User:Pdebee/Usher's Island (album)

Usher's Island is the first studio album recorded by Irish folk group Usher's Island. The album was released in March 2017 on the Vertical Records label.

Recording
[This section still needs work: add content and then polish prose and format. Pdebee.]

The album opens with "The Half Century Set", a set of slip jigs brought to the band by Paddy Glackin. "Bean Pháidin" is sung by Lunny and segues into "Ride a Mile", followed by "Hardiman the Fiddler", two slip jigs.

Next is a set of reels: "Five Drunken Landlady's", "The Drunken Landlady", "McFadden's" and "Lucky in Love".

Doyle sings "Heart In Hand".

Irvine follows with his version of "Molly Bán".

"Johnny Doherty's" is another set of reels.

Doyle sings "Cairndaisy", a song about an Irish immigrant fighting on the American side of the Spanish American war of 1898.

Irvine learnt "Felix the Soldier" from Jeff Davis of Woodstock, Connecticut. It is a song from about 1758/59, during the Seven Years War (French and Indian War).

"Seán Keane's" is a hornpipe recorded during a concert at the Willie Clancy Summer School in the 1970s by the Dublin fiddler Seán Keane.

Doyle sings "Wild Roving".

"As Good As It Gets" was written by Irvine, reminiscing about his time in Ljubljana, Yugoslavia in 1968/69. It segues into "The Blue Trouser Suit", an instrumental composed by Lunny.

The album closes with "Mickey Doherty's" and "Gan Ainm", a set of reels.

Critical reception
[Waiting for music press to publish reviews.]
 * The album was reviewed on 3 April 2017 by Dave McNally of Folk Radio UK.


 * The album was reviewed on 8 June 2017 by Jude Rogers for The Guardian.


 * In his review for fRoots magazine, First Last stated: "..."

Track listing
All titles are traditional, arranged by Irvine/Lunny/Glackin/McGoldrick/Doyle, except where indicated.
 * 1) "The Half Century Set" (Paddy Glackin) (slip jigs) – 5:45
 * 2) "Bean Pháidin" / "Ride a Mile" / "Hardiman the Fiddler" (song, slip jigs) – 5:02
 * 3) "Five Drunken Landlady's" / "The Drunken Landlady" / "McFadden's" / "Lucky in Love" (reels) – 6:11
 * 4) "Heart In Hand " (John Doyle) (song) – 6:49
 * 5) "Molly Bán" (song) – 5:01
 * 6) "Johnny Doherty's" (reels) – 4:46
 * 7) "Cairndaisy" (song) – 4:42
 * 8) "Felix the Soldier" (song) – 3:15
 * 9) "Seán Keane's" (hornpipe) – 4:36
 * 10) "Wild Roving" (song) – 5:52
 * 11) "As Good As It Gets" (Andy Irvine) (song) / "The Blue Trouser Suit" (Dónal Lunny) – 5:08
 * 12) "Mickey Doherty's" / "Gan Ainm" (reels) – 3:27

Musicians

 * Andy Irvine - vocals, mandola, harmonica
 * Dónal Lunny - backing vocals, Irish bouzouki, baritone bouzouki,  bodhrán, keyboards
 * Paddy Glackin - fiddle
 * Michael McGoldrick - Irish flute, low whistle, uillean pipes
 * John Doyle - vocals, guitar, Irish bouzouki

Production

 * Andy Seward – recording engineer, mixing
 * Dónal Lunny – producer, additional mixing
 * Michael McGoldrick - additional mixing
 * Tim Martin – mastering engineer
 * James Morrison – design and photography