"It Was Mighty!" The Early Days of Irish Music in London (TSCD679T) is the first album in the fourth series of The Voice of the People from Topic Records and comprises three CDs. The selections are taken from Topic Records back catalogue, the Peter Kennedy archive in the British Library and many private collections.
Introduction Topic records have issued compilations in the series The Voice of the People since 1998. The compilation has been selected by Dr Reg Hall who has selected all but four of the series so far. The theme of this and its companion volume, It Was Great Altogether, is the Irish music of London.
Reg Hall in the accompanying booklet defines the London-Irish as a distinct ethnic community of settled migrants and their offspring with topping up from a constant trickle of immigrants from Ireland. On this first compilation most of the musicians were raised in Ireland with a few from London, some of whom travelled to Ireland for holidays.
The Compiler Reg Hall has been active in Irish music in London since the 1950s, having been invited by Michael Gorman to join his band in 1956. His involvement in documenting the phenomena continued when he co-produced Paddy in the Smoke with Bill Leader in 1968, recorded in "The Favourite" public house in Holloway, London. A number of other recordings followed as well as continuing to play in sessions around London.
A large number of the tracks selected feature him providing accompaniment on either piano or keyboard for the dance tunes.
Packaging The album consists of a cardboard case with a card CD holder for the three CDs and a booklet for the sleeve notes.
Cardboard case The cardboard case does not detail the tracks in the compilation but does identify all the musicians and in the brief notes explains the place of Irish music in the lives of the migrant population in the 1950s. The notes then continue to explain that this album covers the period after the 1950s up to the present day.
Booklet The booklet consists of 100 pages and follows a similar sequence to the other albums in the series. The booklet was written by Reg Hall, except where stated below. "About the Editor" – written by Tony Engle, managing director of Topic Records "The Voice of the People – The introduction" details the concept and philosophy of the series of compilations and then continues with a history of Irish Music in both Ireland and London. "'It was Mighty!' The Early Days of Irish Music in London." The section details the quote from the musician Gabe O’Sullivan about the music of the 1950s that provides the title of the album and then goes on to detail the wealth of musicmaking in London at the time. "Music and dance in Ireland before emigration" "Music and dance of the 'London Irish'" "Irish traditional music and dance in London after 1945" "The Pubs" "The Dance Halls" "Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann" "Recordings and the Media" "The Continuing Tradition of Irish music in London" CD details. Detailing the content of each of the CDs with biographical notes on each of the performers in track sequence. Full track list by CD. "British Library", written by Dr Janet Topp Fargion (Lead Curator World and Traditional Music), gives details of the World and Traditional Music Collection and the access available through the internet. Peter Kennedy's recordings are now held within this archive.
The Recordings The three CDs cover recordings made between 1948 and 2001. These recordings were made in numerous different locations including Pubs, Stores, various flats and houses, recording studios and Cecil Sharp House the headquarters of the English Folk Dance and Song Society. Many of the tunes were recorded by people who were only involved with the music but also included many people from the British folk music world, such as Ewan MacColl, Peter Kennedy, Bill Leader, Robin Morton, Peter Bellamy and John Tams.
The CDs
CD1 This CD features recordings made between 1948 and 1972; 10 of the tracks were recorded by Bill Leader in "The Favourite" but do not appear on Paddy in the Smoke.
