John Barlow.

Here is a track that Andy sang around 1996, called 'John Barlow'. It has a similar wording to the song 'Willie O'Winsbury' that he used to sing with Sweeney's Men back in 1968, but it is a great track nonetheless. It has an Eastern European flavour to the music and has a very appealling character about it. I am not sure if this track ever worked his way on to the stage, as yet I haven't found one but I did capture it on a radio session from 1996. Again one of those tracks that never quite made it on to an album.

Lough Haven Harper.

I have always loved this song, that I first heard sung by Nic Jones, a wonderful English folk singer. So I was extremely surprised to find a version of this song on a live recording by Andy and Donal Lunny in 1979. How did this ever escape the recording studio ! Wonderful bouzouki and singing here. These type of old songs seem to fit Andy's vocals so well. Alot of you have to say how much you loved the Sound Clip . Have a listen to the magic, no apologies for the poor sound recording, just listen to the magic within !

Reyanardine

This is a reworking of an old song, I first heard him sing it in 2002 and really enjoyed it then.Very happy to hear it on a radio set, nice and clear, brilliant version ! I would love to see this on an album with The Lough Haven Harper. It has that wonderful old time magic about it and again this bouzouki style works so well with Andys vocals. This was sung on a recent radio set and I have heard that it has made it's way into his stage set. There are very few people that can take an old song and change the words, change the music and make it their own. Andy Irvine is one of those people and surely, one of the best at it too. Wonderful !

Lawrence 1912

I have two recordings of Andy singing this the best being at the Sidmouth Festival in 1997. A powerful song. There are alot of words in this song, and I am always amazed how Andy remembers them and with such passion in his voice too.

Sweet Bann Water.

The first time I hear this was when I saw him play in Galway 2001. I had never heard this song before but it definately struck a chord in my heart that night. The bouzouki intro to this tune is exquisite. Again this is a song that I find it hard to believe he hasn't recorded. Andy also sung 'Green Grows the Laurel' that night solo, and was very excited to see it appear on the 'Street Life' album a couple of years later, but I was very disappointed with the Patrick Street version. Anyway, have a listen to Sweet Bann Water on my Video Clip. Enjoy !

The Close Shave.

Written by Bob Bickerton, this is a lovely tune that is a sure favorite with the audiences. A very funny story of a gold digger and a lady and ...........enough, if you want to hear the full story go see him play and ask him to sing it ! Read more here.

You and I in One Bed Lie

This is another wonderful old song that works very well with Andy's vocals and bouzouki. A tale of riddles and love. Andy plays it to a tune that he sometimes plays to a new version of the song Johnston. Both work very well but must say I prefer this love song instead.

I Thought That It Was Raining.

When the news of a Mozaik album came to my ears I was desperately hoping that this would be among the tracks. I had heard this a couple of years before on a live recording and was the most wonderful love song. Sadly it wasn't on the Mozaik first release but I hope it will be there on a future one.One for all you romantic's for sure but sung in Bulagarian. One of the lines goes ' it wasn't raining, it was my tears falling'. A truly beautiful song !

Shining Star.

Shining Star is another track that I hope to see on the next release from Mozaik. Again sung in Bulgarian and again beautifully done.

The Douglas Tragedy

This is a fantastic song that I found on an old recording that someone sent me. What a lovely surprise to hear this gem ! It has a magical old time sound, and it is just addictive to listen to. I have never heard him sing this song again, sadly but it has always been a tune that I went back to listen to.........again and again. This is one of the Child Ballads and is more than a hundred years old but the great thing about these old songs is that there is always a new generation to hear them and love them. The words start ' Rise up, Rise up my husband dear, put on your armour so bright, for it never be said that your Daughter was wed to a Lord, in the dead of the night'. Beautiful. These old ballads work so well with Andys vocals, and playing style. I really, really enjoyed this song.

O' Donaghues.

This is a new song, and basically tells of Andys music journey from O'Donaghues pub in Ireland, to now. It was recently played in a radio set, although I had heard it on an earlier recording in Germany of the same year.This track has actually made it's way into the Planxty Reunion gigs, as an encore. Very well recieved by the audiences that attended the concerts. This will surely appear of a future album.

 

Wind Blows Over The Danube.

This is a new song, but already many of you have told me that this song is one of the best songs you have heard in years. I , as yet have not heard this song, but I am hoping to get a live recording of it soon. If you go to see Andy play, the ask to hear this new song.

Victor Hara of Chile.

Victor Hara was a singer and songwriter in Chile, who was murdered for his revolutionary words. The words of this song, written by Arlo Gutherie will chill you to the bone. A very powerful song, with very powerful and chilling words. I first heard this sung by Dick Gaughan and still the definative version. I only have one recording of Andy singing this song.

The Man that Shot the Dog.

I might very well be the only person that does not like this song, ............don't get me wrong, brilliantly written and very funny, and I really enjoyed hearing it the first couple of times but don't know how it would sit in an album. In saying that it is very popular with the audience, and is regularly requested at gigs. This is sung unacompanied and has alot of words. Great story !

 

Empty Handed

I heard this on a radio show from Australia, where he sung it for the first time. There was talk of it appearing in the Planxty reunion set but I don't think it ever did and as yet I have never found another recording of it live. Great track but maybe not Planxty material. Read more here.

 

Billy Far Out

Another comical song from Andy. Billy Far Out is about a guy that has trouble with his automatic transmission, while driving across Australia. Sung unaccompanied.

 

 

 

The ones that progressed ..........

 

Old Dusty Road.

This was actually the pre-Gladiators song. It was a tune that Andy would often introduce as a song-in-progress and indeed the words changed, tune stayed the same and became the song Gladiators. So this song has actually been recorded now, but it was very interesting for me to hear a song develop.

 

The Two Sisters.

The same thing really for this song. It started out as The Two Sisters and ended up being 'They'll Never Believe It's True' look at the Video Clip. This tune was an old song but Andy reworked the words and reworked the music and made it his own. This version was then recorded by others, with out a mention of Andy. One lovely thing about Andy and also Christy is that they are always very voacl about the origins and authors of material.