John McCormack My Wild Irish Rose

Selections recorded 1910-30.

This is a well-chosen 22-track, 68 1/2-minute, digitally remastered compilation of John McCormack's recordings of Irish-oriented songs, ranging from traditional material to songs that were recently written when performed. Six of them feature only piano accompaniment; among the other tracks, two come from Irish composer Victor Herbert's operetta Eileen and feature Herbert's own orchestra under his baton. The age of the recordings (dating from 1910 to 1930) has not been masked by noise-reduction techniques, but McCormack's ringing tones still come through, and his renditions of these frankly sentimental songs have an emotional resonance not found in his more classical efforts. ~ William Ruhlmann