Clancy Brothers & Tommy Makem & Tommy Drennan & The Monarchs - Irish Revolutionary Songs

The first 12 songs on this 1959 compilation are performed by Tommy Drennan & The Monarchs from Limerick, who were one of the biggest showbands of that era. Tommy Drennan along with the likes of Brendan Bowyer and Dickie Rock enjoyed celebrity status in the ballrooms of Ireland and mainland Britain. The rest of this fine collection is performed by the legendary Clancy Brothers & Tommy Makem who need no introduction. It's an expertly performed album and a piece of Irish social history covering mainly the 1798 Rebellion.

Here's a quick extract from Seamus Heaney’s  poem “Requiem for the Croppies” one of my favourites covering the 1798 Irish rebellion..

Until… on Vinegar Hill… the final conclave.

Terraced thousands died, shaking scythes at cannon.

The hillside blushed, soaked in our broken wave.

They buried us without shroud or coffin

And in August… the barley grew up out of our grave.

Seamus Heaney

1. Boulavogue

2. Kevin Barry

3. Holy Ground

4. The Patriot Game

5. A Nation Once Again

6. Soldier's Song

7. Tri-Colored Ribbon

8. Boys from County Cork

9. Roisin Dubh

10. Ireland's 32

11. Irish Soldier Boy

12. Rebels of Our Land

13. O Donnell Aboo

14. The Croppy Boy

15. The Rising of the Moon

16. The Foggy Dew

17. The Minstrel Boy

18. The Wind That Shakes the Barley

19. Tipperary Far Away

20. Kelly the Boy from Killane

21. Kevin Barry

22. Whack Fol the Diddle

23. The Men of the West

24. Eamonn an Chniuic

25. Nell Flaherty's Drake

26. Boulavogue

link to the free album

Clancy Brothers & Tommy Makem & Tommy Drennan & The Monarchs - Irish Revolutionary Songs

Winston Scotty Fitzgerald - A Selection of new Jigs, Reels, Strathspeys, Hornpipes & Waltzes

Winston 'Scotty' Fitzgerald was a renowned Cape Breton fiddler. He was a pioneer in recorded performances of the music, and has heavily influenced the style and repertoire of later generations of players. Both his father and older brother played the violin, and Winston began to take an interest in playing at age eight. His first public performance was at a picnic at age twelve. The Fitzgeralds worked as fishermen in the summer, and in the 1930s Winston also worked at the shipyards in Halifax in the winter. During this time, Winston played radio shows and tours with Hank Snow for about two and a half years. Winston formed a group called the "Radio Entertainers" with Beattie Wallace (piano) and Estwood Davidson (guitar). The group recorded numerous 78s, as well as four LPs. As he became better known, Winston also got exposure playing on the 'Cliff MacKay' and 'Don Messer' shows. Later, he played as part of the Cape Breton Symphony on The John Allan Cameron Show. Never a full-time musician, he worked at a variety of jobs, including cooking, carpentry, and aluminum work.

1-Clan Munro Strathspey

2-Clay Pipe

3-Quay Side

4-Old Southern Waltz

5-The Laird O'Dumblair

6-McNabb's Hornpipe

7-Medley Of Antigonish Polkas

8-Salute To Boston

9-Mrs. MacAulay's

10-Mrs. J. Walker

11-Crossing To Ireland

12-Stirling Militia March

link to the free album

Winston Scotty Fitzgerald - A Selection of new Jigs, Reels, Strathspeys, Hornpipes & Waltzes

Dubliners - Seven Deadly Sins

Seven Deadly Sins [EMI Starline SRS 5101] was a 1972 reissue of a 1968 Dubliners album titled At It Again [Major Minor label]. It features what many would consider the classic Dubliners line up of Ronnie Drew, Luke Kelly, John Sheahan, Barney McKenna and Ciarán Bourke. Unusual for a Dubliners album there are a selection of Scottish Traditional and Folk songs, along with several Irish standards and an original satirical song "The Irish Navy" with lyrics co-written by Ronnie Drew and Luke Kelly.

