The substantial population of Irish immigrants to the USA and their descendants have made a significant contribution to the cultural landscape of their adopted homeland across the decades, maintaining their allegiance to the distinctive music and traditions of Ireland.
Dennis Day was born Owen Patrick Eugene McNulty in 1916 to Irish immigrant parents, and although he changed his name to become a singer, he traded off his Irish origins throughout his career.
Day graduated from the Cathedral Preparatory School and Seminary and attended Manhattan College in the Bronx, where he sang in the glee club. In 1939, sang on network radio with bandleader Larry Clinton and a 23- year-old McNulty won an audience poll as a favourite vocalist. Day appeared for the first time on Jack Benny’s radio show on October 8, 1939, taking the place of another tenor, Kenny Baker.
He remained associated with Benny’s radio and television programmes until Benny’s death in 1974. This 49-track 2CD set includes selected A- and B-sides from his releases on RCA-Victor from his debut on record in 1946 through to the mid-‘50s, by which time he had had his final chart entry, and his music was being overtaken by the changes in the pop landscape.
It features all his eight career chart entries, including the Top 10 hits Mam’selle and Christmas In Killarney, plus the Top 20 hits Dear Hearts And Gentle People, Goodnight Irene, Mister And Mrs. Mississippi and Never. Inevitably it includes many songs on which he underlines his Irish roots as well as the current pop and novelty songs of the day, all of them providing a fine showcase for his highly distinctive tenor voice.
TRACKS
Disc 1 |
|
|
Track |
Title |
Artist |
1 |
That's An Irish Lullaby (Too-Ra-Loo-Ra-Loo-Ral) |
Dennis Day |
2
|
When Irish Eyes Are Smiling |
Dennis Day |
3 |
A Little Bit Of Heaven |
Dennis Day |
4 |
Mother Machree |
Dennis Day |
5 |
You Keep Coming Back Like A Song |
Dennis Day |
6 |
Mam'selle |
Dennis Day |
7 |
Stella By Starlight |
Dennis Day |
8 |
With This Ring |
Dennis Day |
9 |
Christmas Dreaming |
Dennis Day |
10 |
My Wild Irish Rose |
Dennis Day |
11 |
Peggy O'Neil |
Dennis Day |
12 |
Melancholy |
Dennis Day |
13 |
Clancy Lowered The Boom |
Dennis Day |
14 |
I Love You |
Dennis Day |
15 |
Senorita |
Dennis Day |
16 |
Bless This House |
Dennis Day |
17 |
By The Light Of The Silvery Moon |
Dennis Day |
18 |
Tarra Ta Lara Ta Lar |
Dennis Day |
19 |
Galway Bay |
Dennis Day |
20 |
I Only Want What's A Comin' |
Dennis Day |
21 |
Pancho Is A Fool |
Dennis Day & The Rhythmaires |
22 |
Ona The Tarantellona |
Dennis Day |
23 |
Dear Hearts And Gentle People |
Dennis Day |
24 |
I Must Have Done Something Wonderful |
Dennis Day |
Disc 2 |
|
|
Track |
Title |
Artist |
1 |
How Can You Buy Killarney? |
Dennis Day |
2 |
There's An X In The Middle Of Texas |
Dennis Day |
3 |
Indiana Moon |
Dennis Day |
4 |
Mona Lisa |
Dennis Day |
5 |
Come Into The Parlor |
Dennis Day |
6 |
Goodnight Irene |
Dennis Day |
7 |
All My Love |
Dennis Day |
8 |
There Will Never Be Another You |
Dennis Day |
9 |
And You'll Be Home |
Dennis Day |
10 |
Christmas In Killarney |
Dennis Day |
11 |
When I Grow Too Old To Dream |
Dennis Day |
12 |
Silver Moon |
Dennis Day |
13 |
Serenade |
Dennis Day |
14 |
St. Patrick's Day Parade |
Dennis Day |
15 |
Sweet Sweet Pauline |
Dennis Day |
16 |
Mister And Mississippi |
Dennis Day |
17 |
A Trinket Of Shiny Gold |
Dennis Day |
18 |
Mary Rose |
Dennis Day |
19 |
Never |
Dennis Day |
20 |
Mother At Your Feet Is Kneeling |
Dennis Day |
21 |
Mistakes |
Dennis Day |
22 |
Take My Heart |
Dennis Day |
23 |
I'll Step Aside |
Dennis Day |
24 |
Hey Brother Pour The Wine |
Dennis Day |
25 |
An Irishman Will Steal Your Heart Away |
Dennis Day |