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The Living Tradition _________________ SOURCE Scottish CONTENT INSTRUMENTS
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| And Listen To My Song "Frank Harte & Donal Lunny" Hummingbird HBCD0031 | ||||
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This re-issue - the fourth in fact! - since 1975 does not disappoint. It is a measure and reflection of the high plateau of excellence achieved and maintained by Frank Harte of Dublin. The material is excellent and every alternate of the twelve tracks, is accompanied by master musician Donal Lunny, one of the pioneers of the bouzouki within the Irish Tradition. The album opens with a rare and chilling murder ballad 'Miss Brown' which, for me had faint echoes of The Demon Lover. This is followed by the Rabelasian or high-spirited humour of another rarity 'Madam I'm a Darling'. I won't catalogue everything - although tempted! Frank's 'Morissey and the Russian Sailor' is brilliant, as is his delightful way of 'Women are Worse than the Men'. Then again, there is the ever popular broken token ballad 'The Plains of Waterloo'. The album closes with a spirited 'Wearing the Britches'. The handsome booklet contains full facts and Frank's typically, meticulous and lucid notes. Frank is the embodiment of what the living tradition is, or should be, about: caring, sharing, humouring and giving voice. This is yet another wallet of gems from a great singer. Geordie McIntyre |
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