Origins: Who's playing this Mingulay Boat Song?

Subject: Origins: Who's playing this Mingulay Boat Song?
From: GUEST,Galvatron
Date: 19 Oct 20 - 01:50 PM

Can Anyone Identify the source (Artist, Album) of this version of the Mingulay Boat Song? https://vocaroo.com/1mjmh8GxwFSQ

It’s from an old vinyl recording onto cassette, and it might very well be sped up. Does anyone happen to know who the artist could be?

Subject: RE: Origins: Who's playing this Mingulay Boat Song?
From: GUEST
Date: 19 Oct 20 - 02:07 PM

No idea. But you may also find it under the title, 'Let Her Go Boys'.

Subject: RE: Origins: Who's playing this Mingulay Boat Song?
From: Noreen
Date: 19 Oct 20 - 02:45 PM

Male Dublin lead singer, lots going on in background, predominantly banjo. Not recognisably The Dubliners, though of that ilk.
Never heard this version before.

Subject: RE: Origins: Who's playing this Mingulay Boat Song?
From: GUEST,Galvatron
Date: 19 Oct 20 - 04:14 PM

I don’t think it can be any newer than the early 80s. It was from a cassette of a mix of Clancy Brothers tracks, from various LPs. Although I don't think this is them, as the only version I can find of theirs is much more sedate. I’m almost certain the clip is sped up by a good 10% or so though, as most of the other tracks on the tape were.

Subject: RE: Origins: Who's playing this Mingulay Boat Song?
From: GUEST
Date: 19 Oct 20 - 05:37 PM

Is it possible one of the singers is from Scotland's west coast?

Subject: RE: Origins: Who's playing this Mingulay Boat Song?
From: Felipa
Date: 19 Oct 20 - 06:28 PM

The Clancy Bros and Tommy Makem did record the Mingulay Boat Song but this isn't their recording (I remember Tommy Makem's voice on the recording; I think the band took turns on the verses). It's closer to the Dubliners. Must be some lesser known group. Maybe "the Irish Brothers" a different group of Clancys from Co Tyrone rather than Co Tipperary? That's what I remember but when I looked up The Irish Rovers I found references to a band based in Toronto, Canada

Their recording of the Star of the County Down sounded to me like the group on your recording, singer with a similar voice. As you say, the recording is probably speeded up. The recording of Mingulay boat song sounds different to me, deeper, no prominent banjo, but does have the a capella harmony singing towards the end of the song.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xy0OcjkVdGM What do you think?

Subject: RE: Origins: Who's playing this Mingulay Boat Song?
From: Felipa
Date: 19 Oct 20 - 06:36 PM

I think the Irish Rovers MAY be who you are looking for, though this isn't the Tyrone band I was thinking of. The Canadian-based Irish Rovers did have a big hit with The Unicorn - "There were green alligators and long necked geese, Some humpty-back camels and some chimpanzees, Some cats and rats and elephants, but sure as you're born, The loveliest of all was the Unicorn."
https://theirishroversmusic.com/our-story/

Subject: RE: Origins: Who's playing this Mingulay Boat Song?
From: Felipa
Date: 19 Oct 20 - 07:22 PM

Those other Clancy brothers, from Co Tyrone, I was thinking about, called their group "The Irish Ramblers". https://soundcloud.com/gene-clancy/the-patriot-game-by-the-irish
Discography https://www.theballadeers.com/noa/mnf_irishrambers.htm
A bit of thread drift as there is no indication that they ever recorded the Mingulay Boat Song, but I needed to correct info. from a previous message.

Subject: RE: Origins: Who's playing this Mingulay Boat Song?
From: Noreen
Date: 19 Oct 20 - 07:30 PM

Any reason for saying that, GUEST? The main singer has a Dublin accent.

Subject: RE: Origins: Who's playing this Mingulay Boat Song?
From: GUEST
Date: 19 Oct 20 - 07:43 PM

I was wondering if anyone had listened to the complete piece--the splicing and key transition was 'clumsy'--but round seems to have a brr in it. I'm not sure the duo of singers are both Irish. I'm probably wrong, but nothing ventured, nothing gained.

