…more Irish Folk: Blackthorn
Against The Wind
1981 - SPIN SP 102 LP
Side One
My Lagan Love
As I Roamed Out
Flower of Scotland
Sally Gardens
Nightingale
Side Two
Edward Sayers' Brass Band
The Beggin' I Will Go
Against The Wind
My Love Is Like a Red Red Rose
Trillick Races
Credits
Dominic McShane: Vocals and Double Bass
Desi McHenry: Vocals, 6 string and 12 string Acoustic Guitars
Stevie Mulhern: Fiddle, Keyboards and Vocals
John McCormick: Vocals, G-Banjo and Bodhran
Gordon Manly: Flute, Whistle, Mandolin, Banjo
Produced and Engineered by Brian Masterson
Assistant Engineer: Paul Thomas with Kevin and Pearce
Drums: Paul McAteer
Trombone: Paul Barrett
Trumpet: Mike Nolan
Recorded and mixed down at Windmill Lane Recording Studios Limited, Dublin
Sleeve design and front photography by Spring Graphics
Back photographs by Des Turley
Sleeve Notes
Blackthorn is a folk band, but a folk band with a difference. Their stage show is electrifying and compulsive!! and their varied choice of material seems to have been a recipe for success over the years. On this album, their first on Spin Label, they have provided a selection of material to please all ears. From the haunting strains of 'My Lagan Love' to their "up tempo" version of Burns' immortal 'Red, Red Rose'.
'As I Roamed Out' and 'To the Beggin' I Will Go' are basically Irish in content and design and are played with all the vigour that Irish traditional music imbues, while 'Sally Gardens' and 'Against the Wind' (the words of which the band wrote themselves) are almost classical.
'Nightingale' and 'Edward Sayers' Brass Band' are both English folk songs yet contrast quite dramatically, while 'Flowers of Scotland' is dedicated solely to Blackthorn's fans. The album finishes with 'The Trillick Races', a medley of two tunes, a march and a jig, which in a way symbolises Blackthorn, their determination to please their listeners and, having achieved this, they dance along with them.
Notes
There is a strong connection bewteen Blackthorn and the Wolfhound. Dominic McShane was a member of the Pikemen with Ray McAreavey, Kieran Manning & Gogie McCullough, and Desi McHenry replaced Ray McAreavey in The Freemen. In addition, Ray McAreavey was at one time a member of Blackthorn. Blackthorn's (current line-up) website.