It’s one of the albums that marked the 1970s upsurge in Irish traditional music.
Now Andy Irvine and Paul Brady will honour the classic that bears their names in Perth this weekend.
Both distinctive singers and hugely accomplished musicians, Andy and Paul had been in Planxty together and following the disintegration of this, one of the great bands of the time, they decided to continue as a duo.
Taking things gently
As Andy remembers, they were exhausted after three albums and more touring than was good for them with Planxty. So they took things gently.
They went into the studio with Donal Lunny, one of the architects of the Irish sound, on bouzouki, and fiddler Kevin Burke in late summer 1976.
Donal had also been in Planxty and his guiding hand as producer ensured that Andy and Paul got the feeling and quality they wanted.
Anti-recruitment ballad Arthur McBride, which Andy had sung on Planxty’s first album, was now one of Paul’s signature songs. It still is.
Enduring songs
Others including the horseracing tale Plains of Kildare and Andy’s Autumn Gold have remained equally popular.
In Perth the quartet will reconvene to play songs and tunes from the album and more from their enduring careers. It will be quite an event.
Perth Concert Hall, Saturday November 19.
www.horsecross.co.uk
