LUKA BLOOM

Alrighty, here’s the poop on one Luka Bloom. His real name is Barry Moore. His brother is the Irish singer Christy Moore. The stage name comes from Suzanne Vega’s “Luka”, and the character, Bloom, in James Joyce’s novel Ulysses.

Luka has been recording, first under his given name, and later under the pseudonym, since the seventies, with much critical acclaim, but little mainstream success (here in America, anyway). That’s alright, though. Mainstream, for the most part, is the kiss of death.

On a side note, the best concert I’ve ever been to was Luka opening for The Pogues in their prime.

Here’s a few songs that didn’t get put on his albums:

Luka Bloom - “Trains” B-Side of the “Delerious“ single.
Luka Bloom - “I Need Love” (live LL Cool J cover) Recorded at Park West, Chicago, 1990. Taken from the “I Need Love” single. Original version is on The Acoustic Motorbike.
Luka Bloom - “Listen To the River” From Celtic Season II.
Luka Bloom - “Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee” From the Honor compilation, also recorded many years earlier for Treaty Stone.

Luka Bloom discography:

Treaty Stone (1978) (as Barry Moore)
In Groningen (1980) (Barry Moore & Eamon Murray)
No Heroes (1982) (Barry Moore)
Luka Bloom (1988)
Riverside (1990)
The Acoustic Motorbike (1992)
Turf (1994) (buy)
Salty Heaven (1998) (buy)
Keeper of the Flame (2000) (buy) (covers album)
Between the Mountain and the Moon (2001) (buy)
Amsterdam (2003) (buy) (live album)
Before Sleep Comes (2004) (buy)
Innocence (2005) (buy)
Tribe (2007) (buy)

Luka has a DVD coming out in a few days. In can be had through his official site.