Progarchives, the progressive rock ultimate discography

SPOTLIGHT

Tir Na Nog

Prog Folk


From Progarchives.com, the ultimate progressive rock music website

Tir Na Nog Spotlight album cover
3.10 | 2 ratings | 1 reviews | 0% 5 stars

Write a review

Buy TIR NA NOG Music
from Progarchives.com partners
Live, released in 2001

Songs / Tracks Listing

1. Strong In the Sun (3:32)
2. Free Ride (2:58)
3. Los Angeles (3:35)
4. Backwaterawhile (5:06)
5. Spotlight (3:53)
6. Come And See The Show (3:23)
7. The Same Thing Happening (4:32)
8. Teesside (2:41)
9. It Takes A Lot To Laugh, It Takes A Train To Cry (3:58)
10. Piccadilly (4:03)
11. The Lady I Love (3:28)
12. Cinema (4:29)
13. Most Magical (3:03)

Total time: 48:41

Line-up / Musicians

- Sonny Condell / vocals, guitar, bongos
- Leo O'Kelly / vocals, guitar, bongos

Releases information

CD Hux Records HUX021 (UK)

BBC archives including John Peel sessions

Thanks to ClemofNazareth for the addition
Edit this entry

Buy TIR NA NOG Spotlight Music



TIR NA NOG Spotlight ratings distribution


3.10
(2 ratings)
Essential: a masterpiece of progressive rock music(0%)
0%
Excellent addition to any prog rock music collection(0%)
0%
Good, but non-essential (100%)
100%
Collectors/fans only (0%)
0%
Poor. Only for completionists (0%)
0%

TIR NA NOG Spotlight reviews


Showing all collaborators reviews and last reviews preview | Show all reviews/ratings

Collaborators/Experts Reviews

Review by ClemofNazareth
SPECIAL COLLABORATOR Prog Folk Researcher
3 stars ‘Spotlight’ consists of a collection of Tír na nÓg recordings for BBC from the early seventies, along with a couple of live tracks from what I would assume was one of the latter concerts before the duo disbanded. All tracks were recorded in London, either for BBC broadcasts or for live DJ John Peel sessions. The restored quality of the master material is quite good; yet another example of the respectful care prog-friendly Hux Records puts into the stuff they manage to uncover and commit to CD on a regular basis.

Predictably the majority of tracks here are from the band’s third and final album, which makes sense considering the sessions, and particularly the BBC ones, would have been intended to showcase the band to record-buying radio audiences; and that record was in the midst of being finalized and released around the time most of these sessions were conducted. So from a ‘spotlight’ standpoint the album delivers as advertised; but as a solidly representative compilation of the band’s music things could have been a bit better.

Most notably there is only one song from the band’s debut, the relatively low-key “Piccadilly”. For whatever reason neither Peel nor the BBC felt the need to include the band’s debut single, their namesake track off the first album, or even the very mellow but enchanting “Dante”. Too bad, and quite short-sided at the time.

The songs that are here are all solid enough, and like most everything else I’ve ever heard from the band the execution is impeccable. “Come and See the Show” is a quintessential Brit folk revival tune and excellent period piece, as is its bookend “The Same Thing Happening”. On the other end of their musical spectrum the Dylan cover "It Takes A Lot To Laugh, It Takes A Train To Cry” is a delight that is livened up considerably thanks to the addition of bouncing keyboards.

The other cover comes from Nick Drake (“Free Ride”), which also appeared on the band’s third album in 1973. While ‘It Takes…’ really captures Dylan’s musical spirit, “Free Ride” almost comes off as an attempt at a radio-friendly tune, and in that respect I could have done without its inclusion.

Otherwise this is a very solid offering, albeit one that comes well beyond the twilight of the band’s career. Tír na nÓg still lack a truly comprehensive anthology release, and at this point in time one isn’t likely to come. So fans may want to reach out and grab this instead; its accessible, well-produced and covers enough of their career to make for an enjoyable listening experience. Not great, but pretty good – three stars and recommended to fans of the band as well as modern and progressive folk in general.

peace

Latest members reviews

No review or rating for the moment | Submit a review

Post a review of TIR NA NOG "Spotlight"

You must be a forum member to post a review, please register here if you are not.

MEMBERS LOGIN ZONE

As a registered member (register here if not), you can post rating/reviews (& edit later), comments reviews and submit new albums.

You are not logged, please complete authentication before continuing (use forum credentials).

Forum user
Forum password

Copyright Prog Archives, All rights reserved. | Legal Notice | Privacy Policy | Advertise | RSS + syndications

Other sites in the MAC network: JazzMusicArchives.com — jazz music reviews and archives | MetalMusicArchives.com — metal music reviews and archives

Donate monthly and keep PA fast-loading and ad-free forever.