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Thank you,
Mike Phelan
Marley's Ghost
mghost@cyberbites.com

• We played WinterGrass in Tacoma WA in February and boy was it fun. Seldom Scene, Hot Rize Reunion, Darrell Scott with Nick Forster and John Cowan... big fun and well run.


• I loved having the Ghost's MP3s available from this page, but politically as well as practically -- it has become problematical to the point that I have just had to stop. I know you liked it -- I liked it too -- but now, and for the forseeable future -- it is over.

• You may have noticed that I removed a few of the buttons at left -- I was asked by Sage Arts to stop selling Marley's Ghost CDs, so the only ones I currently offer are my Donora Street CD and Raul Reynoso's Royal Street CD. I guess your CD has to have 'street' in the name for me to sell it here...

• I have plenty of news, to be sure, but this page is a labor of love..."and you know love, it don't pay my bills – I need mo-huh-huh-ney..." and time spent on it is time away from my work and play, soooo I haven't been posting as much while I attempt to pay attention to the bottom line. I still love each and every one of you and I will begin to post gigs and such as time and space permit.

and hey, don't forget -- if you should chance to encounter us out somewhere in the world, don't be shy -- just walk right up and say "Hey guys, Can I buy you lunch!?"
Cheers and Ciao!

A nice review from Victory Music Review
"With Live At The Freight, Marley's Ghost achieves the seemingly impossible. If you think a reach of reggae, bluegrass, gospel, folk country, Cajun, and Scottish bagpipes tunes is a bit much, you'd be wrong. Here, it's perfect. Marley's "Stir It Up" and "One Love" are at home with Tim O'Brien's "Late In The Day," Dylan's "Leopard Skin Pillbox Hat," Shel Silverstein's loopy "She'd Rather Be Homeless," and Van Morrison's "And It Stoned Me." Not just any band could make this work. My advice on Live At The Freight is simple: get a copy. During the last two months I've listened to more than a hundred new recordings. This may be the best. A guaranteed delight." - Richard Dorsett, Victory Music Review- December 2001

A review of the Fabulous Mike Phelan CD from Tom Clancy of the Irish Herald
Mike Phelan
Donora Street
Donora Street Music CB99001
Donora Street is a sweetly crafted, engaging album from local singer-songwriter Mike Phelan. Phelan plays mostly with Marley's Ghost, a party band for the musically-minded who have been playing together for over 15 years. Their 2001 album Live At The Freight is a splendid introduction to their diverse musical passions. The four band members have never seen a genre they could not embrace: reggae, American roots, bluegrass, blues, folk, traditional, gospel and country. Their musical reach makes the term eclectic seem hopelessly inadequate.

Phelan and the band made a pilgrimage back to their Irish and Scottish roots last year and some of those melodic influences can be heard on his new solo album. The title track is a deliciously simple song that quickly pulls you into its orbit.

God Help A Sailor is a big weepy ballad, a song that Van Morrison would be proud to call his own. Thick Soled Shoes is a kind of a wry lament from a man who lacks those Michael Flatley shoes to skip through life. The King is a touching tribute to the late, great Elvis Presley: "If he'd lived a little slower.../ We'd be lovin' that boy yet."

Ellen & Roy is an intricate, smartly Simon-esque song with more percussion than you can shake a stick at and guitar parts to beat the band. Your Town and Maybe She Will get a bright and brassy big band treatment. The first has a killer honky-tonk piano piece from Dave Lebolt and Alex Murzyn plays a fine sax solo on the latter. Food Chain Of Love comes with a funky guitar and brass setting, a humorous metaphor for a disintegrating relationship

The album closes with a five-song solo acoustic set. Phelan has a rich resonant tenor which he uses to great effect on Gonna Rise Again, Should I Be Singing The Blues and the Freddie Powers song I Always Get Lucky With You. Phelan wrote 11 of the 13 songs, including If You Love Someone, a modern Buddy Holly-ish song. This album is one of those treasures which may be completely overlooked by the music "industry" but that's no reason not to rush out and get it for yourself.

Donora Street is available at www.cyberbites.com/mikephelan/
--Tom Clancy
The Irish Herald