The Godfather, by Brian Rooney

The Godfather

by Brian Rooney

supported by

	/

Streaming + Download

Includes unlimited streaming via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.

Purchasable with gift card

€20 EUR or more
Full Digital Discography

17

releases

Get all 17 Racket Records releases available on Bandcamp and save 35%.

Includes unlimited streaming via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality downloads of Racket Records 25 year Celebration Compilation, At Our Leisure, The Wavy Bow Collection, Settle Out Of Court, Mirth-making Heroes, The Good Mixer - Traditional Irish Music recorded live in London - 1989, Meadbh The Crimson Path, I Will If I Can, and 9 more. , and , .

Purchasable with gift card

€117.65 EUR or more (35% OFF)

1.	Paddy from Portlaw / Whistler at the Wake 03:48	info	buy track
2.	Tie the Bonnet / Galway Rambler 02:54	info	buy track
3.	The Chancellor / The Poppy Leaf 04:04	info	buy track
4.	Tom Steele's / Come West along the Road 03:05	info	buy track
5.	Westering Home / Bold Thady Quill 03:18	info	buy track
6.	M and M 03:40	info	buy track
7.	Brian Rooney's / The Glentaun 03:17	info	buy track
8.	Rose in The Heather / Wandering Minstrel 03:34	info	buy track
9.	Seamus Tansey's / The Kilfenora 02:45	info	buy track
10.	Humours of Tullycryan / Murphy's Hornpipes 04:16	info	buy track
11.	Sligo Maid / The Shaskeen 03:29	info	buy track
12.	Hughie's Buttermilk Mary / The Bush on the Hill 03:10	info	buy track
13.	The Godfather / John Brennan's 04:18	info	buy track

about

Brian Rooney's seminal 1999 recording
Largely unknown outside of the London session scene this album had a huge impact on Irish Traditional music and launched Rooney's career. Rooney's attractive style resonated with so many and his influence can be heard on fiddlers worldwide today.

He went on to record another solo album "Leitrim to London" and appeared on a number of other recordings. He was also named as the recipient of TG4's Gradam Ceoil award in 2012

With guest musicians:
Banjo – John Carty
Bouzouki – Alec Finn
Flute – Frankie Gavin
Piano – Brian McGrath

Review by Ruaraí Ó Caomhanach
"This recording of the fiddler Brian Rooney is a long overdue release for one of the London Irish scene's favourite musicians - the big man with the ready smile and the lonesome sound known far and wide as the Godfather. Cover pictureRooney comes from a musical family in the townland of Derragoon near Kiltyclogher, Co Leitrim close to the Fermanagh border. He moved to London in the '60s and has been a stalwart of the traditional circuit of Ireland's 'other capital' ever since.

This CD was organised by Gregory Daly and produced by another great London Irish musician, the multi-instrumentalist extraordinaire, John Carty. Recorded in Longford in March '99, the album features superb accompaniment from three members of De Dannan - Brian McGrath (piano), Frankie Gavin (fiddle) and Alec Finn (bouzouki) - with banjo duties on two tracks handled by Carty. It is indicative of the degree of respect for Rooney's fiddling that Gavin, who is believed by many to be Ireland's greatest living traditional fiddler, lends his support, albeit on flute. Any worries that Rooney's fiddle might be overpowered by his fellow musicians' contributions are laid to rest on first listening. This is a sensitively produced and mixed recording with the Godfather's talent to the fore throughout - just as it ought to be and, thus, a credit to all involved.

Nine of the thirteen tracks feature Brian's solo fiddle with sparse but tasteful and totally appropriate piano backing from Brian McGrath. Carty has obviously learned a lot about the art of recording since his own debut album which demanded great determination from the listener to find the fine music that was hidden behind a dreadful muddy mix. No such problems here – the fiddle is well recorded and fairly leps out of the speakers demanding the listener's attention. Such attention is rewarded by a delightful, swinging open style which owes as much to three decades of playing London Irish pub sessions as it does to Rooney's Leitrim roots.

The standard of playing is so uniformly excellent throughout that I am reluctant to single out particular tracks for individual mention. Suffice it to say that this is the finest traditional fiddle album I have heard in years. Now if only someone would persuade Brian's old sparring partner Danny Meehan to undertake a similar project - are you listening Mr Carty? Congratulations to all concerned for a job beautifully done."

Racket Records RRCD 002

credits

released January 1, 1999

license

about

Racket Records

Racket Records is an independent family run record label based in the north west of Ireland established in 1997 specialising in Irish traditional music.

contact / help

Contact Racket Records

Streaming and
Download help

Redeem code

Report this album or account

If you like The Godfather, you may also like:

Beo
by Pádraic Keane, Páraic Mac Donnchadha & Macdara Ó Faoláin

supported by 6 fans who also own “The Godfather”

Absolutely sensational - love the generally low-end tones and planxty-esque set up, but most of all the incredible energy of it! Wish more instrumental trad was like this, love the fact that it's recorded live too. Prangman
go to album
Cormac Begley
by Cormac Begley

supported by 5 fans who also own “The Godfather”

HI,The first track and sound I heard was enough for me to get whole album Raw honest,goose bumps live sound, fantastic reels ,to dance Sean nos. Dave Suffolk Uk ps if have,listen on a blue tooth speaker ,this is even more amazing.pps Have listen more ofCormac music and feel the instrument when played becomes a living entity . 13844
go to album
"B"
by Cormac Begley

supported by 5 fans who also own “The Godfather”

Absolutely love that deep concertina sound. And the range of expression that Cormac brings out through this instrument, well beyond the intentions of the designers or makers of these instruments. And, feel sorry for his poor bellows and reeds. He has to do a lot of personal repair on them. Cormac's album design and presentation are beautiful works of art as well. See him in concert if you can. You can really feel those bass notes resonate through a hall. balinsky
go to album
Buile
by Roehind

“Buile” uses an electronic backdrop to explore songs old and new from the Celtic tradition. Bandcamp New & Notable Oct 23, 2023
go to album
Maisha
by The Zawose Queens

featured on Bandcamp Radio Mar 26, 2024
go to album
Callejera
by La Perla

featured on Bandcamp Radio Sep 20, 2022
go to album
Carlos Sweeney McCartin
by Carlos Sweeney McCartin

supported by 4 fans who also own “The Godfather”

Tá grá ag Dia d’Éirinn, agus is cruthúnas é sin. O*Salutaris*Hostia
go to album