Noel Murphy
Noel Murphy Performs
1976 - PLANT PLR 002 LP
Side One
The Folker (Fred Wedlock)
The Good Ship Calabar
Comical Genius
Don't Think Twice (Bob Dylan)
Medley of a Hit (Murphy)
Side Two
Brian Boru
One Eyed Reilly
A Sailor Courted a Farmer's Daughter (Murphy)
Parting Glass
Rocky Road to Dublin (nearly!)
Credits
All Traditional, arranged by Noel Murphy, except where stated)
Many thanks to the Guv'nors' and club organisers of the following:
The Half Moon Tavern. Herne Hill. London
The Lord Brooke, Walthamstow, London
The King's Head. Rochester, Kent
Molins Sports and Social Club. Monks Rishorough, Buckinghamshire
Producer: Nigel Pegrum
Mix-down Engineer: Colin Bateman
Mastering Engineer: Arun Chakraverty
Sleeve Design: Peter Wagstaff Design, Stevenage
Photography: Eric James
Mixed at: Acorn Studios. Stonesfield, Oxfordshire
Mr. Murphy's guitar built by Nigel Thornbory 1976
Sleeve Notes
Trying to look inconspicuous in a folk club sitting, wearing headphones, behind a large table covered with electrical hardware meters, leads, plugs and a filthy great tape machine - is not an easy task!
For four evenings in mid-September 1976, however, I did just that recording the singing, playing and outrageous monologue of Noel Murphy.
The dates were not specially selected, no major venues or festivals, just Murph 'on the road' playing the type of club that makes up the backbone of the British circuit.
Each night I watched the audience become captivated by Murph's infectious character - the stream of songs, jokes, asides and anecdotes keeping everyone grinning from ear to ear until they realised they'd missed the last bus home!
Here, then, are some (very live!) sections from those four evenings, and after 50+ listenings I'm still chuckling.
Nigel Pegrum