Sons Of Erin ‎– The Town I Love So Well - 1975 Celtic ( vinyl ) slight marks cove / vinyl

Sons Of Erin ‎– The Town I Love So Well - 1975 Celtic ( vinyl ) slight marks cove /  vinyl

Much has changed in Newfoundland and Labrador over the course of half a century. Cod stocks have soared and fallen, political parties have shaped and splintered. We’ve become more metropolitan, more touristy, more industrial, while ever serving as the adopters and welcomers of come from aways. All of this and more we have done in 50 years, and all the while, one presence in our musical culture, our heartbeat, has remained true.

Godfather’s of NL Music

A micro diaspora of Ireland formed right here in Newfoundland and Labrador in 1968, the Sons of Erin are the unquestioned and unrivaled godfathers of the Irish/celtic style of Newfoundland trad that in generations to follow has become the very identity of which we patriots refer to as ‘Newfoundland music’.

Originally made up of Ralph O’Brien, Fergus O’Byrne, Gary Kavanagh and the late, great Dermot O’Reilly, Sons of Erin capitalized on a void in Newfoundland’s music culture, sparking a thriving scene where once there were smatterings of local musicians haunting pubs and late night comedowns confined to kitchens and parlors. “I don’t mean to promote ourselves, but we were kind of at the forefront of it. We took it from the kitchen and put it on stage,” says the iconic frontman Ralph O’Brien.

“We kind of brought the value of new music, different stuff. It was a different kind of Celtic music. We toured every piece and part of Newfoundland. We brought that around, so consequently you’d see other bands copying different variations of the same stuff, which was a great compliment to us.”

While Beatlemania would sweep North America and the UK in the 1960s, Erin-Mania would run wild here at home in the 70s and beyond, with the group selling out packed venues across the island. Fans were ready, willing and eager to buy what the Sons were selling.

“We could play on Saturday night and on Sunday night fill the Arts and Culture Centre,” O’Brien recalls. “It was amazing.”

While O’Brien is the only founding member of Sons of Erin remaining in the group today – backed by the likes of  Joe Tompkins, John Barela, Steve Best and Jason Simms – the imprint of the Sons of Erin has been felt through the decades, with alumni featured in local staples Irish Descendants, Ryan’s Fancy, Sullivan’s Gypsies and The Fables, to name a few.

Sleeve Condition (Out of 10) ~8 slight ring wear
Label Condition (Out of 10) ~ 10
Vinyl Condition ~ (Out of 10)
Side # 1 - 9
Side # 2 - 9 light marks

Bin *R38