Japanese garden in Kildare Co., Ireland The Rain Book : An Old Irish Song [ purchase ] It's finally March 17th, St. Patrick's Day, and what better song for someone of multi-generational Irish heritage like me to post than something directly from…Japan. I'm not a video gamer, but I do know that the Japanese take their game music pretty seriously. Three albums of Celtic music alone (and seven other albums) were created for the Playstation [...]
The Roches : The Troubles [ purchase ] "The Troubles" generally refers to the period of unrest in Northern Ireland between the late 1960's and the late 1990's. Ireland is a former colony of England, and won its freedom after a civil war in the 1920's. However, England retained control over the six counties of Northern Ireland. There was much violence during the Troubles, originating from protests against the British Army and the majority Protestant population by the Catholic minority. This song, off the Roches' self-titled 1979 album, makes [...]
The Irish Rovers : The Unicorn [ purchase ] The Irish Rovers were a Canadian band whose members were all born in Northern Ireland. Their highest charting song in the U.S. was this tune, which isn't about Ireland or immigrants, but is associated with the theme because of the band. The words to the tune are based on a poem by Shel Silverstein, which is in a slightly different form in Where the Sidewalk Ends." Silverstein isn't Irish either, but he was successful writing songs for other people. [...]
Rosanne Cash: Forty Shades of Green [ purchase (Johnny Cash original) ] The song "Forty Shades of Green" is not native to Ireland. Arkansas-born Johnny Cash, of English and Scot descent, wrote it in the United States, after returning from a 1959 visit to the Emerald Isle. In his travelogue, Cash recalls the sights of Ireland and the lyrical town names he encountered -- among them Dingle, Donaghadee, Skibbereen and Tipperary. That Cash is a visitor, rather than a native, is underscored as he recalls, "The breeze is sweet as Shalimar." [...]
Big Bag of Sticks : Wake Up Now [ contact Big Bag of Sticks to purchase the album Short Term Memory ] Ireland is an island nation. As such, music from many lands has reached her shores. The bouzouki is an instrument that has become popular with traditional Irish musicians, but it was brought to the Emerald Isle by Greek sailors. Still, Irish reggae? I've got it right here. Wake Up Now dates from 1997, when the ska craze from England was reaching Ireland, and UB40 were still [...]
The Pogues : Rainy Night In Soho [ purchase ] I remember it well. The table is strewn with empty pint glasses, the ash tray is overflowing and last orders were called longer ago than the man behind the bar cares to remember. Reluctantly, you stagger out into the hazy London evening, the streets wet and glistening and the icy drizzle doing its utmost to keep you awake long enough to find your way to the tube station. At Piccadilly Circus you go your separate ways - some head home, [...]
Afro Celt Sound System : Rise Above It [ purchase ] My very first SMM post featured this fantastic group, Afro Celt Sound System. That week's theme was Instrumentals, so I couldn't post this song at the time, but it's my favorite. To me it exemplifies their sound: a unique blend of traditional Irish melodies with African rhythms and rock overtones. In addition to the regular (large) membership, we're treated to guest vocals by Irish singer/songwriter Mundy and a special treat of Eileen Ivers on [...]
Frank Patterson : Danny Boy [ purchase ] Sam Cooke : Danny Boy [ purchase ] The Pogues : Danny Boy [ purchase ] Richard Thompson : Danny Boy [ purchase ] "Danny Boy" has to a certain degree become the Irish-American anthem, with its overtones of exile, of loved family left [...]
David Bromberg: Bull Run Paddy [purchase] Despite appearances, David Bromberg is not actually a NY Jew (as I previously suggested) : he hails originally from NJ and his current domicile is Delaware ( = none of the above). Among the most eclectic and most accomplished guitarists alive, (his official website lists the multitude of concerts he has performed over the years!), the man is a stringed instrument master. [...]
Joe Ross, Janet Naylor and Friends : O'Carolan's Welcome [ purchase ] There's little music as dear to my heart as that of Turlough O'Carolan, last of the Irish bards. Born in 1670, he moved with his family to the Roscommon-Leitrim area while very young. His father was employed at an iron foundry. Totally blinded in his teens by smallpox, Turlough O'Carolan was taken in by Mrs. MacDermott Roe at the Alderford house near Boyle. Here, he studied under a harper for three years. A more creative tale claims that O'Carolan [...]
