the Dublin City Ramblers
Rare Ould Times
1980—Dolphin DOLM 7025 LP
Side One
Salonika
My Green Valleys
Nancy Spain
Danny Farrell
Paddy Lie Back
Phil's March
The Rare Ould Times
Side Two
"P" Stands for Paddy
Come By The Hills
Kidnapped
The Crack Was Ninety in the Isle of Man
Mary's Song
The Punch and Judy Man
Credits
Patsy Watchorn
Sean McGuinness
Kevin Molloy
Philip McCaffrey
Recorded at Lombard Studios
Produced by Eamonn Campbell
John Sheahan—Whistle and Electric Piano
Des Moore—Bass Guitar
Sleeve Design: Cathal Sweeney
Photography: Dave O'Hehir
Sleeve Notes
Few will deny that in the last five years the Dublin City Ramblers have established themselves as one of the major talents on the Irish ballad scene. Considering how wide and competitive a field this is, their achievement must be seen as nothing less than formidable. Their musical competence and fine vocal ability have won them the respect and admiration of a discerning audience here, on the Continent and in North America.
The range and originality of this, their latest selection, must surely represent the Ramblers' best album to date. It includes the definitive version of Pete St. John's poignant ballad of Dublin — the 'Rare Ould Times', the touchingly lyrical 'My Green Valleys' and the ever-lovely 'Come by the Hills'. By contrast a fine comic touch is introduced by the rousing 'Paddy Lie Back' and a frolicsome The Crack was Ninety in the Isle of Man'. Included also are two fine instrumentals—a lively march from Phil, the group's accomplished fiddle player, and a rendering of the Theme from 'Kidnapped'. This latter, which might appear at first sight to be a rather unlikely inclusion, is one of the highlights of the Album.
All in all this memorable collection of wide-ranging numbers reflects the consistency of the high standard we have come to expect from the Dublin City Ramblers.