TrackTitle/Where recorded Artist/Instrument Length 1 The Jolly Tinker(Reel)Michael Gorman(fiddle).1:28Recorded by Peter Kennedy at his flat in Belsize Park, London, 25 October 1952. 2Bonnie Kate(Reel) Michael Gorman(fiddle).2:47Recorded by Peter Kennedy at his flat in Belsize Park, London, 25 October 1952. 3 The Boys of Ballisadare(Reel)Gerry Wimsey(flute).1:36Recorded by Janet Kerr in Collooney, Co. Sligo, 31 January 1972. 4The Copperplate(Reel) Gerry Wimsey( Clarke's tin whistle).1:01Recorded by Janet Kerr in Collooney, Co. Sligo, 31 January 1972. 5Paddy Taylor's(Hornpipe) Paddy Taylor(flute).1:39Recorded by Michael Daly at the Camden Stores, Camden Town, London, 1959. 6 The Cabin Hunter(Reel)Paddy Taylor(flute).0:55Recorded by Peter Kennedy at his flat in Belsize Park, London, 2 December 1956. 7 With Kitty I'll Go(Slow Air)Paddy Taylor(flute).2:00Recorded by Peter Kennedy at his flat in Belsize Park, London, 2 December 1956. 8Pat Hanley's No. 1 / Pat Hanley's No. 2(Slides)Paddy Taylor(flute).2:32Recorded by Peter Kennedy at his flat in Belsize Park, London, 2 December 1956. 9 Nan Landers’(Hornpipe)Nan Landers(melodeon).1:26Recorded by Dick Landers at their home in Chiswick, London, probably mid-1960s. 10Nan Landers’(Slide)Nan Landers(melodeon).1:14Recorded by Dick Landers at their home in Chiswick, London, probably mid-1960s. 11The Wild Irishman / The College Grove / Jenny Picking Cockles(Reels) Jimmy Power(fiddle), Patsy Goulding(piano).2:42Recorded by Jimmy Power in London, circa 1959. 12Doherty's(Slip Jig) Danny McNiff(flute).1:46Recorded by Peter Kennedy & Sean O’Boyle, Belleek, Co. Fermanagh, 20 July 1952. 13 Danny McNiff's / Farewell to Whiskey(Polkas)Danny McNiff(flute).2:22Recorded by Peter Kennedy & Sean O’Boyle, Belleek, Co. Fermanagh, 20 July 1952. 14 The Streams in the Valley(Reel)Danny McNiff(flute).0:56Recorded by Peter Kennedy & Sean O’Boyle, Belleek, Co. Fermanagh, 20 July 1952. 15The Beauty Spot(Reel) Bobby Casey(fiddle).1:18Recorded by Peter Kennedy at Cecil Sharp House, London, 18 December 1956. 16 Poll Ha’penny(Hornpipe)Bobby Casey(fiddle).2:04Recorded by Peter Kennedy at Cecil Sharp House, London, 18 December 1956. 17 Brian O’Lynn / The Maid in the Meadow(Jigs)Bobby Casey(fiddle).2:06Recorded by Michael Daly in Pat Goulding's flat, Pimlico, London, 1957. 18The Girl that Broke My Heart / Dick Cosgrove(Reels) Mick Gorman (nephew)(fiddle).1:44Recorded by Bill Leader, Reg Hall & Michael Plunkett at Michael Gorman's house, Manchester, 5 July 1970. 19The Copperplate / The Bunch of Keys(Reels) Jimmy Hogan(accordion), Bobby Hall(piano), Brian Green(drums).2:17Recorded by Peter Kennedy at Cecil Sharp House, Camden Town, London, 8 March 1958. 20St. Ruth's Bush / Paddy Kelly's Favourite(Reels) Martin Byrnes(fiddle).3:17Recorded by Michael Daly in Pat Goulding's flat, Pimlico, London, 1957. 21 Wallop the Spot / The Tongs by the Fire(Jigs)Paddy Malynn(accordion)2:50Recorded by Michael Daly at the Norwood Hotel, West Norwood, London, 7 October 1962. 22 The Red-Haired Boy(Slow Air)Julia Clifford(fiddle).1:15Recorded by Reg Hall at Lucy & Eric Farr's house, Ladywell, London, 16 August 1964. 23 The Cliffs of Moher(Jig)Julia Clifford(fiddle).1:33Recorded by Reg Hall at Lucy & Eric Farr's house, Ladywell, London, 16 August 1964. 24 The Cuckoo's Nest(Hornpipe)Paddy Breen(flageolet).1:56Recorded by Peter Kennedy at Cecil Sharp House, Camden Town, London, March 1952. 25 Tralee Gaol(Polka)Paddy Breen(flageolet).1:30Recorded by Peter Kennedy at Cecil Sharp House, Camden Town, London, March 1952. 26 The Pipe on the Hob(Jig)Paddy Breen(flageolet).1:10Recorded by Peter Kennedy at Cecil Sharp House, Camden Town, London, March 1952. 27 Munster Buttermilk(Jig)Bobby Casey(fiddle), Willie Clancy(uilleann pipes).1:40Recorded by Peter Kennedy at Cecil Sharp House, Camden Town, London, 18 December 1956. 28The West Wind / Sean Reid's Fancy(Reels) Bobby Casey(fiddle), Willie Clancy(uilleann pipes).2:24Recorded by Peter Kennedy at Cecil Sharp House, Camden Town, London, 18 December 1956. 29The Humours of Scarriff(Reel) Martin Byrnes(fiddle), Tony Howley(flute).1:04Recorded by Michael Daly at the Camden Stores, Camden Town, London, 1959. 30The Galway Rambler / The London Lasses(Reels) Martin Byrnes(fiddle), Tony Howley(flute).2:11Recorded by Michael Daly at the Camden Stores, Camden Town, London, 1959. 31The Rose in the Heather / The Gold Ring / The Maid on the Green / Saddle the Pony(Jigs)Martin Wynne(fiddle)3:18HMV recording studio, Oxford Street, London, probably 14 July 1948. 32 The Boys of the Lough(Reel)Michael Gorman & Martin Wynne(fiddles), Bill Rollison(piano).2:15HMV recording studio, Oxford Street, London, probably 14 July 1948. 33The Liffey Banks / The Shaskeen(Reels) Jimmy Power(fiddle), Clancy(flute), Tommy Maguire(accordion), Paddy Furey(piano).2:20Recorded by Reg Hall in the Bedford Arms, Camden Town, London, 2 December 1960. 34 When We Were Drinking(Jig)Bobby Casey(fiddle), Willie Clancy(uilleann pipes).1:45Recorded by Peter Kennedy at Cecil Sharp House, Camden Town, London, 18 December 1956. 35 The Old Bush / The Chicago(Reels)Bobby Casey(fiddle), Willie Clancy(uilleann pipes).2:31Recorded by Peter Kennedy at Cecil Sharp House, Camden Town, London, 18 December 1956.
CD2 This CD features recordings made between 1952 and 1974.
Track 14 features Michael Gorman playing his well-known composition, the jig The Strayaway Child.