Angus Chisholm - Early Recordings of Angus Chisholm

This album consists of all the commercial recordings made by Angus Chisholm, the finest exponent of traditional Scottish fiddling ever to record. His playing is defined by the exciting perfection of his brisk, articulate phrasing, each note shaped with total control and exquisite tone, the product of bowing almost too good to be believed. And too, the feeling, the rare eloquence of his music is without peer. Angus Chisholm's playing is the standard all Cape Breton fiddling is measured by. And more, it is esteemed now around the world for its artistry and beauty. [source Richard Nevins]

Personnel:
Angus Chisholm, fiddle;
Maybelle Chisholm, piano;
Bess Sidall MacDonald, piano;
Elizabeth Mellett, piano;
Mickey McIntyre, guitar

1. Newcastle, President Grant (hornpipes)

2. Medley of Inverness Jigs

3. Mrs Murray / The 10 Pound Fiddle / The Baker

4. Miss Lyall / Brother's Letter

5. Miss Minnie Foster / Fred Wilson's Clog

6. Glengarry's Dirk / Bonnie Lass of Fisherow / Bird's Nest

7. Rothermurches Rant / Braes of Auchertyre / Braes of Glencoe

8. Moonlight Clog / Hennessey's Hornpipe

9. Miss Cambell's / Jordie Jig

10. Lochaber Gathering / Bob Johnson's March & Reel

11. Tea Gardens / Mrs McGee

12. Irish Hornpipe / Marguirite McNeill / Joan McDonald

link to the free album

Angus Chisholm - Early Recordings of Angus Chisholm

Nuala & Tomás Ó Canainn - Béal na Bláth

Recorded in 1982 on the Belfast "Outlet" label, this LP record featured traditional songs, airs and dance music played by "Na Fili" piper and singer Tomas O’Canainn with his daughter Nuala on fiddle. The 10 dance tunes are all original compositions by Tomas O’Canainn.

Tomás Ó Canainn [died in 2013] was an Irish Uilleann piper, accordion player, singer, composer, researcher, writer and lecturer. He was a founder of the group Na Fili with fiddler Matt Cranitch and whistle player Tom Barry in the late 1960s and 1970s. They gained considerable popularity and recorded several albums. Tomás Ó Canainn, both an instructor and performing musician, writes about and collects traditional Irish music. His books include Traditional Slow Airs of Ireland (2005, Ossian), Traditional Music in Ireland (1997 Music Sales Corporation), Seán Ó Riada: His Life and Work (2004, Collins Press), Fifeanna and Feadoga (2001, Cló Iar-Chonnachta Teo), Home to Derry (2004, Appletree Press), Lifetime of Notes (1996, Collins Press), Sean Ó Riada (1993, Columbia Press), and Songs of Cork (1978, Gilbert Dalton). His original compositions of Irish music are published in Tomas’ Tunebook: ‘New Tunes for Old’ (1998, Ossian)

Personnel:
Nuala Ó Canainn - fiddle
Tomás Ó Canainn - pipes, vocals

01. The Lower Drum Roll - With Marley to Galicia

02. Ar Lan Y Mor (On the Seashore)

03. Conlach Ghlas an Fhomhair (The Fresh Stubble of Autumn)

04. The Ennismore Potter / Father Michael Ryan's

05. Uir-Chill a Chreagain (Creggan Churchyard) 

06. Goirtin Eornan (Little Field of Barley)

07. Nuala's Fiddle / The Glanmire Gallop

08. Falkland Frolics / Kinsella, File

09. The Stranger

10. A Stóir Mo Chroí (Tresure of My Heart)

11. Eibhlin, A Rúin (Evelyn, Darling)

12. Máire Ní Mhaoileoin (Mary Malone)

13. Johnny's 21st / Ger's 21st 

link to the free album

Nuala & Tomás Ó Canainn - Béal na Bláth

Horslips - Live In Philadelphia 1979

This excellent quality Bootleg was recorded in Philadelphia in 1979 by the groundbreaking Horslips. Horslips are an Irish Celtic rock band that composed, arranged and performs their music based on traditional Irish jigs and reels. They are regarded as the 'founding fathers of Celtic rock' for their fusion of traditional Irish music with rock music and went on to inspire many local and international acts. The group formed in 1970 and disbanded in 1980 [don't believe this bit as they are still going strong]. A must have for any fan of the genre especially the majestic rocking version of Dearg Doom.


