''The Book of Invasions: A Celtic Symphony'' is the sixth album by the
Irish Celtic rock
Celtic rock is a genre of folk rock, as well as a form of Celtic fusion which incorporates Celtic music, instrumentation and themes into a rock music context. It has been prolific since the early 1970s and can be seen as a key foundation of the ...
band
Horslips
Horslips are an Irish Celtic rock band that compose, arrange and perform songs frequently inspired by traditional Irish airs, jigs and reels. The group are regarded as "founding fathers of Celtic rock" for their fusion of traditional Irish ...
. It was a
concept album
A concept album is an album whose tracks hold a larger purpose or meaning collectively than they do individually. This is typically achieved through a single central narrative or theme, which can be instrumental, compositional, or lyrical. Som ...
based on an adaptation of Irish legends built into a complex story. It is named for the ''
Lebor Gabála Érenn
''Lebor Gabála Érenn'' (literally "The Book of Ireland's Taking"; Modern Irish spelling: ''Leabhar Gabhála Éireann'', known in English as ''The Book of Invasions'') is a collection of poems and prose narratives in the Irish language inten ...
'', a book of Irish mythology known as ''The Book of Invasions'' in English. Released in 1976, it is usually considered their best work. It was their only UK top-40 album, peaking at #39. "Trouble (With a Capital T)", "Warm Sweet Breath of Love" and "The Power and the Glory" were released as singles.
The 30th anniversary of this album was celebrated at a small gathering in
Dublin
Dublin is the capital and largest city of Republic of Ireland, Ireland. Situated on Dublin Bay at the mouth of the River Liffey, it is in the Provinces of Ireland, province of Leinster, and is bordered on the south by the Dublin Mountains, pa ...
organised by Horslips fans and was attended by some band members.
Track listing
The album is divided into three movements: "
Geantraí" (tracks 1–8), "
Goltraí" (tracks 9–11) and "
Suantraí" (tracks 12–14).
;Side one
# "Daybreak" ''(instrumental)'' – 2:30
# "March Into Trouble" ''(instrumental)'' – 0:51
# "Trouble (With a Capital T)" – 3:24
# "The Power and the Glory" – 3:56
# "The Rocks Remain" – 2:49
# "Dusk" ''(instrumental)'' – 0:37
# "Sword of Light" – 4:55
# "Dark" ''(instrumental)'' – 1:37
;Side two
# "Warm Sweet Breath of Love" – 3:26
# "Fantasia (
My Lagan Love
"My Lagan Love" (Roud 1418) is a song to a traditional Irish air, first collected in 1903 in northern County Donegal.
The English lyrics have been credited to Joseph Campbell (1879–1944), also known as Seosamh MacCathmhaoil and Joseph McCahill ...
)" ''(instrumental)'' – 2:55
# "King of Morning, Queen of Day" – 4:32
# "Sideways to the Sun" – 4:47
# "Drive the Cold Winter Away" ''(instrumental)'' – 0:35
# "Ride to Hell" – 4:07
;Expanded CD with bonus tracks
#
"Daybreak/Drive the Cold Winter Away/Ride to Hell/Sideways to the Sun/Sword of Light" – 18:04
# "The Rights of Man" – 3:56
# "Trouble (With a Capital T)" – 3:20
Personnel
Musicians
* Charles O'Connor - fiddle, mandolin, concertina, vocals, cover design
* Jim Lockhart - keyboards, flute, whistles
* John Fean - guitar, vocals
*Barry Devlin
Barry Devlin (born 27 November 1946) is an Irish musician, screenwriter and director.
Early life
Devlin is from Moortown in Ardboe, County Tyrone. He initially began to train as a Columban priest, but left to study English at University Co ...
- bass, vocals
*Eamon Carr
Horslips are an Irish Celtic rock band that compose, arrange and perform songs frequently inspired by traditional Irish airs, jigs and reels. The group are regarded as "founding fathers of Celtic rock" for their fusion of traditional Irish mu ...
- drums, percussion
Technical
* Alan O'Duffy - producer, engineer
*Robbie McGrath - assistant engineer
*Ian Finlay - photography
*Eric G. Bannister - art direction
*Evelyn Lunney - make-up
External links
*http://www.horslips.ie/celtric.html
*https://web.archive.org/web/20070929141843/http://www.tuatha.org/horslips/symphony.html
Horslips albums
1976 albums
DJM Records albums
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