Planxty
"Cold Blow and the Rainy Night" 1974
Irish stalwarts Planxty begin Cold Blow and the Rainy Night -- their third record for Shanachie -- with a rousing version of the Scottish battlefield classic "Johnnie Cope." It's a fitting opening to a record that essentially rounded out their recording heyday as the members splintered off to form equally influential Celtic acts like the Bothy Band, Moving Hearts, and De Danann. Co-founder Dónal Lunny, despite contributing instrumentally to a few tracks and taking a seat in the production chair, left the group, allowing newest member Johnny Moynihan to take over bouzouki and -- along with Andy Irvine and Christy Moore -- vocal duties. The title track is one of the finest of their career, utilizing Liam O'Flynn's expert uillean pipes and the band's peerless harmonizing to a tee. Moore's gorgeous "Lakes of Pontchartrain" and Irvine's moving closer, "Green Fields of Canada," showcase the group's timeless mastery of balladry, a style that would greatly inform their later solo works. Cold Blow and the Rainy Night, along with The Well Below the Valley, and their legendary debut, are essential listening for those in love with, or merely intrigued with, the genre. ~ James Christopher Monger, All Music Guide
amazon.com
"Words & Music" 1983
Some traditional Irish groups focus on instrumental pieces, others almost exclusively on vocal works. The very title of this album indicates the balance of Planxty's musical conception. Blending together beautiful instrumental sections (thanks mostly to the brilliant Uilleann piper Liam O'Flynn), with passionate singing, they will appeal to both purists and lay listeners. On WORDS AND MUSIC, group's musical subtlety is displayed, as well as its surprisingly ability to wail on a traditional reel or jig. The former is epitomized by Planxty's rendition of Bob Dylan's "I Pity the Poor Immigrant," the latter best evidenced by their version of the jig "The Queen of the Rushes." Some of the selections on this album contain elements of both pop and folk, best heard on "Thousands Are Sailing," which combines modern instruments such as analog synthesizers and electric bass, with pipes and a winsome Irish vocal melody. All of this is done with great integrity.
amazon.com
Irish stalwarts Planxty begin Cold Blow and the Rainy Night -- their third record for Shanachie -- with a rousing version of the Scottish battlefield classic "Johnnie Cope." It's a fitting opening to a record that essentially rounded out their recording heyday as the members splintered off to form equally influential Celtic acts like the Bothy Band, Moving Hearts, and De Danann. Co-founder Dónal Lunny, despite contributing instrumentally to a few tracks and taking a seat in the production chair, left the group, allowing newest member Johnny Moynihan to take over bouzouki and -- along with Andy Irvine and Christy Moore -- vocal duties. The title track is one of the finest of their career, utilizing Liam O'Flynn's expert uillean pipes and the band's peerless harmonizing to a tee. Moore's gorgeous "Lakes of Pontchartrain" and Irvine's moving closer, "Green Fields of Canada," showcase the group's timeless mastery of balladry, a style that would greatly inform their later solo works. Cold Blow and the Rainy Night, along with The Well Below the Valley, and their legendary debut, are essential listening for those in love with, or merely intrigued with, the genre. ~ James Christopher Monger, All Music Guideamazon.com
"Words & Music" 1983
Some traditional Irish groups focus on instrumental pieces, others almost exclusively on vocal works. The very title of this album indicates the balance of Planxty's musical conception. Blending together beautiful instrumental sections (thanks mostly to the brilliant Uilleann piper Liam O'Flynn), with passionate singing, they will appeal to both purists and lay listeners. On WORDS AND MUSIC, group's musical subtlety is displayed, as well as its surprisingly ability to wail on a traditional reel or jig. The former is epitomized by Planxty's rendition of Bob Dylan's "I Pity the Poor Immigrant," the latter best evidenced by their version of the jig "The Queen of the Rushes." Some of the selections on this album contain elements of both pop and folk, best heard on "Thousands Are Sailing," which combines modern instruments such as analog synthesizers and electric bass, with pipes and a winsome Irish vocal melody. All of this is done with great integrity.amazon.com
posted by Lizardson at 12:08 AM
7 Comments:
What a speed !
Thank you so much !
Bye
I really loved it! Thank you so much.
Roi
I was reading in your comments for planxty that they have influents from "Moving hearts"!
I remember a song of them -Hiroshima,nagasaki russian rullet-,and i think this was on their seltitle album,may i request it?
I discovered Planxty through this blog. And i was stunned. Especially by the first release.
So, i'm really looking forward to hear this album.
Thanks alot! :D
Thank you for all the time and effort you put into your marvellous blog, which has already given me the chance to hear great music from Meic Stevens, Mellow Candle & many others.
I too would love to hear Moving Hearts again. No idea why that brilliant album isn't commercially available...
Horzel.
Heaps of thanks for this!! There can never be enough of Planxty :)
Just a question: Is it only my problem or is the ending of "Thousands of Sailing" (from Words And Music) cut off? :(
Thanks for the Planxty posts but I think there is a problem with "Cold Blow". No knowing all the tunes it seems to me that tracks 1-6 are OK but as posted track 7 is "The Hare in the Corn" etc (with a fault at about 1:16), track 8 is "The Little Drummer", track 9 is "The Lakes of Pontchartrain", track 10 is "The Hare in the Corn" etc again (but without the fault). "Green Fields of Canada" is missing.
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