Séamus Ennis - Masters of Irish Music (1969 LP)

Séamus' second album of the 60s, recorded by Bill Leader in London, for his own label. Never reissued on CD. Here's a short extract from my book 'The Wheels of the World' (Jawbone Press, 2015) on the album:
Bill Leader: 'I first met Séamus around 1957 or so, through Jean Jenkins, ethnomusicologist and political activist. Topic was going to record an LP of Séamus and Jean. It was to be an Irish/American song swap. The venture eventually fizzled out. It was early on in my career as producer/recorder/organiser, and I failed to keep up the impetus of the idea.
I next saw Séamus during a period when I made frequent trips to Dublin. It was in O’Donoghue’s. He was sitting at the bar, explaining that his doctor had told him that he must drink milk, which was why he was adding it to his vodka.'
An arrangement was made for Séamus to record in Bill’s flat at 5 North Villas, Camden Town, in July 1969. Bill’s flat had already birthed several great British folk revival records, and this one would equal any of them. It is Séamus’ greatest single recording - a magical mix of piping, songs and stories.
Bill Leader: 'Séamus needed no direction, coaching or encouragement. He was fully professional - after all, he’d worked both for the BBC and Radio Éireann. So the session consisted of his playing, singing and storytelling.
'We were trying to get a fairly total picture of the man. That’s the way I pretty well always worked. It got a bit difficult sometimes. I hadn’t realised early on that if you just let, [say], Margaret Barry and Michael Gorman record what they wanted to record, they would record what they had recorded for the last record company. Obviously, that’s what record companies wanted [they thought] - that particular song or that particular tune. But other than that, as a general principle, I just let the artist speak.'
Interestingly, after the record’s release, we got an angry letter from Leeds demanding a refund on account of the fact that they didn’t buy folk records in order to get a load of talking.
Séamus tied his recording trip in with an appearance at the Keele Folk Festival, July 11-13, and a booking at Rod Stradling’s strictly traditional club at the King’s Head, Islington, on July 16. ‘Séamus was a great hero of anyone interested in traditional music: singer, astonishing piper and a wonderful storyteller,’ remembered Rod. ‘That night, there were more people in the club room than you would believe possible!’
Reg Hall: 'The interesting thing about that was that Ennis came and did what appeared to be a totally spontaneous show - absolutely wonderful - and he recorded the next day for Bill Leader, in Bill Leader’s house, and did exactly the same spontaneous show! So it was a rehearsal!'

[@upiper71]

Thanks for sharing this Colin. This is a masterpiece

[@dukadarodear2176]

Yes, for sure.

[@Goetterdaemmerung86]

A gem, thanks for uploading

[@oakling2010]

Amazing! Thanks so much for sharing it with those of us who couldn't access the record!

[@markschroeder5559]

Incredible

[@phewitt3657]

This is stunning

[@teamuncle]

Wonderfulness.

[@dukadarodear2176]

"Away With the Fairies/Little People" referred to people being taken away into another dimension by the Síoga. It was part of the parallel belief system that survived in rural Ireland up to the 1970s. The Leath Chorpáin/Half-Bodies/Leprechauns were mischievous Shoemakers to the Fairies/Síoga.

[@ofthebrave9194]

Second Song starts after 13:49

[@seanDF5]

Tunes: 00:00 The Pinch of Snuff 04:53 A Pinch Of Snuff 08:43 The Fairie's Hornpipe 13:53 The Gold Ring 17:53 The Fairy Straying 19:46 Song: The False Hearted Lover 26:20 Ditherum Doodah 27:40 The Bird's Chorus 29:24 The Lark In The Morning 36:11 The Lark's March

[@seanDF5]

Make sure to listen to the stories too y'all

[@hankworden3850]

Just play the fookin song!

[@dukadarodear2176]

Tóg d'Am!