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Donald's Encyclopedia of Popular MusicA B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y ZMOORE, Christy(b 7 May '45, Dublin) Singer, guitarist, songwriter. He heard everything from Ella Fitzgerald to Bill Haley as a child, but when he heard Liam Clancy he acquired a guitar. Played in various groups in Eire (incl. trio the Rakes of Kildare with Donal Lunny); moved to UK '66 and played in folk clubs; record debut was Paddy On The Road '69, a collaboration with Dominick Behan which he later more or less disowned. Continued to build following; on return to Eire he made Prosperous '71 on Tara, which established him and led to foundation of the Irish folk band Planxty, on whose first two LPs he played (Planxty '72 and Cold Blow And A Rainy Night '74). A series of LPs incl. both trad. and contemporary material: Whatever Tickles Your Fancy '75 and Christy Moore '76 on Polydor, The Iron Behind The Velvet and Live In Dublin '78 on Tara, the latter with Lunny and Jimmy Faulkner. Helped re- form Planxty '79, their Words And Music '82 perhaps their most rounded album. Moore and Lunny formed Moving Hearts, a band which melded trad. Uillean pipes with saxophones and a rock rhythm section, songs reflecting their abiding interest in political issues: LPs on various labels incl. Moving Hearts '82, Dark End Of The Street (title track about gay rights in Eire), Live Hearts '84, The Storm '85. The Spirit Of Freedom '83 was Moore's next solo album, incl. 'Plane Crash At Los Gatos' by Woody Guthrie, Bobby Sands's 'Back Home In Derry'; The Time Has Come same year (both on WEA) reprised earlier material ('Faithful Departed', 'The Lakes Of Pontchartrain', 'All I Remember') alongside his own title track and 'The Wicklow Boy'. Ordinary Man '85 on Demon and Unfinished Revolution '86 on WEA continued with uncompromising Republican and sexual political stances, despite which he was criticized for not tackling other available issues, such as abortion and divorce law in Eire. More albums incl. Nice 'N' Easy '86, Unfinished Revolution '87, Voyage '89, Smoke And Strong Whiskey '91, King Puck on Equator, others. He never liked the studio and perhaps hadn't captured his impish persona without an audience; Graffiti Tongue '96 on Grapevine was made on the third attempt when he found the right place (in Cork) and achieved a live-in-the-studio feeling, with minimal post- production and not caring what the engineer thought. It incl. 'North And South Of The River', written with Bono and The Edge. |