Personnel
Jim Lockhart - keyboards, concert flute, tin whistles, uilleann pipes, vocals
Johnny Fean - guitars, banjo
Charles O'Connor - fiddle, mandolin, concertina, vocals
Barry Devlin - bass guitar, vocals
Eamon Carr - drums, bodhrán, percussion

01 - Daybreak

02 - Drive the Cold Winter Away

03 - Ride to Hell

04 - Sidways to the Sun

05 - Sword of Light - Intro

06 - Sword of Light

07 - Daybreak-Reprise

08 - Loneliness

09 - Speed the Plough

10 - Sure the Boy was Green

11- Dearg Doom

12 - The King of the Fairies

link to the free album

Horslips - Live In Philadelphia 1979

Wildgeese - Celtic Music Of The Northwest

The missing master of the out-of-print recording, "Wildgeese: Celtic Music of the Northwest" featuring Randal Bays, Bill Bulick, Kate Power, Jim Chapman and Barry Crannell, produced by Mícheál ÓDomhnaill and engineered by Michael O'Rourke at Grass Roots studio in Portland 1983, was rediscovered by a friend of the band, Alan Garren, in 2007. Although there was some degradation when the tape was played back, it was salvagable. They decided to do what could be done to preserve the recording. The unmistakable touch of the master in the Mícheál ÓDomhnaill mix remained reverently untouched during the restoration and now the reissue of the original Wildgeese debut album is ready to share.

Personnel:
Randal Bays: fiddle
Kate Power: vocals, guitar, harmonium, percussion, 5-string banjo
Bill Bulick: flutes & whistles
Jim Chapman: whistles, bouzouki, harmonium
Barry Crannell: guitar, mandolin

01. Planxty Charles O'Connor / Kitty's Wedding / Sonny Brogan's

02. I Wish My Love Was a Red, Red Rose

03. Star Above the Garter / Saint Patrick's Day

04. Anach Cuain / The Blacksmith

05. Bush in Bloom / Maud Miller / Russ' Favorite / John in the Fog

06. Bridget O' Malley

07. Ryan's / Scotch Mary / Sweeney's Dream

08. Undressed Melody

09. Mist Covered Mountain / Monaghan's Jig

10. Verdant Braes of Screen

11. Wheels of the World / Maid in the Cherry Tree / Speed the Plow

link to the free album

Wildgeese - Celtic Music Of The Northwest

Various Artists - Scotland The Brave [Inspiring Sounds Of The Great Highland Bagpipes]

One of the most famous and awe inspiring sounds ever to have come out of Scotland is that of the sound of the Great Highland Bagpipe. For centuries throughout the world as Scottish troops have gone into battle the way has been led by the pipers, inspiring deeds of heroism and striking fear into the hearts of the enemy.  This album brings you some of the best tunes written for the pipes so that you can hear the sound of 'Scotland the Brave'.




  1. Piping Hot (Massed Pipes & Drums and Military Bands)
  2. Bonnie Dundee (Buccleuch & Queensberry Caledonia Pipe Band)
  3. The Barren Rocks of Aden, The Earl of Mansfield (Chamber Pipes and Flute)
  4. The Rose of Allendale, Killiecrakie (Buccleuch & Queensberry Caledonia Pipe Band)
  5. Skye Boat Song, The Fairy Dance, Corn Riggs (Pipe Major J MacLelland with Band of The Gordon Highlanders)
  6. Duncan McInnes, Teribus, Corriechollie's Welsome to the Northern Meeting (Buccleuch & Queensberry Caledonia Pipe Band)
  7. Kilworth Hills, Dream Valley of Glendaruel (Chamber Pipes and Flute)
  8. Gaelic Air, Circassian Circle, Paddy's Leather Breeches, The Muckin O' Geordie's Byre (Pipes & Drums of 1st Batallion Scots Guards)
  9. The Piper's Waltz, The Stronsay Waltz (Buccleuch & Queensberry Caledonia Pipe Band)
  10. The Crusaders, Caller Herrin', Scots wha Ha'e, The Bonnie Lass o'Fyvie (Pipes & Drums and Regimental Band the Scots Guards)
  11. Wooden Heart, Going Home (Buccleuch & Queensberry Caledonia Pipe Band)
  12. Scotland the Brave (Pipes & Drums and Regimental Band of the Royal Highland Fusiliers)
  13. A.A. Cameron, Wiseman's Exercise, Donald Bain, The Barn Dance, Hieland Laddie, The Lads of Mull (Pipes and Drums of The Queen's Own Highlanders)
  14. Mist Covered Mountains, The Dark Island, O Gin I Were a Baron's Heir (Chamber Pipes and Flute)
  15. Murdo's Wedding, Wings, Leaving Liverpool, Tom Saunders, Roses of Prince Charlie (Buccleuch & Queensberry Caledonia Pipe Band)
  16. Brigadier Snow, Shoals of Herring (Buccleuch & Queensberry Caledonia Pipe Band)
  17. Ae Fond Kiss, My Love She's But a Lassie Yet, There Was A Lad Was Born in Kyle, A Man's a Man for A'That (Chamber Pipes and Flute)
  18. The Saffron Kilt, Lochanside (Pipes & Drums of 1st Batallion Scots Guards)
  19. The Rowan Tree, Bonnie Gallowa', The Waters of Kylesku, The Rocky Road to Dublin (Buccleuch & Queensberry Caledonia Pipe Band)
  20. Archie McKinlay, Cullen Bay (Pipes and Drums of 1st Batallion Scots Guards)
  21. Amazing Grace (Massed Pipes & Drums and Military Bands)

