This powerful collection of traditional Irish folk songs has been issued several times under various titles, including CD releases as The Lark in the Morning in 1996 from Tradition Records and again under that title by Empire Records in 2006, and as
Celtic Classic Treasures from Legacy Records in 1999. The original recordings were made between August and December on a field trip that song collectors Diane Hamilton,
Liam Clancy, and Catherine Wright made to Ireland in 1955. Although they are technically field recordings, the sound on these tracks (most of which were recorded at
Mrs. Sarah Makem's home in Keady) is clear and spacious sounding. Highlights include the great
Paddy Tunney singing "The Lark in the Morning," an early recording of fiddler Padraig O'Keefe ("Jig"),
Sarah Makem's spell-binding "In the Month of January," and the high, sweet tenor of Thomas Baynes singing "Barbara Ellen."
Liam Clancy first met
Tommy Makem (
Sarah Makem's son) at these sessions, and they ultimately formed
the Clancy Brothers, an extremely successful Irish traditional singing group. ~ Steve Leggett