Jim McCann is one of the great Irish balladeers, whose voice was sadly silenced by throat surgery. This album contains familiar songs, Star of the County Down, Grace, Raglan Road, Four Green Fields, on which Jim puts his personal stamp. There are four lesser known tracks which make this album special. Copper Kettle is a tribute to the moonshiner's basic tool. Next Market Day tells a tale of courting in rural Ireland. Carroll Ban, a sad tale of the execution of a youth involved in the 1798 rising, was written by John Casey, who also wrote Rising of the Moon. My Old Man tells the story, from a young boy's perspective, of his parents' romance. His father, a roaming fiddler, courted and married his mother, but always gave in to the urge to travel. This song alone makes this a must have album.

JM 04 CD $16