Paul Brady
Album: Dancer In The Fire A Paul Brad Anthology
Label: Proper
Tracks: 22
Website: http://www.paulbrady.com

If you are looking for Paul Brady's most popular recordings, you will not find them on this anthology [ you will, however, find them on 2002's "greatest hits" compilation " Nobody Knows", which is a great introduction to Paul's music and is recommended]. This Anthology was compiled by Paul himself and the 22 tracks are his personal favourites. As Paul himself says, the most successful recordings are not necessarily the best. It is admirable that he has chosen songs which have not necessarily received a lot of airplay, together with rarities such as b-sides of singles and different mixes. The songs cover the years from 1978 to 2005.

The earliest track ["Paddy's Green Shamrock Shore"] comes from Paul's first solo folk album "Welcome Here Kind Stranger" but here is in a new mix and features Andy Irvine on mandolin and harmonica. From the same album comes "I Am A Youth That's Inclined To Ramble", which features Donal Lunny, as well as Andy Irvine. Also from the late 1970's comes "Duncan and Brady", a breakneck version of the Leadbelly song which features Arty McGlynn on pedal steel guitar.

Paul's first album of his own songs "Hard Station" is represented by the title track, again a remixed version. The track is clearly influenced by Gerry Rafferty, of whom Paul was a big fan. Also from "Hard Station" is the Anthology's title track "Dancer In The Fire", which was one of Paul's earliest songs, having been written in 1978.This version was taken from the vinyl mix and features Betsy Cook on piano and Jimmy Faulkner on guitar. The instrumental break, particularly the guitar solo, has a distinct Steely Dan influence to it [again Paul was a fan of that band].

"You Win Again " is a cover of the Hank Williams song that Paul recorded in 1979 for a b-side and which has a relaxed, loose feel to it [and some tasty guitar by Paul himself].

Another of Paul's early songs [and one of his best] is 1980's "Road To The Promised Land", which features some great vocals and has an infectious Caribbean lilt to it, courtesy of Betsy Cook's keyboards.

"The Game Of Love" is a slowed down tango, in memory of Paul's parents Sean and Mollie "who danced the tango". It's a beautiful song which features Paul on tin whistle and Geoffrey Richardson [Caravan] on viola and ukulele, not to mention Marl Knopfler on guitar and Maire Ni Bhraonain on vocals.

Moving forward to the mid-eighties, "Blue World" was written by Paul when he got tired of being asked express political views on the situation in Northern Ireland [I ain't got time to be your hero, I don't want to be your poet ]. The track features reknowned US session musicians such as Jeff Porcaro and David Paich [both Toto] and Michael Landau [Michael Jackson, James Taylor etc.] as well as Steely Dan producer Gary Katz.

Disc 2 features some of Paul's better-known songs. The opener, "The Long Goodbye" was co-written with Ronan Keating and was a huge hit for Ronan as well as being number one in the US for Brookes and Dunn. This version features a lovely string arrangement by Fiachra Trench. The next track "Crazy Dreams" is one of Paul's best-known songs but this version is the original single recording from 1980 with flugelhorns by Mark Isham.

Most people will recognise "Steel Claw" because it featured on Tina Turner's hugely successful "Private Dancer" album. This is another of Paul's songs from the early '80s but features re-recorded vocals .There is also an excellent guitar solo by Phil Palmer. Another song with an 80's feel is "Steal Your Heart Away", although the chorus is based on an old traditional Irish melody.

"Love Hurts" [not the song made famous by the Everly Brothers] is a slow, sad song with another lovely string arrangement by Fiachra Trent and is one of Paul's personal favourites.

The most recent song is "Smile", written by Paul and Dillon O'Brian [in Bonnie Raitt's garden, apparently]. This is a timeless song which sounds as though it could have come from the Great American songbook. It features some lovely piano from John R.Burr, with double bass from the inimitable Mr.Danny Thompson.

The final track on the Anthology is a co-write with the great Carole King, "Believe In Me" which dates back to 2000. The song is about striving for perfection and not letting go until it has been attained [When I learn to believe in me].

In conclusion, this is fine collection of [mostly] lesser -known works by a master songwriter who has been honing his craft since becoming a solo artist in 1978. If you are not familiar with Paul's work and you want to get the full picture, you probably need to get the Best Of [Nobody Knows] as well as this album.

Peter Cowley