I just got two Joanie Madden cassettes for a dollar apiece from one of those dollar stores. She is not quite what I expected but I do like her. A very talented whistle player. I have Song of the Irish Whistle vol 1 and 2…Cant beat the price, I guess noone buys cassettes as much anymore and thats why they were so cheap. Too bad I couldnt get some whistles too…
C4, you say Joannie isn’t quite what you expected. I was just curious what you did expect of/from her?
BTW, that was a fantastic find price-wise!! 
~Larry (Madden)
She is rather more like a cross of easy listening music and Irish..Like I said I do like her music its very relaxing and enjoyable. I guess I was expecting faster paced music. Being a newbie to Irish Trad all Ive mostly heard is fast and loud stuff.
You may find Joanie’s first recording closer to your expectations (A Whistle on the Wind).
That’s a great bargain that you’ve got C4,as you say,hardly anyone buys cassette tapes now.I was fortunate enough to find cassettes of ‘The Irish Jubilee’ by Cathal McConnell and Robin Morton,and ‘Trad. music from Doolin,Co Clare’ by Terry Bingham, for just £1 each last year.
I can’t say Joannie is my cup of tea,from what I’ve heard of her playing so far (probably her ‘easy listening’ output),but you certainly can’t knock her ability to play.
There IS more to Irish music than fast and loud stuff-I must admit that I find albums of reel after reel a bit ‘one dimensional’ after a while.I much prefer a more ‘balanced’ repetoire from my musicians.