Search - Various Artists :: Original Irish Tenors

Since the Clancy Brothers, the Dubliners, and the Chieftains, plus their many traditionally based descendants, have come on the scene, it has become fashionable to roll one's eyes over the vaudeville-flavored floridness of the Irish-American tenor repertoire. Steeped in rampant sentimentality and nostalgia, some of it is undeniably a bit corny, but that only adds to its historic interest and sneaky charm. And when interpreted by bell-voiced singers like John McCormack, Christopher Lynch, and Jack Benny's long-time henchman, Dennis Day, these vintage, gem-like miniatures are revealed as a type of culturally-specific American parlor music, not unlike the works of Stephen Foster. In the early to middle decades of the 20th century, when these songs were at their most popular, Irish-Americans had certainly weathered their fair share of misery; although deeply clannish, they were now well assimilated. Listening to wistful ballads about of love and parting, to say nothing of the occasional music hall turn performed in an exaggeratedly comic peasant brogue, not only reminded them of where they had come from but more importantly, celebrated how far they had come. --Christina Roden