Susan McKeown - Bushes & Briars

For her foray into traditional music, Irish singer Susan McKeown hasn't chosen the safe path. By including instruments like tabla, French horn, and clarinet--none of which are associated with Celtic music--she's stretching the boundaries of the genre. But the fascinating, often daring arrangements serve merely to frame her voice, which is often shown starkly, even unaccompanied. With guests like Morocco's Hassan Hakmoun, former Planxty man Andy Irvine, and Solas's Seamus Egan, she has a first-class crew behind her, but she, and her haunting voice, remain the real stars of the show, offering a radiant path to the heart of the songs here. Her selection of material (both in English and Gaelic) veers far from the tried and true, but even on a song like "Bonny Boy," she marks it with her own identity. Bushes and Briars is a complete triumph, establishing McKeown as one of the top contemporary Celtic singers. [source Chris Nickson]

1 Bushes & Briars

2 In London so Fair

3 Seoladh na nGamhna

4 H-Ó Abha-ínn

5 Bonny Boy

6 The Mountain Streams Where the Moorcocks Crow

7 Banks of Claudy

8 Craigie Hill

9 A Mháire Bhruinneall

10 Dónal Óg

11 After Aughrim

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Susan McKeown - Bushes & Briars

John Burgess - King of the Highland Pipers

John D Burgess was the nearest Scotland gained to a piping legend in real life. An outstanding exponent of the pipes, he gained instant recognition on the international circuit when, at 16, he won what was effectively the world piping championship, taking both the gold medal at the Northern Meeting at Inverness and the gold medal at the Argyllshire Gathering at Oban for piobaireachd. To attain these at a first attempt, and while still a teenager, made his triumph all the more noticeable and one unlikely ever to be repeated. A prolific prize-winner, he gave many recitals and made numerous recordings, including an album called The King of the Highland Pipers [Topic Records TSCD466 1993].

01. 6/8 marches: Bundle & Go / Over the Water to Charlie / Campbeltown Loch / Joy Go with My Love / Traigh Gruinard / Morag
02. slow air: Bonnie Argyl
03. pibroch: Salute on the Birth of Rory Mor MacLeod
04. 6/8 marches: Colonel Robertson / The 72nd Highlanders’ Farewell to Edinburgh / Major John MacLennan
05. slow air & jig: Leaving Ardtornish / The Geese in the Bog
06. hornpipes: The Swallowtailed Coat / The Mallow Men / Pipe Mjr George S Allan / Jockey on the Braes of Abernathy / Wee Alex – Fort William / Paddy Kelly’s Stump / The Boys of Bluehill / The Ballachulish Walkabout
07. march, strathspey & reel: Lord Alexander / Tulloch Gorum / Mrs MacPherson of Inveran
08. hornpipe & retreat march: Duncan Johnstone / Farewell to Nigg
09. jigs: The Baldoozer / Center’s Bonnet / Cork Hill / John MacDonald’s Jig
10. air: Loch Monar
11. march, strathspey & reel: The Ewe wi’ the Crookit Horn / The Rejected Suitor
12. jigs: Donald MacLean / Paddy’s Leather Breeches
13. pibroch: The Desperate Battle of the Birds
14. jigs: The Old Wife’s Dance / The Kitchen Maid / The Irish Washerwoman
15. air: The Wandering Piper
16. marches: Parker’s Welcome to Perthshire / Achany Glen
17. march, strathspey & reel: The Duchess of Edinburgh / Thick Lies the Mist on Yonder Hill / Rose Among the Heather / The High Road to Linton
18. marches: The Pretty Apron / The Highland Lassie Going to the Fair / The Ladies from Hell / Devlin Side

All tracks trad. except
Track 4a MacDonald;
Tracks 5a, 10 William Ross;
Tracks 6c, 8a Donald MacLeod;
Track 16a Ferguson / Morrison;
Track 16b MacPherson / Wilson;
Track 18c James MacMillan Tait

01 - 08 From The Art of the Highland Bagpipe Vol. 1
09 - 18 From King of Highland Pipers

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John Burgess - King of the Highland Pipers

