Why pre-purchase the forthcoming album?

My new album, “Mooney’s Mood” (see below) is now entering the final stages of production. It’s essentially a record of my favourite ballads recorded in mainly small group settings and it features many great musicians from the Irish scene and beyond including Louis Stewart, Jim Doherty, Michael Buckley, Johnny Taylor, Scott Flanigan and guest singer Deborah Swiney.

I have finished all recording and now I have just the record mastering and cover design to be completed before manufacturing of CD’s and vinyl records commences.

I am hoping to complete the various processes over the summer of 2025; in the meantime I intend to sell copies in advance to raise the funds to pay the production costs and, with your help, I am aiming for an autumn launch.

With this simple website-based version of a funding campaign, I have listed vinyl records, CD and MP3 download options for you to purchase in advance – you can choose your favoured version and pay in advance and the order will be delivered to your stated address upon completion of the record. (see below)

“Mooney’s Mood” – The Recording

The idea for this record came about due to the ongoing (eight years or so) residency I have held in a weekly Sunday session at The United Arts Club in Dublin. Being a small room with a reasonably nice piano and a reasonably quiet listening audience, the gig developed very early on into a trio with two of Ireland’s finest musicians – Johnny Taylor on piano and Barry Donohue on bass – and, due to the unamplified and drumless intimacy of the setting, I found that I was singing and playing a lot more ballads than I usually would.

I had often considered a “ballads” album in the past and after some time playing this gig I had a huge repertoire to choose from and so I went into the studio last year with Johnny and Barry to record some of our favourites. I then went back another day with the organ trio – me, Scott Flanigan and Dominic Mullan; then I remembered that, many years ago, I had recorded a ballad with the great Louis Stewart and, after a bit of searching, I found it still intact in the back of my sock-drawer. I am extremely proud that this previously unreleased recording of the Master is included here. Some other great musicians playing on this album include Irish jazz legend Jim Doherty, accompanying me singing one of his own compositions; the great Memphis jazz singer Deborah Swiney (ex- Al Green band) singing on a couple of ballads and some wonderful contributions from Dublin jazz greats Michael Buckley and Charlie Mooney.

To cap it all, my dear friend Tim Goulding has painted a beautiful work of art for the front cover: Mooney in his mood. Right now the mood is optimistic that I will raise the funds needed to finish everything off, pay the bills and get this album out.

Thanking you in advance for purchasing in advance,