Recent recordings of 'The Coolin'

Subject: Recent recordings of 'The Coolin'
From: GUEST,Elizabeth Byrne
Date: 19 Feb 03 - 12:47 PM

Hello all,
I'm currently doing some background research on classic folk and traditional songs for BBC Northern Ireland, for which Mudcat has been invaluable! So I was wondering if anyone would be able to help me with a query? Can anyone suggest good recent recordings of either/both "The Coolin" and "The Doffin Mistress" that are available commercially? (I know there's a recording from the 60's by Dominic Behan of the latter, but I haven't been able to track down a copy).
Any advice would be very much appreciated! Apologies if the information I'm looking for already appears on the site.
Many thanks in advance,
Elizabeth

Subject: RE: Recent recordings of 'The Coolin'
From: weerover
Date: 19 Feb 03 - 12:56 PM

"The Doffing Mistress" is on "Silly Sisters", an excellent LP released by Maddy Prior and June Tabor. I'm not at home at the moment, therefore don't have label details etc.

wr

Subject: RE: Recent recordings of 'The Coolin'
From: Malcolm Douglas
Date: 19 Feb 03 - 01:51 PM

There are field recordings available from the collector Peter Kennedy at   FolkTrax:

Doffin Mistress

The Coolin

Not high quality; most were made on tape in the 1950s; but authentic.

Subject: RE: Recent recordings of 'The Coolin'
From: Peter T.
Date: 19 Feb 03 - 01:56 PM

If you want an English language version, Al O'Donnell does a great version on one of his recent albums (you could pm to Stewie for the details, he sent it to me a year ago). yours, Peter T.

Subject: RE: Recent recordings of 'The Coolin'
From: InOBU
Date: 19 Feb 03 - 02:11 PM

Mary Courtny's band Morning Star is doing a version of the Coolin on their next album, with my song Engine 33 as an accompanying poem (about the lost of ten men from Engine 33 Ladder 9 in New York on September 11)/
Cheers
Larry

Subject: RE: Recent recordings of 'The Coolin'
From: Felipa
Date: 19 Feb 03 - 02:47 PM

not that recent, but Ann with Francie Brolly did a Coalisland version of the Doffin' Mistress, the SDofin' Master - and could record a new one just for you (spotted them at Belfast anti-war rally). See mention of background to this version in thread"this phrase has been bothering me ...
Do you need the Coolin sung, or is an instrumental acceptable?

Subject: RE: Recent recordings of 'The Coolin'
From: RolyH
Date: 19 Feb 03 - 04:49 PM

There's a nice version of 'The Doffin Mistress' by Anne Briggs available on "Anne Briggs - A Colection" on Topic (TSCD504)

Notes from the CD booklet. THE DOFFIN MISTRESS

"Perhaps because the words are at once good natured to fellow workers and cheeky to the master,'The Doffin Mistriss' has a firm hold on the imagination of young mill girls.It seems to have originated in the linen mills of Northern Ireland but has since spread to textile workers elsewhere.The form easily allows for improvised words and many local verses are attached to the tune.A 'doffer' is a worker who takes the full bobbins off the spinning machines." A L Lloyd

Subject: RE: Recent recordings of 'The Coolin'
From: Marc
Date: 19 Feb 03 - 05:27 PM

Skip Healy recorded a beautiful setting of 'The Coolin' on his Farewell New England Shores just a few years back. I'm sure it's still available.

Subject: RE: Recent recordings of 'The Coolin'
From: GUEST,Elizabeth Byrne
Date: 20 Feb 03 - 05:42 AM

Thanks so much to everyone for all of these great suggestions, that's really helpful!
Elizabeth

Subject: RE: Recent recordings of 'The Coolin'
From: InOBU
Date: 21 Feb 03 - 05:45 AM

Hey Marc, Is that the same Skip Healy married to Lisa who lived in New York in the 70's!?! If so, have you contact info for him? I haven't seen him in a dog's age!
Cheers
Larry

Subject: RE: Recent recordings of 'The Coolin'
From:
Date: 21 Feb 03 - 08:01 AM

The Skip I know is certainly not married. However if memory serves me correctly he was spending quite a bit of time in NYC during the late 70's early 80's. He's a flute player with a certain chromatic flair in his ornaments. If this sounds like the same guy, I certainly can hook you up.

Subject: RE: Recent recordings of 'The Coolin'
From: GUEST,JTT
Date: 23 Feb 03 - 03:44 AM

Again, not new, but there's an oldish version of The Coolin by Fionnuala and Una Hunt on a CD called Irish Fantasy. Really nice version on violin with piano backing.

Subject: RE: Recent recordings of 'The Coolin'
From: Marc
Date: 23 Feb 03 - 09:11 AM

InOBU and anyone else interested, you can reach Skip Healy at his

Subject: RE: Recent recordings of 'The Coolin'
From: Marc
Date: 23 Feb 03 - 09:13 AM

Skip can be reached at skiphealy.com. I still can't quit seem to make the blue clicky thing work.

Subject: RE: Recent recordings of 'The Coolin'
From: Marc
Date: 23 Feb 03 - 09:35 AM

I will do this
http://skiphealy.com/

Subject: RE: Recent recordings of 'The Coolin'
From: Felipa
Date: 13 Apr 03 - 05:24 PM

these media people work fast, so this is probably too late to be of use. but for recordings of an Chúilfhionn with words try Seán Ó Sé (still alive) and a recent recording by American Treasa Ní Chathain