In their third album of songs by Robert Burns, Bob Hay & the Jolly Beggars explore some of the Bard's bawdy songs. As with much of Burns' material, the lyrical content is partly traditional and partly his composition. In some of the songs, e.g. "Act Sederunt" and "When princes and prelates," the bawdy is mixed with political themes in a way that is signature Burns. Other songs, like "The ploughman" and "There's news, lasses, news," seem more traditional; where Burns' role was transcribing songs sung by local peasant women.
The Jolly Beggars expand their musical palette a bit on this CD as well. In addition to their usual driving guitar, plunking banjo, soaring mandolin, booming bass, and slashing fiddle, they've adding some percussion and penny whistle. Sound effects are added to tie it all together in a journey from the countryside to the graveyard to the pub and beyond.
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