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Sleeve Notes
The Dubliners have become a living legend. This album is a "mixum gatherum" of some of their greatest hits in popular music throughout today's world. Their variety is infinite, due perhaps to the individuals themselves who, either solo or group wise, project at once a bawdy yet plaintive, or romantic image. The actual musical craftmanship. is of a very high standard to take "Barney's Banjo Selection" as just one example. Ronnie's evil gravel toned "Welia Welia Walia" is both horrifying and comic but has become a must for any pub sing-a-long. Dominic Behan's classic "McAlpine's Fusilliers" (the melody based on "The Jackets Green"), a song about our historic hero Patrick Sarsfield, is still sung by Irish exiles after a tough day on the building site. "Scorn not his Simplicity" was written by Phil Coulter for his little son and sung by Luke. As in the pre-Raphaelite period of Art and Design when every picture told a story, the same in all of the Dubliners' material. Leo Maguire who hosted the Walton's radio commercials — "If you feel like singing do sing an Irish song," penned "Kimmage", a Dublin suburb which is treated in the properly suited style as is Jimmy O'Dea's signature tune "Biddy Mulligan." I am sure many of you listeners will remember Jimmy, a perennial of Dublin Pantomime in drag as Mrs. Mulligan driving Gaiety audiences into paroxysms of mirth.
"Down by the Glenside" is a sad picturesque ballad of Irish patriotism beloved of all Nationalists naturally enough as it was written by Peadar Kearney, author of our National Anthem. "Smith of Bristol" is a tongue in cheek Anglo-Irish effort of the kind popular at "Shoneen" concerts in Dublin. The tune ressembles "The Liverpool Sandstone Girl" and the London "Basket of Oysters." The last number is a fine one handed down to our family from my great-grandfather, John Carr of Limerick and although the melody line here differs slightly 'tis a fine way to end a fine collection. So — if you enjoy this — and you should for there are songs for all — "the Rebel and the Ranter, the Traveller, the Tinker, Soldier, Sailor" and obviously the whole wide world — try volumes one and two! Slan!
Dara O Lochlainn
