The Irish Rovers- All Hung Up

Happy Saturday. St Patrick’s Day is soon upon us and since it is mid-week, as the equation goes, I should have a decent birthday (two days afterwards). Normally, if the holiday falls on a weekend, I prepare for a low key celebration for myself. Anyway, here are the Irish folkies, by way of Canada, The Irish Rovers. I paid $6 mostly on the strength of the song I am going to post.

From Decca Records in 1968, here we have the Rover’s tackling a variety of songs, from Irish Traditionals to American Traditionals, to Pop fancy and all things in between. The album features Behan’s “Liverpool Lou”, Leadbelly’s “Goodnight Irene”, and one of the Rovers’ bigger hits, “Whiskey on a Sunday”.

But the song I am going to post is actually more Scottish, I believe . On of my favorites and a bit on the dirty side, here we have “Up Among the Heather”.

Satisfactory

Up Among The Heather

VA- The Lark In The Morning

Like most of the records this week, I bought this specifically for March’s Annual St Paddy’s Day celebration. I paid at least $4 although I probably got a discount on it. It is from Tradition Records, 1956.

This is a unique album in the sense that it was compiled by a folklorist, one Diane Hamilton during a trip to Ireland in 1955. It features mostly a capella numbers as well as a few solo instruments. Recorded mostly at homes and probably pubs, it is an honest telling of Irish music. It also features blog favorites Liam Clancy, Tommy Makem, and what I assume are their Ma’s.

Mrs Clancy
Mrs Makem

Going to go a bit overboard on the samples, but let’s start with Tommy and Mrs, Sarah Makem with one of my favorite tunes, “The Little Beggarman”. From there, we have Mrs. Joan Clancy and “Dowdling”. Next, we have one of my new favorite pieces of folk-gothic, “Barbara Ellen” performed by Thomas Baynes. Finally, to give you a piece of instrumental music, we have “Hornpipe” by Dennis Murphy.

Satisfactory record.

Little Beggarman
Dowdling
Barbara Ellen
Hornpipes

Paddy Reilly- Live

Here is another Irish record that deserves more than it is getting today, due to slow internet. I did pay $8 for it so I no longer feel that bad for giving it the short end of the stick.

Paddy Reilly, born in Dublin in 1939, is a major Irish artist, known for his ballads as well as his interpretations of beloved standards. His most famous include “Rose of Allendale”, Town I Loved So Well”, and “Fields of Athenry”, all featured on this album, a live effort (obviously from the title) from RTE in 1983.

Really good record and an excellent performance. For a sample, I went with one of my favorites, “Sam Hall”. I also went with “Rocky Road to Dublin” just to point out, as Reilly does, that this is just really hard to sing.

Satisfactory.

Sam Hall
Rocky Road To Dublin

Willie Strickland & The New Symphony of Dublin- The Tear & The Smile

Here is another record I bought specifically to post this week for St Patrick’s. I paid $6 for it. The back cover notes that this record is available at your “better” record stores. So maybe it is time for you to up your record store game.

Not sure that much about who Willie Strickland is, other than he was trained by Tibor Serley ( who was a student of Bela Bartok) and became a serious composer/conductor of some note. This was his second album, consisting mostly of traditional tunes with significant orchestration, 48 pieces worth to be exact. From Release Records in 1987, this seems like it would be a piece of a bigger stage production. Either way, here are 12 songs which in some way or another paint a picture of the struggles and triumphs of Irish immigration.

I really liked a lot of this record, but ultimately there was only once choice for a sample, especially after I got screwed over last year by unknowingly purchasing the British variant of this song. Anyway, here is one of my favorites, “Botany Bay”.Satisfactory.

Botany Bay

Sean O Se- Heritage

Still focusing on Irish music this week with this record I bought for the occasion. I mean I can’t keep posting Dubliner’s and Clancy Brother’s now can I? I paid $4 for this.

Sean O Se, born in 1936 in Ballylickey, is a traditional singer of both note and longevity. This record from Harmac in 1986 features the singer tackling songs handed down from his father, also a noted singer, as well as other noted traditional tunes such as “Carrickfergus”, “Bunclody”, “Valley of Knockanure”, and “Killyburn Braes”.

For a sample, I went with “Barley Grain” which is an Irish variant of “John Barleycorn” as well as the telling of Ireland’s most famous dog, “Master McGrath”. I am quite partial to that tune as it is one of the first ones I posted on this blog. I am linking it here but since this was my first week of blog, the technical aspect was still pretty rough.

