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A vantrades CD-R Tree Production
Step We Gaelic On We Go
An Irish Anthology

No label (Compiled March 2003)

CDR 1

1. Celtic Swing [17 July '89]
   the Dallas Jazz Orchestra
2. Purple Heather [26 May '73]
   an old song by the McPeakes of Belfast
3. Cypress Avenue [26 May '73]
   Van's Belfast, of course
4. Danny Boy [4 May '83 - late show]
5. Streets Of Arklow [2 Feb '74]
   a small town in Co. Wicklow by the Irish Sea
6. Connswater [31 July '83]
   a stream in Belfast, the name of which derives from Irish Mythology
7. "I think having access ..." [c.1991]
   Van dialogue
8. Tir Na Nog [19 Nov '86]
   Irish Mythology
9. Got To Go Back [25 July '86]
   Belfast again
10. Impromptu Jig [29 Oct '87]
    with The Chieftains. An ad lib jig during rehearsals
11. Celtic Ray [29 Oct '87]
    with The Chieftains
12. Ta Mo Chleamhnas Deanta [15 Sept '88]
    with The Chieftains
13. I'll Tell Me Ma [15 Sept '88]
    with The Chieftains
14. My Lagan Love [29 Oct '87]
    with The Chieftains
15. Moondance [15 Sept '88]
    with the Chieftains
16. A Chieftains Session [4 Mar '88]
    with the Chieftains, Mary Black, Christy Moore, Gary Moore, Paul Brady, Frank Harte, Dolores Keane and many others. Van leads the group in "Marie's Wedding" after a ragtime piano solo by the late Derek Bell
    Total time: (74:45)

CDR 2

1. Celtic Excavation [6 Apr '97]
2. On Hyndford Street [27 June '92]
   Belfast
3. Orangefield [1995]
   Belfast
4. I'm Tired Joey Boy [c.1991]
   Van himself mentions the Antrim and Co Down origins of this piece
5. Northern Muse (Solid Ground) [11 July '90]
   ... she took young Van from his home in the County Down. Many versions to choose from but none touch this one.
6. Raglan Road [30 Nov '89]
   traditional Irish ("The Dawning Of The Day") with a lyric by Irish poet P. Kavanaugh
7. Carrickfergus [30 Nov '89]
   traditional Irish
8. She Moved Through The Fair [30 Nov '89]
   traditional Irish
9. Will You Go, Lassie, Go [17 Mar '94]
   with Paddy Reilly & others. Same song as "Purple Heather" but with a very different arrangement.
10. Have I Told You Lately [17 May '95]
    not particularly Irish, but this version (sourced from the Moontunes boot, Lost In A Fugitive's Dream), has Van dueting with Sinead O'Connor, backed up by The Chieftains
11. Star Of The County Down [17 Dec '95]
12. What Makes The Irish Heart Beat [4 May '02]
13. Shenandoah [1998]
    with The Chieftains. Originally done on the fine soundtrack for The Long Journey Home. Alternate version
14. "I was actually ..." [c.1991]
    Van dialogue
15. Steals My Heart Away [3 Nov '02]
    Van hearing the violins and the pipers play ... and then there's the heather on the hill. Pretty ballad.
16. One Irish Rover [25 May '01]
17. Irish Heartbeat [25 Aug '98]
    with Arty McGlynn & Liam O'Flynn
18. Healing Game [25 Aug '98]
    with Arty McGlynn & Liam O'Flynn. Special performance at the Rose of Tralee Festival after the bombing at Omagh. Fantastic piping by Liam O'Flynn
    Total time: (72:25)

Administration & Liners:
Tree administration for this tree was by the Rare 90's folks. Thanks to: JPS: compilation, sequencing, video transfers and artwork; VT: audio work and extreme patience; Drawboy: last minute assist.

Notes:
34 tracks collected from 26 different sources (1973-2002); they've been edited to bring out the music and to make it all flow as seamlessly as possible.

What makes it an "Irish" Anthology, particularly? Some of the material is traditional Irish, some of it is Van's Belfast material, some of it is Van songs with a specific Irish theme, some of it is here because of the musicians Van was working with at the time, and in one particular case because of a couple of lines in the lyrics to a lovely ballad.

Most of you will already have some of this material, but we're pretty certain that you don't have *all* of it. There are some relative rarities, and then there are some things here that we believe are making their first appearance on disc.

Part of the van-the-man.info unofficial website