Planxty
Planxty
1973 - Polydor 2383 186 LP
…known as "the Black Album"
Side One
Raggle Taggle Gypsy - Tabhair Dom Do Lãmh
Arthur McBride
Planxty Irwin
Sweet Thames Flow Softly (Ewan McColl)
Junior Crehan's Favourite & Corney Is Coming
The West Coast of Clare (Andy Irvine)
Side Two
The Jolly Beggar - Reel
Only Our Rivers (Michael MacConnell)
Sí Beag, Sí Mhór
Follow Me Up To Carlow
Merrily Kissed the Quaker
The Blacksmith
Credits
Christy Moore: vocals, guitar, harmonica and bodhràn
Dónal Lunny: vocals, bouzouki, guitar and bodhràn
Liam O'Flynn: uileann pipes, tin whistle
Andy Irvine: vocals, mandola, mandolin, hurdy-gurdy and harmonica
Produced by Phil Coulter for Martin-Coulter Enterprises
Barry Ainsworth: Engineer
Design: Richard Rockwood
Sleeve Notes
RAGGLE TAGGLE GYPSY was learned from the late John Reilly, a travelling man from Roscommon, who died there a few years ago in poverty. The song is followed by TABHAIR DOM DO LÃMH (Give Me Your Hand), an old harp tune composed by the 17th century Derry harper, Rory Dall O Cathãin.
ARTHUR McBRIDE is an anti-recruiting song from Donegal. This version was collected by P.W. Joyce in his native Co. Limerick in the early 19th century and printed by him in his collection.
PLANXTY IRWIN is another harp tune composed by the most famous of the travelling harpers, Turlough O'Carolan (1670-1738). Nobody can be sure where the word "Planxty" originated but the late Sean O Riada was of the opinion that it was a corruption of the Irish word "sláinte" meaning "good health". This particular Planxty was composed in honour of a Colonel John Irwin of Sligo.
SWEET THAMES was composed by Ewan McColl for a radio play about a London-based Romeo and Juliet. Two reels follow-JUNIOR CREHAN'S FAVOURITE and CORNEY IS COMING, both learned from two great, living Co. Clare musicians. The first from the fiddle playing of Junior Crehan who lived just outside Milltown Malbay, and the second one, a fine piping reel, from Willie Clancy also of Milltown Malbay.
The first side closes with THE WEST COAST OF CLARE a song in search of times past, inspired by memories of Milltown Malbay.
It has been suggestedd that the hero of THE JOLLY BEGGAR wit In fact King James V of Scotland, who was in the habit of wandering the countryside dressed as a beggar, This Is followed by a reel learned from Sean Keane. The name of the reel seems to have been lost. Sean didn't know it and extensive research has proved fruitless.
ONLY OUR RIVERS was composed by Michael MacConnell of Ennlsklllen Co. Fermanagh In 1964, and SÍ BHEAG, SÍ MHÓR (The Little Fairy Hill and the Big Fairy Hill) is reputedly the first piece composed by O'Carolam. It depicts a legendary battle fought by the inhabitants of two fairy hills in Co. Leitrim.
In 1580, in the lonely pass of Glen Malure in Co. Wicklow, Flach McHugh O'Byrne completely overthrew the forces of the Crown under Lord Grey de Wilton. The victory is commemorated in this stirring FOLLOW ME UP TO CARLOW.
MERRILY KISSED THE QUAKER is a single jig or slide, as they are called in Kerry, where they are used for dancing their unique Kerry "sets". This version was learned from Willie Clancy.
THE BLACKSMITH is a well known song from the South of England and relates to the slighting of a young lady by "the lusty "smith".
Alternate Releases
Festival Pop Celtique: 1975 - Polydor 2664 136 LP
"the Black Album" was fully reissued, in France, as part of this double LP (with a JSD Band album). While dated 1973 (likely referring to the original LP release), it was released later, as it includes a picture with Johnny Moynihan.
Planxty: 1979 - Shanachie 79009 LP
1989 - Shanachie 79009 CD - USA releases