The Celtic Soul Brothers
Encyclopedia
"The Celtic Soul Brothers" is a song written by Mickey Billingham
, Jimmy Paterson
and Kevin Rowland
of Dexys Midnight Runners
that was first released by the band in March 1982 as a single and was also the first song on the band's 1982 album Too-Rye-Ay
. The song reached #45 in the UK. The song was re-released as a single in March 1983 and reached #20 in the UK and #86 in the US. The song also reached #13 on the Irish charts.
"The Celtic Soul Brothers" was the first song recorded and released by the revamped Dexys Midnight Runners' lineup, which added fiddle
players Helen O'Hara
, Steve Brennan and Roger MacDuff and bassist
Giorgio Kilkenny. Reflecting the revised lineup, the song's instruments feature mandolin
s and violin
s rather than the horn fanfare
s featured in the group's earlier work. The song was inspired by 1960s soul music
, and coauthor Billingham has stated that The Whispers
' song "Needle in a Haystack" was a particular influence, accounting for "The Celtic Soul Brothers'" unusual melody. Coauthor and Dexys Midnight Runners' lead singer Rowland has stated that the song was about him and Dexys' trombone
player Paterson; Rowland being Irish and Paterson being Scottish. Rowland also stated the song expresses his devotion to the band. Author Richard White calls the song "a stand aside, effervescent statement." Critic Ned Raggett of Allmusic referred to the song as a highlight of Too-Rye-Ay. Ira Robbins of Trouser Press
refers to the song as "jolly, rollicking jug band fare." Author Simon Reynolds called the song "a manifesto of a single." Julie Burchill
of New Music Express remarked that although the song is intended to sound ethnically Celtic, it sounds more like a "Redcoat romp." Author Maury Dean
claims that this song was an inspiration for Roddy Doyle
's 1987 novel The Commitments
, which was later made into a 1991 film by the same title
.
"The Celtic Soul Brothers" was included on the soundtrack of the 1983 movie Breathless
starring Richard Gere
. It has also been included on a number of Dexys Midnight Runners' compilation albums, including The Very Best of Dexys Midnight Runners
, Because of You, The Best of Dexy's Midnight Runners and 20th Century Masters: The Best of Dexy's Midnight Runners. A live version of the song, recorded shortly after the single release, is included on BBC Radio One Live in Concert
.
Mickey Billingham
Mickey Billingham is an English keyboardist. He was the former keyboardist of the band Dexys Midnight Runners...
, Jimmy Paterson
Jimmy Paterson
Dr James "Jimmy" Paterson MC was a Scottish doctor and footballer.Born in London but brought up in Glasgow, Paterson was on the books of both Rangers and Queen's Park as an amateur, whilst training as a doctor...
and Kevin Rowland
Kevin Rowland
Kevin Rowland is an English singer-songwriter and former frontman for the pop band Dexys Midnight Runners, which had several hits in the early 1980s, the most notable being "Geno" and "Come On Eileen".-Career:...
of Dexys Midnight Runners
Dexys Midnight Runners
Dexys Midnight Runners are a British pop group with soul influences, who achieved their major success in the early to mid 1980s. They are best known for their songs "Come On Eileen" and "Geno", both of which went No. 1 on the UK Singles Chart....
that was first released by the band in March 1982 as a single and was also the first song on the band's 1982 album Too-Rye-Ay
Too-Rye-Ay
Too-Rye-Ay is the second album by Dexys Midnight Runners, released in August 1982 . The album is best known for the hit single "Come On Eileen".-Track listing:#"The Celtic Soul Brothers" – 3:08...
. The song reached #45 in the UK. The song was re-released as a single in March 1983 and reached #20 in the UK and #86 in the US. The song also reached #13 on the Irish charts.
"The Celtic Soul Brothers" was the first song recorded and released by the revamped Dexys Midnight Runners' lineup, which added fiddle
Fiddle
The term fiddle may refer to any bowed string musical instrument, most often the violin. It is also a colloquial term for the instrument used by players in all genres, including classical music...
players Helen O'Hara
Helen O'Hara
Helen O'Hara is a British musician, formerly a member of the band Dexys Midnight Runners between 1982 and 1987, including performing on songs such as "Come on Eileen" from the Too-Rye-Ay album....
