Crazy Dreams

Description

Crazy Dreams is the compelling and highly anticipated autobiography from Paul Brady, a musician whose remarkable career has spanned six decades and who is indisputably one of Ireland’s greatest living songwriters.

This evocative memoir chronicles Paul’s many years at the forefront of the Irish folk scene, from The Johnstons and Planxty through to his seminal work with Andy Irvine and onwards to his own vaunted solo career.  Along the way are the many encounters and collaborations with such musical luminaries as Bob Dylan, Eric Clapton, Carole King, Tina Turner, Mark Knopfler and Bonnie Raitt to name but a glittering few.

From such celebrated tracks as ‘The Island’, ‘Nobody Knows’ and ‘The World is What You Make It’ to his interpretations of traditional folk songs like ‘Arthur McBride’ and ‘The Lakes of Pontchartrain’, Paul has carved out his own unique place in Irish musical history. In Crazy Dreams he tells how it was done and regales the reader with remarkable stories of life on the road and the journey from small-town Tyrone to the world stage.

About the Author
Paul Brady, singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist is one of Ireland’s most enduringly popular artists. Born in Belfast and raised in Strabane, close to the border with the Irish Republic, he was interested in a wide variety of music from an early age. Brady joined the Irish ballad group, The Johnstons, with whom he recorded seven albums. He is renowned as one of Ireland’s best interpreters of traditional songs. Paul Brady continues to push out the boundaries not only of his own talent but of Irish contemporary music in the new millennium.

PART ONE

1. Strabane 1950
2. Early Schooldays
3. Mother’s and Father’s People
4. Beginnings of Music
5. Where is Irish Music Hiding?
6. Here Comes Summer
7. St Columb’s College
8. Music in My Teens
9. Dublin/UCD 1964
10. Chink of Light
11. The Folk Scene
12. The Johnstons
13. The Move to London
14. Both Sides Now
15. Running on the Spot
16. So now, America
17. Meeting Mary Elliott
18. Busted Loose
19. Planxty
20. Andy Irvine & Paul Brady
21. Beginnings of Metamorphosis

PART TWO

22. Getting Real
23. 1979
24. Now or Never
25. True for You/Ridge Farm, Jan/Feb 1982
26. Rory Gallagher and Phil Lynott
27. Pride and Progress
28. Touring with Dire Straits
29. Tina Turner
30. Meeting Bob Dylan
31. Back to the Centre& ‘The Homes Of Donegal’
32. The Island
33. Primitive Dance
34. RDS 1987
35. Trick Or Treat
36. Songs and Crazy Dreams
37. Spirits Colliding
38. The Castle
39. Not-making-an-album
40. Oh What A World
41. The Paul Brady Songbook at Vicar Street, October 2001
42. RTÉ Series
43. Acceptance
44. Hooba Dooba
45. Big Changes
46. Reprieve
47. Looking back and Looking Forward

Crazy Dreams is the compelling and highly anticipated autobiography from Paul Brady, a musician whose remarkable career has spanned six decades and who is indisputably one of Ireland’s greatest living songwriters.

‘ … Paul Brady finally puts pen to paper to tell his life story – and it’s every bit the page turner we hoped it would be.’ – Edwin McFee, Hot Press

‘Fans of Paul Brady and his music will love Crazy Dreams, while those who may not be as familiar with the music scene, will enjoy the story as they find themselves humming the songs like ‘The Lakes of Pontchartrain’ and ‘The Island’, which have become synonymous with the man.’ – Diarmuid O’Donovan, The Irish Examiner

‘Like so many of his songs and his presentation of them, Crazy Dreams is a work of art at once driving and delicate, gritty and graceful.’ – Paul Muldoon

‘With grace and downbeat flair, this book traces a unique artistic achievement and a long, strange, wonderful trip . . .  It will be treasured by his legions of fans all over the world.’ – Joseph O’Connor, The Irish Times