Planxty
In 1972, Christy Moore brought togetheruilleannpiper Liam O'Flynn, Dónal Lunny and Andy Irvine and formed Planxty (the name is a term for a song composed for a paying client). This, their first album, was a watershed for the coming boon in "Celtic" music, with its use of harmonies and its blend of songs, ballads and instrumental tunes. Their mix ofbouzouki(now almost considered a traditional instrument, then viewed as an aberration!), bagpipes, guitars, and fiddles, along with the gritty, unadorned singing of Moore and Irvine, still stands the test of time. It was a brilliant act of faith, proclaiming that traditional Irish music could sound startlingly new without being bastardized.--Louis Gibson