dance Called America"1984———Heartland"Skye"—108—"The Work Song"1986———"Worker for the Wind" / "Alba"1987———The Cutter and the Clan"Protect and Survive"1988—110—"News from Heaven"1989—90—Searchlight"Every River"—129—"Flower of the West"1991—43—The Big Wheel"Wonderful"1993—2987Amazing Things"The Greatest Flame"—36—"Song of the Earth"———"This Time of Year"19941338— rowspan="2" "An Ubhal as Àirde (The Highest Apple)"1995318—"Things That Are"940—Mara"Rhythm of My Heart"19961024—The Best of Runrig – Long Distance"The Greatest Flame" (remix)530—"The Message"1999———In Search of Angels"Maymorning"4790—"Big Sky"———"This Is Not a Love Song"———"Book of Golden Stories"2001—191—The Stamping Ground"Wall of China"———"Empty Glens"2003——93Proterra"Clash of the Ash"2007—110—Everything You See"Loch Lomond" (Hampden remix; with the Tartan Army)19— UK: Silver"Year of the Flood"2008———Year of the Flood"Road Trip"———"And We'll Sing"2013———Party on the Moor"The Story"2015———The Story"The Years We Shared"2016———"Somewhere" (featuring Julie Fowlis)2018———The Ones That Got Away"—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that territory.
Videos Title Album detailsPeak chart positions UK SWICity of Lights Released: November 1990 Label: Chrysalis/PolyGram Video Formats: VHS7—Wheel in Motion Released: 24 August 1992 Label: Picture Music International Formats: VHS1—Live at Stirling Castle – Donnie Munro's Farewell Released: November 1997 Label: PolyGram Video Formats: VHS6—Live in Bonn Released: 17 January 2000 Label: Ridge Formats: VHS28—Day of Days Released: 3 May 2004 Label: Ridge Formats: DVD7—Air an Oir Released: July 2005 Label: Ridge Formats: DVD——Year of the Flood Released: May 2008 Label: Ridge Formats: DVD1—Party on the Moor Released: 28 March 2014 Label: Ridge Formats: 2xDVD, Blu-ray—5The Last Dance – Farewell Concert Released: 16 August 2019 Label: RCA Formats: 2xDVD, Blu-ray12There Must Be a Place Released: 29 October 2021 Label: Sony Music Formats: DVD & Blu-ray2—"—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that territory.
Fan club releases A series of Access All Areas releases of live and other archive material were available via the band's official fan club - these include both CD and DVD releases.
YearTitleFormatNotes2001Access All Areas Volume 1CD2002Access All Areas Volume 2CD2002Access All Areas Volume 3CD2003Access All Areas Volume 4CD2004Access All Areas Volume 5CD2004Access All Areas Volume 6DVDPromo video collection and live tracks2005Access All Areas Volume 7CD2006Access All Areas Volume 8DVD "Mod for Rockers" - 1987 TV broadcast2006Access All Areas Volume 9CD2008Access All Areas Volume 10CD2011Access All Areas Volume 11CD2012Access All Areas Volume 12DVDMiscellaneous live tracks
Notes
References