The new compilation was curated by Limerick journalist John O’Regan and features Limerick acts Granny’s Intentions and Joe O’Donnell among an international cast of Celtic rockers.
‘As I Roved Out – A Story Of Celtic Rock 1968-1978’ takes a deep dive into a sub-genre that fused Celtic folk music with rock. Irish acts such as Taste, Skid Row, Thin Lizzy and Limerick band Granny’s Intentions were at the creative forefront of this movement. The CD is available from Steamboat Music, Limerick.
Celtic Rock was a growing international sound emerging beyond Ireland too, in Wales (Huw Jones, Y Nhw, Heather Jones), in Scotland (John Martyn, Al Stewart and Runrig) in France (Dan Ar Braz, Kyaldan, Namnètes) and in England (Fairport Convention, Steeleye Span, Pentangle, East Of Eden, Wishbone Ash, Faces) all of whom feature on this collection to give the full picture of one of the most interesting and original strands of rock.
The three CD compilation was curated by Limerick music journalist John O’Regan. John hosts the Eclectic Celt radio show on LCCR 99.9fm (2pm Sundays) and is on the adjudication committee for the RTE Folk Awards for the last three years.
As well as sourcing some of the music, John wrote the introduction and an extensive and informative breakdown of each track on the album’s beautifully produced sleeve notes.
Over three CDs As I Roved Out, celebrates the formation of the genre in the late 60’s on CD1 to the international growth of Celtic Rock in the 70’s on CD2 and CD3.
The project is a labour of love for John O’Regan, who has worked on many albums including The Dubliners back catalogue and has been working on this new album since last September.
“The record company came up with an idea that mixed the Celtic material that I supplied from Ireland, from Scotland, and Brittany and they had a lot of Welsh material, plus, they had a lot of the English folk rock material.”
“We wanted to feature a wide range of artists and a wide range of styles because the whole Celtic rock thing came to popularity in ’72, ’73 with the arrival of Horslips, and the release of The Tain and Dearg Doom.
“It got people interested in Irish history and mythology, and mixing it with rock’n’roll to make a kind of music that was exciting for people. It was interesting for people who normally wouldn’t even touch either Irish history or traditional music.
“Not only could they dance to it, but they found that there was something else going on as well, that has a melodic kind of undercurrent that attracted them.
“And there’s lots of different offshoots, bands like Mushroom, Celtic Wine, a band up in Donegal called The Rascals. In Scotland there was a similar kind of thing going on there. Many have become collectors items now on vinyl, but have never been issued on CD.”
‘Maybe’ by Granny’s Intentions is included on the album, why did you pick that particular track from the Honest Injun album?
“That track was on a list that John Reid gave me. (The record label wanted the Limerick band to be on this compilation from its earliest meetings)
“And it was actually one of my favourite tracks on the Honest Injun album. And it’s also one of John Doohan’s favourite tracks on the album too. When I told him that this was coming out, he was to hear that. And he said that it was a really good song still, and he always thought that it should have been a single and I agree with him.”
The other Limerick connection is the track ‘Poet’s & Strorytellers’ by Limerick musician Joe O’Donnell with Rory Gallagher.
Joe O’Donnell is one of the finest electric violin players performing in the Celtic tradition with his band Shkayla. Joe continues to tour, his music has taken him all over Europe and the USA.
Born in Limerick, Joe began taking classical violin lessons at the age of twelve. He has played with Granny’s Intentions, The Woods Band, Trees, Henry McCullough and East of Eden to name a few.
The original recording masters for Poet’s & Strorytellers was provided by Rory’s brother Donal Gallagher who was the bluesman’s manager and still oversees Rory Gallagher’s reissues. He was also Joe O’Donnell’s manager for a time releasing Joe’s album on Polydor Records.
Horslips is not included on this extensive compilation, even though they are a vital part of the Celtic Rock story, especially in Ireland.
John explains, “We approached Crashed Music who looks after The Horslips licensing. And what we got back was that it was tied up legally. And it wasn’t available for licensing right now.
“But we got the majority of the stuff that we wanted to include. And what didn’t come through, as I say it didn’t come through, not through a lack of efforts on our part.”
The album is out on Cherry Red Records. The London based independent record company was formed in 1978 and has worked with Hawkwind, Dead Kennedys, Kim Wilde, The Fall and Peter Buck to name just a few. This new album was made possible through its reissue/catalogue specialist departments, namely Project Manager Russell Beecher and Director of Catalogue John Reed who O’Regan wants to thank for getting this project off the ground.
The album is available from Steamboat Music, Riverpoint, Bishop’s Quay, Limerick www.steamboat.ie
