From the Vaults: #527, A Private Reel

New Sounds | Apr 11, 2025

From July of 1990, listen to in-studio performances from the late 1980’s by keyboardist/composer David Borden and Mother Mallard; the late bagpiper and author of the Pennywhistle for Beginners, Bill Ochs; Irish guitar music from Dan Ar Bras; and Middle Eastern-derived banjo music from Jim Bowie.

Program #527, A Private Reel (First aired 7/26/1990)

ARTIST: Brian Eno
WORK: Julie With… [1:00]
RECORDING: Before and After Science
SOURCE: EG ENO-4
INFO: Re-released by Astralwerks, and available on Amazon.com

ARTIST: David Borden and Mother Mallard
WORK: Trains [1:00]
RECORDING: WNYC Live, May 1987
SOURCE: This performance not commercially available.
INFO: 
https://www.mothermallard.com/David/Mother_Mallard.html

ARTIST: Mitchell Korn
WORK: Hot Fudge Eyes [4:43]
RECORDING: WNYC Live, May 1985
SOURCE: This performance not commercially available.
INFO: 
Mitchell Korn's album, The Natural Sciences, may be available via Discogs.com

ARTIST: Dan Ar Bras
WORK: 10 Years Already [2:09]
RECORDING: WNYC Live, April 1987
SOURCE: This performance not commercially available.
INFO: 
His 1985 album Acoustic contains versions of "10 Years Already" & "Vers Les Iles." Try Discogs.com

ARTIST: Dan Ar Bras
WORK: Vers Les Iles/Rainy Day in Brest  [4:34]
RECORDING: WNYC Live, April 1987
SOURCE: This performance not commercially available.
INFO: His 1985 album Acoustic contains versions of "10 Years Already" & "Vers Les Iles." Try Discogs.com

ARTIST: Bill Ochs 
WORK: Miss McCloud's Reel [1:46]
RECORDING:  WNYC Live, May 1985
SOURCE: This performance not commercially available.
INFO: 
More about Bill Ochs here: https://pennywhistlesforschools.com/about-the-author/ 

ARTIST: Bill Ochs 
WORK: The Fox Chase [6:12]
RECORDING:  WNYC Live, May 1985
SOURCE: This performance not commercially available.
INFO: More about Bill Ochs here: https://pennywhistlesforschools.com/about-the-author/ 

ARTIST: Turtle Island String Quartet
WORK: Fiddles of Doom [6:51]
RECORDING:  WNYC Live, March 1989
SOURCE: This performance not commercially available.
INFO: 
https://turtleislandquartet.com/

ARTIST: Jim Bowie
WORK: Bulerias [4:53]
RECORDING: WNYC Live, October 1988
SOURCE: This performance not commercially available.
INFO: 
Bowie's album, Banjoman is available at AppleMusic, Amazon.com, and Spotify

ARTIST: Jim Bowie
WORK: Crystal Cave [1:00]
RECORDING: WNYC Live, October 1988
SOURCE: This performance not commercially available.
INFO: Bowie's album, Banjoman is available at AppleMusic, Amazon.com, and Spotify

ARTIST: Tom McVeety      
WORK: Blue Mesa [3:39]
RECORDING: WNYC Live, July 1986
SOURCE: This performance not commercially available.
INFO: 
There is a 1985 cassette release listed on Discogs.com

Be alert for scams. WNYC never asks for nor accepts money for coverage or interviews. Anyone making such a request does not represent WNYC.

Top Stories

Your guide to voting in New York's 2026 elections for governor and Congress

Gina Hinojosa Aims to Make Texas Blue Again. Plus, Reading Is Alive and Well

Claire Valdez on populism and the DSA agenda in Congress

The Classroom/Technology Pipeline

YOU ARE ONLINE