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Celtic Fringe: 'Xmas comes early'
By James McKeefry
When the postman knocked on the door to deliver the two albums featured this week, I fully expected him to be wearing a red outfit with a bushy white beard and boarding a sleigh to finish the rest of his round.
For after listening to the CDs, I realised Christmas had come early — approximately one month early.
I n November 2003 I introduced you to the young Fermanagh singer Anthony McBrien — who dedicated his first album Darlin’ to his then recently deceased mother Brigid.
A whole 12 months have passed and Anthony has now released his second album It’s A Long Hard Road.
At the beginning of September of this year, I highlighted a four track-promotional CD from Tyrone man Eamon McCann and prophesised a top album when the complete 14 tracks were released. Believe me, I was right.
The only problem is that God may have blessed me with two perfectly good working ears but they can only do full justice to one album at a time and I so badly wanted to listen to both Anthony and Eamon at the same time.
Eamon McCann — Sing Me Back Home I&B Records CD 2050 — 01923 777 011
As far as I am concerned, Eamon has the true authentic voice of country and Irish music. Add to this talent the fact that Eamon is an easy-going gentle person with an ever-present smile, slow Tyrone drawl and the ability to deliver a non-stop show of country and Irish music whatever the circumstances and you have a potent mix.
I saw Eamon one evening having to perform without his bass player, who was called back to Ireland due to a bereavement, and only the professional musicians in the audience would have been aware that he was one man down.
The crowd danced non-stop as each member of Eamon’s band, including himself, pulled out that extra bit of effort to make sure everyone went home sweating.
For a while Eamon faced criticism for not playing enough Irish material — and he responded by writing one of Irish music’s classics: My Home Ireland.
On Sing Me Back Home, Eamon includes Galway Bay as a tribute to his late father who inspired him in his early years.
Galway Bay was his father’s favourite song and indeed is one of my own. I remember the first time, some years ago, I telephoned Eamon to arrange an interview for the Celtic Fringe after the release of one of his very first albums. He found it hard to believe his music was so popular that people wanted to hear him live on the radio.
Long Road Without A Turning, Born In Birmingham, Try Not To Look So Pretty, The Box and Your Loving Eyes from this collection were reviewed back in September, so let’s concentrate on the remaining nine tracks.
Sing Me Back Home relates the sad plight of a prisoner on his way to his execution and asking to be sung back home — while Little Bitty has a Cajun accordion introduction that takes you all the way to the Louisiana swamps.
Remember the Big Tom hit Old Log Cabin? Now listen to Tyrone take on Monaghan — it’s a close call! Eamon also includes another of his own compositions When You Come To Land — with the plaintive plea Let Me Be The Tree When You Come To Land offering security and a warm welcome to a wandering soul after their journey has concluded.
The Real Deal is a lively quick-step and then the unmistakable sound of legendary singer musician Matt Cunningham comes to the fore on accordion and whistle in Galway Bay.
The Hank Williams classic I Can’t Stop Loving You is superb, with excellent harmonies and luscious strings and it contrasts neatly with Is It Still Over, which nips along with a jazzy guitar arrangement.
Amazing Grace is the final track on the album and since I first heard this track at Woodstock by Joni Mitchell I have loved hearing the different interpretations offered by various Irish and non-Irish artists. Eamon pays homage to a beautiful hymn and indeed religious anthem with a voice and bass harmony that demands the repeat button to be pressed.
I have never received an Eamon McCann album that did not delight me. Eamon always comes up with a new angle on old songs and personal compositions that highlight his ability to write them with the best of them.
Eamon — you can Sing Me Back Home any time you choose.
Anthony McBrien — It’s a Long Hard Road — Stargen — 028 8776 7500
Young Anthony has 14 tracks on this album — including, coincidentally enough, The Box, which is also on Eamon’s album. So have a listen to both versions and make your own choice as to which one is your favourite. Me? Well I’m sitting on the fence on this one — it is really too hard to choose.
Anthony includes a self-penned song Home Is Where The Heart Is, Can’t Help It If I’m Still In Love With You from the catalogue of Hank Williams and a Jim Reeves favourite in Waltzing On Top Of The World. He also invites you to waltz with him at My Home At The Foot of Slieve Bloom and offers nine other well-produced and delivered tracks.
It may have been a year since Anthony’s first album but the wait has been well worth it and it nice to see both the very young and the more mature Irish country neighbours from Tyrone and Fermanagh creating top-class packages just in time for the Christmas market.
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