Satisfactory.

Barley Grain
Master McGrath

Sara Montiel – Le Major de Sara Montiel

I originally had a Mirelle Mathieu record from the 80’s slated for today but when I pulled it out to listen to it, I found I had a Haitian record instead and did not feel like listening to it this late in the month. So I switched one European diva for another which I had just recently purchased during Half Price Books Labor Day Sale for $2.40. Also, as Sara ( or Sarita) Montiel has been on this site before, I can save myself the backstory and simply refer you here.

This is an RCA greatest hits record from 1985, featuring what I believe is her trademark song “Clavelitos”. Apparently, I posted this last time as well.

I was originally going to use “El Relicario” as the sample but I found that I had already used it on the previous post. So we are going to go with “La Bien Paga” .

Satisfactory.

la bien paga

Hans Petter Hansen- Paloma Blanca

Only three records separating me from next months records. Well, lets finish them off with this that I rolled the dice on for $3. I probably gt this on sale for $2.40 but can not remember.

Hans Petter Hansen released this record of Norwegian style schlager in 1975. Born in the oilfield capital of Norway, Stavanger (where yours truly has been) in 1941, Hansen had a good amount of success from 1974 to 1982 at which point, he worked either in film, video, or behind the scenes of the industry. The poor translation of his bio really did not clearly specify.

This record is full of pop-rock/ schlager tunes that are always popular in Europe. The title track in particular was a key hit by various artists in the 70’s. Regardless, this is a pretty decent album.

For a sample, I went with “Du Er Sa Skjonn Som En Engel” or “You’re Such a Good Looking Woman”. Satisfactory.

Du Er Sa Skjonn Som En Engel

Some Japanese Album

Really was not sure about this album when I bought it over than the snazzy cover and the picture of the bands on the back. I paid $7 for this. There is little English on here other than the song titles, the Made in Japan label, and the Not For Sale notice.

This appears to be nautical in nature given the front cover and looking at the musicians, I would assume this would be a souvenir type album for a Japanese cruise line. But the boat on the cover is clearly a cargo container. So what gives. Musically speaking, we have one side of vocal chorus in a crooner style. The other side is a Dixie land band. The first side is all Japanese titles while side two has a few western tunes. including Aker Bilk’s “Stranger on the Shores”.

For samples, I went with one song, done by both sides. That would be “Ware Wa Umi No Ko”, performed by both groups. On the second side of the record, it is noted that the song is approved by the Ministry of Education. I believe it translates into “I Am A Child of the Sea”. it is apparently popular in Japan and Korea. Perhaps, this is a commemorative album from a shipyard.

Interesting enough and decent music but not worth the $7 I paid. Meh.

Ware Wa Umi No Ko
Ware Wa Umi No Ko DIxie

Eddie Kekaula- I’ll See You In Hawaii

Here is an autographed record I got for 50 cents. It was made out to a Ruth I believe and was signed by the artist on 10/14/78.

This record features songs written ( or possibly made famous) by Hawaiian legend Tony Todaro, who apart from his composing was instrumental in documenting achievements in Hawiian music as well as establishing an Hawaiian Music Awards Academy with its Nani Awards. He died sometime before the release of this record.

Eddie Kekaula (1929-1982), on the other hand, was a favorite of Todaro as well as a former Nani winner. He pays tribute to his friend on this record.

Could not (or would not) find out much more than that as I am trying to get thru this month. Will take any feedback on the subject. In the meantime, here is Hawaii’s Golden Voice with the title track, written by Todaro.

Satisfactory Record.

I’ll See You In Hawaii

Charles Aznavour- The World of Charles Aznavour: All About Love

Here is a $2 record I bought from one of the French Masters, Charles Azanavour. This was recorded live in 1965 at the Huntington Hartford Theater in Hollywood where hurricane hardly happen.

This album, from Reprise in 1966 features songs in French, English, and a combination of both. Really good stuff. A master of the chanson, Azanavour really tears through this material. Also the back cover points out that he makes love with the lights on, an odd comment to point out.

I really liked many points on this record but none more than “Les Comediens”. I also liked “Et Pourtant” as well as “You’ve Let Yourself Go”.

Satisfactory.

Les Comediens
Et Pourtant
You’ve Let Yourself Go