link to the free album

Various Artists - Scotland The Brave [Inspiring Sounds Of The Great Highland Bagpipes]

Dominic Behan - Ireland Sings

Dominic Behan was an Irish songwriter, singer, short story writer, novelist and playwright who wrote in both Irish and English. He was also a committed socialist and Irish Republican. Born into a literary family, Dominic Behan was one of the most influential Irish songwriters of the 20th Century. He was a prolific composer and had more than 450 songs published during his lifetime. His songs were very popular in Ireland and also among the Irish living in Britain, especially "The Patriot Game", "McAlpine's Fusiliers", "Avondale", and "Liverpool Lou". In 1958, he released The Singing Streets: Childhood Memories of Ireland and Scotland on Folkways Records along with fellow folksinger Ewan MacColl. Behan, who was unequivocal in the defence of his copyright, publicly accused Bob Dylan of plagiarizing "The Patriot Game" in writing his own "With God on Our Side".

1 Not a Star From The Flag Shall Fade

2 The Sodding

3 Sit Yeh Down And I'll Treat Yeh Decent

4 Fineen The Rover

5 How Ceasar Was Driven From Ireland

6 Dicey Riley

7 Kerry Boatman

8 Trust In Drink

9 Love Of My Heart

10 My Redhead Mot From Ringsend

11 Brown And Yellow Ale

12 The Sea Around Us

13 Irish Famine

14 Patriot Game

link to the free album

Dominic Behan - Ireland Sings

Jeannie Robertson - The Great Scots Traditional Ballad Singer (Topic Records 10T52 1959)

Jeannie Robertson is a monumental figure in Scottish traditional song whose influence and importance as a preserver of folklore will sustain for as long as traditional ballads are sung.

Regina Christina Robertson was born into a traveller family in Aberdeen on October 21, 1908. Her father, Donald, who died a year later, was a piper and her mother, Maria, was a singer with a vast store of songs and stories.

There was music going back generations on both sides of the family and as Jeannie grew up in the traveller life, spending six months of the year in Aberdeen and spring and summer on the roads up Deeside and down Donside, there were musical gatherings round both hearthside and campsite. Music wasn’t just entertainment. The songs and stories formed guides to traveller history and lessons in life.

Some of the songs Jeannie sang weren’t quite as old as her callers suspected, as she often made up songs of her own while doing her housework. Her singing of ballads including her most celebrated song, Son David, and the Battle of Harlaw was, however, the long oral tradition at work and she gave battle songs added realism through visualising swords clashing and men falling as she sang.

In 1968, Jeannie was appointed MBE for services to folksong, an event made all the more significant since she was the first folksinger and the first traveller to receive this honour. She died in March 1975 having passed on her songs to students including her daughter Lizzie Higgins, her nephew Stanley Robertson, Ray Fisher, Andy Hunter, and Jean Redpath, and having enriched the lives of everyone who heard her sing.

01. The Bonny Wee Lassie Who Never Said No

02. What a Voice

03. My PIaidie’s Awa’

04. The Gipsy Laddies

05. When I Was No but Sweet Sixteen

06. MacCrimmon’s Lament

07. Roy’s Wife of Aldivalloch

08. Lord Lovat

Recorded by Bill Leader in 1959

link to the free album

Jeannie Robertson - The Great Scots Traditional Ballad Singer