Planxty

  
Group Members  Andy Irvine  Donal Lunny  Matt Molloy  Christy Moore  Paul Brady  
Nollaig Casey  Johnny Moynihan  Liam O'Flynn  Eoghan O'Neill  Bill Whelan 
Genres  Celtic 
Styles  British Folk-Rock, Contemporary Celtic, Celtic 
Labels  Shanachie (5), Tara (2) 
  
                         
        Along  with  groups like the Bothy Band, Planxty helped to usher in a new era for
  modern Celtic music. While their sound remained rooted to traditional music, the band's
  virtuosic  musicianship  and  high-energy  delivery  reflected modern influences, while
  their  unique  vocal harmonies and instrumental counterpoint was unprecedented in Irish
  music.  The  founding members of Planxty — Christy Moore, Donal Lunny, Liam Og O'Flynn,
  and  Andy  Irvine  —  initially came together to provide instrumental accompaniment for
  Irish  singer/songwriter Christy Moore's 1973 album, Prosperous. The sessions proved so
  inspiring  that  the musicians agreed to continue working together. With the release of
  their  debut  single,  "Cliffs  of  Dooneen,"  the  new  band  attracted  international
  attention.  An  equally memorable, self-titled album, affectionately known as the Black
  Album, followed shortly afterwards.

        Despite  its  success,  Planxty  was  plagued  by  a series of personnel changes.
  Following  the  release of the band's second album, After the Break, Lunny departed for
  the  Bothy  Band  and  was  replaced by Johnny Moynihan, who had previously played with
  Irvine in the Sweeney Men. Moore followed, after the release of the band's third album,
  Cold  Blow  and  the  Rainy  Night,  to  resume  his  solo  career  and was replaced by
  singer/songwriter  Paul Brady. The loss of Moore and Lunny was devastating and, shortly
  after  releasing  their  fourth  album, The Woman I Loved So Well, Planxty disbanded in
  1975.

        The  seeds  for  Planxty's resurrection were planted in late 1978. In addition to
  the  original  members, the reformed group featured ex-Bothy Band and future Chieftains
  flute  player  Matt  Molloy and keyboardist and future Riverdance producer Bill Whelan.
  Fiddlers  James  Kelly  and Noelle Casey were added for the first album by the reunited
  group,  Words  and  Music.  The  renewed energy petered out quickly. By 1983, Lunny and
  Moore  had  gone  off  to  form a more electric trad-rock group, Moving Hearts. — Craig
  Harris 

Discographie:

 1973  Planxty  Shanachie 
 1973  The Well Below the Valley  Shanachie 
 1974  Cold Blow and the Rainy Night  Shanachie 
 1979  After the Break   Tara 
 1980  The Woman I Loved So Well   Tara 
 1983  Words & Music  Shanachie 
 1984  AMS   Polydor