Showband Memories from Larry

THE opening track, Showband Memories on the new CD of the same name by veteran Irish singer Larry Cunningham is an apt title for a collection of songs that reflect the Country side of the showband scene in Ireland. It was written by Clare singer-songwriter PJ Murrihy and the young producer of the album, Jonathan Owens from Granard, his parents once played in Larry's band, has got a very authentic big brass showband sound out of the excellent session musicians that worked on this track. This is the ideal song to set the scene for the other 11 songs on the CD. While lyrics in the opening track chart some of the highlights of Larry's career, especially with The Mighty Avons, this new song and others on the album show that Larry still has the smooth voice and the penchant for those low notes which is as clear as ever after over half a century on the music scene. The second song on this set is the Cowboy Jack Clement classic I Know One which was covered successfully by many stars, including Charley Pride, and once again Larry hits all the right low notes on this new recording of an old song. There is a smattering of originals on the album including a revival of a Top 30 hit for Larry from the days of the vinyl singles Galway and You that was co-written by Mayo journalist Michael Commins and his fellow county man Tom Kelly who has been Brendan Grace's manager for many years. Another Irish composition which is appropriate for an album connected to the showband era is My Lady From Glenfarne, which is all about that famous ballroom of romance in Co Leitrim which is soon to house a museum of the showband years. This song is written by John Farry who has penned many Country â€Ëœn' Irish hits over the years including Daniel O'Donnell's No 1 Summertime in Ireland. There is a nice version of River Man this album and it was a successful song for the late Tommy Ryan from Milltown and the Tuam-based Bandits Showband in the mid-1960s. The Streets of Laredo and Bracero all smack of an era when songs by the late Mary Robbins were lording it in the Pop and Country charts. When Larry sings Fool's Paradise one is taken back to the time when his versions of Jim Reeves songs were very much in favour with record buyers both here and in the UK. The song Too Many Chiefs takes the listener back to the carnivals and dancehalls that Larry played in during his younger years. The Co Longford singer edges ever so slightly into left-of-centre Country territory with the Waylon Jennings hit Good Hearted Woman and Larry's version of the Merle Haggard classic The Fugitive brings down the curtain on this album. Even after all those years on the scene Larry is still enthusiastic about the music business and Showband Memories is an album that will re-kindle many happy memories for fans who danced to him and his various backing bands over the years. Full marks to singer-songwriter PJ Murrihy for capturing the high points of Larry's career so well in the title track of this album, which is out now on the Dublin-based Ceol Record Label.     â€â€ TG