Isn't It Grand Boys

1966 studio album by The Clancy Brothers and Tommy Makem

Isn't It Grand Boys

Studio album by

The Clancy Brothers and Tommy Makem

Released

21 February 1966

Recorded

December 1965
New York City

Genre

Irish folk

Label

Columbia
CL 2477 (mono)
CS 9277 (stereo)

Producer

David Rubinson

The Clancy Brothers and Tommy Makem chronology

Recorded Live in Ireland
(1965)

Isn't It Grand Boys
(1966)

Freedom's Sons
(1966)

Singles from Isn't It Grand Boys

"Isn't It Grand Boys"/"Nancy Whisky"

Isn't It Grand Boys is a 1966 studio album by the Clancy Brothers and Tommy Makem. It was the Irish folk group's seventh album for Columbia Records and their tenth album over all. Tommy Makem wrote the liner notes.

The album reached #22 on the UK Albums Chart on 16 April 1966.^[1]^[2] It remained on the chart for five weeks.^[2]

Reception

New York Times music critic, Robert Shelton, praised the album for its sound quality and presence. About the singing, he noted: "The ensemble efforts have just enough polish to show a firm professionalism, and just enough rough edges to retain a native folk quality." He singled out the songs "Nancy Whisky," "Isn't It Grand Boys," and "Westering Ho" for their "hearty virility."^[3]

Track listing

All songs are traditional and were adapted and arranged by The Clancy Brothers and Tommy Makem, except where noted.

Side one
No.	Title	Lead vocals	Length
1.	"Nancy Whisky"	Each singer has a solo verse	2:53
2.	"Galway Races"	Liam Clancy	2:08
3.	"What Would You Do If You Married A Soldier"	Tom Clancy	1:03
4.	"Eileen Aroon"	Liam Clancy	3:36
5.	"Isn't It Grand Boys"	Each singer has a solo verse	2:58

Side two
No.	Title	Lead vocals	Length
1.	"Galway City"	No solos	2:12
2.	"My Son Ted" (arranged by Joan Clancy)	Paddy Clancy	1:54
3.	"Westering Ho"	No solos	1:33
4.	"The Cobbler" (arranged by Tommy Makem)	Tommy Makem	2:57
5.	"Mingulay Boat Song"	Tommy Makem	2:49
6.	"O'Donnell Abu"	No solos	1:40

Personnel

Paddy Clancy - vocals, harmonica
Tom Clancy - vocals
Liam Clancy - vocals, guitar
Tommy Makem - vocals, banjo, tin whistle^[4]

References

^ Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 107. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
^ ^a ^b "CLANCY BROTHERS & TOMMY MAKEM". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 14 June 2014.
^ Shelton, Robert (22 May 1966). "Four Who Sing and Act Their Songs". New York Times. p. 142.
^ "Isn't It Grand Boys: Album Cover Listing". The Clancy Brothers and Tommy Makem. Retrieved 1 June 2014.

The Clancy Brothers

Patrick "Paddy" Clancy
Tom Clancy
Bobby Clancy
Liam Clancy

Discography

with Tommy Makem	Tradition The Rising of the Moon Come Fill Your Glass with Us The Clancy Brothers and Tommy Makem Columbia A Spontaneous Performance Recording Hearty and Hellish! A Live Nightclub Performance The Boys Won't Leave the Girls Alone In Person at Carnegie Hall The First Hurrah! Recorded Live in Ireland Isn't It Grand Boys Freedom's Sons The Irish Uprising In Concert Home, Boys, Home Sing of the Sea The Bold Fenian Men Luck Of The Irish Bob Dylan's 30th Anniversary Concert Celebration Irish Drinking Songs Ain't It Grand Boys: A Collection of Unissued Gems Carnegie Hall 1962 Shanachie Reunion
with all four brothers	Columbia/Audio Fidelity Christmas Flowers in the Valley Welcome to Our House
with Louis Killen	Audio Fidelity/Vanguard Show Me the Way Save the Land Live on St. Patrick's Day Greatest Hits/The Best of the Vanguard Years
with Robbie O'Connell	Vanguard/Folk Era Live! Tunes 'n' Tales of Ireland Older But No Wiser

Filmography

Performances	The Golden Age of TV Drama: Treasure Island The Best of Hootenanny: Shout! Rainbow Quest: The Clancy Brothers and Tommy Makem Reunion Concert at the Ulster Hall, Belfast Bob Dylan's 30th Anniversary Concert Celebration Lifelines: The Clancy Brothers Farewell to Ireland Concert
Documentaries	The Story of the Clancy Brothers & Tommy Makem Bringing It All Back Home Bob Dylan: No Direction Home Folk Hibernia The Yellow Bittern: The Life and Times of Liam Clancy