Over the years many Trad Groups have recorded the odd bit of non trad music such as pop or classical, and in my opinion have made a good job of them. I have no problem with that, to be honest I also love experimenting with other types of music. For example I actually enjoyed De Dannan playing Hey Jude or The Queen of Sheba. Sometimes however a recording comes along that, in my opinion, just doesn't work. Such is the case with the Sharon Shannon Band recording of the old Fleetwood Mac hit 'Albatross'. Bloody awful comes to mind and it sounds to me like the sort of thing you might hear played by a local group in a rural pub in the wilds of China. I just hope that guitarist Peter Green never hears it.
I may be alone, but didn't have any problems with The Chieftains' recent cover of Rod Stewart's "Do You Think I'm Sexy?"
In fact, c'mon, everybody sing!:
If you want my bodhran, and you think I'm sexy
Come on sugar let me know
If the reel's too speedy and you're feeling needy
Come on honey we'll play slow
Sharon Shannon is great! - but yes, the Albatross was a bit limp there. The Ancient Mariner had got in there first, I imagine. Her contemporary numbers and guests don't always hit the spot as far as I'm concerned. But I do think it's good when trad artists try out different stuff. All part of the learning curve and the fun and interest of playing music.
I didn't think the Dervish song was too bad, actually, and I think they made a very nice job of it. They just happened to be in a bear-garden.
I wasn't bowled over by De Dannan's Beatles tunes but I give them 100% for The Entry Of The Queen Of Sheba. Also for their take on the old-time Irish or Irish-American schmaltzy songs on "The Star-Spangled Molly", etc. (I never heard their later albums.) I thought TS-SM was brilliant.
Dervish's Cher cover - gypsys, tramps & theives is quite good.
I once played with the Jimmy Hendrix Memorial Ceili Band and we had a cover of Iron Maiden we called '664 The Neighbour of The Beast'. - Sex, Drugs & Diddle-dee!!!!!!
Personally, I avoid the Sharon Shannon stuff - bit too commercial. Doesn't seem to be happy with music as it is - and you can look at that as experimentation as so on. But methinks it's got more to do with IMRO and copyright and royalties and all that sort of stuff. How to turn a buck etc..
Ah! I expressed that clumsily - I've no doubt at all she does enjoy what she does .. but personally I don't care for many of her recordings. I'm merely speculating that the drift from the tradition is to do with claiming original arrangements etc.
That's fair enough hussar, not really my thing either though I have a couple of her CD's and like some of the tracks. To be fair though, the money for arrangements of traditional tunes is minute, even if she sells loads. I reckon she just plays what she enjoys, like most of us.
I associate the original "Albatross" with the juke box in a vanished village pub in Weardale back in 1973 where a mate and I tanked up on foul Vaux beer before stumbling down to the river in pitch darkness to try and catch sea trout.
We caught one each, that holiday. But not at night. Sea trout are quite sensitive to clumsy invasions of their realm.
Mentions of tunes or songs can dredge up some weird things.
Dear! Oh Dear! Oh Dear!
Dear! Oh Dear! Oh Dear!
Over the years many Trad Groups have recorded the odd bit of non trad music such as pop or classical, and in my opinion have made a good job of them. I have no problem with that, to be honest I also love experimenting with other types of music. For example I actually enjoyed De Dannan playing Hey Jude or The Queen of Sheba. Sometimes however a recording comes along that, in my opinion, just doesn't work. Such is the case with the Sharon Shannon Band recording of the old Fleetwood Mac hit 'Albatross'. Bloody awful comes to mind and it sounds to me like the sort of thing you might hear played by a local group in a rural pub in the wilds of China. I just hope that guitarist Peter Green never hears it.
# Posted on July 22nd 2009 by Free Reed
Re: Dear! Oh Dear! Oh Dear!
It's not as bad as the Dervish eurovision entry is it?
# Posted on July 22nd 2009 by bazouki dave
Re: Dear! Oh Dear! Oh Dear!
Maybe not as embarrassing!
FR
# Posted on July 22nd 2009 by Free Reed
Re: Dear! Oh Dear! Oh Dear!
Come home Sharon. We love you. No punishment.
# Posted on July 22nd 2009 by Sean Lead Liath
Re: Dear! Oh Dear! Oh Dear!
I may be alone, but didn't have any problems with The Chieftains' recent cover of Rod Stewart's "Do You Think I'm Sexy?"
