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1.
THE CRACK WAS NINETY IN THE ISLE OF MAN (Barney Rush) / REEL,
MCFADDEN’S HANDSOME DAUGHTER (Traditional)
Which of us can’t say that we haven’t, at one time or another, taken
the boat from Dublin to the Isle of Man, over indulged in just about
everything, chatted up someone else’s girl, got into a fight with the
locals, been
thrown in jail and then deported off the island? Well, not too
many of us, actually. But those who can say they have, will instantly
recognise the sentiments of this song. Brian.
Vocal:
Mark
2.
SWEET CARNLOUGH BAY (Barney McKay) / JIG:BANISH MISFORTUNE (Traditional)
This song is one of my favourites. Not only does the listener get a
guided tour of Carnlough, but intro, jig, song and back again.
Wonderful! I feel that this arrangement is one of our strongest. Gary.
Vocal:
Gary
3. WILL YE GO LASSIE GO (attrib. McPeake) / THEME FROM ‘LOCAL HERO’
(Knopfler)
The ballad it reputed to have been penned by a member of the McPeake
family of Belfast - certainly it is a fine example of a song in an
Ulster- Scots idiom. It is complemented by Mark Knopfler’s beautiful
guitar melody from the film ‘Local Hero’ to complete the link across
the Irish Sea to Scotland. Dermot.
Vocal:
Gary. Guitar solo: Mark
4. LORD OF THE DANCE (Sydney Carter - published by Stainer and Bell) /
POLKA (Traditional)
Sydney Carter, the song’s author, writes, ‘I see Christ as the
incarnation of the piper who is calling us. He dances that shape and
pattern which is at the heart of our reality’. To help the dance
along, we’ve included a Polka. Brian. Vocal: Gary
5.
EILEEN OG / THE KING OF THE FAIRIES (Traditional)
The indomitable Eileen is held in awe by wishful would be suitors who
cannot get a look in, but never stop trying. We can imagine Eileen as
she dances, enthralling all the young hopefuls, who are happy enough to
know that at least Eileen has chosen none of them at all so there is
still hope, until she chooses ... a stranger! Eamonn.
Vocal:
Gary
6.
(a) CARRICKFERGUS (Traditional,) / (b)DANNY BOY (Words Edward Weatherly,
published by Boosey, Music traditional)
(a)‘The Sea is wide’.
Not wide enough, apparently. From Ballycastle to Bahrain, probably one
of the most popular songs on the album. Whenever it’s on the playlist,
there’s always a special reponse. Mark.
(b) ‘You’ll come and find the place where I am lying’. Undoubtedly
the most famous of Irish folk songs. The unabashed self-pity on the part
of the singer. After all, it’s only a song. Gary.
Vocal (a)
Mark, (b) Gary
7.
THE LONESOME BOATMAN / O’NEILL’S MARCH (Traditional)
Dramatic and evocative, the Furey’s air ‘The lonesome Boatman’ is
uplifted to march tempo and blended with a Horslips classic
‘O’Neill’s March’. Dermot
8.
SATURDAY NIGHT / REELS: THE MERRY BLACKSMITH; JENNY’S CHICKENS
(Traditional)
This arrangement was born through boredom. (Thanks Whigfield!) Mark.
9.
(I WANT TO BE IN A) BOY BAND (B McAteer)
(Copyright Control)
A tale of love, passion, betrayal, treachery, jealousy, treason and
death. No, sorry, that’s The Six Wives of Henry the Eighth. This
one’s about wanting to be in a boy band. Brian.
Vocal:
Gary
10.
THE CURRAGH OF KILDARE (Traditional )
Some sources quote the poet Robbie Burns as being the composer,
certainly there are various versions of the song in existence. We think
this version may be closest to that edited by Christy Moore and
popularised by Donal Lunney’s band, Emmet Spiceland.
Vocal:
Gary
11.
DUSTY BLUEBELLS (David McWilliams)
Graham Slane, band member from about 1982 to 1986 introduced Blackthorn
to both this song, and its author, the late David McWilliams, who was
once described by a professor of English as ‘the Dylan Thomas of
Ulster’.
Vocal:
Gary, ‘Newsreader’: Noel McGee, Bluebell Girls:
Catherine and Ruth McAteer
12.
CLARE TO HERE (Ralph McTell) - Misty River Music Ltd
This song evokes early memories for me. Sunday mornings, it was
traditional for my father to take out the record player and play some of
the finest trad tunes and folk songs. ‘Clare to Here’ was one of
them. Mark.
Vocal, Mark
13.
STAR OF THE CO DOWN / MORRISON’S JIG (Traditional)
The oldest copy of this tune is Gilderoy, which appears in Musick for
Allan Ramsay's Collection of Scots Songs [Tea Table Miscellany] by
Alexander Stuart (c 1726).
Vocal
Gary
14.
MCILHATTON (R Sands) / REELS: THE FERMOY LASSES (Traditional)
A quite recently written folk song about a local folk hero from
Antrim’s glens. This song and tune evoke images of adventures /
misadventures while drinking the poteen (illegally distilled whiskey),
and the after effects of the same. Eamonn.
Vocal: Mark
All
selections marked ‘Traditional’ are arranged by
Morgan, O’Carroll, Johnston, McAteer, McAteer
Road
Manager/ Live Sound Engineer/Ambulance – Pat
Lighting Engineer - Joe O’Carroll
Album recorded at KOMODO Studios, Hillsborough, Ireland
Recorded and Engineered by Alwyn
Mark would like to thank:
Martin Strings, Trevor Keys, Sessions Music.
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