One can only marvel at the sheer diversity of Frances Black’s career. Politician, social activist, counsellor, advocate for the most vulnerable here and around the world, and a hugely popular singer and performer, as celebrated on this rather wonderful celebration of her musical talents. The hits and fan favourites are well represented, as are some fine deeper cuts. Yet over three discs and fifty-two songs, the quality never drops.
‘Anthology’ covers the breathd of Frances’s storied career, focusing on her solo work, with some stellar collaborations thrown in for good measure. From her Folk beginnings, through her pop sensibilities, to her strident protest songs, there is an array of styles that may surprise people.
There are songs you will find yourself singing along to, perhaps a bit louder than you might think. ‘Talk to me, when I’m listening’, ‘When you say nothing at all’, ‘Fear is the enemy of love’, and ‘Love me’ all produce a mellow, musical mood that is quite intoxicating.
Go watch Black live, and you can really appreciate that warm glow that her music produces. Her choice of material has always been exemplary and the slower ballads are performed with real sensitivity and feeling. It is almost pointless attempting to feature high points, given the collection’s high calibre, and listeners will find their own gems in the cornucopia of aural goodies on offer.
My own personal favourites include ‘On Grafton Street’, which encapsulates a ‘sliding doors’ moment in life, is an emotive case in point:
It’s funny how my world goes round without you
You’re the one I never thought I could live without
And I’ve just found this smile to think about you
You’re a Saturday night far from the madding crowd
On Grafton Street at Christmas time
The elbows push you ’round
All I carry now are memories
I’m a stranger in this town
That song gets me every time!
‘The Hills of South Armagh’, a song duetted with her very talented daughter, Aoife Scott, has a similar effect on anyone living away from their native land. Wonderful! Dougie McLean’s poignant ‘This Love Will Carry’ carries a hugely emotive heft all of its own.
‘We will not go down’ (song for Gaza) by Michael Heart, has become a huge favourite at Frances’s gigs, with its bold declaration of defiance against the atrocities being carried out in Gaza:
We will not go down
In the night, without a fight
You can burn up our mosques and our homes and our schools
But our spirit will never die
We will not go down
In Gaza tonight
There have been other ‘best of’ releases, but ‘Anthology’ is the most comprehensive, and complete, and a superb record of one of Ireland’s finest singers.