Magic Nights by Christy Moore.

I have purchased a lot of CDs this year in various genres of music, but I think the most enjoyable one of all is the new release from Christy Moore called Magic Nights. It is a 2 CD collection of live recordings made over the past few years. There are 26 songs in all, and I have enjoyed hearing every single one of them.

There is a very attractive booklet with the package in which Christy has written notes about all the songs. I like the way in which he gives full credit to all the songwriters. Apart from the songs by Shane McGowan and Jackson Browne I don’t think I would have been aware of most of these great songs if Christy hadn’t recorded them himself. Also, I like how when he hears a great song, he seems to always ask the writers permission before he records it. There are some great photos in the booklet by Adam Sherwood and Rafal Kostrzewa. Producer Jimmy Higgins and engineer David Meade also deserve a mention for bringing out the best in these live recordings, the sound quality is excellent.

I won’t tell you about every single song in detail or I’ll be here all day, just what I noted down as I listened. I hadn’t heard the opening song Magic Nights In The Lobby Bar before, but I notice it is written by John Spillane & Ger Wolfe. John Spillane is a great singer himself and I discovered his work through Christy recording other songs of his. Matty is a favourite song that I first heard on a cd in Joyce’s Bar in Kiltimagh about 20 years ago. Poor old Matty comes to a bad end when he meets his ‘dark familiar’ down the ‘curra line’. Sonny’s Dream I first heard on the Ride On album 35 years ago. Ringing That Bell is a relatively new song to me that I heard back in the summer at the Royal Festival Hall and it is that performance that is included here. What a great song it is. A Pair Of Brown Eyes is one of Shane McGowan's greatest songs.

Sail On Jimmy is another song that I heard at the RFH. It is hilarious and audiences love it. Burning Times by contrast is a very serious song that Christy now dedicates to Lyra McKee who died in the cruellest way earlier this year. The Tuam Beat is a great fun song that I was introduced to by the Saw Doctors. Back Home In Derry was written by the late Bobby Sands. I have never heard Rosalita And Jack Campbell before but it’s a great song with a western feel to it with tragedy and humour combined. I didn’t know about the story behind Duffy’s Cut until yesterday when I looked it up on Wikipedia. It is about 57 Irish workers who died building a railroad in the USA in 1832. They may have died of cholera or might have been murdered. Whatever the reason it is a tragic story. Motherland is a song by Natalie Merchant and Spancil Hill is a song that Christy  recorded in 1971 that has returned to his repertoire in recent years.

The second half begins with Before The Deluge. Listening to this song always reminds me of watching Christy in the pouring rain at Glastonbury 2004. The Two Conneeleys  is a very moving true story that Christy turned into song with Wally Page. Missing You is another song that I heard in London and seemed very appropriate to the big city. Cry Like A Man is a song that I have never heard sung live before and I must confess I had forgotten about. Reel In The Flickering Light by contrast is one of my all time favourite Christy songs. Veronica tells the story of the journalist Veronica Guerin and is another of Christy’s songs that show his deep social conscience. Johnny Jump Up was the first Christy song I ever heard, back in the 1970s, so it is great to hear it again. Inchicore Wake is a new song to me. It is written by Pete St John who is best known for writing The Fields Of Athenry. Tipping It Up To Nancy is a great fun song ably assisted by Jimmy Higgins, Seamie O’Dowd, Cathal Hayden & Mairtin O’Connor. Like Johnny Jump Up I first heard Only Our Rivers Run Free on a compilation album in the 1970s called All The Folk That Fits when it was sung by Planxty. I just saw on Amazon that copies of that album are worth £50 now. Hurt is a song that has become associated with Johnny Cash, but I like Christy’s version just as much. The Well Below The Valley is a Christy solo classic. The album ends with the wonderful Mandolin Mountain from the recent album called Lily.

I have loved listening to this collection of songs. Christy’s voice sounds as good as ever to me and lets not forget the little crew of musicians who help out on this album Declan,Jimmy, Cathal, Mairtin, Seamie, Vickie & Joleen. Thank you very much Christy for this great album.
PS, I hope Adam & Rafal don't mind me using their photos in this review.