The McPeake Family were the first to record the song but it was quickly picked up by a host of other Irish artists, including The Clancy Brothers who put it on their album, The Boys Won’t Leave the Girls Alone.
Wild Mountain Thyme
Videos
Lyrics and chords
Van Morrison recorded a version under the title Purple Heather on his album, Hard Nose the Highway. The Irish Rovers put it on The Irish Rovers’ Gems, and The Chieftains placed it on Further Down the Old Plank Road.
The Silencers put in their album, So Be It, and the Glasgow singer-songwriter Jim Diamond placed it on Sugarolly Days.
Recordings by English musicians
The folk rock band The Strawbs recorded it on their album, Halcyon Days. Marianne Faithfull put it on North Country Maid, and Kate Rusby recorded it as Blooming Heather on Awkward Annie.
Fotheringay placed it on their album, Fotheringay 2.
Recordings by American folk artists
Judy Collins was one of the first American folk artists to record Wild Mountain Thyme on her album, A Maid of Constant Sorrow.
Joan Baez soon followed with a version on her album, Farewell Angelina. Bob Dylan performed it at the Isle of Wight Festival in 1969 and it’s also available on the bootleg album, Minnesota Tapes. James Taylor featured it on Telluride Bluegrass Festival: Reflections.
Recordings by pop and rock stars
Rod Stewart, another Scottish connection, recorded it as Purple Heather on A Spanner in the Works.
The Byrds put it on Fifth Dimension, Long John Baldry on Everything Stops for Tea, The New Christy Minstrels on Wandering Minstrels, and Irish pop star Ronan Keating recorded it on Songs for my Mother.
Wild Mountain Thyme
Recordings
Videos
Lyrics and chords