In fact, c'mon, everybody sing!:
If you want my bodhran, and you think I'm sexy
Come on sugar let me know
If the reel's too speedy and you're feeling needy
Come on honey we'll play slow
# Posted on July 22nd 2009 by NEW Pure Drop® Ear Canal Oil
Re: Dear! Oh Dear! Oh Dear!
Did you see the video that went with it Pure Drop? Molloy in the Rod Stewartesque Leopard-stretch pants was a bit much - even for a flute player.
Free Reed, sometimes musicians cut a track just for their own enjoyment and chuckles - perhaps Sharon was just having a laugh?
# Posted on July 22nd 2009 by Jusa Nutter Eejit
Re: Dear! Oh Dear! Oh Dear!
"sometimes musicians cut a track just for their own enjoyment and chuckles"
Such as the Battlefield Band playing Creedence on the bagpipes. The unexpected is good for a laugh.
# Posted on July 22nd 2009 by All Moldy
Re: Dear! Oh Dear! Oh Dear!
Sharon Shannon is great! - but yes, the Albatross was a bit limp there. The Ancient Mariner had got in there first, I imagine. Her contemporary numbers and guests don't always hit the spot as far as I'm concerned. But I do think it's good when trad artists try out different stuff. All part of the learning curve and the fun and interest of playing music.
I didn't think the Dervish song was too bad, actually, and I think they made a very nice job of it. They just happened to be in a bear-garden.
I wasn't bowled over by De Dannan's Beatles tunes but I give them 100% for The Entry Of The Queen Of Sheba. Also for their take on the old-time Irish or Irish-American schmaltzy songs on "The Star-Spangled Molly", etc. (I never heard their later albums.) I thought TS-SM was brilliant.
# Posted on July 22nd 2009 by nicholas
Re: Dear! Oh Dear! Oh Dear!
I have to say I've got a soft spot in my heart for the Hibernian Rhapsody...
# Posted on July 23rd 2009 by Jon Kiparsky
Re: Dear! Oh Dear! Oh Dear!
Just don't be lured into buying the "Hotel Connemara" album!
# Posted on July 23rd 2009 by RockyRoader
Re: Dear! Oh Dear! Oh Dear!
Dervish's Cher cover - gypsys, tramps & theives is quite good.
I once played with the Jimmy Hendrix Memorial Ceili Band and we had a cover of Iron Maiden we called '664 The Neighbour of The Beast'. - Sex, Drugs & Diddle-dee!!!!!!
# Posted on July 23rd 2009 by iwerzon
Re: Dear! Oh Dear! Oh Dear!
Personally, I avoid the Sharon Shannon stuff - bit too commercial. Doesn't seem to be happy with music as it is - and you can look at that as experimentation as so on. But methinks it's got more to do with IMRO and copyright and royalties and all that sort of stuff. How to turn a buck etc..
# Posted on July 23rd 2009 by the wounded hussar
Re: Dear! Oh Dear! Oh Dear!
What on earth makes you think that she doesn't actually enjoy what she does and that just happens to be commercially attractive?
# Posted on July 23rd 2009 by bogman
Re: Dear! Oh Dear! Oh Dear!
Ah! I expressed that clumsily - I've no doubt at all she does enjoy what she does .. but personally I don't care for many of her recordings. I'm merely speculating that the drift from the tradition is to do with claiming original arrangements etc.
# Posted on July 23rd 2009 by the wounded hussar
Re: Dear! Oh Dear! Oh Dear!
That's fair enough hussar, not really my thing either though I have a couple of her CD's and like some of the tracks. To be fair though, the money for arrangements of traditional tunes is minute, even if she sells loads. I reckon she just plays what she enjoys, like most of us.
# Posted on July 23rd 2009 by bogman
Re: Dear! Oh Dear! Oh Dear!
But Albatross????????????? That's one that should only be played at a drunken party surely - and even then..........
# Posted on July 23rd 2009 by bogman
Re: Dear! Oh Dear! Oh Dear!
I associate the original "Albatross" with the juke box in a vanished village pub in Weardale back in 1973 where a mate and I tanked up on foul Vaux beer before stumbling down to the river in pitch darkness to try and catch sea trout.
We caught one each, that holiday. But not at night. Sea trout are quite sensitive to clumsy invasions of their realm.
Mentions of tunes or songs can dredge up some weird things.
# Posted on July 23rd 2009 by nicholas