In the beginning...

Starting out on this project, I aimed at getting a better result than I had achieved with Skin. Still, I wanted to do the tracking myself but this time I planned to ask Andy Horn to mix and master and also to provide percussion and programming.
This enabled me to rise the quality of the production and still do the delicate and intimate work in my own studio. Andy has left a huge impression on this CD. He handled the project delicately and very professionally. There were no discussions whatsoever about arrangements etc., and so everything seemed to fall into place quite naturally.
All in all, a very pleasing experience making this CD.

Design

Here, once again I approached Peter Belledin for the design and printing. With a few of my own raindrop photos I set him the task of creating the scene for Thursday Asks. He placed the busking shots in between the song sheets and produced a wonderful result of what Saoirse Mhór is all about. 

Musicians

Apart from Andy's piano and programming, Michael Schmitt-Räbiger joined the project with his flute. The winter's nights recording She's like the Swallow, Try to Remember and Sam Hall with Michael were very enjoyable.
I recorded Captain Kennedy with the Irish Folk band Fleadh at Alex Braun's studio in Landau.

The Songs

To each song as usual a one liner:

She's like the Swallow: A celtic ballad from Newfoundland. The Irish do get around. Nice flute.
The Little Tin Soldier: I've been playing this for years. One of Donovans popular hits. The fire at the end has always enthralled me.

Mirror: True story of someone trapped in the wrong body. I recently heard that all turned out well in the end.

The Gregory Girl: For Ruth.

Thursday Asks: The title track with all the big questions.

Try to Remember: The long running Broadway musical show The Fastasticks featured this hit song. Nice dreamy soothing lyrics.

Lorraine: Older song of mine. Young love. Her name was Dee and not Lorraine.

Pale Moonlight: A famous last night. Betrayed in the garden.

The Ballad of Wandering Aengus:  Deirdre Starr's version of this song impressed me so much that I had to have a try myself. Wonderful W.B.Yeats lyrics. The fish part zooms me back to my national schooldays in Ireland.

Sam Hall: My brother Brian played this when I was a toddler. It is etched on my mind. On a recent visit he personally guest's on the vocals.

Captain Kennedy: A Neil Young song from the 1980 Hawks & Doves album. I busk this song a lot. The members of Fleadh help on the recording.

So, sin e anois. I hope that if the you have a copy of Thursday Asks, that you enjoy it as much  I enjoyed making it.  ...take care,


Saoirse Mhór May 2008