Dancing Mattress Productions: The Midday Distraction #76: St. Patrick's Day Special

17 March 2010

The Midday Distraction #76: St. Patrick's Day Special

Five tunes from Irish musicians for St. Patrick's Day, including zero renditions of "Danny Boy." (See the logo? It promises no cliches on this holiday.)

Here's what you'll hear today (right-click to download MP3 or to open in a new tab or window):

Karan Casey: "Town of Athlone"
Aidan Doyle: "Rich Man's Mind"
Steffen Coonan: "Have a Dream"
Strait Laces: "Where the Wolf Roam"
Anisa Angarola: "O'Sullivan's March"

(Total play time: 18:26)

Tracks 1 and 5 come courtesy of IODA Promonet and may be downloaded below. Tracks 2 and 3 were found at Music Alley. Track 4 comes courtesy of Ariel Publicity.

Today is St. Patrick's Day, when non-Irish-Americans pretend they are as an excuse to do lots of drinking. Watch out for the green beer, yo.

Julius Caesar won his final victory, over the Pompeian forces of Titus Labienus and Pompey the Younger, in the Battle of Munda on this day in 45 B.C.E. The Muslim army of Muhammad defeated Meccan forces in the Battle of Badr this day in 624 C.E. The rubber band was patented this day in 1845. Civil rights activist Bayard Rustin -- a gay black Quaker who sadly drifted toward the founders of neo-conservatism in his latter days -- was born this day in 1912. Singer Nat King Cole was born this day in 1919. President Franklin D. Roosevelt officially opened the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C., this day in 1941. American writer William Gibson was born this day in 1948. Actor Gary Sinise was born this day in 1955. Tenzin Gyatso, the 14th Dalai Lama, fled Tibet for India this day in 1959; actor Christian Clemenson was born the same day. Actor Rob Lowe was born this day in 1964. Musician Billy Corgan was born this day in 1967. Golda Meir became Israel's first female prime minister this day in 1969; American actor Mathew St. Patrick was born the same day. Musician Gene Ween was born this day in 1970. Actress Helen Hayes died this day in 1993. Pioneering female science fiction author Andre Norton died this day in 2005.