The Songs
Boston Bla
ckthorne's
new CD "Better Late than Ever" combines traditional songs and ballads, fiddle tunes, and an eclectic collection of music written by members of the band. Here is the song list and a little bit about each tune. We are proud to be able to introduce several original songs for the first time here and hope they will take their place amongst the classic tunes of the genre.
1. The album opens with a traditional tune called Lanagan's Ball - this is a shortened version of what is originally a very long song! Jim sings the main vocal with help from Jon and Chetz. The instruments are: Jim guitar, mandolin and 4 string banjo, Jon, 6 string guitar, Chetz, bass, Pete, fiddle, bouzouki and bodhran. The song comes to a rousing finish with the jigs Ten Penny Bit and Road to Listoonvarna.
2. Jon's original tune Gone to the Wars is next up. This powerful tune was written a few years ago during the first Gulf War and unfortunately remains just as relevant today. Part of the makeup of a great song is that it is open to different interpretations. This tune has been embraced by those who oppose the war- at the same time it was adopted by a squad of Special Forces soldiers in Baghdad as their "theme song". Jon sings lead vocals with backups by Jim. The instruments are: Jon 6 string guitar, Jim, bouzouki, Robbie, fiddle, Chetz, bass and bodhran.
3. The Minstrel Boy...to the wars has gone. This classic tune by Sir Thomas Moore was borrowed by Brahms for a symphony and it's good enough for us! This was the first song recorded for the album. Years later we liked the recording but felt it needed a little "pumping up" when heard alongside the others- we actually got better at this as we went along!. So we recorded new vocals and instruments around and over the original production to give it more depth and power. Lead vocals by Jim, background vocals by Jim and Jon. The instruments are: Jim, 6 string guitar, bouzouki and 4 string banjo, Chetz, bass, fiddle, Pete. Jim and Jon toured for years as an acoustic duo and this tune features their style of 2 finger-picked Martin guitars played in different fingerings with capos.
