New Album Release

Hugo Duncan    Song & Dance Man        CMCD1106 

Another CD of ‘cream bun’ music from ‘Uncle Hugo’,‘the wee man from Strabane’.   OK. No more clichés I promise. 

Hugo must be the busiest performer in the country. Between his dates all over these islands and his radio work. Strangely though, he rarely features in many lists of favourite singers.  I think this is unfair, and this album proves it.

Many regard Hugo as being good at those catchy little ‘up tempo’ songs, which is true.  But far from the whole story.   There’s no one better than Hugo at ‘selling’ a slow romantic ballad.  If you doubt this, just listen to his version of  ‘If I had My Life To Live Over’.  It’s beautiful.   

Other outstanding performances on this sixteen track album include Bill Anderson’s ‘I Love You Drops’, Kristofferson’s ‘Jody And The Kid’, ‘Edelweiss’ and ‘We Could’.  But I have a feeling that the big ‘airplay’ hit will be the one in which Hugo at last admits to being on the, ’Wrong Side Of Forty’. 

Play this one and suddenly the world has a smile on it’s face. 

Full marks for ‘song selection’, but what else could you expect from someone who has to choose material for six popular radio programmes every week. 

The usual superb production from Eugene Smith, who shares the credits on this one with Hugo himself, and well done to all the team at Northsound Studios. 

Will you be glad you bought it?    Agh,  Ya Will, Ya Will, Ya Will.  

Davy Kennedy.

Track Listing

With a career spanning more than two decades of recording and live performances, Hugo has in recent years expanded into a career in radio and television. He has a very popular radio show, Afternoon Country, five days a week on BBC Radio Ulster as well as weekend radio show on Radio Foyle.

Hugo has presented a string of television shows for BBC Northern Ireland,

most notably, Town Challenge, Hugo Goes To Nashville and his country music series, Hugo And Friends. Hugo has also featured as one of the presenters on BBC Television's Children In Need .