Andy Irvine Paul Brady
(21/100 Greatest Irish Albums)

The collision of multi-instrumentalist Irvine with the restless genre-jumping Brady in Rockfield Studios in Wales produced the definitive version of ‘Arthur McBride’. But it was much more than a one-song album: widely hailed as Contemporary Folk Album of The Year, it stands as a timeless classic to this day. A sublimely effortless collection of songs and tunes gathered from hither and yon around Britain (‘Bonny Woodhall’) and Ireland (‘The Streets Of Derry’), introduced eager folk, rock and mainstream audiences to a kaleidoscopic array of acoustic instruments.
Apart from the obvious guitars and fiddles there’s ample helpings of hurdy-gurdy, mandola, cittern, bouzouki and harmonium with the dynamic duo being joined by Kevin Burke and Donal Lunny to create a genuine folk masterpiece.