Unfortunately I found no informations about the hisory of the Irish Folk group; maybe they lived in Germany, becaus all their albums were recorded in Germany.
But I found the liner notes from their first album, written by Finbar Furey:
The past twenty years or so have seen a great re-birth and development in the popularity and techniques of traditional Irish music. Many individuals and groups have concentrated on particular aspects of the music.
If one word were applied to WILD GEESE it must surely be “variety”. The 4 musicians — Peadar, Norman and Tony from Ireland, Steve from England — play the whole spectrum of traditional music — from unaccompanied slow-airs and street-ballads to intricate arrangements of dance music and traditional songs. This scope and versatility is well represented on this, their first record together.
Finbar Furey, an old friend of the WILD GEESE, wrote to us the following about the musicians: “Sligo is a great County for music. Some of the finest musicians have emerged from here. Peadar is a grand flute player who plays in his native Sligo style, which yet has to be equalled. He’s a very modest man with a smile for the ladies and a great respect for fellow musicians; as Norman would say, ‘a mighty man’. Every group has to have one — what I mean is a Norman. What’s known as a man with a gifted tongue and a shake for the Bodhrán. He also plays guitar and has one of the best voices for singing Dublin street ballads and rowdy pub songs. His Dublin inheritance gives him one of the greatest humours on or off stage. A gentleman and a scholar.
Tony has a beautiful voice and when he sings, not only does he sing the song but tells the story and lives every moment of it. Very few people have this gift, or if you like, this combination. Tony seems to thrive on it. In other words, he doesn’t force it. His accompaniment on guitar with the Irish Reels and slow Jigs is very tasty indeed. He’s the peace-maker in the group, a very necessary man.
Steve is the fiddle player, mandolin, guitar, five-string banjo and even knocks an odd tune out of the tin-whistle. What’s known as an all-rounder. Steve you might say, is the odd man out. You have to look twice to see if he’s there. He’s so quiet sometimes and shy, you’d be afraid to bring him into Madame Tussaud’s Waxworks, in case they might be stock-taking. A very important man.
This is the combination of the WILD GEESE and when they play together they love every minute of it, and that’s the way a group should be. They’ve done many nice things in the arrangements of their material. This group have really sat down and put their heads together and the result is this fine LP.
So if you want some furious advice, get a glass of beer, or a glass of whatever you fancy, put the record player on, sit down and relax and listen to the sporting songs, the love songs, pub songs and music of the WILD GEESE!”
Eoin O Duigneain, still alive and well:
And here it is … the first LP from Wild Geese
And if you want to hear the quintessence of Irish folk, you have to listen to this album.
This natural liveliness of the melodies and the instruments is always a pleasure. And I am always amazed at how many traditionals there are from Ireland, this wonderful “green island”.
This album is a real treasure!
Personnel:
Eoin O Duigneain (bagpipes. tin whistle)
Norman King (bodhrán, vocals)
Peadar Ó Uallaigh (flute, tin whistle, concertina, vocals)
Norman King (vocals, bodhrán, spoons, tambourine)
Tony Small (guitar, vocals)
Tracklist:
01. The Otter’s Lair & The Pinch Of Snuff (Traditional) 2.48
02. Farewell To Nova Scotia (Traditional) 4.42
03. The Monaghan Jig (Traditional) 3.14
04. The Old Turf Fire & The Congress Reel (Patterson) 3.05
05. Roxburgh Castle & Ward’s Brae (Traditional) 2:38
06. The Quays Of Galway Town (Traditional) 5.45
07. The Squire And The Lady / The Shaskeen Reel / The Sack Of Grass / The Girl Who Broke My Heart (Traditional) 4.27
08. Fear & Bean An Tí (Traditional) 3.01
09. I Wish I Was Back In Liverpool (Kelly/Rosselson) 4.44
10. Sliabh Na MBan (Traditional) 2.53
11. The Beggarman (Traditional) 2.11
12. The Cup Of Tea & The Four Hand Reel (Traditional) 2.36
13. The Bush Of Australia (Traditional) 3.17
*
**
More from Wild Geese:
The official website of Eoin O Duigneain:
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