Ruby
Murray
Here's
To The Irish
with Brendan O'Dowda
Title: Here's To The Irish
Label: Coral
Catalog Number: CRL 757485
Release Date: Unknown
Format: LP
Track Listing:
| Side One 1. Let Him Go, Let Him Tarry - Ruby (1:10) 2. Mush Mush Mush - Brendan (2:31) 3. Teddy O'Neil - Ruby (3:14) 4. The Ballymaquilty Band - Brendan (2:18) 5. The Dear Little Shamrock - Brendan (3:00) 6. On The One Road - Brendan (1:42) |
Side Two 1. Johnny Gray - Ruby (2:48) 2. Doonaree - Ruby and Brendan (3:31) 3. Paddy McGinty's Goat - Brendan (1:46) 4. Dear Old Donegal - Ruby (1:30) 5. MacNamara's Band - Ruby (1:48) 6. Come Back To Erin - Brendan (3:13) |
Album Cover Text
Ruby Murray * Brendan O'Dowda
The Dublin Light Orchestra
Guest Conductor: Norrie Paramor
Recorded At The Marion Hall, DublinIf it's Irish you are, you'll feel a warm glow inside, and your heart will beat in jig-time, as you listen to these shamrock-bedecked tunes.
If, perhaps, you happen not to be descended from a high King at Tara; but are just a mere soul who has been bewitched by the charm of Irish music -- and who hasn't, the world over! -- you'll find enjoyment in this sparkling program by Ruby Murray and Brendan O'Dowda.
It was recorded before a specially-invited audience at the Marian Hall, Dublin. And it was performed by two of Europe's top stars -- assisted by guest conductor Norrie Paramor and the Dublin Light Orchestra.
The darling of the British Isles stage and radio, pert, smiling-eyed Ruby Murray enjoys a huge following, and they say that more of her records have been sold in the last few years than any other artist in Ireland, Scotland, and England.
As for Brendan O'Dowda, born at Dundalk in County Louth, and endowed with a golden voice, he first made a fine name for himself as an Irish football star before switching over to music and a brilliant recording career.
This delightful collection presents a cross-section of the changeable Celtic mood: some of the melodies are sad and sentimental; some are riotously gay; some sing of love in the sweet Irish manner; some sparkle with the rich effervescence of Irish wit and humor. And some pay nostalgic tribute to Erin's Isle itself.
Everything is enlivened by that characteristic rhythm of Erin -- the Irish lilt -- the unquenchable expression of Irish vivacity and spirit. And the emotion-laden ballads, particularly, remind us that Ireland was one of the rich sources of much of our American folk-song and country-style music.
In Teddy O'Neil and Johnny Gray, Ruby Murray sings touchingly of love -- first sadly, then happily. She also treats the same subject in another mood, with the back of her hand, in Let Him Go, Let Him Tarry.
Irish humor takes over in Brendan O'Dowda's version of Mush Mush Mush and Paddy McGinty's Goat. And it's Irish high spirits and a rollicking lilt you'll find in both The Ballymaquilty Band, sung by Brendan, and the somewhat more familiar MacNamara's Band, done by Ruby.
But the best of it is when the melodies celebrate the enchanted land of Erin. For when the rich, mellow voice of Brendan O'Dowda evokes the nostalgia of The Dear Little Shamrock and Come Back To Erin, you can't help but see, in your mind's eye, the light mist rolling gently over sapphire lake and emerald fields, and a jaunting car waiting patiently by a pictureque stone cottage, newly whitewashed.
And the grandest singing of all is when Ruby Murray and Brendan O'Dowda join their great talents in a beautiful duet, Doonaree. It is the climax to a glorius album.
HERE'S TO THE IRISH!
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