Mick Moloney with Eugene O’Donnell- ST

This was $3.  I got it for the song I am going to use a sample, which is one of my favorites.  St Paddy’s Day is 2 days away.  It falls on a good day this year, on a Friday.  My birthday is on the 19th so if 43 years have taught me anything, it is that if St Paddy’s Day falls on a Friday or Saturday, I can expect low turn out for my birthday.  However, this greatly works in my favor.  More on that later this month.

Mick Moloney is a musician and folk historian from Limerick, which greatly explains his choice of song selection.  Born in 1944, he was a key figure of the 1960’s Irish folk revival.  He moved to Philly in 1973 and obtained a Ph.D in folk lore and Folk Life.  Hating the piano as a kid, he soon moved to guitar before moving towards banjo and mandolin, which seems to be the instrument he is associated with on this album.  Besides writing books on Irish music, he has worked with many a notable artist, including fiddler Eugene O’Donnell (who is included on this record) and the Clancy’s.

Moloney’s Webpage

Moloney’s discography is pretty extensive but I believe this is either the first or the second album released under Moloney’s own name.  It came out in 1978.  It is a pretty good collection or Irish folk with some songs off the beaten path. Besides Moloney and O’Donnell, this record features the work of Patrick Sky, Joe McKenna, and Shelley Posen.

I got this album for one song, “The Limerick Rake”, According to the liner notes, the song showcases “broad verbose humor and its honest opposition to conservative values”.  The song also serves as a travelogue of the County Limerick. The song has been covered by many including the Pogues whom I suppose this song was made for.  I think the Clancy’s do it best.  I have even fooled with it (despite the promise I made myself that I would never put any of my own music on this site.  It seems like a journalistic breach). Please note I have not practiced this song in 6 months or so.

If you are wondering, the oft repeated Gaelic phrase “Agus fagaimid siud mar ata se” translates roughly into “we will leave it at that” or in the Italian-American vernacular, “Forget About It”.

So here is Moloney’s version of “The Limerick Rake” which I feel is one verse too long.  I don’t like the verses about the singer’s childhood studies. I feel they really do not add anything to the song and really just needlessly drags it out.  Also for good measure, here is an instrumental called “West Limerick Medley” which includes ” The Clar Hornpipe”, “The Pride of Moyvane”, and “The Humours of Newcastle West”.

Decent album.  Satisfactory. Not too many meh’s these days, I know.  Maybe I have been in a better mood of late.

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