Collecting … the Dubliners

• Introduction
  • Most of the Dubliners original album releases (LP and CD) can be fairly readily found.
  • In addition, almost all of the tracks released by group have been re-issued over and over again on hundreds of compilations.
  • That having been said, there are still quite a few hard to very hard-to-find items — early Anthology releases, rare LPs, EPs and Singles … etc.
  • These pages contains rare and odd recordings and performances, as well as, previously unreleased tracks, notable re-releases, compilations and other collectable items.
    • The "rarest" recordings and tracks
      • This page consists primarily of original recordings that are hard to impossible to find, and in most cases, with tracks that have never been re-released.
    • On the "rare" side …
      • Recordings listed on this page fall into the category of "somewhat" hard to find original recordings, and/or LPs containing tracks that have never (or seldom) been re-issued.
    • Notable LP & CD re-releases and compilations
      • … most of these releases contain previously unreleased or rare tracks
    • Solo releases …
      • Rare solo releases and appearances and other collectable items …
    • Everything else …
      • Other collectable & notable items …

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The "rarest" recordings and tracks … LPs

This first page is what I would consider the rarest Dubliners recordings and tracks by the Dubliners as a group — and in order to alleviate some repetition — appearances by 2 or more group members. Rare solo releases are listed here.

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• The Hoot'nanny Show - Volume 2: 1964 - Waverley ZLP 2032 LP
  • This live "Festival" recording includes 1-track — "The Mason's Apron" credited as solo to Barney McKenna.
  • While not credited, I believe that Ronnie Drew backs Barney on guitar on this recording.
    • He is certainly there as he yells out "Barney" a few times during the tune.
    • However, Bill Smith (from the Corrie Folk Trio) and/or Archie Fisher could also be backing Barney, as some of the guitar playing is rhythmic strumming, which was not Ronnie's style.
  • The Hoot'nanny Show - Volume 1 was recorded in November, 1963 and I would guess this track is from that same concert, or at least recorded around that same time. Therefore could pre-date the Dubliners first official LP.
  • This track has not been re-released (in any form).

• Folk Festival - Festival Folk: 1964 - Waverley ZLP 2033 LP
  • This live "Festival" recording includes five tracks by the Dubliners, and 1 with the group joining "the entire cast".
  • According the record sleeve, Folk Festival … was "Recorded in Usher Hall, Edinburgh — 1964".
    • The group's first LP, The Dubliners with Luke Kelly was recorded in late 1963.
    • So, these are early Dubliners recordings, but not the first.
  • Luke Kelly sings "Barnyards of Delgaty" on this LP — this song does not appear on any other Dubliners album.
  • Additionally, the version of "I'm a Rover" (included here) is longer than one subsequently recorded on 1967's A Drop of the Hard Stuff.
  • This LP was reissued circa 1969 — other than that, to my knowledge — none of these tracks have been re-released (in any form) since.

• Irish Folk Night: 1964 - Decca LK 4633 LP
  • Recorded in June, 1964, this live "Festival" recording includes six tracks by the Dubliners.
  • Also included are 2 tracks with Luke Kelly and Dave Phillips.
    • Apparently, this LP was recorded when Luke was about ready to leave group.
  • Of these songs — 3 never appeared on any other Dubliners release:
    • "The Little Beggerman"
    • "The Wild Mountain Thyme"
    • "The Bonny Lass of Fyvie"
  • A different ("previously unreleased") version of "Ratcliffe Highway" — from 1969 LP At Home with the Dubliners recording session (see below) — was eventually released on the 1998 compilation, Ireland's No. 1 Folk Group, and subsequently included on other compilation CDs.
  • None of these (original) tracks have been re-released (in any form).

• Fleá Ceoil: 1965 (circa) - Gael-Linn CEF 013 LP
  • The LP includes 1 track — "Sailor On The Rock" — by Barney McKenna, apparently recorded in 1964. (see more notes here)
  • Douglas Clark states on his Dubliners discography that Ronnie Drew also plays on this track with Barney.
  • To my knowledge, this track has not been re-released (in any form).

• Ulster's Flowery Vale: 1968 - BBC REC 28M LP
  • The music on this LP was (apparently) recorded for radio and was broadcast on B.B.C. Ulster in 1965.
  • Barney McKenna plays on 2 solo tracks and 1 track with renowned fiddler, Sean Maguire.
  • To my knowledge, none of these tracks have been re-released (in any form).

• Now for some real Irish Music: 1969 - Davjon DJ1020 LP
  • Prior to finding a copy of this LP, I was under the impression that it only included instrumental tracks by Barney McKenna, with Ronnie Drew backing him on guitar, as that seemed to be the standard on these type of early releases.
  • It also includes 2 songs by Ronnie:
    • "Quare Bungle Rye"
    • "The Twangman"
  • While released in 1969, these may be very early recordings — possibly pre-dating the Dubliners — perhaps during the period they performed with John Molloy at the Gate Theatre.
    • Maybe not, but it seems odd to me that Ronnie & Barney would appear on this obscure LP during the height of the Dubliners popularity.
  • To my knowledge, these tracks have not been re-released (in any form).