Terry Teahan & Gene Kelly - Old Time Irish Music In America

Terry Teahan, of Kerry and Chicago, and Gene Kelly, of Kilkenny and Washington DC, were old- style Irish musicians in their 70's when this album was recorded in 1976. Both had been resident in the Us since the 1920s. Gene Kelly plays accordion, Terry Teahan melodeon and concertina. Though each had worked extensively in band settings, this record of solo performances concentrates on old-fashioned dance music. Most of the tunes are played on their own, with a few sets from the unusual accordion playing of Gene Kelly, who admits to possessing a 'totally haphazard' approach to bass acompaniment... Many of the tunes will be well-known, particularly to those who are fond of music from Sliabh Luachra, but the settings are often unfamiliar, granting a glimpse into the dance music of the region in the 1920s. More information can be found in the original liner notes, which are included in the download.

01. Gene Kelly – The Corner House/The Broomstick [Reels]
02. Terry Teahan – Tom Looney's [Slide]
03. Terry Teahan – Reagan's [Slide]
04. Gene Kelly – The Sweep's/Hennessey's [Hornpipes]
05. Terry Teahan – The Kerry Mills [Barndance]
06. Terry Teahan – Mike Howard's [Polka]
07. Terry Teahan – The Bird's [Hornpipe]
08. Gene Kelly – Blind Mary [Air]
09. Terry Teahan – The Barrel Organ [Slide]
10. Terry Teahan – The Evening I Spent with Mick [Slide]
11. Terry Teahan – The Paper Plate [Slide]
12. Gene Kelly - Fahey's/Gerry's Beaver Hat [Jigs]
13. Terry Teahan – The Lonesome Road to Dingle [Slide]
14. Terry Teahan – Mickey Chewing Bubble Gum [Polka]
15. Gene Kelly – Seán Hayes/If There Weren't Any Women in the World [Barndances]
16. Terry Teahan – Tadgh's Ailment [Hornpipe]
17. TerryTeahan – Going for Water [Slide]
18. Gene Kelly – The Old Caubeen [Story & Air]
19. Terry Teahan – Tadgh and Biddy [Waltz]
20. Terry Teahan – Poll Ha'Penny [Hornpipe]
21. Terry Teahan – Paddy Kenny's [Polka]
22. Gene Kelly – Father O'Flynn/The Connaughtman's Rambles [Jigs]
23. Terry Teahan – Jack Mitchell's [Polka]
24. Terry Teahan – Gan Ainm [Sword Dance]
25. Terry Teahan – The Road to Gleanntán [Fling]
26. Gene Kelly – The Swallow's Tail/Miss McLeod [Reels]

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Terry Teahan & Gene Kelly - Old Time Irish Music In America

Spud - A Silk Purse

Spud were active in their native Ireland the UK & Europe between 1973 and 1980. They never really had the success there brand of Electric Celtic Folk music merited. They sound like a cross between Steeleye Span and Horslips. Their debut album A Silk Purse came out in December 1974. Produced by Donal Lunny, the sound is of crisply recorded electric and acoustic stringed instruments playing riff laden folk tunes with all members supplying vocals in unison. Spud released 2 albums on the Philips record label - their 1974 debut 'A Silk Purse' and 'The Happy Handful' (in 1975). With these two albums already under their belt, they brought in Paul McGuinness (an old Trinity friend of Don Knox) to manage the band. Paul McGuinness (who later went on to wealth and fame as U2's manager) did his first record deal with Sonet which resulted in the release of Spud's third album, 'Smoking on The Bog', in 1978. The band toured for over 8 years and all the ex-members still play.

Group;
Dermot O’Connor - guitars, vocals
Don Knox - fiddle
Austin Kenny - mandolin, 5-string banjo, recorders
Michael Smith aka 'Smithy' - bass guitar

01 - Tenpenny Piece 2:32

02 - Blackleg Miner 3:33

03 - Brisk Young Widow 3:18

04 - Open The Door Softley 6:03

05 - For The Love Of Sarah Gilder 5:04

06 - Lucan Dairy 1:17

07 - Wind In The Willows 5:10

08 - Brian Borus March 4:53

09 - Crow On The Cradle 4:21

10 - Nancy Brown 3:32

11 - Newry Highwayman 4:08

12 - A Sows Ear 5:50

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Spud - A Silk Purse

John St Field - Control

John St Field real name Jackie Leven was a Scottish songwriter and folk musician. After starting his career as a folk musician in the late 1960s, he first found success with new wave band Doll by Doll. He later recorded as a solo artist, releasing more than twenty albums under his own name or under the pseudonym Sir Vincent Lone. Leven started his musical career in the late 1960s under the pseudonym "John St Field", and recorded one album, Control, in 1971 which was released only in Spain in 1973. This was the first release by this grossly under rated singer song writer who once wrote of his talent


