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Sleeve Notes
On Party Pieces by Seamus Kennedy
The Irish love songs. All songs. Opera, hymns, country (and western), folk, bluegrass, blues, rock-and-roll. Songs in English, Irish, French, Italian, Latin, Spanish. We're pretty catholic — with a small "c" — when it comes to our taste in songs.
We listen to, and sing everything.
In Ireland when we have a party or a gathering of family and friends, we like to entertain one another by singing, story-telling, recitations, or even an ould step or two of a dance.
Nearly everyone has a song, a story, a poem or bit-of-business for which they are known — their "party-piece" and when a hooley breaks out, he or she will be called upon to perform said piece for the group. None of your standing around sipping cocktails, nibbling canapes, schmoozing and passing out business cards at our parties!
No, we sing our heads off, drink beer or stout and hoover up little sandwiches with the crusts cut off.
Encouragement is usually offered, followed by a respectful silence while the person does his or her bit, with a round of applause when it's over. Then someone else will be called on to do something, and so it goes round the room until nearly everyone has done a turn.
I have seen painfully shy people emerge from their cocoon to stand up and sing or recite — sometimes accompanied with full dramatic or comedic gestures — and then bask in the ensuing applause.
As we say at home, it's a great night's "craic"
This CD is a collection of songs which were (and some of which still are) the party-pieces of my family and friends. There’s my mothers, my father’s and even my own party-piece from when I was a teenager learning the guitar. I have included a few of my uncles’ and aunts’ favorites, too. And there are a couple which aren’t party-pieces … yet. If you don’t have a party-piece of your own, have a listen to this CD and if you hear one or two you like, learn them, and become the hit of your next party. That’s how traditions get started, y’know.
Arkle — This was my party piece when I was much younger and learning to play the guitar. Arkle tells the true story of a Guinness-drinking racehorse — a steeplechaser who was the Irish equivalent of Sea Biscuit in the 1960's. He beat the great English favorite Mill House in The Cheltenham Gold Cup in 1964, a race which has been called "one of the 10 greatest horseraces of all time." This was the second major battle won by the Irish on English soil The first was when Master McGrath the legendary Irish greyhound beat all comers including Rose, the pride of England in 1869.
Back In The Clydesdale — My friend Mike Campbell from Alaska likes dark ales and stouts as I do, so he wrote this one, and performed it for me when I was on my annual pilgrimage to the Great Land. I took to it immediately and made it my new party-piece! Thanks, Mike.
Forty Shades Of Green — The late, great Johnny Cash, a true American original, wrote this song in 1961 on a concert tour of Ireland. And it became a hit, to such an extent that a lot of people think it's an old Irish ballad. It was my Aunt Kathleen's Party Piece.
The Bold Thady Quill — My friend. Danny Quinn of the O’Donovan Rossa G.A. C. used to sing this popular County Cork ballad at team functions and ballad nights. My old partner Tom O’Carrolls uncle sang it in French, though we’ve never been able to track down those words.
She Moved Through The Fair — This was my father’s favorite song and party-piece. While out for Sunday drives in the car; at parties and family get-togethers, we knew we would hear She Moved Through The Fair, and it has remained one of my favorites to this day.
The Spaniard Who Blighted My Life — This novelty song from 1913 was a big hit for Al Jolson. In fact, I have a recording of him singing it in his later years with Bing Crosby. It was also a hit in Britain for Stanley Holloway, but it became my grandfather John Collins's party-piece, and fortunately he passed it on to my mother, Hannah, who made it her own and always did it with great, humor and vigor, complete with imaginary castanets.
Kentucky Waltz — My mother's brother, my Uncle Joe Collins, loved to sing this old Bluegrass favorite written by the father of Bluegrass himself Bill Monroe. And the more copiously the drinks flowed, the more emotion he’d put into it. My Uncle Joe — not Bill Monroe.
Bouiavogue — My Aunt Mavis (my Uncle Joe's wife) was always asked to sing this famous rebel ballad about the 1798 Wexford Rebellion, and she did it with such dramatic flair and intensity that when the song was over, we'd all be running around looking for Englishmen to fight!
The Homes Of Donegal — My mother had kinfolk in Letterkenny, Co. Donegal, so this song was popular at musical soirees at home, and it still is a party-piece for many folks, especially those of the Donegal persuasion.
Carrickfergus — I've heard so many singers perform this lovely old song as their party-piece down through the years, that I thought I'd add my version to the list.
The Glass Eye Song — Two ladies who were on one of my pub tours to Ireland, Kit Cofer and her friend Collette Herrick, wrote and performed this song for our group on the last night of the tour, when I asked everyone to do a party-piece. They were nicknamed Kit & Kaboodle, and they kindly allowed me to add this one to my collection of party-pieces. The wee hornpipe at the beginning and end is a variant of "Off To California."
My Cavan Girl — This lovely song was written in the early 1970's by American Thom Moore while he was playing in Ireland with the group 'Punkinhead. ’ And a lot of people think this one is an old Irish folksong too.
Abdul Abulbul Ameer — This superb mock-epic by the brilliant. Percy French was my late father-in-law’s party-piece, so Don Poquette, this one’s for you! Your taste in songs and sons-in-law was impeccable.
The Water Is Wide — Many variants Irish, Scottish, English, American of this lovely old ballad have been recorded by a lot of singers. Here's my take on it. Won't you make it your party-piece?
Volare — This Domenico Modugno hit from the ‘50’s was also a hit in Ireland. My Tour group loved old Dick Hoban’s rendition in his family’s pub in Co. Mayo, but my Godfather, Vito, did it best of all. And when he sang, EVERYONE listened! (Or he’d make you an offer you couldn’t understand!)
