IN THE AMAZON CHART AND HEADING FOR THE UK CHART (if we keep up the momentum)

Martin from the Libations updated me last  night that they were able to make their first donation to "Loaves and Fishes" as a result of sales of Caledonia. Once again he thanks Munguin's Republic's readers for their support.

The lads with Mrs Curran at loaves and Fishes

He and Darren went along with Mrs Curren (Denis's wife) to make the presentation of a cheque for £1,115. 

Those of you who have followed the success of the song will know that it has been #1 in the Amazon country sales; it has risen up the overall downloads sales, and was, as of last night, at #8 on their chart just behind Pharrell Williams' "Happy".

If we can keep sales like this going until Saturday then it is likely that the song will make the UK Top 40, and then the radio stations take over and it becomes (hopefully) unstoppable.

I know there have a been a few posts about this, but it's important:

(i) because, as you read above, the lads have already donated over a thousand pounds to a foodbank, and 

(ii) because having "Caledonia" played on the radio and on the iPods of the country won't be doing YES any harm in the run up to the referendum, and

(iii) because it's a great song, and a superb rendition. It deserves to be a hit and in any case you're gonna love listening to it.

There are always readers who haven't seen the original post and/or who will see this one and remember they haven't reminded their cousin Willie or Great Aunt Matilda to get out there and download it on Amazon or iTunes.

So we make no apology for plugging it for all we're worth. Buy it, tell your mates about it, phone your local radio stations and request it for your granny's or grandson's birthday. Just let's get it out there.

Munguin's humming it in the background, whilst cracking his whip, as I type. 

Ouch!

PS. Darren, Ross and Martin will be up in Dundee on Saturday to promote the disc. Not sure at the moment where  exactly or when, but we'll be along to see them at some point. Munguin, being a sophisticated animal, takes a great interest in Scottish Arts. We'll keep you updated with any info.

CALEDONIA YOU'RE CALLING ME AND NOW I'M GOING HOME

Today I got an email from Martin of The Libations.

Here is some of the information he sent… about their recording of Caledonia. He writes:

"The recording is a modern reworking with the energy and passion of our time and it has really had an effect on people with 24,000 views on YouTube over the past couple of weeks. 

"Not only is it an inspirational record for 'Yes', but every single penny of the sales proceeds go to food bank charities.

"Our aim is to get into the Scottish charts by the end of next week - To get to #1 it needs to sell around 6000 downloads between Sunday 24th and next Saturday 30th August, but over 2000 will get it into the top 10 in Scotland.

"Once into the charts it will be on every radio station playlist and this will send a message to the powers that be, raising awareness of the issue and good money for the food banks."

Now I know that when we covered the story some weeks ago many of you went out and bought it then. I know, because Matin emailed me to tell me how much he appreciated your support and the sales... and the money that went to food banks.

"It's not for me. Erm, I'm ready for my close up now Tristan"

Now I'm going to be all kinds of cheeky... but you understand, this isn't for me; it's not for Munguin; it's not even for the Libations. They won't get a halfpenny from it. 

Instead it's for two things. 

It's for YES. Imagine a song about Scotland in the charts in Scotland with everybody humming it and singing a wee snatch every few minutes, in the run up to the referendum, and maybe more important (although its hard to think of anything as being more important than the referendum), it's about raising awareness of, and money for, our fellow Scots, of whatever nationality, creed and age, who are going hungry in this oil rich country because some disconnected from reality politicians want to wave a nuclear weapon around to make them feel like they matter.

So, I guess what I'm saying is ... it's 79p at Amazon (where is currently #1 in country songs) or iTunes. 

We need to sell 2,000 to get it into the top ten and playing on the radio stations. After that the quality of the music, performance and production will sell it... And every time a copy is downloaded thats another person had another meal. 

Simples. 

So even if you already bought it... if you have any spare cash, why not buy it again... maybe five times, or ten times if you're a rich Tory.

It's not really going to cost you that much, but it's going to make a difference.

Munguin already has his headphones on.

You can buy it here, or here, and there's an excellent Huffington Post Article here about the group.

Another way we can help is by Tweeting the song... or this Munguin article or the Huffpost article or this from STV... or sharing on any Facebook or any other media that you are part of. 

