Elvis Murphy's Green Suede Shoes

Black 47

Product Details

• Audio CD (March 1, 2005)
• Original Release Date: March 1, 2005
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Gadfly
• ASIN: B0007KIGD6
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #47,160 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

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Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Black 47 is not only "New York's house band" but a work-in-progress. Their albums document the history, joys and frustrations the city's deeply connected yet antagonistic Irish immigrant and Irish-American communities and their equally colorful and fractious neighbors. The group's Wexford-born bandleader, Larry Kirwan also has a novel, Liverpool Fantasy, to his credit and now, a memoir called Green Suede Shoes : An Irish-American Odyssey. In it, he relates how the Catholic Church, the IRA and raging hormones drove him to embark upon a riotous American apprenticeship and form an iconic rock group. The simultaneously released "soundtrack" is peopled by characters like Kirwan's uncle, an atypically non-judgmental priest, Malachy McCourt, owner of the notorious Bells Of Hell bar and a bewildered Irish-American soldier, stuck in Baghdad and dreaming of home. These politically outspoken, hilarious, sexually-charged, bitter-sweet vignettes will intrigue new listeners but hit longtime fans like a Guiness-soaked madeleine. --Christina Roden

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Another Jewel from Black 47, April 20, 2005

By	Robert Silkowitz (Westchester County) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

With "Elvis Murphy" serving as companion to Larry Kirwan's 400 page "Green Suede Shoes" memoir, we are once again treated to new music from one of the world's great musical treasures: Black 47. For first time Black 47 listeners, who maybe arrived at this CD via the companion book, my only wish is that this leads them further to that fountainhead of music which is the entire 15 year of work of Black 47. There are anthems throughout their many records, and with this new record, "The Day They Set Jim Larkin Free" joins the likes of James Connolly and Bobby Sands MP as a Black 47 anthem. Larry Kirwan's songwriting shares memories with the listener of earlier times in Ireland with a New York club scene feel. The music is political, serious, humorous, passionate, personal and addictive; in short, it is more Black 47.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This album rocks, February 2, 2006

By	Mr. Murphy (Only I know) - See all my reviews

Downtown baghdad bluse is a song that says the wars is screwed up but they are behind the troops. This band takes time to get used to. They are so awesome live if you get the chance to see them. The band is a lot like guiness you either like them or don't. So if you want to try something new give them a shot. I am looking forward to seeing them again.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Black 47 just keep getting better, June 4, 2005

By	Laura Vona (Boston, MA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I'm not a huge fan of re-issueing of old songs,
in most bands it makes me suspicious that perhaps the creative spark is gone.
Not so with Black47, I see enough of them live that I know for a fact the spark is burning brightly still.
I understand this disk was released in conjunction with Larry Kirwan's excellent book and some who have never heard the bands music need something that sums up thier years of music all in one place.
Maybe I'm just a glutton for thier music but the only possible fault (if you can call it that) I find with this album is that not all of the songs are new.
Not really that big of an issue tho,
Downtown Baghdad Blues is a good enough song to carry the whole album for me, and if the perfectly spectacular
Kilroy was Here, hooks new fans to the back catalog of Black47 music, that's enough to make it a 5 star album for me.
Good stuff for both old time fans and beginers as well.