Seven Deadly Sins (McLean)

Net Hauling Song (Ewan MacColl)

Nancy Whiskey (Traditional)

Many Young Men of Twenty" (Keane)

Instrumental medley: Paddy's Gone to France/Skylark (Traditional)

Molly Bawn (Traditional)

The Dundee Weaver (Traditional)

The Irish Navy (Drew-Kelly)

Tibby Dunbar (Robert Burns and Jim McLean)

The Inniskillen Dragoons" (Traditional)

Instrumental medley The Piper's Chair/Bill Hart's Jig/The Night of St. Patrick (Traditional)

I Wish I Were Back in Liverpool (Kelly-Rosselson)

Darby O'Leary

Go to Sea No More

link to the free album

Dubliners - Seven Deadly Sins

Carlton Showband - We're Off To Dublin On The Green

The Carlton Showband was an Irish/Canadian folk group. Formed in Ontario in November 1963, the band played the showband circuit in North America and Ireland for many years.. The lineup when their debut album We're Off To Dublin On The Green was recorded in 1966 included 5 musicians from Ireland: Chris O'Toole (leader), Christy McLaughlin, Mike Feeney, Seamus Grew, Sean McManus, and Fred White (the lone Canadian, from Nova Scotia).

The Merry Ploughboy
Quiet Land Of Erin
Town Of Galway
Woman From Wexford
Lovely Lietrim
Kennedy Lament
Nelson's Pillar (Up Went Nelson)
Lovely Derry
Boys From County Mayo
Siege Of Ennis (Jigs)
Bold O'Donohue
Don't Make Me Go Home
13-Reilly's Daughter (Bonus Single)

link to the free album

Carlton Showband - We're Off To Dublin On The Green

Ron Gonella - Scottish Violin Music

Ron Gonnella played on the Scottish Dance Band circuit with the bands of Jim Johnstone and Andrew Rankine. He had his own band for a while - featuring Iain MacPhail on accordion - but it was as a solo artist that he toured all over the world promoting Scottish fiddle music. He recorded many albums this one was his first solo recording released in 1966 (Scots Disc SDL-001, 1966) He is accompanied by Robert Campbell on piano.

The instrument Gonella played was a 1722 Italian violin made by Carlo Antonio Tanegia. I have been told that after his death there were a number of fiddlers desperate to try it to achieve the same wonderful tone that Gonella produced; in the end it turned out to be a mediocre fiddle, and it was the musician who was special, not the instrument.

01) The Braes o' Auchtertyre (Crockat)/The Miller o' Dervil (Barnett)/Jamie Shearer (Duncan)
02) Hard Is My Fate/Mrs Greig's Strathspey/The Perth Assembly (Duncan)
03) Miss Graham of Inchbrakie (Nath Gow)/Glen Rinnes (D Grant)/Loch Leven Castle
04) The Fallen Chief (J Scott Skinner)
05) Scott Skinner's Compliments to Dr MacDonald (J Scott Skinner)/J F MacKenzie, Stornoway (Ross)/Bleaton Gardens
06) Cluny Castle (Troup)/The Duke of Montrose/The Duke of Montrose
07) The House of Skene (Davie)/Kilwinning Archers/Pretty Peggy
08) Niel Gow's Lament for James Moray of Abercairney (Niel Gow)/The Weavers of Newly/The Flowers of Edinburgh
09) The Rover (J Scott Skinner)
10) The Highland Society of Scotland/Lady Madeline Sinclair/The High Road to Linton
11) Coilsfield House (Nath Gow)
12) The Fallen Hero (Nath Gow)
13) The 'Bonnie Ann' (J Scott Skinner)/Mrs Reid of Kilcalmkill (D Grant)/ The Earl of Seafield (D Grant)

link to the free album

Ron Gonella - Scottish Violin Music

Dolores Keane - Night Owl

Dolores Keane is one of those rare singers whose voices mellow and improve rather than weaken with age. She has broadened her stylistic range and her performing repertoire in recent years, still focusing on the traditional music of her native Ireland but also exploring themes from other cultures and tunes by modern songwriters. Night Owl opens on a somber note, with a despairing song apparently about the Northern Irish Troubles, and the mood is scarcely lightened at any point thereafter; there is a gorgeous rendition of the mournful "Wind that Shakes the Barley," one lament, two back-to-back farewells, a lover's plea, a tale of mass martyrdom, and a song inspired by the street urchins of Sao Paolo.....Glorious.....Enjoy....xx