"There are spiritual story tellers and there are soulful story tellers. I hope to be a soulful story teller. I see the two kinds as two different directions. Spiritual is ascending. Sky, God and all that. I hope my story telling is going down into the earth, is wetter, has more moisture." 
Jackie Leven

Musicians
John Haines - Drums
Joe Kuccer - Flute, Baritone Sax
Jackie Leven - Guitars, Keyboards, Bass, Vocals
Phil Ryan - Organ, Moog
Alex Atterson - Piano
Jesse Ballard, Juliet Lawson - Vocals

1. Soft Lowland Tongue

2. Ruins

3. The Problem

4. Dune Voices

5. Raerona

6. I'm Always A Prinlaws Boy

7. Mansion Tension

8. Dog Star

9. Sleeping In Bracken

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John St Field - Control

Tommy Peoples & Paul Brady - High Part Of The Road

Tommy Peoples is justly regarded as one of Ireland's greatest fiddlers who plays in the unique fiddle style of East Donegal. He has been a member of well-known traditional Irish music groups, including 1691 and The Bothy Band as well as performing solo since the late 1960's. Tommy Peoples has a unique style, particularly his way of executing bowed triplets, one of the signatures of his playing. What makes his playing great is the combination of his mastery of the fiddle, the power and emotionalism that run through his playing, and his fluid bowing. He is accompanied on this rare 1976 album by the superb guitarist Paul Brady on a collection of reels and jigs that have become standards of the Irish fiddle repertoire.

1 The Oak Tree, The Pinch Of Snuff

2 The Kid On The Mountain, O'Farrell's Welcome To Limerick

3 The Wheels Of The World, Toss The Feathers

4 Ard An Bhothair (The High Part Of The Road), Port an Bhrather (The Monk's Jig)

5 The Band Of Ireland, The Dairy Maid

6 The Nine Points Of Roguery, Bean An It Ar Lar (The Mistress On The Florr)

7 The Green Groves Of Erin, The Pigeon On The Gate

8 Port Shean Tseain (Old John's Jig), The Queen Of The Fair

9 The Salamanca, Lucy Campbell

10 The Silver Slipper, The Old Hag In The Kiln

11 Farewell To Ireland

12 McCahill's Reels

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Tommy Peoples & Paul Brady - High Part Of The Road

Pádraig O'Keeffe - Sliabh Luachra Fiddle Master

A long deleted and now extremely rare recording of the Sliabh Luachra fiddle player and teacher Pádraig O'Keeffe taken from RTÉ archive (RTÉ - CD174 - 1993) recordings made by Séamus Ennis between 1947 and 1949. This is absolutely brilliant Sliabh Luachra music, and the final set of tunes - a duet with Denis Murphy - is a classic [source ceolalainn]

1. Quinn's/Callaghan's [Reels]
2. Gallagher's [Jigs]
3. The Banks of the Danube [Air]
4. O'Sullivan's/O'Callaghan's [Polkas]
5. Johnny Cope [Hornpipe]
6. I'd Rather be Married than Left/Chase me Charlie/The Kilcummin [Slides]
7. The Old Man Rocking the Cradle [Air]
8. George White's Favourite/Kennedy's/The Road the Newbridge [Reels]
9. Gleanntán Frolics/The Hare in the Corn [Slides]
10. The O'Rahilly's Grave [Air]
11. The Humours of Ennistymon/I Will if I Can [Jigs]
12. John Quinn's [Hornpipe]
13. The Donaghmore [Reel]
14. Caoineadh Uí Dhomhnaill (Lament for O'Donnell) [Air]
15. The Kilcummin/If I Had a Wife [Slides]
16. As I Went Out Upon the Ice/Campdown Races/Tom Billy's/Jimmy Doyle's [Polkas]

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Pádraig O'Keeffe - Sliabh Luachra Fiddle Master