This collection of CDs features Irish traditional music featuring squeezeboxes (concertina & button accordion). These mellow instruments are easy on the ears, but fully capture the power and charm of Irish traditional dance music. The CDs included are on smaller recording labels, and many are hard to find. This collection of CDs is quite diverse. Johnny O'Leary was a button accordion player who represents the Kerry tradition, which prominently features the polka. Other accordionists represented are Tony MacMahon, whose classic 1972 album is included. Two CDs by Joe Derrane, who repopularized the D/C# diatonic button accordion, are also in this batch. With regard to the concertina discs, all but one reflect the traditions of County Clare, where the concertina is prevalent in traditional music. Of the Clare CDs, we have five CDs from the set issued on the Free Reed label, comprised of nicely recorded concertina players from the 1970s. Noel Hill is also from County Clare, and his classic 1982 album is here. Mary MacNamara and Kitty Hayes are Clare players who demonstrate a relaxed, unflashy style that is almost hypnotic (personal favorites). Geroid O’hAllmhurain. In contrast to the others, Michael O’Raghallaigh is from County Meath; his 2008 CD is one of the most exciting box recordings of recent years. I am including a great melodeon compilation from Topic records, which includes some very old and interesting performances. Not pictured, but I will toss in three classic squeezebox CDs in the English traditional style: one by John Kirkpatrick, and a couple of classics by the Old Swan Band, all three reissued on the Free Reed label.
- Johnny O’Leary- Music for the Set
- Noel Hill- The Irish Concertina
- Mary MacNamara- The Blackberry Blossom
- Mary MacNamara- Traditional Music from East Clare
- Geroid O’hAllmhurain- Traditional Music from Clare and Beyond
- John Kelly- Traditional Irish Concertina and Fiddle Music
- Bernard O’Sullivan & Tommy McMahon- Clare Concertinas
- Bernard O’Sullivan & Tommy McMahon- Traditional Concertina Music of Co Clare
- Chris Droney- The Flowing Tide
- Various- Irish Traditional Concertina Styles (12 Great Players from the 70s)
- Tony MacMahon- Traditional Irish Accordion
- Kitty Hayes- A Touch of Clare- Traditional Concertina Music
- Michael O’Raghallaigh- Inside Out
- Joe Derrane- Give Us Another with Felix Dolan
- Joe Derrane- Return to Inis Mer
BONUS! -
- Melodeon Greats (Topic Records’ Classic Compilation, Expanded Edition);
- Two classic Old Swan Band CDs: No Reels (1977); Old Swan Brand (1978) with Rod Stradling on melodeon
- John Kirkpatrick- Plain Capers (Melodeon, English Concertina, Accordion) with Martin Carthy
- John Williams- Steam (Irish concertina & accordion)
NOTE: the final auction price should reflect what the buyer is getting, while taking into account what is NOT included, and especially the condition of the insert/inlays. The CDs are all clean, unscratched, and play fine. The jewel cases are gone. The front and back inserts were removed from the jewel cases and snipped so they fit in the plastic sleeves (many of which are marked unobtrusively with a sharpie). In some cases, text was snipped off the inserts so they would fit (see the pictures). However track listings were preserved, and in many cases the complete liner notes are there for you to read. Mostly, these CDs are for listening.
Shipping to Conus is a flat rate $5.00 paid by the buyer for USPS Media Mail.
On May-09-24 at 22:20:24 PDT, seller added the following information:Check out my other listings for Irish traditional music CDs & tin whistles.