Irish Fridays

[johncorrigan]

I think we've seen John Francis Flynn before on an Irish Friday, performing on 'It ain't no Disco'. He certainly comes from a similar place as Lankum, and Lisa O'Neill. Here's a bit of film of him singing and playing 'The Lag's Song' live. Great voice and I loved what he was doing with the guitar...not sure I'd seen it played like that before. Late in the film he plays a tune on two penny whistles...not sure I'd seen it played like that either.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pbg4AYLzf50

He's got a new record out and I like what I'm hearing. Happy Irish Friday going on Saturday.

[johncorrigan]

and for good measure, the very song for a hooley, known by one and all who hope to attend one soon.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HtLrftukntA

From the same show, Padraig; Dessie, Sharron and the gang on a favourite track of mine...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZxKqWiIZseA

[Globaltruth]

I think we've seen John Francis Flynn before on an Irish Friday, performing on 'It ain't no Disco'. He certainly comes from a similar place as Lankum, and Lisa O'Neill. Here's a bit of film of him singing and playing 'The Lag's Song' live. Great voice and I loved what he was doing with the guitar...not sure I'd seen it played like that before. Late in the film he plays a tune on two penny whistles...not sure I'd seen it played like that either.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pbg4AYLzf50

He's got a new record out and I like what I'm hearing. Happy Irish Friday going on Saturday.

I have to post this in response.
He could be Irish....

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5H-td43zcQg

...but he isn't - apologies, much as I like the passion and intensity of J F Flynn this is posted for a bit of balance.
Mrs GT and Jim's wife are v old friends though, so I know Jim and a fair few of his songs. He is a genuinely avid collector of old songs around the North of Engerland but that's a whole other story

[johncorrigan]

I have to post this in response.
He could be Irish....

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5H-td43zcQg

...but he isn't - apologies, much as I like the passion and intensity of J F Flynn this is posted for a bit of balance.
Mrs GT and Jim's wife are v old friends though, so I know Jim and a fair few of his songs. He is a genuinely avid collector of old songs around the North of Engerland but that's a whole other story

I first heard Eldon via Kershaw, GT - I seem to recall Andy saying that Jim used to play on the pleasure boats going out of Bridlington (could that be right, Global?). I used to have a copy of him singing 'Bat out of Hell' on an old tape from the Kershaw Show...I'm sure it's somewhere around. Indeed he's on one of Andy's collections of 'More Great Moments in Vinyl History'. It's another great song that he collected in the North East (not England, I might add). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=osz7nCy3jOs

My only question, G, is what does that have to do with John Francis Flynn?

[Globaltruth]

I

My only question, G, is what does that have to do with John Francis Flynn?

well, I thought one of the songs was about prisons?
Or maybe I was listening to somethin' else?

with one great leap you could make your getaway...the prison is sleeping and the night watch is keeping his watch over 700 men. Oh to be free once again

and so it goes..

[johncorrigan]

well, I thought one of the songs was about prisons?
Or maybe I was listening to somethin' else?
and so it goes..

Ah, right...got you! Thanks for That, G.

[johncorrigan]

well, I thought one of the songs was about prisons?

Talking of prisons, G, I was walking through Edinburgh last week and amid all the shenanigans I came upon the quiet calm of a record stall. I stopped, perused and came away with a couple of things that I hadn't known I needed. One was a collection of Topic recordings from the 50s and 60s, and among the fine things on there is 'Kevin Barry' performed by Paul Robeson. I hadn't heard the song for a long time, so thought I'd give it a spin for an Irish Friday - starts off in Mountjoy Prison, by the way.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BSjO9rIwn5M

[Globaltruth]

Talking of prisons, G, I was walking through Edinburgh last week and amid all the shenanigans I came upon the quiet calm of a record stall. I stopped, perused and came away with a couple of things that I hadn't known I needed. One was a collection of Topic recordings from the 50s and 60s, and among the fine things on there is 'Kevin Barry' performed by Paul Robeson. I hadn't heard the song for a long time, so thought I'd give it a spin for an Irish Friday - starts off in Mountjoy Prison, by the way.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BSjO9rIwn5M

I love this JC - inspired choice.

Here's my submission, my favourite version of another classic, one of the all time great anti war songs.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wq0fF6oY6I4

[Padraig]

I love this JC - inspired choice.

Here's my submission, my favourite version of another classic, one of the all time great anti war songs.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wq0fF6oY6I4

That would be two anti-war songs then, G?

I have only one sort of pop Irish song today - Teddy O'Neill. I can't find out much about it, but I've known the tune of it forever. It was a favourite slow waltz at one time, and was recorded as such by various singers -e g Ruby Murray and Eileen Donaghy, and the traditional group De Dannan had a go at it in the same style. It probably rests in the Country and Irish category (God help it), but Dolores Keane has a version that sounds more like a Country Blues and less like a slow waltz. Hit it Dolores.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9kPzNsFPNpM

[johncorrigan]

That would be two anti-war songs then, G?

I have only one sort of pop Irish song today - Teddy O'Neill. I can't find out much about it, but I've known the tune of it forever. It was a favourite slow waltz at one time, and was recorded as such by various singers -e g Ruby Murray and Eileen Donaghy, and the traditional group De Dannan had a go at it in the same style. It probably rests in the Country and Irish category (God help it), but Dolores Keane has a version that sounds more like a Country Blues and less like a slow waltz. Hit it Dolores.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9kPzNsFPNpM

I've mentioned before, Padraig, that the first records that came into our house were five EPs that my Dad brought in along with a record player one night after work - I always assumed he'd had an unexpected win at the bookies. Among them was one by Eileen Donaghy and the other by Bridie Gallacher who sang 'Teddy O'Neill' . We played all the songs for weeks, even the ones we didn't like.

I heard a fine song by Dolores during the week accompanying the mighty John Prine...'In a Town This Size'

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mdo-saZ5ZQU

[Globaltruth]

That would be two anti-war songs then, G?

Pedants Corner award of the week Padraig.
Quite right.
Almost as if I do it on purpose.

[Padraig]

Pedants Corner award of the week Padraig.

Aw shucks, G. You shouldn't! There are much more deserving candidates for that honour.

No awards for the poor Spalpeen - the casual agricultural labourer of old. A jaunty tune which you might recognise as The Girl I Left Behind Me disguises the fate of some of those who ended up fighting in the Ninety Eight Rebellion.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WzMpsFabk_c

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WzMpsFabk_c

[Globaltruth]

Thanks Padraig for this. (you're right about the pedants - as you may spot from the odd post, I love to trigger them but don't tell anyone...)

Serously - sticking with the war theme, here is John Francis Flynn with My Son Tim

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WxaJ_obGKKM

(bit of a surprising dance video to accompany it - I love it)

[Globaltruth]

Cormac Begley - at a couple of points I thought he was going to bust the thing. Inspired playing....

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PQLMUHQtKKg

[johncorrigan]

Got access to my old vinyl records this week, for the first time in ages, and among all the delights I found 'Chieftains 4' and 'Drowsey Maggie'.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=izrFjDIxre0

Happy Irish Friday to one and all.