Irish, etc.

[Len Bullard <cbullard@HiWAAY.net>]

I keep coming back to the Common Ground CD.
As good as she has ever done.  But I wonder if
others are as enthralled with the cut by Christy 
Moore, Bogie's Bonnie Belle?  Where does the
piece originate?  Is it classical Irish folk, 
or a modern derivative?  Elegantly simple melody 
with a rich sad voice.  I loved to do this sort 
of thing in my solo days and may pick this up 
as a set break filler for the smaller clubs.
I find as I age, something my Dad once told 
me is true, "as you get older son, you will 
look for quieter music".  I love to play Lagrange,
but something inside wants to hear a gentle voice 
again.  That may be why I like the unadorned 
cuts by Kate so much.  I could wrap that voice 
around me like loving arms.

Found a CD copy of SteelEye Span's "Parcel of Rogues"
today.  Now this one really anticipates the current 
wash of groups like Crowded House (some) and Gin 
Blossoms (a bit) in guitar arrangements.  Maddy Prior's
voice and the vocal arrangements still hold up
beautifully.  When in college in the seventies, this 
one was a staple for my friends, so it is an old 
fave come back to life with better fidelity.  The 
title track is stunning stuff, and Alison Gross 
could be rerecorded and rock just fine in the 
alternative scene.

len bullard