The many shades indeed. On the one hand, Irishman Doonican was one of Britain's best-loved balladeers, possessed of a rich brown voice as comfortable as his trademark cardigans. On the other, he was a hilarious comedian, reeling off the epic sagas of "Cod Liver Oil" and "The Jarvey Was a... [+] Expand

The many shades indeed. On the one hand, Irishman Doonican was one of Britain's best-loved balladeers, possessed of a rich brown voice as comfortable as his trademark cardigans. On the other, he was a hilarious comedian, reeling off the epic sagas of "Cod Liver Oil" and "The Jarvey Was a Leprechaun." The Many Shades taps both of these directions with equal aplomb, with good and bad results. Occasionally, things really do get too twee for words; "Mysterious People," a lilting ode to the magic of childhood, is just so sweet one wants to spit it out. But the opening, "Two Streets," and Bob Lind's "Elusive Butterfly" are utterly irresistible, broad, soaring ballads which tug the heartstrings with an unbreakable grip, while the country classic "Walk Tall," Doonican's best-known U.K. hit, strides about like a giant. So do the comedy songs, all recited in Donegan's finest native lilt. "Delaney's Donkey" is a piece of ragged doggerel concerning a disastrous attempt at racing the beast, "Paddy McGinty's Goat" ends with an utterly unexpected bang, and "O'Rafferty's Motor Car" will strike a chord with anyone who's ever gone shopping for a used automobile. "Two of the wheels are triangular." Doonican has rarely been fashionable among pop listeners -- too smooth, too glib, and too prone to the aforementioned cardigans. (He's even wearing one on the cover.) Listen without prejudice, however, and The Many Shades emerges a wonderfully diverting album, as smooth as a pint of his national drink, but just as intoxicating too. ~ Dave Thompson, All Music Guide [-] Collapse

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