On foot of the success of my retrospective collection "Old Dog Long Road" volume 1(AK-8), we now bring you volume 2!
These recordings represent a record of my long career of playing music and for that reason I can’t resist adding in one or two tracks that go back to the very beginning when I would return from my day job, take up my Gibson L-00 guitar, put my newly half-learned harmonica in the rack that Ramblin’ Jack Elliott had given me, turn on the big tape recorder that my mother had bought for me and record a song or two that had been going through my head all that day.
Most of the tracks on this double CD are my own solo performances, gigs and home recordings, but there are some songs and tunes, recorded with other musicians and previously unreleased. The Greek song, “The Snows” with Mozaik (Andy, Dónal Lunny, Bruce Molsky, Rens van der Zalm and Nikola Parov) featuring Chrysoula Kechagioglou is a track we recorded, but left out of Mozaik’s latest album “The Long And The Short Of It” (MOZCD03). “Sweet Bann Water” - a traditional song learned from the singing of Joe Holmes and Len Graham - I recorded in ‘the wild’ in South Australia with Rens van der Zalm for our album “Parachilna” (AK-4) in 2012. The traditional songs and tunes I recorded include “Jack Mulroe”(2008), “The Royal Forester”(1978), a different version of “A Blacksmith Courted Me”(1970), a hornpipe “The Drunken Sailor”(1984) and jigs “The Contentment Is Wealth/The Shores Of Lough Gowna”(1984), and an early song of my own, “You Fascists Bound To Lose”(1968).
I have great memories of playing with Nollaig Casey and Des Moore and I’ve included the hornpipes, “Cooley’s/O’Dwyer’s”(1983) from the one tour we did. There is a live Planxty track with Johnny Moynihan, Paul Brady and the late much lamented Liam O’Flynn on “As I Roved Out”(1975) and “The Blind Harper” with Dónal Lunny at Tailor’s Hall in the Liberties of old Dublin in 1978.
Considering the age of some of these ‘performances’, the sound quality is remarkable. The example of an “oldie” on this collection is “Hobo’s Lullaby”(1961), recorded nearly sixty years ago.
I’d like to offer my great thanks to Leon O’Neill, a master and a perfectionist in getting the very best sound out of old slightly faded recordings! And thanks sincerely to all the venues, sound engineers and audiences, all over the world, who have contributed to this release.
credits
released November 14, 2020
Produced by Andy Irvine
Mixed & mastered by – Leon O'Neill
Bouzouki – Andy Irvine (tracks: Disc 1: 1, 6, 8, 11; Disc 2: 2 to 5, 7, 9), Donal Lunny (tracks: Disc 2: 5)
Drone – Andy Irvine (tracks: Disc 2: 2, 4)
Fiddle – Nollaig Casey (tracks: Disc 1: 9), Rens Van Der Zalm (tracks: Disc 2: 8)
Guitar – Andy Irvine (tracks: Disc 2: 6), Des Moore (tracks: Disc 1: 9), Paul Brady (tracks: Disc 2: 1), Rens Van Der Zalm (tracks: Disc 1: 11)
Harmonica – Andy Irvine (tracks: Disc 1: 1, 8; Disc 2: 9)
Harmonium – Johnny Moynihan (tracks: Disc 2: 1)
Hurdy Gurdy – Andy Irvine (tracks: Disc 2: 1)
Mandola – Andy Irvine (tracks: Disc 1: 2, 3, 5, 10; Disc 2: 8, 10, )
Mandolin – Andy Irvine (tracks: Disc 1: 4, 9; Disc 2: 12)
Tin Whistle – Liam O'Flynn (tracks: Disc 2: 1)
Vocals – Andy Irvine (tracks: Disc 1: 1 to 4, 6, 8, 10, 11; Disc 2: 1 to 3, 5 to 10, 12), Chrysoula Kechagioglou (tracks: Disc 1: 7)
Written-by – Andy Irvine (tracks: Disc 1: 3, 6; Disc 2: 3, 8, 12)
Music by – George Konitopoulos* (tracks: Disc 1: 7)
Lyrics by – Eirini Chalkou (tracks: Disc 1: 7)
Andy Irvine, Dónal Lunny, Paddy Glackin, Mike McGoldrick and John Doyle release their first Usher’s Island recording. Usher’s Island - Released on 21st March 2017. Andy Irvine
supported by 7 fans who also own “Old Dog Long Road Vol. 2”
Great Scottish band! The addition of guests like Duncan Chisholm-fiddler extraordinaire- and Julie Fowlis-an authentic voice of Scotland- make it perfect. dardar1126
supported by 7 fans who also own “Old Dog Long Road Vol. 2”
Today's god like genius award goes to Michael McGoldrick for this live EP, although, to be fair, he probably qualifies most days for that particular award. I've heard these tunes a couple of times before but they sound better than ever here. Brilliant 👏 festivalfolkie
supported by 7 fans who also own “Old Dog Long Road Vol. 2”
Love the complexity of this track and the rising and falling of the violins, and the texture. Makes me want to dance.
Thank you so much for this album. I really love it, and find it really inspiring my own work on the Witchcraft Trials ❤️ tararosehip
Bright and skipping songs that foreground the sound of the banjo and fingerstyle guitar in music that feels timeless. Bandcamp New & Notable Oct 5, 2020