The Dubliners were an Irish folk band founded in Dublin in 1962 as The Ronnie Drew Ballad Group,named after its founding member;they subsequently renamed themselves The Dubliners. The line-up saw many changes in personnel over their fifty-year career,but the group's success was centred on lead singers Luke Kelly and Ronnie Drew. The band garnered international success with their lively Irish folk songs,traditional street ballads and instrumentals. The band were regulars on the folk scenes in both Dublin and London in the early 1960s,and were signed to the Major Minor label in 1965 after backing from Dominic Behan who was paid by Major-Minor to work with the Dubliners and help them to build a better act fit for larger concert hall venues. The Dubliners worked with Behan regularly between 1965 and 1966;Behan wrote numerous songs for this act including the song McAlpine's Fusiliers created specifically to showcase Ronnie Drew's gravel voice. They went on to receive extensive airplay on Radio Caroline which was part owned by Phil Solomon CEO of Major Minor,and eventually appeared on Top of the Pops in 1967 with hits "Seven Drunken Nights" and "The Black Velvet Band". Often performing political songs considered controversial at the time,they drew criticism from some folk purists and Ireland's national broadcaster RTÉhad placed an unofficial ban on their music from 1967 to 1971. During this time the band's popularity began to spread across mainland Europe and they appeared on The Ed Sullivan Show in the United States. The group's success remained steady right through the 1970s and a number of collaborations with The Pogues in 1987 saw them enter the UK Singles Chart on another two occasions.
Dominic Behan was an Irish songwriter,singer,short story writer,novelist and playwright who wrote in Irish and English. He was also a socialist and an Irish republican. Born into the literary Behan family,he was one of the most influential Irish songwriters of the 20th century.
In Concert is a live album by The Dubliners,released in 1965.
Double Dubliners is The Dubliners' ninth studio album. It is also known as Alive and Well,the title it was released under on the Polydor label It's the Dubliners site for the album. A standout track here is a recitation by Ronnie Drew of Pádraig Pearse's poem "The Rebel". This album features the original members. Other notable tracks here are "The Sun Is Burning" and "The Night Visiting Song",both sung by Luke Kelly. In December 1983,"The Night Visiting Song" would become the final song to be performed by Luke Kelly with The Dubliners on Irish television.
Live is a live album by The Dubliners recorded live at the Fiesta Club,Sheffield and released on the Polydor label in 1974. This was to be Ronnie Drew's last recording with The Dubliners for five years as he left to pursue a solo career. Also following this album,Ciarán Bourke ceased to be a full-time member of the group when he suffered a brain haemorrhage. He sings "All for Me Grog" here. The reels that open this album have become the opening instrumental medley at most of their concerts since.
Prodigal Sons is a studio album by the Irish folk group The Dubliners. Produced by Bill Whelan,who later became famous for Riverdance,this album featured cellist Nigel Warren-Green as guest musician. Although Luke Kelly recorded his famous versions of "Raglan Road" and "Song for Ireland" during these sessions,neither track featured on this album,although Seán Cannon's version of "Song for Ireland" did. The two Kelly recordings would first appear on the compilation album,Luke's Legacy after his death. The album took its name from John Sheahan's composition,"The Prodigal Son". The album featured both contemporary and traditional songs as well as instrumental pieces.
Live in Carré is a live album by The Dubliners. Recorded live in Amsterdam in October 1983,this album featured Luke Kelly's final recordings with The Dubliners.
Alive Alive-O is a double album by the Irish Folk Group The Dubliners which was recorded live throughout several Evenings in December 1996 in Germany at the end of their European tour. After the departure of Ronnie Drew,The Dubliners were joined by the famous Irish singer Paddy Reilly who lends his voice to several ballads on the album. John Sheahan's daughter Ceoladh guests with her father,duetting on fiddle with him on his composition,"Among Friends". The album is notable for some mixed German-English song introductions by Sean Cannon,causing widespread laughter among the audience.
40 Years is an album by The Dubliners,released in 2002. To celebrate 40 years together,the band recorded an album and undertook a European tour. Ronnie Drew and Jim McCann rejoined the group on both the album and the tour. Twelve new tracks were recorded by the seven surviving members,both present and past,and old recordings by Luke Kelly,Ciarán Bourke and Bob Lynch also featured on the album.
Live from the Gaiety is a live album by The Dubliners. It was recorded during the Irish leg of their tour celebrating forty years on the road. The double album was recorded at the Gaiety Theatre in Dublin in June 2002. All surviving members took part. A companion double DVD of the concert in its entirety was also released.
Live At Vicar Street is a live album recorded by The Dubliners at a concert at Vicar Street in Dublin on Sunday,23 July 2006 as part of their Irish tour. A DVD and double CD of the concert were released. Ceoladh Sheahan joined her father and the band on stage for a rendition of "The Marino Waltz". This was the first of the band's albums to feature Patsy Watchorn,who replaced Paddy Reilly after nine years with the group. They were introduced by Jim McCann.
Further Down the Old Plank Road is a 2003 album by The Chieftains. It is a collaboration between the Irish band and many top country music musicians including Rosanne Cash,Chet Atkins,The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band,Ricky Skaggs,and Patty Loveless.
A Time to Remember is the 2009 double album recording of the show by the same name,by The Dubliners,recorded in Vienna. First performed in Vicar Street,Dublin on 4 July 2009 and later taken on tour around Europe,it was conceived as a tribute to their deceased members. The show features the group playing along live to video and audio performances featuring former members Ciarán Bourke,Luke Kelly and Ronnie Drew,as well as performances from The Dubliners' then current lineup. This is the last Dubliner's release featuring Barney McKenna,as he died in 2012. This also means that it is the last album to feature a founding member,as following McKenna's death none of the founding members of the band are still alive.
Eagle's Whistle is the debut album by Irish folk group Crubeen released on LP record by EMI Ireland in 1976.
50 Years is an album by The Dubliners released on 19 November 2012. The album charted at No. 10 in Ireland,and received gold certification in December 2012 from the IRMA. The album was highly rated in the US,UK and across Europe. The album features songs by all members of the band.
The Woods Band was an Irish folk-rock band formed in 1970 by husband and wife team Gay &Terry Woods,shortly after their departure from Steeleye Span. The band played and recorded for four years before evolving into Gay &Terry Woods. In 2001,Terry Woods formed a new band and named it The Woods Band,which performed and recorded through 2003.
The Dubliners 50th Anniversary Tour was a tour in 2012 by The Dubliners celebrating 50 years. The group was awarded a lifetime achievement award by BBC Radio 2 in February. However,in April,founding member and tenor banjo player Barney McKenna died. Banjo player Gerry O'Connor filled his place until the end of the tour. In November the group released the album 50 Years charting in the Irish Top 10. John Sheahan after 48 years decided he could no longer continue with the band due to the death of Barney McKenna. In December the group played its final concerts at Vicar Street and were joined on stage by Jim McCann. The band met with President Michael Higgins in the presidential palace in Dublin. The group appeared on BBC's Jools Holland Annual Hootenanny on New Year's Eve. With the exception of John Sheahan,the rest of the group continues touring as The Dublin Legends - Spirit of the Dubliners.
Wild Rover is an album by The Dubliners that was released in 2011. The album charted at number 55 in Ireland.
Recorded Live in Ireland is a 1965 album of Irish folk songs performed by The Clancy Brothers and Tommy Makem. It was the first live album to be recorded in stereo in Ireland. It was their sixth LP for Columbia Records and,unusually for the group,included two newly composed songs in the folk style. Music critic Joe Goldberg wrote the liner notes.
