February 13, 2018 By Diane Kemp

Ray’s chat 38

RAY’S CHAT
Hi Folks
RAYS CHAT THIRTY EIGHT

Hi Folks
There is a Folk Group that I have not mentioned before;
THE HIGH KINGS. They are new to me.
It is strange that, like CELTIC THUNDER,
I Had NOT heard of them; and indeed they DO perform in
A similar way to CELTIC THUNDER.

They were formed in 2008 with Liam Clancy; who was previously
with the CLANCY BROTHERS;
And Finbar Furey, Who had been in the FUREYS,
Brian Dunphy, who had been one of the IRISH TENORS.
And the last guy Darren Holden.
Between then they play 13 instruments.

Some very famous names there:
Indeed; THE FUREYS were a very famous Irish Group
I have not mentioned before.
Yes HIGH KINGS: Are, A very experienced set of guys.
Listen to them sing The Rocky Road to Dublin:
Put in:
HIGH KINGS, ROCKY ROAD TO DUBLIN 3.13
Well they certainly gave that Everything.

And here is one you will know: Put in
THE WILD ROVER – THE HIGH KINGS 4.13
Yes they sing well. Nice Group.
And YES they DO remind me of CELTIC THUNDER.
Similar sort of style.
Try this one: Put in:
The HIGH KINGS MARIES WEDDING 3.42
There is some Great Singing there.
And would you believe it over 1.5 MILLION PEOPLE HAD VIEWED
that clip when I looked at it.

They have recorded a nice version of Purple Heather:
Put in:
The High Kings Will Ye Go Lassie Go 4.10
Well OK:
But my own favourite version of this Great old song is:
Put in: Will you go Lassie Go – The Clancy
Brothers and Tommy Makin 4.04
Oh YES that is SO good Gentle and notice how the audience joins
in with instruments. This is Folk at it’s BEST.

Oh yes: Liam Clancy in the HIGH KINGS is part of this family.
But; The Clancy Brothers were my favourites from
long ago.
Yes they was one of the real GREAT Groups of the 60’s
that made their name in America. And I have LPs of that time..
Yes they have sung their songs to me for many years.
Always so good.
Yes listen to this one: Put in:
The Clancy Brothers – The Wild Colonial Boy 4.10
Great Stuff.. Yes always one of my favourite Groups.
But NO I was never fortunate to see them Live.
I am sure it would have been one Hell of a night!!
But they were mostly in USA.

Well having mentioned Finbar Furey in HIGH KINGS was part of
THE FUREYS I reckon we should hear them!!
This is a nice Gentle version of an old song. Put in:
THE FUREYS & DAVEY ARTHUR – WHEN YOU WERE
SWEET SIXTEEN 4.19

Davey Archer: Brilliant on the Banjo; Started with the Furey
Brothers and it was 1992 when he broke away to become a solo
Artist. And he also plays Guitar, and Mandolin.

Oh Now you have got me going back to the old days and great
groups that were singing then:
We talked about a real good Group in RAYS CHAT THIRTY SEVEN
THE BROTHERS FOUR.? They were formed in 1957 and they
Were good: Similar Style to THE KINGSON TRIO
Put in: The Brothers Four -500 Miles 2.50
Yes a nice Group from those old days.

Another from their Camp Fire Songs: Put in
TRY TO REMEMBER The Brothers Four-Camp Fire
14 – YouTube 3.34
Yes nice Gentle singing, lovely harmonies.
Good Group.
They did a nice version of the
Marty Robins CLassic EL PASO
Put in: 1961 The Brothers Four El Paso
Yes: Where is the line Folk against Country??
Who cares it’s good to listen to

I found them singing a real old Folk Song I had known since my
Scouting days of long ago.. But the words were different
Listen to:
Brothers Four – Michael Row the Boat Ashore 2.50

To finish this Rays Chat
Well what Else?? One of the GREATEST Irish Folk Songs..
and a wonderful song to finish any Club Night.
Yes I’ve sung my heart out to this Oh So Many Times.
I know we heard HIGH KINGS sing this earlier.
But I reckon this is THE BEST.
Put in Wild Rover – Clancy Brothers & Robbie
O’Connor 3.09

No: You never hear these songs in the Clubs these days;
So be Thankful for the magic of “you Tube”.

So the end Of Another RAYS CHAT.
Time seems to go so fast.
SO: you got to wait
till next time for more.
Nice chatting to You
​ RAY