Biography (Horslips album)

Last updated

Biography
Horslips biography cd cover.jpg
Greatest hits album by
Horslips
Released1 November 2013
Recorded1970–1980
Genre Celtic rock, progressive rock
Label Celtic Airs/Horslips Records
Producer Producer varies from track to track
Horslips chronology
Live with the Ulster Orchestra
(2011)		Biography
(2013)
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Hot Press 8/10 [1]

Biography is a greatest hits compilation album by Irish Celtic rock band Horslips. The first disc comprises each of the band's singles that were released in the UK. The second comprises the B-sides to each of those singles, some of which have never been released on CD before. The album was released on 1 November 2013, to coincide with the release of the book Tall Tales: The Official Biography of Horslips. [2] [3]

A compilation album comprises tracks, which may be previously released or unreleased, usually from several separate recordings by either one or several performers. If by one artist, then generally the tracks were not originally intended for release together as a single work, but may be collected together as a greatest hits album or box set. If from several performers, there may be a theme, topic, time period, or genre which links the tracks, or they may have been intended for release as a single work—such as a tribute album. When the tracks are by the same recording artist, the album may be referred to as a retrospective album or an anthology.

Celtic rock is a genre of folk rock, as well as a form of Celtic fusion which incorporates Celtic music, instrumentation and themes into a rock music context. It has been extremely prolific since the early 1970s and can be seen as a key foundation of the development of highly successful mainstream Celtic bands and popular musical performers, as well as creating important derivatives through further fusions. It has played a major role in the maintenance and definition of regional and national identities and in fostering a pan-Celtic culture. It has also helped to communicate those cultures to external audiences.

Horslips Irish rock band

Horslips are an Irish Celtic rock band that compose, arrange and perform songs frequently inspired by traditional Irish airs, jigs and reels. The group are regarded as 'founding fathers of Celtic rock' for their fusion of traditional Irish music with rock music and went on to inspire many local and international acts. They formed in 1970 and 'retired' in 1980 for an extended period. The name originated from a spoonerism on The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse which became "The Four Poxmen of The Horslypse".

Contents

Track listing

All tracks written by Carr, Fean, Devlin, Lockhart, O'Connor.

Disc One: The A Sides
No.TitleLength
1."The High Reel" 
2."Dearg Doom" 
3."More Than You Can Chew" (45 remix) 
4."Nighttown Boy" (45 edit) 
5."King of the Fairies" 
6."(If That's What You Want) That's What You Get" (45 edit) 
7."Warm Sweet Breath of Love" 
8."The Power and the Glory" (45 remix) 
9."Speed the Plough" 
10."The Man Who Built America" 
11."Loneliness" 
Disc Two: The B Sides
No.TitleLength
1."Furniture" (The High Reel) 
2."The Shamrock Shore" (Dearg Doom) 
3."Faster Than the Hound" (More Than You Can Chew) 
4."We Bring the Summer With Us" (Nighttown Boy) 
5."Sunburst" (King of the Fairies) 
6."The Snakes' Farewell to the Emerald Isle" ((If That's What You Want) That's What You Get) 
7."King of Morning, Queen of Day" (Warm Sweet Breath of Love) 
8."Sir Festus Burke" (The Power and the Glory) 
9."Bridge From Heart to Heart" (Speed the Plough) 
10."Red River Rock (Live)" (Speed the Plough) 
11."Long Weekend" (The Man Who Built America) 
12."Homesick" (Loneliness) 

Personnel

Horslips
Bodhrán Irish frame drum

The bodhrán is an Irish frame drum ranging from 25 to 65 cm (10–26 in) in diameter, with most drums measuring 35–45 cm (14–18 in). The sides of the drum are 9–20 cm deep. A goatskin head is tacked to one side. The other side is open-ended for one hand to be placed against the inside of the drum head to control the pitch and timbre.

Barry Devlin Irish musician, screenwriter and director

Barry Devlin is an Irish musician, screen writer and director.

Banjo musical instrument

The banjo is a four-, five-, or six-stringed instrument with a thin membrane stretched over a frame or cavity as a resonator, called the head, which is typically circular. The membrane is typically made of plastic, although animal skin is still occasionally used. Early forms of the instrument were fashioned by Africans in the United States, adapted from African instruments of similar design. The banjo is frequently associated with folk, Irish traditional, and country music. Banjo can also be used in some rock songs. Many rock bands, such as The Eagles, Led Zeppelin, and The Allman Brothers, have used the five-string banjo in some of their songs. Historically, the banjo occupied a central place in African-American traditional music and the folk culture of rural whites before entering the mainstream via the minstrel shows of the 19th century. Along with the fiddle, the banjo is a mainstay of American old-time music. It is also very frequently used in traditional ("trad") jazz.

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References

  1. ↑ O'Hare, Colm (14 November 2013). "Horslips – Biography". Hot Press . Archived from the original on 14 August 2016. Retrieved 21 July 2016.CS1 maint: BOT: original-url status unknown (link)
  2. ↑ "HORSLIPS – BIOGRAPHY" . Retrieved 31 October 2013.
  3. ↑ "Horslips Official" . Retrieved 31 October 2013.
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