A-Z Artist Index Compilations Record Labels Media
Help Us! Contact Us Resources Timeline
Bio:
Brian Byrne played in a folk duo with his brother Michael called
The Spicelanders in the late 60s. This duo from Sheffield then teamed
up with Donal Lunny and Brian Bolger, late of the Emmet Folk, to form
the Emmet Spiceland in 1968. Hugely successful in Ireland,
the Emmet Spiceland had
run it's course by 1970, though
a short-lived reformed line-up with Honor Heffernan and Brian Byrne emerged in 1973.
Brian's solo debut was a single on Pye in 1970 which I have not heard. In 1971 he performed
"An Sean Seanchai" (The Old Storyteller) in the National Song Contest, finishing fourth.
This was not released on vinyl.
His solo LP was recorded in November 1972 and released the following year. It's a pleasant if minor effort,
not too far removed from the Spiceland. It's marred by production problems and
some of the material is over familiar. Even so there are excellent versions of 'Carnloch Bay' and 'Lakes of Coolfin'.
It features
Donal Lunny on most instruments including moog (used most obviously on 'Handsome Sally') and
Jolyon Jackson of Supply Demand & Curve
on cello and organ.
The LP was issued on Hawk Records in 1973, but some labels carry a (p) 1976 date.
These may be later pressings, or it may simply be a typo. As far as I am aware,
there was no delay with the actual release which went ahead in 1973 as planned.
1973 was the year of the brief Emmet Spiceland reunion
in which Brian was involved.
Brian appeared in the stage musicals Jesus Christ Superstar and Joseph and the
Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat in the UK and Ireland. He is featured on the Irish recording
of songs from the latter (as "The Prisoner"), released on Ram Records in 1974. This appears
to have been the end of his recording career.
Notes:
Credits:
Donal Lunny - guitars, bouzouki, tin whistle, moog synthesizer, organ
John Curran - flute
Jolyon Jackson - cello, organ
Martin Walsh - bass
Brian Masterson - tambourine
Traditional Arrangements Donal Lunny and Brian Byrne.
Recorded at Eamonn Andrews Studios, November 1972.
Produced by Donal Lunny.
The Hawk edition is a poor quality pressing. The track listing on the cover does not match
the vinyl.
The 1982 budget reissue on Harp features a new title ('Sweet Carnloch Bay') and
new cover artwork (up to Pickwick's usual standards) which
misspells Brian's name as 'Bryan Byrne'. This is rectified on the label.
Help!: We need your help to complete this entry. If you can tell us more about this band then please do! We welcome any corrections, missing details, connections to other bands, where are they now, etc. We also need photos, scans, copies of releases or live or demo recordings, and any other memorabilia gathering dust in the attic. If you can help, then please get in touch.
thanks to TP McLoughlin & The Failed Bohemian