The Clancy Brothers and Tommy Makem Live in Ireland
Dear Mum & Dad,
I am so sorry for making you listen to The Clancy Brothers and Tommy Makem Live in Ireland over and over and over again. Particularly “Wellia Wallia” which was a limitless delight to me at the time. When I listen to it now I can see how repeated spins must’ve grated on your nerves pretty thoroughly. I will still listen to a song again and again. Given the right song I still have a child’s capacity to endure repetition.
Superior to other Clancy Brothers recordings, they sound very much at ease. I don’t think they are exactly pandering to expats on their Live at Carnegie Hall album, but they do seem to being trying harder.
Whatcha get on this album is a fast harmonic rhythm (lots of chords), florid melody lines and witty, thoughtful lyrics. The Clancy Brother’s delivery owes as much, maybe more to pop music and the folk movement as it does to traditional Irish music. You could also say that there is more common ground between The Beatles and The Clancy Brothers than The Beatles and The Rolling Stones.
This album also paved the way for The Dubliners and The Pogues to occupy vast swaths of my heart.
Love,
Alex
