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Pádraig Mor - The Green & The Gold Padraig Mor, Glasgow’s original republican balladeer, has put together a compilation of classic songs on this CD. Big Pat’s many years on the road should have made him familiar to a wider audience by now. Indeed many will also know him as the front man of the popular Glasgow rebel band Saoirse and more recently from his stints playing bass and adding occasional vocals with Shebeen. However, Pat is a class act in his own right and this CD goes a long way to demonstrating the man’s musical talent and versatility. He not only sings, he also plays a variety of instruments as well. From bass and guitar to mandolin and whistles; the result is impressive. He is ably assisted by the haunting violin playing of Julie H who also helps out with some backing vocals on selected tracks. In addition, the equally versatile Glasgow- |
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musician Sean Lyons lends a hand on a couple of songs as well, There’s
an excellent rendition of Bik McFarlane’s tribute to Bobby Sands
– Song for Marcella. In fact I don’t think I’ve heard a better
arrangement of this song since the original recording by Bik and
Cruncher. It’s Pat’s delivery of a song that is most impressive.
His vocals are crisp and clear and the voice is very much in the
mould of the very best traditional ballad singers such as Christy
Moore, Derek Warfield & Gerry O’Glacain, but like each of
these Pat has developed his own style.
I don’t think there’s a bad song on this album – It’s the kind of CD that would do a never-ending loop on the car stereo and it’s one of those albums that you can play loud and not upset the neighbours. I would highly recommend that you add this to your rebel music collection. The tracks included are: Ballad of Martin (Doco) Doherty; Kelly The Boy From Killane; Grace; Clonoe Ambush; Ireland Unfree; Song For Marcella; Crossmaglen; Boston Snows; Helicopter Song; Athenry/Garvaghy Road; Shoot To Kill The Policy; Pardon Me For Smiling; Dying Rebel; Ballad of Ray McCreesh. On the sleeve notes Pat also thoughtfully provides a brief explanation/history of each of the songs. Another nice touch is that Padraig has dedicated the album to the memory of one of the finest republicans of this generation that Glasgow has produced - Thomas “Boydo” Boylan. Hopefully we’ll have some of these CD’s for sale on the stall at the TAL Nights in Glasgow and watch this space for details about ordering them direct from the fanzine in the near future. Reviewed by Talman |
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Spirit of 67 - Nuns, Guns & Rosary Beads
Spirit
of 67 are, relatively speaking, fairly new to the rebel
music scene but they are proof that Glasgow doesn’t necessarily
have a monopoly on bands capable of producing good republican music.
These lads hail from the east - ken, no that far fae Embra, likesay. First things first, the guys get the vote for the most original cover and album title—but there’s more to them than simply a good choice of photographs for the CD. The band have already played at a couple of the TAL Nights in Glasgow and have gone down very well with our crowd. They’re also gigging regularly at the Brazen Head and have played all over Ireland and Scotland. |
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Musically
speaking Spirit Of 67 are cut from the same cloth as Shebeen. They
play a rebel-rousing set live and the CD is a good studio recorded
sample of what you can expect from them in a live show. What did
stand out for me were the vocal harmonies on a couple of tracks.
There’s an original and beautiful version of Four Green Fields
that demonstrates the band ‘s vocal talent. Another track to
benefit from the backing vocals is the moving ballad Grace. As
well as the republican standards, of particular interest to hoops
fans will be the inclusion of C’mon The Hoops which features a
medley of Celtic songs and one of the more recent favourites in the
stands, The Four Leaved Clover is also included. Songs
on the CD are: Foggy Dew/Come Out Ye Black & Tans; Broad Black
Brimmer; Four Green Fields; C’Mon The Hoops; Boys of the Old
Brigade; Grace; Four Leaved Clover; Michael Collins; Fields of
Athenry/Garvaghy Road. Not bad for a bunch of guys with funny
accents! You
can buy this CD from TAL for £11 (including p&p). Make cheques
and postal orders payable to CSC and send to TAL Books, BM Box 266,
London, WC1N 3XX Reviewed By Talman |
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WolfeTones' Derek Warfield
Derek
Warfield - A Nation Once Again
Derek’s
latest CD - A Nation Once Again - is a treat for all lovers of traditional
Irish rebel music. The ballads and reels are performed in Derek’s own
inimitable style and from the performance on this disc it’s easy to see
why many regarded Derek as the heart of The WolfeTones.
For
this recording Derek has assembled an impressive bunch of musicians around
him and the quality is there to be appreciated.
Add to that Derek’s own musicianship and talent for digging out
some great songs from the archives and mixing them together with some fine
choices of contemporary ballads and rebel tunes and you have a winning
combination.
The 18 tracks featured on the CD include the title track A Nation Once Again plus Rory O’Moore, When This Dreadful War Is Ended, The Streets of New York, The Young May Moon/Jolly Ploughboy, Ballad of Michael Hogan. Rising of The Moon, Bold Soldier Boy. The Bold Robert Emmett, Tri-Coloured Ribbon, I Dream of Jeannie, The Men Behind The Wire, Kevin Barry, Some Say The Devil Is Dead, Boulavogue, Let Erin Remember/The Harp, Fields of Athenry & On The One Road.
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