Dervish lead singer Cathy Jordan reckons that you have to 'kindle the fire every now and then' to remind people of some of the great songs Ireland has produced.
Jordan is referring to the band's latest album, The Great Irish Songbook, which was released last Friday and reached No. 16 in the US ITunes Album charts by Sunday, while also topping the Amazon Folk/Roots charts.
The Irish folk icons' latest long-player features performances with over a dozen luminaries across an eclectic range, from Imelda May to David Gray, Brendan Gleeson to Vince Gill, Andrea Corr to Kate Rusby.
"When I was a kid, sing-songs were everywhere," Jordan told RTÉ Entertainment when asked about the album, Dervish's 13th in a 30-year career. "It was how we entertained ourselves. But it's much less so now.
"I love the idea that these new versions - while not deviating too far from their original - will bring in a new audience, keep songs alive and in the repertoire of the next generation. You have to kindle the fire every now and then."
Among the songs and guest contributors are Molly Malone featuring Imelda May, The Galway Shawl with Steve Earle, Andrea Corr sings on She Moved Through the Fair, The Rocky Road to Dublin featuring Brendan Gleeson, and Raglan Road with Vince Gill on vocals.
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Putting on her music fan cap, Jordan doesn't hesitate when asked which of the guest contributors surprised her the most. She was certainly impressed by a member of Nashville royalty.
"I've been a fan of Vince Gill for a long time, I just love his singing," she says. "My brother is a huge fan, so to get Vince on board was a major feather in the cap.
"And when we sent him the version of Raglan Road, we asked had he any issues with the key, and that we'd be happy to change it for him, but Vince being Vince and with a voice such as it is, he was well able to handle the key.
Jordan adds: "When he starts off singing you think, 'Wow, this is high!' and he just nailed it and he soars on the high notes. It's just incredible to have Vince Gill - based over there in Nashville - singing a song about Raglan Road. It's a great homage to the music and how far-reaching it is."
A fair few 'Great American Songbooks' have been recorded, but the same can't be said for Irish tunes. And while Ireland is regarded as a great musical nation, perhaps our songwriters aren't as highly regarded.
"Probably in more recent times," says Jordan when asked if Irish songwriters get the credit they deserve, "Where songs have become international with people like Paul Brady and Brendan Graham. But these songs go back so far we even forget - in some cases - who wrote them, so it's good to get them all in the one place."
Clearly proud of the album, she adds: "And when you see a body of work like that, and being sung by people so far-flung as Vince Gill and Steve Earle, it creates a new pride in the songs."
John Byrne
