Tir Na Nog Tear And A Smile/Strong In The Sun CD - Import

This two-fer from BGO includes the British folk group's second and third recordings for Chrysalis. The duo expanded its horizons on its 1972 sophomore release by adding drums (Barry DeSouza) and bass (Larry Steele), as well as some effective string arrangements. Produced by the legendary Tony Cox (Caravan, Françoise Hardy, Family), A Tear and a Smile retained all of Sonny Condell and Leo O'Kelly's offbeat phrasing, playful melodic deviations, and pastoral balladry, while subtly turning an eye to the prospects of a little commercial appeal. The easy folk-rock of O'Kelly"s "When I Came Down" and "The Same Thing Happening" wouldn't have sounded out of place on the country-rock-heavy airwaves of U.S. radio, and even though Condell's lighthearted Noël Coward imitation on the bouncy "Bluebottle Stew" is like listening to a half-baked Monty Python skit, it works because -- like everything on A Tear and a Smile -- it's executed so sincerely. Desperately in need of a commercial success, Sonny Condell and Leo O'Kelly's third -- and consequently last -- record as Tir Na Nog is a Hail Mary to the mainstream. Opening with a spirited if slightly ill-advised Roxy Music-esque cover of Nick Drake's "Free Ride," Strong in the Sun is a fascinating but ultimately disappointing bookend from a band that almost made it. Like Duncan Browne's transition from Donovan-esque balladeer to Wings-era McCartney rocker, Tir Na Nog were up for the transition. Procol Harum keyboard player Matthew Fisher was brought in to produce, and his clean, concise balancing act between the duo's folkier past and the era's growing need for excess helped to create some truly sublime moments. Somewhere between O'Kelly's beautiful "Wind Was High" and the atmospheric "Cinema" -- the latter featured a sample from a Henry Fonda Western -- the duo achieved a moment of greatness. Tir Na Nog were more than mediocre, but a few songs shy of great, and while the public at large never caught on, there are more than enough Tir Na Nog supporters -- and new artists like Gorky's Zygotic Mynci and James Yorkston who owe them more than a nod -- to warrant the group a place in British folk history. ~ James Christopher Monger

Tir Na Nog's second and third records for Chrysalis, dating from 1972 and 1973.

2 LPs on 1 CD: A TEAR & AND SMILE (1972)/STRONG IN THE SUN (1973).

Tir Na Nog: Sonny Condell, Leo O'Kelly.

Personnel: Leo O'Kelly (vocals, guitar, acoustic guitar, electric guitar, dulcimer, violin); Sonny Condell (vocals, guitar, acoustic guitar, electric guitar, Clavinet, drums, Jew's harp, percussion); Matthew Fisher (keyboards); Barry DeSouza, Ace Follington, Jeff Jones (drums).

Liner Note Author: Alan Robinson.

Photographer: Ian McDonald.

Arranger: Nick Harrison.

Additional personnel: Larry Steele (bass guitar); Barry DeSouza.Dirty Linen (p.66) - "[P]rimarily acoustic and pastoral, owing more to the Incredible String Band and John Martyn than Steeleye Span.....STRONG IN THE SUN took a decidedly more rock 'n' roll approach..."
Mojo (Publisher) (p.116) - 3 stars out of 5 - "[P]leasingly pastoral and whimsical..."