The Blue Idol

The Blue Idol
Studio album by Altan
Released	26 February 2002
Recorded	June - August, 2001
Genre	Irish traditional Folk
Length	49:20
Label	Narada
Producer	Altan
Altan chronology
Another Sky (2000) The Blue Idol (2002) Local Ground (2005)

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source	Rating
Allmusic	[1]
Billboard	[2]

The Blue Idol is the eighth studio album by Irish traditional band Altan, released in February 2002 on the Narada label.

Overview

The Blue Idol features guest artists such as Dolly Parton on "The Pretty Young Girl" (which was translated by Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh's father Proinsias Ó Maonaigh) and Paul Brady on "Daily Growing".

The album was mixed and engineered by nine-time Grammy Award-winner Gary Paczosa

Critical reception

The Blue Idol received a dithyrambic review from Billboard, describing it as «a work of genius» and as «a triumph for Altan and a reminder of the endless charm of Irish music».^{[3][2][nb 1]}

Track listing

1. "Daily Growing" [Song] – 4:53 (also known as "The Trees They Grow High")
2. "Uncle Rat" [Song] – 2:18
3. "Roaring Water" [Jig] – 3:15
4. "The Pretty Young Girl" [Song] – 4:39
5. "The Blue Idol/The Butchers March" – 3:05
6. "The Gatehouse Maid/The Ashplant/The Trip to Cullenstown" – 3:52
7. "Cuach Mo Lon Dubh Buí" [Song] – 3:02
8. "Mother's Delight/Ormond Sound/Mike Hoban's Reel" – 4:22
9. "The Low Highland/Moneymusk/Duncan Davidson Highlands/The Wild Irishman Reel" – 3:39
10. "The Sea-Apprentice Boy" [Song] – 3:50
11. "Sláinte Theilinn – A Health to Teelin" [Air] – 4:00
12. "An Cailín Deas Óg" [Song] – 4:40
13. "Comb Your Hair and Curl It/Gweebarra Bridge" – 3:45

All titles are traditional, with the following exceptions:

• "Roaring Water" – composed by Ciaran Tourish and Mark Kelly
• "Cuach Mo Lon Dubh Buí" – lyrics traditional, music composed by Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh
• "Sláinte Theilinn – A Health to Teelin" – composed by Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh

See tune identifications for this album at irishtune.info.

Live performances

Altan played live in concert the following tracks:

• "Uncle Rat",
• "The Pretty Young Girl",
• "The Blue Idol/The Butchers March",
• "An Cailín Deas Óg" &
• "Comb Your Hair and Curl It/Gweebarra Bridge".

Personnel

Altan

• Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh – Fiddle, vocals
• Ciaran Tourish – Fiddle, whistle, backing vocals
• Ciarán Curran – Bouzouki, mandolin
• Mark Kelly – Guitar, bouzouki, backing vocals
• Dermot Byrne – Accordion
• Dáithí Sproule – Guitar, backing vocals

Guest musicians

• James Blennerhassett – Bass (track 1, 2)
• Paul Brady – Vocals (track 1)
• Harry Bradley – Flute (track 5, 8)
• Richie Buckley - Saxophone (track 7)
• Steve Cooney – Bass (track 11)
• Jim Higgins – Bodhrán (tracks 1-3, 5, 6, 8, 9, 11, 13)
• Dónal Lunny – Bouzouki (tracks 1, 4, 11, 12), keyboards (track 1)
• Neil Martin – Cello (track 11)
• Anna Ní Mhaonaigh
• Liam O'Flynn – Uillean pipes (track 3)
• Dolly Parton – Vocals (track 4)

Production

• Gary Paczosa – Engineer
• Alistair McMillan – Assistant engineer
• Amelia Stein – Band photography
• Shaughn McGrath/Four 5 One Design – Design

Notes

1. The Blue Idol is a work of genius. Everything that's appealing, powerful, and musically special about Irish music is contained in these 13 tracks. Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh's singing is spellbinding, and her fiddling is no less fascinating, especially when augmented by the fiddle of Ciarán Tourish. The group's ensemble playing is formidable, as attested to in the series of jigs and reels that constitute tracks five, six, eight, and nine. Lovely and intriguing lyrics distinguish "Daily Growing" and "Uncle Rat." Also included are several songs performed in Gaelic—"Cuach mo Lon Dubh Bui" of particular interest by virtue of its catchy arrangement and unexpected saxophone part. Also take note of Dolly Parton's delightful guest vocal on "The Pretty Young Girl." The Blue Idol is a triumph for Altan and a reminder of the endless charm of Irish music. — PVV

References

1. Nickson, Chris. The Blue Idol at AllMusic
2. "The Blue Idol". Billboard. 2 March 2002. Retrieved 20 February 2015.
3. "Archive searches: What Billboard said about The Blue Idol.....we hope they enjoy The Widening Gyre just as much...". Altan Facebook page. 19 February 2015. Retrieved 20 February 2015.