Planxty (album)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Planxty
Studio album by Planxty
Released	1973
Genre	Celtic
Length	43:13
Label	Shanachie
Professional reviews
All Music Guide link
Planxty chronology
Planxty (1973) The Well Below The Valley (1973)

Planxty is the first album by the Irish folk group Planxty, released in 1973. Because of its dark cover, it is sometimes referred to as "the Black Album."

The album features a variety of traditional and modern Irish folk songs and tunes. It was influential in popularising this genre. The last track revealed the impact of Balkan folk music on mandolinist Andy Irvine. The traditional song "The Blacksmith" concludes with Irvine playing an Eastern European influenced tune called "Blacksmithereens".

Although Planxty is nominally the first album by the band, all four members performed together on Christy Moore's previous album Prosperous, which opened with the same track, "Raggle Taggle Gypsy/Tabhair Dom Do Lámh".

[edit] Track listing

1. "Raggle Taggle Gypsy/Tabhair Dom Do Lámh" (traditional)
2. "Arthur McBride" (traditional)
3. "Planxty Irwin" (Turlough O'Carolan)
4. "Sweet Thames Flow Softly" (Ewan MacColl)
5. "Junior Crehan's Favourite/Corney is Coming" (traditional reels)
6. "The West Coast of Clare" (Andy Irvine)
7. "The Jolly Beggar" (traditional reel)
8. "Only Our Rivers" (Mickey McConnell)
9. "Sí Bheag, Sí Mhór" (Turlough O'Carolan)
10. "Follow Me Up to Carlow" (traditional)
11. "Merrily Kissed the Quaker" (traditional slide)
12. "The Blacksmith" (traditional)

[edit] Credits

• Andy Irvine - bouzouki, mandolin, harmonica, vocals
• Dónal Lunny - synthesizer, bouzouki, vocals
• Christy Moore - vocals, guitar, bodhrán
• Liam O'Flynn - uilleann pipes, whistle