Double Dubliners

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Double Dubliners is the Dubliners’ ninth studio album, released in 1972. It’s also known as Alive and Well on the Polydor label. The album features the classic five-member lineup: Ciarán Bourke, Ronnie Drew, Luke Kelly, Barney McKenna, and John Sheahan. It was produced by Phil Coulter, who wrote the hit single “Free The People,” which opens the album. The music is Irish folk and was released by EMI.

Key tracks include a spoken-word reading of Padraig Pearse’s poem “The Rebel” by Ronnie Drew, plus standout songs like “The Sun Is Burning” and “The Night Visiting Song,” both sung by Luke Kelly. In December 1983, “The Night Visiting Song” became the final song Luke Kelly performed with the Dubliners on Irish television.

Reception was mixed about the sound. Critics like Frank Peters of The Northern Echo said the album’s different instrumentation and slower tempo changed the flavor compared with previous Dubliners albums, making the vocal harmonies feel a bit ragged.

Track listing
Side One:
- Free the People
- The Louse House of Kilkenny
- The Springhill Disaster
- The Musical Priest/The Blackthorn Stick
- Champion at Keeping Them Rolling
- The Sun Is Burning

Side Two:
- Gentleman Soldier
- The Rebel
- The Gartan Mother’s Lullaby
- Drops of Brandy/Lady Carberry
- Smith of Bristol
- The Night Visiting Song

Personnel
- Ciarán Bourke – tin whistle, harmonica, acoustic guitar, lead and backing vocals
- Ronnie Drew – acoustic guitar, lead and backing vocals
- Luke Kelly – banjo, lead and backing vocals
- Barney McKenna – tenor banjo, mandolin
- John Sheahan – fiddle, tin whistle, mandolin

Note: Some Polydor releases used the title Alive and Well.