The Great Eastern (album)

The Great Eastern is the third studio album by Scottish indie rock band The Delgados. It was released on 17 April 2000 in the United Kingdom on their own Chemikal Underground record label, and later on 9 May 2000 in the United States.

The Great Eastern was their first album not to be named after a cycling theme – the title refers to a textile mill in Glasgow, latterly a hostel for the homeless.

Reception
At the end of 2000, The Great Eastern was included in several publications' lists of the year's best albums, including being named fifth best by Mojo and 28th best by NME. The album was nominated for the 2000 Mercury Prize.

In 2008, The Great Eastern was ranked at number 49 on Mojo's list of "The 50 Greatest UK Indie Records of All Time".

Personnel
Credits for The Great Eastern adapted from album liner notes.

The Delgados
 * Stewart Henderson – bass guitar, accordion, autoharp, guitar, handclaps, piano, Rhodes piano, sleigh bells, vocals
 * Emma Pollock – guitar, vocals, handclaps, vibraphone
 * Paul Savage – drums, dulcimer, guitar, Hammond organ, handclaps, keyboards, Korg synthesizer, piano, Rhodes piano, sampler, tubular bells
 * Alun Woodward – guitar, vocals, bowed guitar, dulcimer, e-bow, keyboards, slide guitar, vibraphone
 * The Delgados – writing, brass arrangement, string arrangement, woodwind arrangement

Additional musicians
 * Alan Barr – cello, string arrangement
 * Barry Burns – Hammond organ, Korg synthesizer, piano, Rhodes piano
 * Lorne Cowieson – trumpet, flugelhorn, brass arrangement
 * Charlie Cross – viola, violin, string arrangement
 * Graham Flett – double bass
 * Dave Fridmann – cello sampling, weights
 * David Laing – violin
 * Greg Lawson – violin, string arrangement
 * Camille Mason – clarinet, flute, piano, woodwind arrangement
 * Guy Milford – tenor horn
 * Jim Putnam – additional vocals
 * Paul Stone – euphonium, trombone
 * Graeme Wilson – saxophone

Production
 * The Delgados – production, recording
 * Tony Doogan – recording
 * Dave Fridmann – mixing, production
 * James Jarvie – "black magic"
 * Chris Renwick – programming
 * Dougie Summers – programming

Artwork and design
 * Tony Doogan – camcorder
 * Adam Piggot – artwork, photography
 * Lindsay Savage – cover photography