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One CD of studio performances and one Live that give you pretty good illustration of what made Luke Kelly one of the greatest singers Ireland, no the British Isles has ever produced
The studio tracks are mostly assembled from Dubliners' albums from the period 1969 through to 79 and display Luke's singing at just about its peak- Springhill, The Night Visiting Song, Joe Hill and The Rare Old Times are breathtaking performances, while Scorn Not His Simplicity and Gartan Mother's Lullaby show how tender a singer he could be. The magnificent performance of the Unquiet Grave - powered by John Sheahan's ghostly tin whistle - is an object lesson in how to deliver a traditional ballad.
Best of all though are Song For Ireland - his last recording and consequently possesed of the kind tragic beauty that the great Irish seem to be able to build around themselves - and an,I think, previously unreleased version Raglan Road accompanied by a magnificent drone banjo and string arrangement that is just about definitive. Actually, everything about Luke Kelly singing Raglan Road is just about definitive.
Good booklet with it as well - especially Ronnie Drew's moving memoir and Liam Clancy's characteristically over the top one.
Track listing:
CD 1
1. The Molly Maguires
2. Free The People
3. Springhill Mining Disaster
4. The Gartan Mother's Lullaby
5. Raglan Road
6. Alabama '58
7. The Sun Is Burning
8. The Peat Bog Soldiers
9. A Gentleman Soldier
10. The Rare Auld Times
11. Scorn Not His Simplicity
12. The Unquiet Grave
13. God Save Ireland
14. The Jail Of Cluain Meala
15. The Night Visiting Song
16. Joe Hill
17. Song For Ireland
18. Hand Me Down Me Bible
CD 2
1. The Black Velvet Band
2. Dirty Old Town
3. The Rising Of The Moon
4. The Auld Triangle
5. Whiskey In The Jar
6. For What Died The Sons Of Roisin
7. Kelly The Boy From Killane
8. The Town I Loved So Well
9. The Wild Rover
10. Maids When You're Young Never Wed An Old Man
11. The Holy Ground
12. Home Boys Home
13. Montreux Monto
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