Could anyone give me an idea of a few albums that are a must-have for an aspiring piper? I’ve fallen in love with the sound and I’ve been looking up mp3’s and video clips online by the likes of Seamus Ennis, Davy Spillane, Paddy Maloney, ect…but I’m wondering if there are any particular “classic” UP albums I should check out.
Any suggestions?
EDIT: I just saw the link in teh F.A.Q to the “required reading/listening” list…but i guess if anyone has any further suggestions, feel free to post!
The Return from Fingal - Seamus Ennis
Fort of Jewels - Brian McNamara
The Drones and the Chanters, Vols I and 2 - various pipers, including Ennis, Clancy, Rowsome, Moloney, Gay McKeon, Liam O’Flynn, Sean Og Potts, etc.
Paddy Keenan’s first album (called “Paddy Keenan”)
My Love is in America - David Power
The Gift - Jerry O’Sullivan
…
I could go on, and on, and on, …
Ok, it’s not an album…I found an mp3 on Limewire labelled “Raglan Road”, then found the same tune named “Dawning Of The Day” in my New Approach to Uilleann piping book. Beautiful song…acoustic guitar…I think it’s a tin whistle at first, then some nice strings leading into the pipes. 
Johnny Doran “The Bunch of Keys”
Brian McNamara - A Piper’s Dream, Fort of the Jewels
McNamara Family - Leitrim’s Hidden Treasure (not solo piping, but some solo tracks & generally wonderful music)
Seamus Ennis - 40 Years of Piping, Wandering Minstrel, Fox Chase
Various - Drones and the chanters Vol 1 & 2
Pipering of Willie Clancy
Paddy Keenan: Paddy Keenan, Na Keen Affair
Liam O’Flynn: Given Note, Fire Aflame (neither is solo piping)
Leo Rowsome: King of the Pipers
For piping albums listen to anything by Leo Rowsome, Kevin Rowsome, any of the Rowsomes, Tommy Reck, Liam Óg Ó Flynn, Eoin Dillon, John McSherry, Paddy Moloney, Seán McAloon, Patsy Tuohey, Robbie Hannan.
I can’t think of anymore at the minute, HANGOVER!!!
I hope this is of some use.
Slán.
Paddy Keenan & Paddy Glackin–“Doublin”
“Drones & Chanters Vol. II”
Seamus Ennis–“Return From Fingal”
Grace Jones–“Nightclubbing”
Robbie Hannan & Paddy Glackin-“Séidean Sí” (aka “The Whirlwind”)
Mick O’Brien & Caoimhín Ó Raghallaigh–“Kitty Lie Over”
http://www.uilleannobsession.com/links_radio.html
Just click on the icons as you scroll down and you can download or stream the live music FOR FREE.
Ciaran MacFeilimidh (and other folk that arent commercially recorded yet) are there along with the likes of Mick O’Brien and Robbie Hannan and some fella called Liam O’Flynn that the previous posts havent quite highlighted enough as being one of the most accessible and desirable for new pipers to listen to.
I burned lotsa this stuff onto CDs and play it all the time.
Thanks to Mr P D’Arcy
Boyd
Beat me to it.
dcurtin85, this is the place with all the 411 you need for Uilleann Piping, and it keeps getting better every day.
thanks guys!