- Audio CD (11 Feb 2003)
- Number of Discs: 1
- Label: Compass
- ASIN: B000087DRP
- Other Editions: Audio CD
- Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 1,126,192 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
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Product details |
Track Listings
| 1. Goodnight Ginger |
| 2. The Big Man Set |
| 3. The Cake Maker's Wife |
| 4. Poodle Girl |
| 5. Sean Maguire's |
| 6. Shake A Leg |
| 7. The Bold Privateer |
| 8. Leaving Friday Harbor |
| 9. Wiseman's |
| 10. Oor Pal Davy |
| 11. McGoldrick's |
| 12. Wabazi Heaven |
Product Description
fRoots, March 2003
Whatever pundits may opine about "that difficult third album", on Goodnight Ginger John McCusker has clearly not fallen foul of the supposed problem. Gathering a small galaxy of other stars round to have a good time, he's put together an album of tunes that already is a serious contender for one of the best albums of 2003. As well as being a commanding and wonderfully expressive fiddler, John has always had the knack of making tunes that are instantly attractive, and that remain in the memory long after the album or gig has finished. This seems to hold true whether they're firmly set in the traditional vein, or are more quirkily contemporary. "Oor Pal Davy", composed with Phil Cunningham, is a beautiful and touching tribute to the much-missed Davy Steele; Phil was also the source of "The Bold Privateer", the obligatory Kate Rusby vocal track (in which she sings even more heart-wrenchingly than usual--a show stopper if ever there was one). A few of the tunes are already old friends, familiar to Battlefield Band audiences ("Leaving Friday Harbour" makes a welcome reappearance, as does "Stella's Welcome to Kamloops"). Likewise, many of the musicians are hardly strangers: Ian Carr, Andy Cutting, Michael McGoldrick, Simon Thoumire, James Mackintosh, Ewan Vernal and the aforementioned Phil Cunningham appear in the roll call, as well as several others. But despite the classy band, and McCusker's emotive fiddle mastery demanding one's full attention, there's little grandstanding here. The real stars of Goodnight Ginger are the tunes, and it's a measure of the man (as it is of other really great performers) that he can play second fiddle to the music, if you'll excuse the pun. It's a gem. --Bob Walton
© fRoots Magazine all rights reserved
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
22 of 22 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
John McCusker's latest solo album is a strong and delightful showcase for his multiple talents. He wrote or co-wrote all but four of the tunes on this collection, he produced the CD, he marshals an impressive array of guest musicians into inventive accompaniments and collaborations, and then leads the revels as an extremely accomplished fiddle, cittern and whistle player, and what's more probably made the coffee, cooked dinner, and washed up afterwards.
The sound palette of the album is inevitably very similar to the rich textures and endless variation employed in the larger Kate Rusby Bands and the Michael McGoldrick Band, which is inevitable (and nothing but welcome) given the common personnel, but this is very much McCusker's show, with his fiddle playing in particular to the fore.
The opening track sets the stall straight out - a loping guitar introduction from Ian Carr, momentum and depth added as each new instrument joins in, until Iain MacDonald's Highland bagpipes take up the final tune of the set in a driving duet with McCusker's fiddle. Although there's not a duff track to be found, the high spot of the album is the gorgeous central sequence of tracks six to eight. The initially Middle-Eastern tinged Shake A Leg jig set, followed by the spotlight turning to Kate Rusby to do what she does best, a tale of parting, loss and melancholy with a just-right backing from McCusker and Phil Cunningham, and then a beautiful version of McCusker's air 'Leaving Friday Harbour', originally written during his time with the Battlefield Band.
All that, and the finest Mohican hairdo in modern Scottish folk music. What more could you ask from one CD?
Format:Audio CD
This guy's instrumental virtuosity is truly outstanding. Trouble is, it's almost too good - tends to be trying too hard to impress.
Ok, I'm impressed!
Ok, I'm impressed!
Format:Audio CD|Amazon Verified Purchase
Good album but maybe let down ever so slightly by recording production, sound a bit wooly at times,but good tunes and a superb talent in Mc Cusker,seller posted album quickly and without any probs another excellent amazon transaction
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