Customer Reviews

Original Dubliners

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This double CD is a reissue of the first 4 albums recorded by The Dubliners for EMI Records during the period 1966-1969, when the guys were young and full of fire. The songs are performed with gusto and great musicianship. These classic albums have been long out of print in the U.S. and it's great to have them available again, and on CD! Absolutely a 5-star purchase for anyone who loves Irish music.

Of all the Dudliners cds out there , this is the one to own . It contains the first four albums that they recorded for EMI between 1966 - 1969 , in digitally remastered sound .

Backed by the incredible virtuosity of the band , Ronnie Drew's rasping vocals breathed new life and vitality into these traditional tunes and made them popular with the man in the street again , to the dismay of the folk purist and elitist , who thought that traditional music had to be treated like a museum relic and studied in a academic way , rather than to be enjoyed . Basically the Dubliners handed folk music back to the folks .

The songs are funny , lewd , boisterous , rollicking , and tender , and performed by the band with such fire and zeal that they have become the definitive versions . They're also great drinking songs !

The Dubliners have gone on to make a lot of great music since these albums were released , but this is the classic line-up at it's uncompromising best that shook folk music out of its stupor . Essential !

This double-CD compilation contains the first four studio albums recorded by The Dubliners in the mid- to late Sixties, plus a few rare live nuggets from "Live At The Royal Albert Hall". I've discovered that so far only two-thirds of "Drinking And Courting" are featured on this compilation.

These songs characterize a very unique approach. The Dubliners were heading for a big-time sound, not using very much amplification. Their choice of instrumentals has revealed their passionate intensity and meticulous expertise in mastering complex rhythmic jives. I would consider the instrumentals as being the highlight of this compilation, because there weren't many other Irish groups at that time who indulged in instrumentals.

The voices of Ronnie Drew, Luke Kelly, and Ciarán Bourke fill up a very important gap in the songs. The way they handle the songs is of utmost spontaneity and with exquisite enjoyment as they rip through them all one by one. Some of the songs display a very comical approach, such as "Navvy Boots".

This is THE ultimate compilation for all hardcore Dubliners fans. When you possess this one, then you hardly need any other compilation containing the same material. For all of you who have been hunting for the original albums without succeeding, quit searching and go for this one. This is the first time that so much original material has been compiled into one, and on CD! This is the one and only treasure trove! Go enjoy the songs and sing or dance along if you want. The Dubliners won't mind!

This is a terrific collection of Dubliners music, roughly half of which are sung by the incomparable Luke Kelly. The collection includes Luke Kelly singing the inspirational (Bonnie) Shoals of Herring, and several Ewan McColl songs. The best of the best include Leaving Of Liverpool, Rising of the Moon, Traveling People, Peggy Gordon, Whiskey in the Jar and Kelly, the Boy from Killan. If you are old enough to have enjoyed the Dubliners in their prime, this is a wonderful collection. If you have never heard Luke Kelly sing, this is a good introduction to the greatest balladeer of them all.

Gutsy, raunchy,and lots of fun, this album is an immediate pick up to any lagging hour. Listening to it is nothing but sheer joy. You fall in love with the various voices in the group and applaud when your favorite one comes through with yet another Irish affirmation of life, love, of duty to country and not the least: the sacrasanct Juice of the Barley. I have a small colection of Irish music at this juncture, but this two cd volume is my undeniable favorite and I highy recommend it.

The Dubliners are the first band in the 1960's to halmark a differnt style of music in ireland and is called traditional irish music. Oh there were folk bands before them and back to thousands of years of traditional irish music. Even so the Dubliners were the first to make money on it and by so doing inspired other traditional irish bands in ireland to do the same. I went to my homeland of Ireland in June of 2005 and people in ireland to me this that the dubliners inspired others to sing and write and make money on traditional irish music. In the 1940's to the 1950's ireland was listening to american music, jazz, big band music, blues and the like. It was not till the end of the 50's and the beginning of the 60's that traditional irish music came back to the forefront in ireland. Iam glad this happened. Being irish my self and growing up on traditonal irish music gives a person a close relationship with their people and country. It is the same in every country around the world. traditonal music of the people their not somewhere else is what gives people identity and culture of their own. Face up to it traditional irish music is great and
The Dubliners do an excellent performance which everyone can enjoy.

Revised: March 8, 2009

I have mentioned in this space more times than one is reasonably allowed that in my youth in the early 1960's I listened to a local folk music radio program on Sunday nights. That program played, along with highlighting the then current up and coming folk revivalists like Bob Dylan and Dave Van Ronk, much American traditional music including things like the "Child Ballads". In short, music derived from parts of the "British" homeland.