Thanks.

IT'S ALL EVERYONE'S FAULT ... EXCEPT THE BANKERS

I wonder just how much good Merv King is.


I mean to say, he has got every single prediction he ever made wrong. He constantly downgrades any predictions he has made about any aspect of the economy, and tonight when asked what would happen to inflation he said he thought it would come down in the New Year, but wasn't sure.


OK. I could have done all of these things and I don't get paid his massive salary, nor can I reasonably expect a seat in the House of Lords when I retire. (Actually I think it unlikely that inflation will come down much in the New Year. OK, the 2.5% VAT increase is out of the cycle, but the massive fuel price hikes are not; nor is food; nor are transport increases.)


Anyway, tonight he has told us that the hallowed banks, against whom no one is supposed to utter a word of condemnation for the almighty mess they made of the economy (or they will leave for friendlier shores), won't be able to lend money to businesses in Britain because the Eurozone crisis has left them unable to raise the cash. 


But wait a minute. The banks weren't lending anyway. That's why the chancellor asked them very nicely if they would please lend some of the mass of money that we borrowed or created to keep them afloat to do their job and lend to medium and small businesses instead of taking it all in bonuses. When they said "no", you'll remember, he was obliged to set up a government fund to lend to  businesses which are folding for want of a loan, even when they have orders on their books. Talk about booze ups in breweries?.

So why is it all now the fault of other countries?  


Sheesh.


With his usual vagueness Old Merv said that because of the Eurozone crisis, households, businesses and banks face an extraordinary period of uncertainty. Who knows what is going to happen tomorrow, he twittered, like some fishwife over the back yard fence!


Gives you such confidence, that he's got his hands on the wheel, doesn't it. As governor of the Bank of Britain... ooops no, sorry England, he'd make a really good bus driver.


Talking about  confidence, why is Osborne so intent on talking Scotland into the ground? OK, it's a silly question and we all know perfectly well that the answer is... if you haven't got a credible true argument to put forward for something, make one up.


Businessmen are not in the least put off by a discussion of a referendum. At least I'm sure that a few who have had their ears whispered into by Cameron may be. In return for a knighthood maybe? It's actually far more likely that businessmen will be put off Britain as a whole because no one in the government or the central bank has much of a clue about what is going on.


Unlike John Swinney, who knows a thing of two about finance. 

It is typical of the hapless Osborne that he chooses to disparaging remarks about confidence in Scotland just at the time that the First Minister was joining the management of Amazon to celebrate the new sites that the worldwide retailer is opening in Edinburgh and Dunfermline. 


Clearly one of the most successful companies in the world is so worried about the future of Scotland that it is creating over 1,000 new jobs in the country.


This UK government, headed by a PR spin doctor, is even crap at spinning!

GOOD NEWS ON JOBS FRONT AS AMAZON BRINGS NEW CENTRE TO SCOTLAND

As I mentioned in yesterday’s report on FMQs, Amazon, the biggest on-line retailer in the UK announced yesterday with Mr Salmond, that there will be yesterday they are to created an additional 200 jobs at their Gourock sit, and that they will be opening a new centre employing 750 people at a new 39-acre site in Dunfermline.

Additionally, the company says that at peak periods they are likely to need an additional 1500 temporary workers.

There was stiff international competition for the new centre in Dunfermline and the government has been involved in supporting the bid to bring those jobs to Scotland with aid through training grants and Regional Selective Assistance. A total of £2, 500,000 is thought to have been invested; however this is small beer when 750 permanent full time salaries and additional temporary work is considered. The difference to the area, with this boost, will be considerable, and of course extra jobs will be created in supporting jobs in food catering, shops, and entertainment.

Mr Allan Lyall, of Amazon said that he recognised the excellence of the local work force along with the professionalism of Scottish Development International in making the decision to invest in Scotland.

Alex said it was a very significant boost to the economy.

Most of the workers will be employed in packing and shipping the wide variety of goods that Amazon sells.

The new building, which will be situated by the M90 near the junction with the A92, will cover one million square feet. Building work will start immediately and it is hoped to have the centre up and running by the end of the year.

This is the kind of news we need to hear more of in Scotland. Hearty congratulations to everyone who was involved. As they say in France “Bonne continuation”!