Subject: RE: Origins: Who's playing this Mingulay Boat Song?
From: meself
Date: 19 Oct 20 - 07:49 PM

It ain't the Irish Rovers - not the 'Unicorn' ones, anyway.

Subject: RE: Origins: Who's playing this Mingulay Boat Song?
From: GUEST,Galvatron
Date: 19 Oct 20 - 08:09 PM

Someone over on TheSession slowed the beginning down from G to F, which they feel sounds more natural: https://the-limpets.de/other_stuff/The_Mingulay_Boat_Song_F.mp3

Subject: RE: Origins: Who's playing this Mingulay Boat Song?
From: Georgiansilver
Date: 20 Oct 20 - 08:29 AM

Sounds a little like a distorted version of the McCalmans.

Subject: RE: Origins: Who's playing this Mingulay Boat Song?
From: GUEST
Date: 20 Oct 20 - 11:15 AM

Could not get link,,off the top of my head ...maybe "Sullivan's Gypsies" could someone make the link more easy to get to?

Subject: RE: Origins: Who's playing this Mingulay Boat Song?
From: Georgiansilver
Date: 20 Oct 20 - 02:55 PM

Here it is!!

Subject: RE: Origins: Who's playing this Mingulay Boat Song?
From: GUEST,Ballyholmd
Date: 20 Oct 20 - 03:44 PM

Am I hearing “Fill yer hoe, boys”?

Subject: RE: Origins: Who's playing this Mingulay Boat Song?
From: GUEST
Date: 20 Oct 20 - 05:03 PM

Thanks for the link! Well..you have stumped this band! It is not "Sullivan's Gypsies" or "Sons of Erin" just checked my messy archives! Good luck! Terry Murphy

Subject: RE: Origins: Who's playing this Mingulay Boat Song?
From: FreddyHeadey
Date: 20 Oct 20 - 05:11 PM

& here's a clicky for Galvatron's link to the slowed down version
https://the-limpets.de/other_stuff/The_Mingulay_Boat_Song_F.mp3

Subject: RE: Origins: Who's playing this Mingulay Boat Song?
From: GUEST,Rossey
Date: 20 Oct 20 - 05:55 PM

I did wonder if this is an obscure duo called the Cotters. They were a Scottish duo - vocals guitar and mandolin, who made just one album in 1969 for Page One records opening with the Mingulay Boar song. . and then that was it. Both are now deceased. However I am just throwing this one out there, as I can't find any uploads of their recordings.. so it maybe a red herring (or I might just be casting my net in the wrong direction). It doesn't sound like a full harmony group.. and there is no whistle (as in some suggested versions)

Subject: RE: Origins: Who's playing this Mingulay Boat Song?
From: GUEST,Rossey
Date: 20 Oct 20 - 06:13 PM

Ooops! The above should read, Mingulay Boat Song... not Boar (sic). I can never see the keys! Incidentally, my father recorded the song as a single for Grampian Records in 1965, but more in an old fashioned heather and haggis way, with horrible accordion, plinky plonk piano backing and snare drum. They dubbed seagulls and waves onto it for good measure. I can't find any tracks by the Cotters folk duo to compare, but I do suspect it might be them.

Subject: RE: Origins: Who's playing this Mingulay Boat Song?
From: GUEST,Galvatron
Date: 26 Oct 20 - 06:49 PM

I have the artist! It's by The Quare Fellas, from their 1969 album "At Home"

https://www.discogs.com/master/view/421918

Subject: RE: Origins: Who's playing this Mingulay Boat Song?
From: GUEST,Rossey
Date: 27 Oct 20 - 09:59 AM

Well identified Galvatron - I was way off..!

Subject: RE: Origins: Who's playing this Mingulay Boat Song?
From: BDenz
Date: 04 May 21 - 07:19 PM

Mingulay Boat Song -- that pesky last verse.

I have no idea where I heard/found the last verse we use, but I'd bet that I messed with it so that it carries the "picture" of the song to a logical end. Not that it's anything more than folk music evolving

[verse before ends with "e'er the sun sets on Mingulay"

Sun rides low, now, o'er the bowsprit
Clouds are flying; pushing us westward
Songs of home fly on the wind, boys,
Sailing homeward to Mingulay