Mick Flannery was recently presented an IMRO Award in recognition of his album ‘Goodtime Charlie’.
The IMRO Number 1 Award was introduced to acknowledge IMRO members who reach number 1 in the album charts here in Ireland.
Mick Flannery writes songs with fluency, expressing layered aspects of the human condition, its flaws, triumphs, and general uncertainty. Mick’s latest offering — Goodtime Charlie, marks his eighth studio album and is no exception.
The last couple of years saw the release of an album inspired by the world’s most famous chess matches, and a duet album with Susan O’Neill that blossomed into In The Game- the biggest selling Irish independent album of 2021. Now, a new collection of songs that summon up characters and scenes and give voice to emotions that have transformed into the album — Goodtime Charlie.
Goodtime Charlie has more collaborative songwriting on it than any previous records. “It sparks you out of your comfort zone,” Mick says, “It opens up new perspectives, you wonder ‘how would someone else do this?’” The result is the best album of Mick’s already stellar career. Whatever the other voices add, whether on the record or in the writing, it creates a suite of songs that twist and turn surprise and engage like no others in his career.
“It’s more fun too,” Mick notes, “I don’t take myself as seriously as I did when I was 20. Back then, you’re all about yourself. I’m open to more fun now, trying things, hence, Goodtime Charlie.”
The song ‘Goodtime Charlie’ the albums namesake, is ‘Not a very serious song’ Mick says; “about a gambler who is liable to do anything at any time, as long as it’s a goodtime.” It however, sets the tone for a game of two halves on this record, accompanied by ‘What They Say’, ‘Morning Rain, the aforementioned ‘Give Me Up’ and ‘Neon Tonight’ lend to a free-spirited, 70’s feels, a nod to the The Band and Van Morrison of the era. There is a nostalgia weaved through these songs that juxtapose the deep and soulful ballads that make up the other half of this epic piece of work.
Goodtime Charlie was recorded in Cork with old friend, drummer and producer Christian Best and features long time musical companions Alan Comerford on guitar and Mikey O’Connell on bass. “They were sympathetic” says Mick, “It’s intuitive with them, they know me, we know each other.” It’s people who are used to playing together, have put in the hard yards together, shared stages, buses, dreams. With a song writer who knows his trade, better than ever before.
