In Dublin's Fair City

Mrs CC was born in Dublin and her family come from the Emerald Isle.
A couple of years ago we took her mum to see the Dubliners play at Glasgow's Royal Concert Hall and a right good craic it was too.
The only original Dubliner on stage was banjo and mandolin player Barney McKenna on the left of the picture above.
Sadly he too is now no longer with us but I'm sure the band will continue in various shapes and forms for many years to come

The Dubliners - The Rocky Road to Dublin

Mexican Monday 4

On one of my trips to SXSW in Austin back in the day I had the pleasure of seeing Del Castillo in Momos Lounge.
The next day saw me visiting Waterloo Records to purchse the above 2001 album Brothers of the Castle.
This I believe is the English translation of the band's name given that the main men are the quite magnificent guitar playing brothers Rick and Mark Del Castillo.
According to Amazon this album was released in the UK in 2010 following their appearance at Celtic Connections.
As the Mexican theme song is an instrumental I have decided to add a second track as a wee bonus.
I know, I know, I spoil you rotten!

Del Castillo - Mexican Lounge Lizard

Del Castillo - La Luz a Mi Paso

It's Mica Time

Here is a little bit of Sunday night Soul for you  courtesy of Mica Paris with a little help from Courtney Pine ........ nice!
Soul singer, Radio 2 DJ and Z list TV celebrity she has been a busy lass over the years.

Taken from the Best of Mica Paris purchased for 20p in a Record Library clearout sale.

Mica Paris - Like Dreamers Do

When Skiffle Was King

1957 was when Skiffle Was King according to the above CD which I bought for 99p in the Salvation Army,  Coatbridge the other day.
There is some good stuff on it, not necessarily all skiffle and one or two dodgy tracks as you would expect - Chris Barber's jazzy version of When the Saints Go Marching In and Jim Dale (of Carry On fame) doing Be My Girl.
It was quite interesting to hear the original versions of some tracks I've got by other artists eg the first one up which I've got by Dave Edmunds.
Have never heard of or heard the second track  before but it's jolly good.
I wasn't going to post Lonnie Donegan as I've plans for a post featuring him later.
However this incendiary live track is absolutely awesome and puts most of today's artists to shame and was too good to leave out.

Warning - this post may contain whistling.
Enjoy

Tommy Steele & the Steelmen - Singing the Blues

Johnny Duncan & His Blue Grass Boys - Last Train to San Fernando

Lonnie Donegan - Gamblin' Man

Skye's the Limit

The beautiful island of Skye seems to be home for bands producing traditional Scottish music but with a modern slant.
First up is the Peatbog Faeries from as far back as 1996 from their record on Greentrax "Mellowosity".
This song puts me in mind of Tubular Bells meets The White Heather Club meets Pan Pipes - but in a good way.
Next up is something a bit more up to date - the title track from the 2012 album "Shed Life" by Sketch.

Even if you don't like the music you cannot fail to like the cover picture of a Highland Cow or a Highland Toffee Cow as they are often known as this image used to feature of the wrappers of McGowan's Highland Toffee (and maybe still does for all I know)

Peatbog Faeries - Lexy Macaskill

Sketch - Shed Life

In For The Kill

I purchased this at the weekend and a fine piece of retro pop it is too.
It came out in 2009 which surprised me as I thought it was more modern than that.
There was a lot of hype when this came out with Elly Jackson being touted as the next big thing but she does not appear to have done much since.
Mrs CC thinks that she is a bit of a Tilda Swinton look-a-likey (Elly Jackson not Mrs CC!) and I think she has a point.
I share my birthday with Danny La Rue ( no relation)

La Roux - In For The Kill

Another Paisley Buddy

                                                          Paisley Dunn Square

Next up in my occasional series on Paisley artistes is Jill Jackson erstwhile lead singer from Speedway who had a couple of hits Can't Turn Back and In and Out from their 2004 album Save Yourself.

In an interview Jill pointed out that Paolo Nutini used to do the merchandise at Speedway gigs.

A few years later Jill reinvented herself as a solo singer song writer in a Country stylee.
I've seen her live a few times supporting acts such as Kevin Montgomery and she has never been less than excellent.

These tracks are taken from her 2010 album Back to Zero. I was slightly disappointed when I got it, not because it isn't good, which it is, but because it wasn't as countryish as her live act.
She had a follow up album in 2012 Getaway Driver.
If you get the opportunity to see her live, check it out

Jill Jackson - Forgive Me

Jill Jackson - Dancing Queen