I am a huge fan of Liam and his brothers (and their work with Tommy Makem and Louis Killen).

I am sure most, if not all, of you are familiar with Bob Dylan's assertion that Liam Clancy was "the best ballad singer [he] ever heard in [his] life".

I wonder what your opinions might be - good? great? one of the greats among many fine balladeers over the years of modern history?

I am particularly fond of Liam Clancy's straightforwardness - he called his guitar skills "boxing-glove style", in reference to his self-proclaimed limited abilities.

He also performed around the world with run-of-the-mill, inexpensive guitars of the quality that one might find in nearly any average instrument shop. In a world where certain people's "signature model" guitars can cost upwards of a thousand US dollars on the low end, enjoying a heartfelt performance by a true talent who played a $250 guitar was, and still is, refreshing.

Liam Clancy... shall we discuss?