A Feast of Irish Folk

Writing my post a few weeks ago, I forgot that I actually have a copy of A Feast of Irish Folk on LP.  I must’ve stumbled across it somewhere back when I was into buying vinyl.  For your St. Paddy’s Day pleasure, I have computerified it, although the sound quality isn’t great.  Don’t know if the US pressing is bad, or the record is just worn out, or that I’m using an Electrix Filter Factory as my turntable preamp, but there’s a lot of surface noise and pops and so forth.  Was going to try to clean it up with audio plugins, but I don’t have much experience with that and was getting weird results.  Also, they packed over an hour of music on one LP, so maybe the grooves are just too close together to be hi-fi.  At any rate, what’s in those grooves is near and dear to me.  There’s a sentimental clunker or two in there, but for the most part they’re all classic to me.  I’ve typed up the liner notes for you below:

The tradition of Irish folklore and music is one of the oldest in Western Europe.  Having come through centuries of domination, hardship, depression and famine and seen her sons scatter to all corners of the world her music is descriptive of the sorrow, resurrection and joy of the many and various episodes of history, some written and many to be found only through her music.  This album does not intend to portray that history, but merely takes a selection of some of the most popular tunes of the last decade.

Planxty

Out of the wealth of tradition in Ireland a group of specialists came together in the early seventies and called themselves Planxty.  Their first single “Cliffs of Dooneen” quickly became a best seller and set them on the road to repeated success.  In the space of a few years they made three albums which coloured the interpretation of Irish traditional music and won audiences all round Europe.

Spud

This is the newest group of Celtic-Folk-Rock bands to break the international barriers.  Ever since they released “The Wind in the Willows” in October 1974 they have continued to gain fame around Europe.

Phil Coulter

Phil is the contemporary writer who has written Eurovision winning songs, has nurtured pop groups and can easily write an earthy song about his hometown.

Furey Brothers and Davey Arthur

A Dublin family of folk musicians so steeped in tradition that it goes back generations.  Their father, Ted Furey, is known and respected around the four corners of Ireland and in folk circles throughout Europe.  The brothers, Finbar and Eddie have been entertaining and making albums for more than ten years while the younger brothers, George and Paul with Davey Arthur (a young Scot) had their own group “The Buskers” around Europe until they all came together in 1976.  Between them they have resurrected many old traditional songs and have lately developed into pop ballads highlighting contemporary folk material.

Christy Moore

Christy is one of the outstanding characters of the Irish music scene.  He is a true balladeer with a warmth and mellowness of voice to soothe the sternest and enrapture everyone with his interpretation.  Christy was one of the stalwarts of Planxty who embarked on a solo career when they disbanded.

De Danann

Based in Spiddal, the focal point of the Connemara Gaeltacht, this group is a unique combination of the traditional music styles of Galway and Kerry.  They inherit a cool and impeccable style which is a refreshing addition to the traditional musical culture that still thrives in Ireland.

Wolfe Tones

For the past five years The Wolfe Tones have been voted Top Folk Group by a National Irish Magazine and in a country steeped in folk that is no mean achievement.  The secret of their success is not really a secret as everybody interested in this sort of music knows they play it and sing it to perfection.  The Wolfe Tones are folk singers in the true sense of the word, they sing the songs of the people past and present.

Tommy Makem

The Clancy Brothers and Tommy Makem are known in many parts of the world as the team who made Irish music popular in America.  When they disbanded some years ago Tommy devoted his efforts to a solo singing career which gave him time to write many Irish folk songs.

Munroe

A duo Michael Hanley and Michael O’Domhnaill made one outstanding album “Celtic Folkweave” before going their separate ways.  The former to travel and the latter became part of the now international Bothy Band.

Dublin City Ramblers

As their name suggests they are Dubliners steeped in the Ballad and Folk tradition who have delighted audiences all over the country.  Because of their raucous interpretation they portray a different style which adds further to the wealth of Irish folklore.

[display_podcast]

00:00.000  Planxty “Cliffs of Dooneen”
03:50.223  Spud “The Wind in the Willows (Bread and Fishes)”
07:52.620  Christy Moore “Nancy Spain”
11:41.191  Furey Brothers & Davey Arthur “Clare to Here”
15:51.950  Phil Coulter “The Town I Loved So Well”
21:53.985  The Wolfe Tones “Tabhair Dom De Lamh (Give me your hand)”
24:20.991  Planxty “Only Our Rivers”
28:23.857  De Danann “Rambling Irishman”
31:55.924  Furey Brothers & Davey Arthur “Lonesome Boatman”
36:26.833  Planxty “Yarmouth Town”
40:44.189  Dublin City Ramblers “Silver in the Stubble”
44:08.395  The Wolfe Tones “Fiddlers Green”
47:16.960  Christy Moore “Bunch of Thyme”
50:48.115  De Danann “The Shores of Lough Bran”
53:14.581  Tommy Makem “Gentle Annie”
57:38.531  Munroe “The Banks of Claudy”