The Iron Behind the Velvet


The Iron Behind the Velvet is an album recorded by Christy Moore in 1978, after the first breakup of Planxty. It was produced jointly by Brian Masterson and Moore, and recorded and mixed at Lombard and Keystone Studios, Dublin.
It features his brother Barry Moore on guitar & vocals, as well as Planxty's Andy Irvine on mandolin, bouzouki, vocals and more. Also appearing are Noel Hill on concertinas, Tony Linnane on fiddle, Gabriel McKeon on Uilleann pipes, Jimmy Faulkner on guitars and Rosemary Flanagan on cello.
The final track on the present CD, "John O'Dreams", was produced by Dónal Lunny and recorded at Windmill Lane Studios in 1980; therefore, it did not originally feature on the 33rpm, vinyl LP version of The Iron Behind the Velvet.
Instead, the song was first released—under the title "John of Dreams"—on the compilation album High Kings of Tara, then subsequently re-released on the CD version of The Iron Behind the Velvet. Lunny and Jolyon Jackson accompanied Moore on the recording of this track.

Track listing

All tracks composed by Christy Moore; except where indicated
  1. "Patrick was a Gentleman / Irvine's Polka "
  2. "The Sun is Burning"
  3. "Morrissey and the Russian Sailor"
  4. "The Foxy Devil"
  5. "Three Reels: The Newly Mowed Meadow / Farrell O'Gara's Reel / No Name Reel"
  6. "Trip to Jerusalem / The Mullingar Races / The Crooked Road"
  7. "Three Reels: Tommy Coen's / The Youngest Daughter / Flax in Bloom"
  8. "Patrick's Arrival"
  9. "Gabriel McKeon's: Cailin Deas Cruaite na mBo / Gilbert Clancy's "
  10. "Dunlavin Green"
  11. "Joe McCann"
  12. "John O'Dreams"

    Personnel