Mary Coughlan - Red Blues -2002- -

Written by Bill Bourne, this track was noted for its "unsettling undertow" similar to the work of Tom Waits.

) are frequently praised for their intimate, cabaret-style "waspish anecdotes". Buzz Magazine

: An Etta James classic from the Chess Records catalog. Black Coffee : Originally popularized by Peggy Lee. Mary Coughlan - Red Blues -2002-

Returning to Galway in 1981 as a single mother of three, Coughlan's life took a dramatic turn. She began performing in local pubs and caught the attention of Dutch musician and producer Erik Visser. Visser helped her record her debut album, Tired and Emotional , in 1985. The album was an unexpected sensation, selling over 100,000 copies in Ireland, largely due to a transformative appearance on The Late Late Show . A star was born—but not a conventional one.

Born in 1956 in County Cork, Ireland, Mary Coughlan began her music career in the 1970s, performing in various folk and traditional music circles. Her early work was marked by a strong emphasis on storytelling, with songs often drawing from Irish mythology and folklore. As her career progressed, Coughlan's style evolved, incorporating elements of jazz, blues, and pop to create a distinctive sound that was both rootsy and contemporary. Written by Bill Bourne, this track was noted

A playful nod to Louis Jordan’s 1940s jump blues classic. Coughlan updates the rhythm with modern swagger, showing off her characteristic dark humor and impeccable timing.

Today, the album remains a sought-after piece for collectors, with original CD copies listed on sites like physical copies of this specific album to add to your collection? Mary Coughlan - An Overdose Of Fingal Cocoa Black Coffee : Originally popularized by Peggy Lee

The Spotify Album Profile for Red Blues highlights an inspired selection of 11 reimagined tracks:

A '40s classic by Louis Jordan, given a modern, sultry treatment.

Another audacious cover (of the traditional folk standard, popularized by The Animals). Coughlan reclaims this song for the female experience. It ceases to be a cautionary tale about a wayward son and becomes a cyclical story of inherited trauma and female desperation. The arrangement is glacial; each chord hangs in the air like frost. When Coughlan sings about the "ball and chain," you feel the weight of every poor decision she has ever sung about across her career.