Once An Angel….. Billy McFarland

 

I’ve been eagerly looking forward to hearing this one, since I heard that Billy had chosen William Mawhinney to produce his latest CD, and I was not disappointed.

Cards on the table right away….. This is, in my humble opinion, the best ever Billy McFarland album.

Billy is a legend in Irish music circles, a fine singer, and a trumpet player second to none.  But many of his previous recordings have failed to capture the magic of the man.  The magic that has given pleasure to so many, in his live performances.

But this album changes all that.   This is the real Billy McFarland, at his best.

This sixteen track CD includes three lesser known, but excellent, Neil Young songs, three original songs, a couple of Merle Haggard and two or three that Billy had recorded before.    Some well chosen standards, in country and pop, complete a fine album.

Two of the tracks associated with Billy, in the past, are the album’s only instrumental ‘Il Selenzio’ and the ‘bouncy’ ‘Jennifer Johnston’.   I believe he also previously recorded the tearjerker, ‘Two Little Orphans’.

I was pleased to see that Billy had included my own favourite Haggard track, ‘It’s Not Love, But It’s Not Bad’, a fine version of Bobby Darin’s pop smash,’Things’, and Isla Grant’s, lovely ‘We’ll Meet Again’.

The original songs are Bill Allen’s, ‘A Happy Man’, a strong song, which will make the listener think about the really important things in life.

Walter Cunningham’s, ‘I Wouldn’t Trade My Shamrock’, takes an unusual angle on emigration ballads, in this one the singer does not leave home.

‘A Love That Was Never To Be’ by Jackie Gordon, rounds off the album, with a tale of lost love, in this case to a richer man.

All three are really good songs, and beautifully handled by Billy.

In fact, I can’t find a weak track on the album.

Great songs, well sung, well played and brilliantly produced.   I wish all local recordings were as good as this.

Grab it.    You won’t be disappointed.

                               Davy Kennedy

.Billy McFarland... Once An Angel.....

 Track Listing

  1. Once An Angel  
  2.   
  3. Bound For Glory
  5. California Sunset.
  7. A Happy Man.
  9. I Wouldn’t Trade My Shamrock.
  11. Il Selenzio.
  13. It’s Not Love (But It’s Not Bad)
  15. Jennifer Johnston.
  17. Lay Down Beside Me.
  19. My Shoes Keep Walking Back To You.
  21. Seven Spanish Angels.
  23. Things.

  We’ll Meet Again

  A Beautiful Time

Two Little Orphans

  A Love That Was Never To Be