Original Irish Tenors: The Legendary Voices of Celtic Song

Overview

In the early days of the popular music industry, several Irish tenors -- or, at least, tenors of Irish descent who were born in or moved to the United States -- enjoyed considerable success with sentimental patriotic/nationalistic songs, and romantic tunes with Irish themes. Here are 21 such recordings, done between 1921 and 1953 by seven different artists, Morton Downey (father of talk show host Morton Downey, Jr.) and John McCormack being the most renowned. While these singers sometimes recorded songs with Irish traditional folk origins, this isn't folk music by any stretch of the imagination. Instead, it consists of various combinations of Irish folk music, Tin Pan Alley pop, and vaudeville, with some operatic influence, cinematic soundtrack flavor, and military march rhythms for good measure. As such, the arrangements will feel dated to many listeners, and the vocal delivery far more sentimental than anyone would deliver with a straight face nowadays. Still, the singers do have a supple power, and skillfully tap into the archetypal mixture of unabashedly dramatic merriment and melancholy that many associate with Irish music (and culture). It's a highly commercialized form of Irish authenticity, but one that carries considerable idiosyncratically Irish character nonetheless. ~ Richie Unterberger

Product Details

Release Date:	03/29/2019
Label:	Sony Legacy Mod
UPC:	0190759536629
Rank:	121104

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Chris Lynch   Primary Artist
Phil Regan & Orchestra   Primary Artist
John McCormack   Primary Artist
Frank Parker   Primary Artist
Dennis Day   Primary Artist
Phil Regan   Primary Artist
Edwin Schneider   Primary Artist
Morton Downey   Primary Artist

Technical Credits

Michael Brooks   Compilation Producer,Reissue Producer
Morton Downey   Composer,Performer
Harry Coster   Restoration Sound Engineer
Vic Anesini   Digital Mastering
Laura Grover   Project Director
John Springer   Photography
Bridget McGoldrick   Packaging Manager
Chauncey Olcott   Composer
Matt Cavaluzzo   Transfers
Geoffrey Himes   Liner Notes
Richard Cummins   Cover Photo,Photography
Phil Regan & Orchestra   Performer
Traditional   Composer