, Steve Brennan and Roger MacDuff and bassist
Bass guitar
The bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
Giorgio Kilkenny. Reflecting the revised lineup, the song's instruments feature mandolin
Mandolin
A mandolin is a musical instrument in the lute family . It descends from the mandore, a soprano member of the lute family. The mandolin soundboard comes in many shapes—but generally round or teardrop-shaped, sometimes with scrolls or other projections. A mandolin may have f-holes, or a single...
s and violin
Violin
The violin is a string instrument, usually with four strings tuned in perfect fifths. It is the smallest, highest-pitched member of the violin family of string instruments, which includes the viola and cello....
s rather than the horn fanfare
Fanfare
A Fanfare is a relatively short piece of music that is typically played by trumpets and other brass instruments often accompanied by percussion...
s featured in the group's earlier work. The song was inspired by 1960s soul music
Soul music
Soul music is a music genre originating in the United States combining elements of gospel music and rhythm and blues. According to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, soul is "music that arose out of the black experience in America through the transmutation of gospel and rhythm & blues into a form of...
, and coauthor Billingham has stated that The Whispers
The Whispers
The Whispers are a long-established R&B-dance vocal group from Los Angeles, California, with a consistent track record of hit records dating back to the late 1960s.-Career:...
' song "Needle in a Haystack" was a particular influence, accounting for "The Celtic Soul Brothers'" unusual melody. Coauthor and Dexys Midnight Runners' lead singer Rowland has stated that the song was about him and Dexys' trombone
Trombone
The trombone is a musical instrument in the brass family. Like all brass instruments, sound is produced when the player’s vibrating lips cause the air column inside the instrument to vibrate...
player Paterson; Rowland being Irish and Paterson being Scottish. Rowland also stated the song expresses his devotion to the band. Author Richard White calls the song "a stand aside, effervescent statement." Critic Ned Raggett of Allmusic referred to the song as a highlight of Too-Rye-Ay. Ira Robbins of Trouser Press
Trouser Press
Trouser Press was a rock and roll magazine started in New York in 1974 as a mimeographed fanzine by editor/publisher Ira Robbins, fellow Who fan Dave Schulps and Karen Rose under the name "Trans-Oceanic Trouser Press" ...
refers to the song as "jolly, rollicking jug band fare." Author Simon Reynolds called the song "a manifesto of a single." Julie Burchill
Julie Burchill
Julie Burchill is an English writer and journalist. Beginning as a writer for the New Musical Express at the age of 17, she has written for newspapers such as The Sunday Times and The Guardian. She is a self-declared "militant feminist". She has several times been involved in legal action...
of New Music Express remarked that although the song is intended to sound ethnically Celtic, it sounds more like a "Redcoat romp." Author Maury Dean
Maury Dean
Maury Dean is an American musician, professor and author, whose book "The Rock Revolution" is in the Rock N' Roll Hall of Fame and the Smithsonian.-Music:...
claims that this song was an inspiration for Roddy Doyle
Roddy Doyle
Roddy Doyle is an Irish novelist, dramatist and screenwriter. Several of his books have been made into successful films, beginning with The Commitments in 1991. He won the Booker Prize in 1993....
's 1987 novel The Commitments
The Commitments
The Commitments is a novel by Irish writer Roddy Doyle, and is the first episode in The Barrytown Trilogy. It is a tale about a group of unemployed young people in the north side of Dublin, Ireland, who start a soul band.-Plot summary:...
, which was later made into a 1991 film by the same title
The Commitments (film)
The Commitments , the soundtrack for the film, was released on 13 Aug 1991. "Mustang Sally" was released as a single. Most of the songs on the album are performed by the cast band, but two are by Irish singer Niamh Kavanagh.-Track listing:-Chart positions:-The Commitments, Vol...
.
"The Celtic Soul Brothers" was included on the soundtrack of the 1983 movie Breathless
Breathless (1983 film)
Breathless is a 1983 American drama film starring Richard Gere and Valérie Kaprisky. It is a remake of the 1960 French film À bout de souffle and was released in France under the title A Bout de Souffle Made in USA. The original film is about an American girl and a French criminal in Paris...
starring Richard Gere
Richard Gere
Richard Tiffany Gere is an American actor. He began acting in the 1970s, playing a supporting role in Looking for Mr. Goodbar, and a starring role in Days of Heaven. He came to prominence in 1980 for his role in the film American Gigolo, which established him as a leading man and a sex symbol...
. It has also been included on a number of Dexys Midnight Runners' compilation albums, including The Very Best of Dexys Midnight Runners
The Very Best of Dexys Midnight Runners
The Very Best of Dexys Midnight Runners is a best of compilation album by Dexys Midnight Runners.-Track listing:# Come On Eileen# Jackie Wilson Said # Let's Get This Straight...
, Because of You, The Best of Dexy's Midnight Runners and 20th Century Masters: The Best of Dexy's Midnight Runners. A live version of the song, recorded shortly after the single release, is included on BBC Radio One Live in Concert
BBC Radio One Live in Concert (Dexys Midnight Runners album)
BBC Radio One Live in Concert was a live album by Dexys Midnight Runners, recorded for the BBC in 1982 and released in 1995. It was the group's first official live album and remained their only official live album until the release of The Projected Passion Revue in 2007...
.