Horslips : Trouble (With a Capital T) [ purchase ] For a music geek like me, having access to a radio station's library of music made me feel like a kid in a candy store. When I started training to be a DJ at WPRB, we were encouraged to come to the station's beautiful basement studios and listen to music. One of the first records I picked out to explore was Horslips' "The Man Who Built America." I think it was the band's unusual name that grabbed me [...]
Hothouse Flowers : Christchurch Bells [ Purchase ] Sorry U2. Hothouse Flowers' 1988 album People , was the best selling debut in the history of Irish pop. Direct musical and spiritual descendants of Van Morrison and The Waterboys, The Dublin band specialized in a Celtic brand of soul. Bono recently called The Flowers' lead singer, Liam O' Maonlai, "the best white soul singer in the world". You really need to own either People or 1990's Home . Probably both. [...]
Brigan Ensemble: One Set Reel [ free download from archive.org ] The first name that came to mind for me for "Irish tunes" was David Bromberg . I know that he has an affinity for music from those parts (despite his NY Jewish roots). That said, I had to revert to my tried and true resource: archive.org. A search [...]
Luka Bloom : An Irishman in Chinatown [ purchase ] This week, we are going to go a little barmy over St Patrick's Day here on Star Maker Machine, and celebrate for the entire week. They say everyone is Irish on St Pat's, so all over our songs will be Irish in some sense as well. The fun will be in seeing what that means from song to song. I'm going to start us off pretty close to home. Luka Bloom is an Irish singer-songwriter, and this song has a very [...]
Martin Newell (with Andy Partridge) : Goodbye Dreaming Fields [ purchase ] If, as I did, you discovered Martin Newell and his song Goodbye Dreaming Fields after the fact, you might be tempted to dismiss it, musically, as an XTC knockoff. Indeed, Andy Partridge was the producer, played many of the instruments, and can even be heard on background vocals. But, the XTC albums that sound most like this, Oranges and Lemons and Nonesuch, came out after this one. So, it would be more correct to say that Martin Newell's influence [...]
Jeff Beck: Goodbye Pork Pie Hat [purchase] Charlie/Charles Mingus' Goodbye Pork Pie Hat is a song that I have listened to again and again since way back when, including such versions as Joni Mitchell's, from her Mingus album (see below). Unintentionally, it seems to segue well with Ramone666's immediately previous post. Among those things I consider myself lucky to have been there for is [...]
John Coltrane : Everytime We Say Goodbye [ purchase ] Ev'ry Time We Say Goodbye was composed by Cole Porter for a musical called Seven Lively Arts . Slowly but surely it became a jazz standard, losing the apostrophe in the title along the way. It was taken on by many a talented musician over the years, but Trane's melancholy interpretation has to my knowledge never been surpassed. Incidentally, [...]
Dick Feller : Goodbye California [ purchase (vinyl only, out-of-print) ] If music fans remember Dick Feller at all, it's most likely for a series of mid-charting country novelty records he released in the 1970s -- most notably "Making the Best of a Bad Situation," "The Credit Card Song" and "Uncle Hiram's Homemade Beer." While those are fine, fun songs, it's a shame they obscure Feller's talents as a skilled songwriter and accomplished acoustic guitarist. Dick Feller landed in Nashville in the late 1960s. He bounced around as a writer and backing musician. Johnny [...]
Patty Griffin: Goodbye [ purchase ] First time I heard Patty Griffin's "Goodbye," it felt like she was channeling emotions and thoughts I had during times of loss and grief -- except her thoughts were more organized and her words more articulate. I've had too many opportunities to revisit Griffin's lyrics in recent years, including this week, as we had to say goodbye to our treasured family pet, who died in our arms, after more than 16 years of companionship and love.
The Postmarks: Goodbye [ purchase ] Nothing complex here, and that's precisely the point. An intricate progression would infer a deep issue worth mulling over. Instead, The Postmarks bless us with a plucky, punctual melody that says this is it, don't wreck yourself thinking about it . Goodbye, I'll be gone when you open your eyes , Tim [...]
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