Timely release of demos from the late, great Bap Kennedy.
In the history of all things Americana, one of the most tragic and sad pieces of news was when one of Ireland’s finest songwriters, Bap Kennedy, died of cancer on 1st November 2016, aged just 54. During the course of his musical career, he had made such an impact with music spanning so many genres: Celtic soul, Americana, Country soul, blues, and classic songwriting. He had a really special knack for writing magnificent tunes and equally uplifting and moving lyrics, and his voice was sublime.
Bap was the older brother of Brian Kennedy, and he came to prominence in London when he became the main creative force behind Energy Orchard, and between 1990 and 1996 they released five well-received albums. During this time, Kennedy worked with Van Morrison, who was to become a supporter and friend for the rest of Kennedy’s life. When the band folded, Kennedy had made such an impression that Steve Earle got in contact and offered his services to produce Kennedy’s debut solo album. Flattered beyond belief, Kennedy agreed, and soon he was on a plane to Nashville, where he recorded Domestic Blues, which was produced by the “Twang Trust”: Earle and Ray Kennedy. Earle was quoted at the time as describing Bap as “the best songwriter I ever saw“. This 1998 debut release demonstrated Kennedy’s immense talents, and over the next eighteen years he released eight albums and a handful of EP’s.
Amongst those he worked with on these superb albums were the likes of Shane MacGowan, Herbie Flowers, Nanci Griffith, Morrison, James Walbourne (The Pretenders), Mark Knopfler, Guy Fletcher, Jerry Douglas, and his future wife, Brenda Kennedy. Every single one of these albums is worth searching out to show the sheer breadth of musical styles he played and just how important a songwriter he really was. One of the highlights of this amazing output was Moonlight Kiss from the 2000 album Lonely Street, which was used to great effect in the rom-com Serendipity with John Cusack and Kate Beckinsale.
Now, making the tenth anniversary since Kennedy’s untimely passing, his wife, Brenda Kennedy, has assembled a magnificent collection of unreleased songs, many of which were demos. And what a truly amazing collection it is. The album opens with the sublime Above All, Love, a gorgeous romantic swayer of a song, the last track he recorded before his cancer diagnosis. It’s a mix of gentle guitar strumming and delicate piano playing, and it’s simply magnificent. One of the best Americana tracks of the year so far.
Next is a fun, swing tune, Don’t Be Like That, with acoustic guitar, piano, some lovely horns and some fine harmony singing joined with a fun set of lyrics extolling love’s potential. I’m sure Kennedy had a wry smile on his face when he wrote and recorded this. Old Majestic Moon is a gentle Hank Williams-style song in another lovely romantic package, and it was co-written by Kennedy and his wife, Brenda.
Red Moon is a slow, almost mournful song, where the singer is lamenting the leaving of a family member and how the narrator feels lost at sea. Acoustic strumming and pedal steel are at the fore here, and another tune you want to hug. It’s Just a Game is a slightly faster semi-jig about the split in a relationship, with some stirring fiddle playing, beautiful background vocals, and organ playing. Stirring stuff. Again, co-written by Kennedy and his wife.
The pace picks up a little on the sad Sugar Love, a tale of flawed relationships that are better than none. Going Back To Nashville has a Mark Knopfler feel to it with its super, bluesy sound. Kennedy’s hero, Hank Williams, is name-checked here, and it’s another winning, laid-back shuffle. Guitar strumming and piano dominate the incredibly sad song of despair, Something’s Working On Me. Although sadness seems to recur in many of these songs, it’s not a sad collection but somehow joyous in its soul-sharing. And Kennedy’s superb voice lifts these songs out of despair.
The album closes with A’town, a lively, Celtic tune where Kennedy responded to his mother’s request for him to pen a song in tribute to their native Andersonstown. There’s a genuine Morrison feel to this highly personal song, and it’s a glorious way to finish the album.
To think these are all demos is astonishing, as the sheer class that’s shown in the songwriting and the performances shines from the first track. Let’s hope this selection allows us all to reacquaint ourselves with Kennedy’s brilliant back catalogue. His albums Let’s Start Again and The Sailor’s Revenge were both given a Deluxe Ltd Edition treatment, and both are worth tracking down and if you’re looking for an introduction to Kennedy’s wonderful music, the 2002 Long Time Comin’: The Story So Far compilation is just the ticket.
This is a magnificent album reminding us of what a loss his death has been to music generally, and all thanks to Brenda Kennedy for managing to assemble these fantastic tunes. He was quoted towards the end of his life as saying, “All I ever wanted was for people to feel what I feel; the magic of music“. He achieved this in spades. Long live the memory of Bap Kennedy; he was as talented as they get.
