October 30, 2016 By Diane Kemp

RAY’S CHAT number 13

Hi Folks ..

Here we are with
RAYS CHAT NUMBER Thirteen.
Yes Thirteen, unlucky for some!! BUT not for us.
We are the LUCKY ones!! We have a GREAT Folk Club
And this time we are going to have some of the BEST of Folk Singing. OH YES: it’s IRISH NIGHT.

The Irish are GREAT Singers and whenever the Irish came to the Jug of Punch we ALWAYS had a Fantastic Night.
Usually ending with a GREAT Jam session, with The Ian Campbell Folk Group, and anyone else who wanted to, joining in.
OH What Lovely memories.
And one song always finished the night; THE IRISH ROVER.
Probably the BEST finishing song EVER.
There are lots to choose from:
But for me one Group above others made this their song.
Yes; THE DUBLINERS.
THE DUBLINERS sing this with great enthusiasm.
And I found one version recorded live in a Folk Club;
OH what Great audience participation; YES very like the old “Jug” days.
Put in THE DUBLINERS – WILD ROVER 3.15

Well what tune comes to your mind when you think Irish?;
Maybe BLACK VELVET BAND. Yes another Great Irish song.
YouTube has a great version by The Irish Rovers This is another live, in a Folk Club: and it captures a Great atmosphere
Put in IRISH ROVERS – Black Velvet Band.
Well I told you the Irish were Great Singers.

Another song I bet you think of when you think Irish, is
DANNY BOY. Yes well sticking with YouTube try this one:
JUDY COLLINS DANNY BOY live in Concert.
Wow: What a voice. She was 60 when this recording was made.
But YES I know She is not Irish!!.
Well to tell you the truth Danny Boy is not entirely Irish either.. the words were written by and Englishman!!
But for a really lovely rendering you have a job to beat this:
THE CHOIR BOYS BOY, singing DANNY BOY,
Yes you can get it on You Tube. And there is some lovely pipe work there as well.
WELL HOW DO YOU FOLLOW THAT?
Well you can’t get much Irish than this:
IRISH ROVERS. RARE OLD MOUNTAIN DEW
Wow what speed they take it at!!
Yes YOU try singing it at that speed.
Yes: well we’ll have something a little slower now;
And here’s another great Irish song sung by one of the very Best Irish Groups. YES it’s THE DUBLINERS again.
THE DUBLINERS – ROISIN THE BOW
Yes: lovely singing. They are SO good: these slower songs get me.
And this next one really is one of my TOP favourite Groups, and the song is just MAGIC.
You tube has two versions of this song so make sure you get the one with Davey Archer taking 4.19 mins:
Ladies be prepared to weep when Davey Archer plays that banjo.
Put in:
THE FUREYS AND DAVEY ARCHER – WHEN YOU WERE SWEET SIXTEEN.
You got to say THEY are good.

Well no more Weepies: Yes lets get something more lively:
And Strange to say I had NEVER heard this song before:
But I found it; and it is SO catchy I just have to share it with you.
Yes I’m sticking to YouTube so it’s there for you:
Put in:
THE IRISH ROVERS – THE UNICORN SONG
You have got to have loved that. I couldn’t help but sing along. Great Song! Glad I found it.
You know I reckon Our TUESDAY CLUB would make a good job of that!!

One of the Irish Songs I remember from when I was a lad – yes long time ago But I still remember!!. It was a song about Galway Bay and Bing Crosby sang it.
And a little later an Irishman with a GREAT voice sang it:
Do any of you remember JOSEPH LOCKE.. Yes I know; you’ve never heard of him!! Well I tell you; YOU missed a GREAT voice. I was lucky enough to see and hear him, when I was just 20.
He did not need microphones when he was on stage I can tell you: Massive Voice. So I am going to give you the chance of hearing him:
Very old Columbia 78 record, complete with clicks.
But come on this is over 70 years old.
Yes Youtube have got it:
JOSEPH LOCKE GALWAY BAY Choose the 3.12 one.
They don’t make them with voices like that any more.
You have just got to love that man. He died in 1999 age 82.

Well it is time for my last choice: And this takes a lot of beating,
One of the very finest Singers singing a superb song:

Put in:
PADDY REILLY – CARICKFERGUS
Oh what a Great song.
And Paddy Reilly is 77 now: He is certainly one of the great Irish Singers. Listen to him sing Carickfergus, You’ll never hear it sung better than this.

I hope you have enjoyed my chat about Irish Music.
There’s lots more out there for you to discover; and Paddy Reilly is definitely one of the finest solo artists: But there are lots more.
YES EXPLORE.

Well hearing these Great Irish voices has been a joy for me;
and I Hope you are enjoying RAYS CHATS.
Well it’s been Irish this time
So maybe some Scottish next time

Nice chatting to You
Ray