Come to Dance: A Celtic Tradition

John Whelan | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (February 23, 1999)
• Original Release Date: February 23, 1999
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Narada
• ASIN: B00000I417
• Also Available in: Audio Cassette
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #218,951 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Jackie Coleman's/Bag of Spuds/Bird in the Bush

2. The Braodstone Inn/Big Snugs/Beth Patterson's

3. The Turning of the Season

4. The Crooked Road to Dublin/Dinkey Dorian/Gan Aimn/The Copperplate

5. Frances O'Neill's/Jesse and Franchesca's Miracle/Stop the Car

6. Tracks in the Snow/The Nightlight

7. Fermoy Lasses/The Old High Reel

8. Queen Esther's/What Daddy?/April's Polka

9. Simone

10. Crossing the Shannon/Man of the House/The Five Mile Chase

11. Mary O'Neill's/Bank of Ireland/Ballinamore

12. Bob's Garden of Earthly Delights/Broderick's

13. Concert Reel/Flogging Reel

14. Dowd's Favorite/O'Gorman's Salute/My Cup of Coffee

15. Ten Penney Bit/Trip to Athlone/Gallagher's Frolics

16. Newtown Bridge/The Kerryman

17. Father O'Flynn/Father Tom's Wager/Lilting Fisherman

18. Spellan the Fiddler/Gan Aimn/Deacon Harry Doyle

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Return Home, January 7, 2000

By 

"goodcraic" (Bucks County, PA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Come to Dance: A Celtic Tradition (Audio CD)

This CD is lovely. Now that John's gone round the world building musical bridges, this is a welcome return to his traditional roots.

My particular favorite would probably be the flying set of reels on track 4 - with, I might add, a deft key switch smack in the middle of the third reel in the set, which would call for a good 'whoop' from a seisiún hopping girl like myself. Well done, John. :)

Oh, by the way, you can also make plans for kicking up some dust with The Fermoy Lasses and The Old High Reel on 7.

And there's a grace about the album as a whole, too. Mr. Whelan doesn't insist upon keeping the spotlight to himself when he's quite obviously joined by some fine players. I got to witness this personally in September 1999 in Bethlehem, PA when he cut loose the All Ireland fiddling champion on us. :) He's perfectly content to sit back and let others play, which is as it should be. Lovely guitar work on track 5, and some fine mandolin on 6, and citern (something you don't hear every day) on track 16. Never mind the show stopping piping and fiddling on 14.

And there's a great instrumentation savvy as well. It's nearly Bothy Band-ish in orchestral quality. (mind you, coming from me, that's a compliment and a half) Catch some of that on tracks 11 and 12. There's a lovely sonic raport between the acordion and low whistle that I've always loved, and that's brilliantly displayed on tracks 8 and 9.

So leave Danny Boy to the reviewer at the bottom of this page. If it's truly fine traditional playing you're after, then just buy the album. I promise, it'll have you "dancing to a lot of time." :)

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The closest thing to a great, live performance., March 5, 2003

By A Customer

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Come to Dance: A Celtic Tradition (Audio CD)

John Whelan is a seven time all-Ireland Champion on the button accordian. He has been playing since childhood, and is now at the point of fluid playing that he can go off stage into the audience and play without missing a beat. His warm hearted playing goes with his warm hearted presence on stage with his audience. Think of your favorite pub with someone playing like this non stop for extended periods with total focus and instinct for the music and fellow musicians in the band. It could be a one track album as John goes into the "happy pub zone." Please listen for the doubles and triplets that are the benchmark for Irish playing. Listen for the counterpoint Bouzouki (deep voiced Octave Mandolin) and guitar. Listen for his long time music companion, Eileen Ivers and exceptional fiddle shared lead and counterpoint. If you think it is easy, it is because John makes it look and sound that way after so many years of playing. Recording an album in such a short period of time without the usual retakes indicates an artist at the top of his form. The music is spiced generously for a few tracks by the master (Ullienne) piper, Cillian Vallely. What endears me to listen to John's music so often is an all acoustic instrument approach. No electrical appliances. It is one of the few CD's I listen to and play through all of the tracks with no exceptions. I add Bodhran and bones to the music, which is fun. However, at the top of my wish list is John teaming up with Johnny McDonnaugh or Tommy Hayes on Bodhran and bones.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Whelan the great!, February 18, 2002

By 

Todd McDaniel (Groveland, Florida United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Come to Dance: A Celtic Tradition (Audio CD)

This album is as beautiful as his other albums. Something to take w/you on a long or short drive. The albums contains a number of great Celtics selections which all in all show Whelan's love for the music. This CD should be followed by any of his other collections. My compulsion to buy them is equal to the greatness they contain. If your not a fan you will be.