Dubliners - Revolution (1970)

Revolution is the title of the tenth album by The Dubliners. It was their second to be produced by Phil Coulter. This was a landmark in their career. Their sound had developed and Coulter, as well as playing piano on the record, had brought in other instrumentalists as well. The album featured "Scorn Not His Simplicity", a song that Coulter had composed about his own son, who had Down's syndrome, as well as a poem penned by Luke Kelly entitled "For What Died The Sons Of Róisín?".

Working with producer Phil Coulter, in 1970 better known for generic pop standards, was a huge risk for these folk ruffians, something that Coulter should have equally been wary of when the group objected to a piano being included on Luke Kelly's boisterous rendition of left-wing anthem 'Joe Hill'. Of course the relationship between Coulter and The Dubliners was never going to be incident free, and 'Revolution' thus stands as a remarkable product of a slightly strained relationship. Discipline is the first factor. Almost completely gone is the temptation to include begorrah laden audience pleasers, instead Kelly rubs his hands with delight at the quality material 'Alabama '58', 'The Button Pusher', and a rare original composition for the group in Kelly's poem 'For What Died the Sons of Róisín?'. Ronnie and Ciaran share spoken leads on the gloomy and atmospheric 'Sé Fáth Mo Bhuartha' alternating between Irish and English, and complimented by Ciaran and John's forlorn tin whistles. Ronnie's Spanish adventures are recognised in the delightful 'Ojos Negros', Coulter's mixing desk skills bringing a grainy cantina feel. Coulter's greatest composition, the tragedy laden 'Scorn Not His Simplicity' was in turn the perfect showcase for Luke Kelly's extraordinary abilities as a vocalist, where Sheehan's fiddle weeps alongside a piercing organ, it was to be their finest hour. Ending with another rousing left-wing anthem 'Peat Bog Soldiers' where McKenna, Bourke, and Sheehan again excel as arrangers, the initially shaky meeting of The Dubliners and Phil Coulter had now produced the pinnacle of the career, something neither could ever truly match.


Tracklist:

Alabama 58
The Captains And The Kings
School Days Over
Se'Fath Mo Bhuartha
Scorn Not His Simplicity
For What Died The Sons Of Roison
Joe Hill
Ojos Negros
The Button Pusher
The Bonny Boy
The Battle Of The Somme / Freedom Come All Ye
Biddy Mulligan
The Peat Bog Soldiers

Dubliners - Revolution (1970)
(320 kbps, cover art included)