The Dubliners

The Dubliners fulfilled their contract for Transatlantic with the theatrical review +Finnegan Wakes in 1966. Recorded live at Dublin's Gate Theatre, the record of the show was a thorn in the side of the church and conservatives alike, pushing the boundaries of political satire with its anti-establishment rhetoric and razor-sharp jibes at traditional Irish values. Musically, the band had honed its skills to perfection, and the full houses that frequented the yearlong run of the show were a testament to that -- the whoops and bawdy laughter between and during songs make it sound like a pub on a Friday night as opposed to a theater. Audiences fell in love with songs like "Chief O'Neill's Favourite," a celebration of a Chicago police chief whose knowledge and catalog of Irish tunes is legendary, and the blue-collar anthem "Hot Asphalt." The recording is muddy and overdriven in places, but it's so full of life that a clearer rendering would lack the sparkling energy of the original. The 2003 Castle reissue features seven bonus tracks, including classics such as "The Foggy Dew," "The Cook in the Kitchen," and the previously unreleased gem "Gwenther/Paddy." ~ James Christopher Monger, All Music Guide