The Book of Invasions: A Celtic Symphony is an album by the Irish

Ireland

Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...

 Celtic rock

Celtic rock

Celtic rock is a genre of folk rock and a form of Celtic fusion which incorporates Celtic music, instrumentation and themes into a rock music context...

 band Horslips

Horslips

Horslips are an Irish Celtic rock band that compose, arrange and perform songs based on traditional Irish jigs and reels. The group are regarded as 'founding fathers of Celtic rock' for their fusion of traditional Irish music with rock music and went on to inspire many local and international acts....

. It was a concept album

Concept album

In music, a concept album is an album that is "unified by a theme, which can be instrumental, compositional, narrative, or lyrical." Commonly, concept albums tend to incorporate preconceived musical or lyrical ideas rather than being improvised or composed in the studio, with all songs contributing...

 based on an adaptation of Irish legends built into a complex story. It is named for the Lebor Gabála Érenn

Lebor Gabála Érenn

Lebor Gabála Érenn is the Middle Irish title of a loose collection of poems and prose narratives recounting the mythical origins and history of the Irish from the creation of the world down to the Middle Ages...

, 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)" and "The Power and the Glory" were released as singles.

The 30th anniversary of this album was celebrated recently at a small gathering in Dublin organised by Horslips fans and was attended by some band members.

Track listing

The album is divided into three movements: "Geantrai" (Tracks 1-8), "Goltrai" (Tracks 9-11) and "Suantrai" (Tracks 12-14).

Side one

1. "Daybreak" (instrumental) - 2:30
2. "March Into Trouble" (instrumental) - 0:51
3. "Trouble (With a Capital T)" - 3:24
4. "The Power and the Glory" - 3:56
5. "The Rocks Remain" - 2:49
6. "Dusk" (instrumental) - 0:37
7. "Sword of Light" - 4:55
8. "Dark" (instrumental) - 1:37

Side two

1. "Warm Sweet Breath of Love" - 3:26
2. "Fantasia (My Lagan Love)" (instrumental) - 2:55
3. "King of Morning, Queen of Day" - 4:32
4. "Sideways to the Sun" - 4:47
5. "Drive the Cold Winter Away" (instrumental) - 0:35
6. "Ride to Hell" - 4:07

Expanded CD with bonus tracks

1. "Daybreak" (instrumental) - 2:30
2. "March Into Trouble" (instrumental) - 0:51
3. "Trouble (With a Capital T)" - 3:24
4. "The Power and the Glory" - 3:56
5. "The Rocks Remain" - 2:49
6. "Dusk" (instrumental) - 0:37
7. "Sword of Light" - 4:55
8. "Dark" (instrumental) - 1:37
9. "Warm Sweet Breath of Love" - 3:26
10. "Fantasia (My Lagan Love)" (instrumental) - 2:55
11. "King of Morning, Queen of Day" - 4:32
12. "Sideways to the Sun" - 4:47
13. "Drive the Cold Winter Away" (instrumental) - 0:35
14. "Ride to Hell" - 4:07
15. "Daybreak/Drive the Cold Winter Away/Ride to Hell/Sideways to the Sun/Sword of Light" - 18:04
16. "The Rights of Man" - 3:56
17. "Trouble (With a Capital T)" - 3:20

Personnel

• Charles O'Connor - fiddle, mandolin, concertina, vocals, cover design
• Jim Lockhart - keyboards, flute, whistles
• John Fean - guitar, vocals
• Barry Devlin
  Barry Devlin
  Barry Devlin is an Irish musician, screen writer and director.-Early life:Devlin is from Ardboe, Moortown, County Tyrone...
  
   - bass, vocals
• Eamon Carr - drums, percussion
• 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
• http://www.tuatha.org/horslips/symphony.html