User:Pdebee/Precious Heroes

Precious Heroes is an album by Andy Irvine and Luke Plumb, of Irish and Australian songs recorded in Melbourne during November 2016. It was first released in Australia to coincide with the duo's concert at the Woodford Folk Festival in December 2016,  and then in the rest of the world on 14 February 2018.

It was co-produced by Irvine (vocals, bouzouki, mandolin, mandola, harmonica) and Plumb (mandolin), who recorded it in a private house converted temporarily into a recording studio.

Additional personnel includes: Michael McGoldrick (Irish flute, tin whistle, low whistle, uilleann pipes), John McCusker (violin, tin whistle, cittern, guitar), Ruth Hazleton and Kate Burke (vocals), and James MacKintosh (percussion).

Overview
The album opens with "Here's a Health to Every Miner Lad", ... .

"Farewell to Ballymoeny", ... .

"Níamh and Oisín", is the story of Oisín and how he became homesick while living with the beautiful, eternally young Níamh and how he travelled back home, never to return after setting his foot on the earth while helping a farmer.

"Trip to Tír na Nóg", is an instrumental tune that Irvine wrote for Planxty in 1973 but hadn’t been recorded until now.

"Champion at Keeping Them Rollin", is a truck driver’s song Ewan MacColl wrote for the BBC Radio Ballads series, with an additional final verse from Irvine.

"The Appeal to Reason / The Fiddle in the Phones", ... .

"Hard Times in 'Comer's Mines", ... .

"Dunlavin Green", ... .

"The Death of Ben Hall" is an Australian song about bushranger Ben Hall, which Irvine learnt from John Meredith’s recording of NSW singer Sally Sloane.

"A Tune for Angus", ... .

"Frank Ryan", ... .

"Erin's Green Shore", ... .

Critical reception
In his review at the secondlinemusic.com.au website, Peter Leman stated that "the album features original and traditional compositions and songs, and is already being heralded as one of the most exciting and iconic folk releases of recent times. Undoubtedly some of Irvine's finest work, this masterpiece has been beautifully embellished by Luke Plumb, and while the sound is very contemporary, the arrangements are reminiscent of the sounds of 70s folk revival; reminding the listener of artists such as Paul Brady, Nic Jones and Planxty themselves."

Track listing

 * 1) "Here's a Health to Every Miner Lad" (Trad. arr. Andy Irvine) – 4:21
 * 2) "Farewell to Ballymoeny" (Trad. arr. Andy Irvine) – 4:08
 * 3) "Níamh and Oisín" (Andy Irvine/Luke Plumb) – 4:27
 * 4) "Trip to Tír na Nóg" (Andy Irvine) – 2:25
 * 5) "Champion at Keeping Them Rollin'" (Ewan McColl arr. Andy Irvine) – 4:27
 * 6) "The Appeal to Reason / The Fiddle in the Phones" (Trad. arr. Andy Irvine) – 4:00
 * 7) "Hard Times in 'Comer's Mines" (Trad. arr. Andy Irvine) – 4:47
 * 8) "Dunlavin Green" (Trad. arr. Andy Irvine) – 4:24
 * 9) "The Death of Ben Hall" (Trad. arr. Andy Irvine) – 3:38
 * 10) "A Tune for Angus" (Trad. arr. Andy Irvine) – 4:08
 * 11) "Frank Ryan" (Trad. arr. Andy Irvine) – 7:47
 * 12) "Erin's Green Shore" (Trad. arr. Andy Irvine) – 5:19

Personnel

 * Andy Irvine – vocals, bouzouki, mandola and harmonica.
 * Luke Plumb – backing vocals, mandolin.
 * Michael McGoldrick – Irish flute, tin whistle, low whistle, uilleann pipes.
 * John McCusker – violin, tin whistle, cittern, guitar.
 * Ruth Hazleton – backing vocals.
 * Kate Burke – backing vocals.
 * James MacKintosh – percussion.

Produced by – Andy Irvine & Luke Plumb.

Recorded in Melbourne and Scotland.

Engineered by – ?

Mixed & Edited by Luke Plumb and Andy Irvine at ?'s studio in ?.

Remixed and Mastered by ?, in ?.