‘Aiming for the Heart’ is not your usual flimsy, cheap knock out of a songbook, this is a very tastefully produced, hard backed book, with quality paper and full of wonderful illustrations by Eamonn O’ Doherty. Containing around 33 songs, from Andy’s collection. This is an essential part of any singer’s collection for sure.

A singer of the highest quality, and blessed with a beautiful voice, Andy Irvine history covers some of the best bands in Irish music, including Sweeney’s men, Planxty, De Dannan, Patrick Street, and classic albums with Paul Brady, Dick Gaughan and Davy Spillane. Sadly most of this great performers solo albums happened after the release of this book but with such a past history there are more than enough classic songs for one book.

This song book has everything from intro’s, to song descriptions in both English and German. A good thing too as he seems to be extremely popular in Germany. A fantastic song book for one of the most highly acclaimed singers in Irish music.

It is probably time to see Andy produce a new version, as he has produced so many classic songs since the days when this was published. There also seems to be a very popular new wave of Irish Bouzouki players, that would love to see him go into a little more dept to his complex playing style that he is so famous for. This style has been copied my many artists but they still fall far, far short of what he has achieved. The complexity and intricacy of his playing is still loved and admired from the early days of Planxty, the highs of his solo albums. Aiming for the heart is quite simply one of the most tastefully produced song books out there…………..

I think this book is still available, according to Andy’s site, at the below address,

Songbook, Andy Irvine "Aiming for the heart"
by Heupferd Musik Verlag GmbH
ISBN 3-923445-01-6
Contact:
Heupferd Musik Verlag GmbH
Ringwaldstr. 18
D-63303 Dreieich
Tel. (06103)86970
Fax. 86970

Enjoy,

Kieron