1 Dangerous Dance

2 The Wind That Shakes The Barley

3 New Deal

4 The Banks of the Nile

5 Dunlavin Green

6 Ballyroan

7 Aileen

8 Fare Thee Well a Stor

9 The Forger's Farewell

10 Jose

11 Make Me Want To Stay

12 Night Owl, The (Homeward Turns)

Link to the free album

Dolores Keane - Night Owl

Seannachie - Within the Fire

Scottish Traditional/Folk group Seannachie had a long performing career and were one of those bands whose line-up was practically in constant change. Formed in the early 1980s by John Borland (bouzouki, cittern), Alex Yellowlees (fiddle), Martin McGarrity (flute, whistle, bodhran, vocals) and Gordon Irvine (guitar, mandolin, harmonium, whistle). They recorded their first album, Within the Fire in 1986, by which time the band consisted of Borland, Yellowlees, Jonathan Simmons (flute, whistles, bodhran), Penny Johnston (vocals) and Derek Harkins (guitar, tambourine). Two more albums followed, along with more personnel changes and European tours. The album is no longer available to purchase and all i could find is this vinyl rip for your listening pleasure....enjoy

01 Mormond Braes

02 The Old Copperplate/The Harsh February

03 Crazy Man Michael

04 Julia Delaney/Cooley's Reel

05 Flowers o' the Forest

06 The Sound of Jura

07 Annachie Gordon

08 Turpin Hero/The Old Reel/Aida's Place/The Otter's Den

09 Though I Live Not Where I Love

10 The Midnight Reel/Raddigan's/McMahon's

11 Boys of Bedlam/Dougie's Rant

link to the free album

Seannachie - Within the Fire

Jacobites - Jacobites

The Jacobites performed as vocal duos and trios throughout their existence and recorded several albums on vinyl, cassette, and finally on CD. On the first LP The Jacobites LP [1981 Ptarmigan PT 001] Davidson is joined by Brian Lochrie of Perth, and on subsequent recordings by Gillian Murray, and her husband Stuart Duncan. During this time, the group toured extensively all over the world, and had regular residencies in Scotland. Sadly, in 1992 Dave Davidson was killed in a car crash aged 46. The final CD, Captivated, was released four months before his death, and the other two Jacobites decided not to carry on.

Group
Dave Davidson (lead vocal, guitar)
Brian Lochrie (vocal, guitar, banjo)

1 Ye Jacobites

2 The Lifeboat Mona

3 Gallawa Hills

4 Dainty Davie

5 Bonnie Glenshee

6 Island Spinning Song

7 A Mans A Man

8 Balaena

9 Bonnie Brown Maid

10 Roving Journeyman

11 Jamie Raeburn

12 Bonnie Dundee

13 Loch Lomond

14 Scots Wha Hae

link to the free album

Jacobites - Jacobites

Irish Tradition - Corner House

Classic 1978 album of Irish/Celtic Traditional music from a trio who were based in Baltimore USA who only recorded two albums together before going their separate ways. Andy O'Brien's voice perfectly captures the feel of the lyrics, telling stories of love and hardship. Billy McComiskey is a master of the button accordion, also known for his more recent work with the group Trian. And Brendan Mulvihill is one of the best traditional Irish fiddlers. They are also joined by Mick Moloney (harmony vocals,bouzouki,mandolin, tenor banjo, mandola). 

Band:

Brendan Mulvihill (fiddle), 
Billy McComiskey (accordian,concertina, harmonium),
Andy O’Brien (vocals, guitar). 
Mick Moloney (harmony vocals,bouzouki,mandolin, tenor banjo, mandola). 

1. Smash The Windows/Fred Finn's

2. Windmills

3. In And Out The Harbor

4. The Maid At The Spinning Wheel/The Colliers Jig

5. The Hiring Fair

6. The Corner House/My Maryann

7. Loftus Jones

8. The Spike Island Lassies/The Humours Of Tulla

9. The Dark Eyed Sailor

10. Molly On The Shore/The Tempest

11. England's Motorway

12. The Congress Reel/Down The Broom/The Star Of Munster

link to the free album

Irish Tradition - Corner House