Rude Awakening (Andy Irvine album) explained

Rude Awakening
Type:	studio
Artist:	Andy Irvine
Cover:	Rude Awakening (Andy Irvine).jpg
Released:	1991
Recorded:	December 1990 & January 1991
Studio:	Westland and Ringsend Studios, Dublin and Frank MacNamara's Park Studio, County Meath
Genre:	Irish folk music
Length:	51:09
Label:	Green Linnet Records, (USA)
Producer:	Bill Whelan
Prev Title:	Parallel Lines
Prev Year:	1982
Next Title:	East Wind
Next Year:	1992

Rude Awakening^[1] is Andy Irvine's second solo album, recorded in December 1990 and January 1991 at Westland and Ringsend Studios, Dublin and Frank MacNamara's Park Studio, County Meath, and released in 1991 on Green Linnet Records.^[2] It was produced by Bill Whelan with a line-up that included Whelan himself (keyboards, percussion), Rens van der Zalm (fiddle, mandolin, guitar), Carl Geraghty (soprano saxophone), Arty McGlynn (guitars), Davy Spillane (whistle) and Fionnuala Sherry (fiddle).

Recording

This album features Irvine's tribute song to Woody Guthrie ("Never Tire of the Road"), alongside mainly self-penned material celebrating some of his many other heroes:

• WW2 Swedish diplomat "Raoul Wallenberg",
• Union organiser "James Connolly" - a traditional song for which Irvine wrote new music,
• Mexican revolutionary leader Emiliano Zapata ("Viva Zapata!"),
• Michael Dwyer ("Michael Dwyer's Escape"),
• Antarctic explorers "Douglas Mawson" and Aeneas Mackintosh ("Rude Awakening"), and
• American novelist Sinclair Lewis ("The Whole Damn Thing").

The only other traditional song is "Allan McLean", for which Irvine wrote new music also.

The sleeve notes of "Love To Be With You" - a poignant song of longing - show a faded, black & white photo of Vida, the heroine of "Rainy Sundays",^[3] the song Irvine released ten years earlier on Rainy Sundays... Windy Dreams.

Track listing

All tracks composed by Andy Irvine; except where indicated

1. "Never Tire of the Road"  - 3:58
2. "Raoul Wallenberg"  - 5:15
3. "James Connolly" (Traditional; with new music by Andy Irvine)  - 6:38
4. "Viva Zapata!"  - 4:25
5. "The Whole Damn Thing"  - 5:40
6. "Rude Awakening"  - 4:15
7. "Michael Dwyer's Escape"  - 4:59
8. "Douglas Mawson"  - 6:38
9. "Allan McLean" (Traditional; with new music by Andy Irvine)  - 4.59
10. "Love To Be With You"  - 4:22

Personnel

• Andy Irvine - vocals, bouzouki, harmonica
• Bill Whelan - keyboards, percussion, backing vocals
• Arty McGlynn - guitar
• Rens van der Zalm - fiddle, mandolin, guitar
• Carl Geraghty - soprano saxophone
• Fionnuala Sherry - fiddle
• Davy Spillane - whistle

External links

• Rude Awakening CD.

Notes and References

1. Andy Irvine – Rude Awakening, Green Linnet GLCD 1114, 1991.
2. Sleeve notes from Andy Irvine – Rude Awakening, Green Linnet GLCD 1114, 1991.
3. Book: Irvine, Andy . 1988. Aiming for the Heart. Germany. Heupferd Musik Verlag GmbH. 39-2344-501-6.