title: Eclectic (Big Country album)
text: # Eclectic (Big Country album)
  
  Eclectic is a live album by the Scottish rock band Big Country, released in 1996 by Castle Communications. It was produced by Big Country and Gary Langan, and reached No. 41 in the UK. In 2001, a video version of Eclectic was released under the same name by Castle.
  
  Eclectic was recorded at Dingwalls in London on 20–21 March 1996 and features guest appearances by Bobby Valentino, Kym Mazelle, Carol Laula, Steve Harley, Aaron Emerson, Hossam Ramzy (and his percussion section) and Mohammed Toufiq.
  
  ## Critical reception
  
  Professional ratings :
  
  | Review scores ||
  | - | - |
  | Source | Rating |
  | AllMusic | |
  | The Virgin Encyclopedia of Eighties Music | |
  
  On its release, Aaron Badgley of AllMusic described Eclectic as a "terrific album", "interesting due to the choice of songs" and full of "great songs, played very well". He concluded, "While fans of Big Country will love this collection, it has a wide appeal to music fans in general."
  
  ## Personnel
  
  ### Big Country
  
  * Stuart Adamson - lead vocals, acoustic guitar
  * Bruce Watson - acoustic guitar, mandolin
  * Tony Butler - acoustic bass, backing vocals
  * Mark Brzezicki - drums, backing vocals
  
  ### Guest musicians
  
  * Hossam Ramzy (The Hossam Ramzy Percussion Section), Mohammed Toufiq - percussion (tracks 1, 3, 7, 9, 11–12)
  * Bobby Valentino - violin (all tracks)
  * Kym Mazelle - guest vocalist (tracks 2, 5)
  * Carol Laula - guest vocalist (track 3)
  * Steve Harley - guest vocalist (track 9)
  * Aaron Emerson - keyboards (tracks 2, 4–6, 8, 12–13)
  
  ### Production
  
  * Big Country - producers
  * Gary Langan - producer, recorded by
  * Alan Morrison - live sound
  
  ### Other
  
  * Zarkowski Designs - design
  * Justin Thomas - booklet photography
  * Hugh Gilmour - front and back cover design and photography
  * Ian Grant Management - management
  