It all started in 1970 when Tom Cussen and Benny O'Connor got together with friends in London and played in the Oxford Tavern in Kentish Town every Friday for almost a year. Moving back to Ireland around the end of 1971 both Tom and Benny wasted no time in getting the band flying. Over twenty years on and Shaskeen have produced no fewer than ten albums of fire-brand Irish traditional music. They have also produced singles and EPs along the way. The current revival of set dancing is very welcome and the band is as strong as ever. All the tunes (along with the chords as played) from five of their cassettes (which are now available in CD format) have been transcribed into two wonderful books. Copious cross-references have been appended, which go a long way to filling in the background to the tunes, encouraging the musician to look further. The tunes in the two books are those being currently played in Irish sessions which was the inspiration for producing them. The recordings are excellent examples of the sound of a working, authentic and respected céilí band and therefore the books aren't dusted-off reprints, but instead contain up-to-date, popular versions of tunes being played today.
Contents
Reels
Ambrose Moloney's Ash Maley House Billy Brocker Boys of Portaferry Brendan McMorrin's Connemara Stockings Darby's Farewell to London Drunken Landlady Early Breakfast Floating Crowbar Fred Finn's Golden Keyboard Humours of Toomagh Jack Maguire's Jackson's Killaghbeg House Lady on the Island
Last Night's Fun Leitrim Bucks Mary O'Neill's Mary Staunton's Miss Monaghan's Monsignor's Blessing
Mouse Behind the Dresser Moving Bogs My Love is in America My Mary Anne Paddy Killoran's Penny Candle P. J. Conlon's P. Joe Hayes' St. Anne's Tap Room Toss the Feather Wise Maid
Jigs
Banks of Newfoundland Butchers' March Daniel O'Connell Father Kelly's Harry's Loch Henchey's Delight Maid at Spinning Wheel Monaghan Mysteries of Knock Paddy Cronin's
Paddy in London Páidín O'Rafferty Queen of the Fair Rose in the Heather T'Athair Jack Walsh Tom Busby's
Hornpipes
Breen's Cronin's Home Ruler The Swan
Miscellany
All-Star Barn Dance Bill Sullivan's Britches Full of Stitches Cock and the Hen Humours of Whiskey Little Diamond Magic Slipper Mrs Kenny's Waltz Untitled Waltz