What I have not previously mentioned is that directly after that program I used to listen on that same radio station to the "Irish National Hour", a show devoted to all the old more traditional and unknown Irish ballads and songs. And, by the way, attempted to instill a respect for Irish culture, Irish heritage and the Irish struggle against the "bloody" British. (That struggle continues in one form or another today but that is a subject for another time.) Of course, today when every other `progressive' radio station (or other technological format) has its obligatory "Keltic Twilight" programs we are inundated with music from the old country this is no big deal but then it was another question.

All of this is by way of reviewing the music of the Irish Diaspora. Our Irish forebears had the `distinct' opportunity of following the British flag wherever it went, under one set of terms or another. And in those days the sun never set on the British Empire. So there are plenty of far flung traditions to talk about. But, first comes the old country and hence this review of The Dubliner's and their 2 disc compilation culled from their first four EMI albums. Chocky Ar La (roughly translated- "Our Day Will Come")

I have mentioned elsewhere that every devotee of the modern Irish folk tradition owes a debt of gratitude for the work of the likes of Tommy Makem and The Clancy Brothers and The Dubliners for keeping the tradition alive and for making it popular with the young on both sides of the Atlantic. The obvious musical skills, talent and commitment to craftsmanship of this group during its history need no comment by me. Nor does their commitment to keeping alive the Irish folk tradition need further comment. Here the boyos produce a veritable what's what of Irish music from songs of rebellion and modern political updates on those themes, novelty songs, and songs based on the old traditions of whiskey women, war and the wounds of occupation on the Irish psyche. Let's sort it out a little.

As for the whiskey we have "Seven Drunken Nights"; Nancy Whiskey"; "The Parting Glass; and, "Whiskey in the Jar". For the women we have "Peggy Gordon"; "Molly Bawn"; and, "Black Velvet Band". For the wounds of occupation well, how about "A Nation Once Again"; "Poor Paddy On The Railway"; and, "Come And Join The British Army". Round all of this out with songs like "The Croppy Boy" and "The Rising Of The Moon" and you have a pretty good look at the run of the old Irish traditions. In short, in one place you have a compilation that covers a wide swath of Irish musical history. Nicely done.

I have mentioned in this space more times than one is reasonably allowed that in my youth in the early 1960's I listened to a local folk music radio program on Sunday nights. That program played, along with highlighting the then current up and coming folk revivalists like Bob Dylan and Dave Van Ronk, much American traditional music including things like the "Child Ballads". In short, music derived from parts of the "British" homeland.

What I have not previously mentioned is that directly after that program I used to listen on that same radio station to the "Irish National Hour", a show devoted to all the old more traditional and unknown Irish ballads and songs. And, by the way, attempted to instill a respect for Irish culture, Irish heritage and the Irish struggle against the "bloody" British. (That struggle continues in one form or another today but that is a subject for another time.) Of course, today when every other `progressive' radio station (or other technological format) has its obligatory "Keltic Twilight" programs we are inundated with music from the old country this is no big deal but then it was another question.

All of this is by way of reviewing the music of the Irish Diaspora. Our Irish forebears had the `distinct' opportunity of following the British flag wherever it went, under one set of terms or another. And in those days the sun never set on the British Empire. So there are plenty of far flung traditions to talk about. But, first comes the old country and hence this review of The Dubliner's and their 2 disc compilation culled from their first four EMI albums. Chocky Ar La (roughly translated- "Our Day Will Come")

I have mentioned elsewhere that every devotee of the modern Irish folk tradition owes a debt of gratitude for the work of the likes of Tommy Makem and The Clancy Brothers and The Dubliners for keeping the tradition alive and for making it popular with the young on both sides of the Atlantic. The obvious musical skills, talent and commitment to craftsmanship of this group during its history need no comment by me. Nor does their commitment to keeping alive the Irish folk tradition need further comment. Here the boyos produce a veritable what's what of Irish music from songs of rebellion and modern political updates on those themes, novelty songs, and songs based on the old traditions of whiskey women, war and the wounds of occupation on the Irish psyche. Let's sort it out a little.

As for the whiskey we have "Seven Drunken Nights"; Nancy Whiskey"; "The Parting Glass; and, "Whiskey in the Jar". For the women we have "Peggy Gordon"; "Molly Bawn"; and, "Black Velvet Band". For the wounds of occupation well, how about "A Nation Once Again"; "Poor Paddy On The Railway"; and, "Come And Join The British Army". Round all of this out with songs like "The Croppy Boy" and "The Rising Of The Moon" and you have a pretty good look at the run of the old Irish traditions. In short, in one place you have a compilation that covers a wide swath of Irish musical history. Nicely done.

I purchased this as one of my Christmas gifts for my wife. My wife is very pleased that I got her what she wanted. So I am very happy that I bought this CD!