Des Donnelly - Remember Des Donnelly (1979) | Vinyl rip

Описание: From the album notes:
Des Donnelly from Lacca, Fintona, Co Tyrone was tragically killed in Manchester on 12th June 1973 in a building site accident. On this day Irish music lost one of its most exciting performers.

Des had just returned from London and because of the reception he had got there planned to make fiddle playing his future. At 40 he was in his musical prime and steadily gaining recognition as the man who could set audiences alight.

Des' interest in music began at a very early age. His father was a fiddle player who also made a fiddle. The family was big - eleven children, five of whom turned out to be musicians. From time to time it became necessary for the young Donnellys to emigrate and eventually six brothers settled in Manchester. Frank, the oldest brother and also a good fiddle player, died there only a couple of years after Des' passing.

At all the major traditional events in Britain Des was a regular. With him was usually his brother Dermot. Once when recalling such an occasion Dermot in his distinct Tyrone accent said, "Oh, I mind the day well. That was the day our fella lost the championship." However, he got it back and was the all-British champion for the three years before his death.

This recording is not the best of Des Donnelly but unfortunately it is all we have. It is a reproduction of old tapes made when neither the atmosphere nor the equipment contributed to top performance. When playing at his best the tape recorders were always in operation but - in the words of Charlie Byrne - "he caused a Gleo that destroyed the recordings."

While we apologise for the recording we hope the listener will appreciate the style and vigour with which Des approached his music. "I take chances and make things up" he once said. The "make up" was always different and this is what made him so exciting. It is also hoped that there are better recordings which will come to the surface as a result of this effort. Above all, we hope the disc will be a pleasing memorial for Des' widow, Maeve and her young family in Manchester.

This production is the result of much endeavour at all stages by Alan O'Leary. We also appreciate the advice and technical assistance of Dave Pegg (Fairport Convention) and Ralph McTell. Billy O'Connor and Con Sweeney sent tapes from Donegal from which we got the unaccompanied items.

The major subscription was however by Londoner John Roe. John was introduced to Irish music while at school in Battersea and became a fervant follower. Later, while a student at Manchester University he inevitably got involved with Des Donnelly. All the piano accompaniment is by John Roe and this constitutes the greater part of the record. Were it not for John and his tape the task could not have been undertaken.

The guitar accompaniment is by Des' brother Leo Donnelly.

P.J. Boyle


Track List:
00:00 Jackie Coleman's/Sean sa Cheo Reel
03:01 Miss McLeod's Reel
04:44 The Kilfenora/Tater Jack Walsh Reel
07:06 The Salamanca/Crowley's Reel
09:15 The Orange Rogue Set Dance
10:32 The Spey in a Spate/Bonny Kate Reel
12:50 Andy McGann's/The Maind Behind the Bar Reel
14:54 The Star/The Sunshine Hornpipe
17:33 Last Night's Fun/Reel of Rio Reel
19:43 First Day of Summer/The Templehouse Reel
21:55 Thatched Cabin Reel
23:41 Paidin O'Rafartaigh Jig
25:42 Colonel Frazer Reel
27:59 Barn Dance Reel - The Mountain Road
30:37 Mulcahy's/Cork Hornpipe
32:16 The Frost is all Over Jig
33:46 The Flogging Reel/Maud Miller/Sean Maguire