• At Home with the Dubliners: 1969/70 - Capitol ST 6319 LP - Canadian Release
  • This rare Canadian release contains four tracks that do not appear on any other Dubliners album ^[1].
    • Three of these tracks were never re-issued until 1998.
    • The fourth song, "Raglan Road" was released as single, and (this version) does not appear on any other Dubliners release.
  • The tracks in question:
    • "Rathcliffe Highway" (Ronnie Drew Vocals)
    • "Wheels Of The World" (Instrumental)
    • "Salford Town" (Luke Kelly Vocals)
    • "Raglan Road" (Luke Kelly Vocals) — 1970 single release (see below)
  • The first 3 tracks began appearing on compilations in 1998 on Ireland's No. 1 Folk Group.
    • These tracks have also appeared on a handful of other compilations since.
  • To date I have only seen one copy of this LP. But I have no idea how many were actually released.

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Single & EP Releases

• In Person … featuring Ronnie Drew: 1964 - Transatlantic TRA EP 121
  • The tracks on this EP are among the very few that were not subsequently re-released for many years.
  • While just about all of the Dubliners "Transatlantic" tracks began to re-appear, in the late 60's, on various compilations — these were left out of the mix.
    • "Rare Old Mountain Dew" was first re-released in 1997 on The Complete Dubliners.
    • "Willie Gannon" is included on the 1998 compilation, Ageless Classics.
    • These versions of "McAlpine's Fusiliers" & "Mrs. McGrath" only other appearances (that I know of) are on the 2003 expanded CD re-release of The Dubliners with Luke Kelly.

• All For Me Grog: 1967 - Major Minor MM 521 & 1967 - Ariola ANG 10.013 (single release)
  • "All For Me Grog" with Ronnie Drew on vocals was released as a single only and does not appear on any album.
  • It was then re-recorded with Ciarán Bourke singing the lead — perhaps at the same time — as the arrangement is very similar.
  • However, I don't believe this version (by Ciarán) was ever released as a single, and it doesn't appear on any Dubliners' original LP release.
  • John Lynch confirms that the first compilation this version appears on is the 1973 One-Up LP, Whiskey On A Sunday.
  • Since I don't own every Dubliners' compilation, which is probably virtually impossible, I don't know on how many releases this version (by Ciarán) appears — it is more uncommon.
  • When "All For Me Grog" is included on an anthology or compilation, it is usually Ciarán's version from the 1974 LP, The Dubliners Live, which incidentally was last album with Ciarán Bourke.

• Comical Genius: 1969 - Major Minor MM 608 & 1971 - EPIC C5-122 (single release)
  • This version of a "Comical Genius" — sung by Barney McKenna — is one of very few tracks that does not appear on any other Dubliners release.
  • Barney also performs this song on the 1972 live LP, Hometown — this is the track (version) that is included on several compilation LPs & CDs.

• Bold Princess Royal: 1969 - Tribune TRS 138 & 1969/70 - EMI Columbia DB 8671
  • "Bold Princess Royal" — apparently recorded in 1969 during the sessions for the LP, At Home … — is perhaps the rarest Luke Kelly track.
  • To my knowledge, "Bold Princess Royal" (and the 1970 single, "Raglan Road") are the only studio tracks Luke Kelly recorded with The Dubliners that have never been included any Dubliners/Luke Kelly compilations
  .
  • However, it is stated on Wikipedia that "some rare pressings" of At Home include this track (see above).

• Raglan Road: 1970 - Tribune TRS 150 & 1970 - Chyme CHS 007
  • Other than being released as a single (twice), this original version of "Raglan Road" by Luke Kelly (with the Dubliners) only appears on the Canadian LP release of At Home with the Dubliners.
  • Luke Kelly also recorded "Raglan Road" for the 1982 Dubliners LP, Prodigal Sons, but no tracks by Luke appear on the original album.
    • John Lynch states, "The instrumentation to the 1982 vocal was, according to Fiachra Sheahan (son of John), added posthumously and so Luke never actually heard how it turned out. Luke was apparently very ill at the time he laid down the vocal."
    • As you may know, this version of "Raglan Road" was posthumously released on Luke's Legacy in 1986, and has subsequently included on several compilations.
  • Again, to my knowledge, "Raglan Road" (and the 1969 single, "Bold Princess Royal") are the only studio tracks Luke Kelly recorded with The Dubliners that have never been included any Dubliners/Luke Kelly compilations.

• Hand Me Down My Bible: 1971 - EMI Columbia DB 8773 & 1971 - Tribune TRS 152   
  • This single release/studio version of "Hand Me Down My Bible" did not appear on any original Dubliners LP.
  • This track was not included on any compilation until 2004's The Best of Luke Kelly CD compilation, which is the only other release of this track.
  • The "live" version of this song — from Hometown — is one that is included on many Dubliners compilations.

• The Beggar Man: 1971 - EMI Columbia & 1971 - Plough PLS 003
  • This single release of "The Beggar Man — apparently recorded in 1969 during the sessions for the LP, At Home with … — with lead vocals by Ronnie Drew did not appear on any original Dubliners LP
  • This track was not included on any compilation until 2003's The Best of the Original Dubliners CD compilation, which is the only other release of this track.
  • As with "Bold Princess Royal", it is stated on Wikipedia that "some rare pressings" of At Home with … include this track (see above).
  • The arrangement on this is song a very interesting — Luke's 5-string banjo is very prominent, with tin whistle, mandolin and a heavy bass-line, but no fiddle or tenor banjo.

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