A Drop Of The Hard Stuff – THE DUBLINERS*****

Seven Drunken Nights/The Galway Races/The Old Alarm Clock/Colonel Fraser & O’Rourke’s Reel/The Rising Of The Moon/McCafferty/I’m A Rover/Weila Waile/The Travelling People/Limerick Rake/Zoological Gardens/The Fairmoye Lasses & Sporting Paddy/Black Velvet Band/Paddy On The Railway

The Dubliners, in their classic line up, were undoubtedly the finest ever exponents of traditional Irish music. Sales of A Drop Of The Hard Stuff were boosted by their UK No. 7 hit single Seven Drunken Nights. Also includes the UK No. 15 hit Black Velvet Band. (UK:5)

"Established The Dubliners as an enduring presence and not a one-hit wonder. They include memorable and influential interpretations of many great songs like The Rising Of The Moon, Black Velvet Band and Paddy On The Railway. All of these are classic tracks that would irrevocably change the way the world saw Irish music."

"The diversity of their material encompasses drinking songs, ballads depicting romantic folly, sea shanties, covers of songs and also political songs, with numerous variations and permutations."

"Recorded when The Dubliners were young and full of fire. The songs are performed with gusto and great musicianship. Essential for anyone who loves Irish music."

"Backed by the incredible virtuosity of the band, Ronnie Drew's rasping vocals breathed new life and vitality into these traditional tunes and made them popular with the man in the street again, to the dismay of the folk purist and elitist, who thought that traditional music had to be treated like a museum relic and studied in a academic way, rather than to be enjoyed. Basically The Dubliners handed folk music back to the folk."

"The songs are funny, boisterous, rollicking and tender, performed by the band with such fire and zeal that they have become the definitive versions. They're also great drinking songs."

"This is the classic line-up at its uncompromising best that shook folk music out of its stupor. Essential."

"If you have never heard Luke Kelly sing, this is a good introduction to the greatest balladeer of them all."