Dolores Keane was already something of a household name in Celtic music circles when this, her solo debut, was originally released in 1978. By that point she had won several All-Ireland awards as a singer and served time as a member of
De Danaan, in addition to her work with other world-class ensembles such as
Planxty and
the Chieftains.
There Was a Maid finds her supported by a band called the Reel Union (whose members are not listed anywhere in the liner notes). On standout tunes like "The Bantry Girl's Lament" and "Johnny and Molly," that group's tastefully low-key accompaniment does a good job of keeping the spotlight on
Keane's simple and lovely voice. Some of the finest performances on this album, though, are the unaccompanied songs, of which "There Was a Maid in Her Father's Garden" and "The Generous Lover" are especially noteworthy. The Reel Union breaks things up with an instrumental or two during the program, and while the theory behind that approach is sound, it's an unnecessary measure in this case;
Keane's singing is not something from which most Celtic music lovers will feel that they need a break. ~ Rick Anderson