Watched you guys as a child my late Grand Dad , loved you guys , we watched you together for many yrs on the CBC on Sunday nights . Watching this video brought back 50 yrs of memories now 55 , I still love your songs and acts you did on TV , Thank you !
One late afternoon in the very early 80’s I was working at a service station when a vehicle pulled up for fuel. The gentleman asked for the tank to be filled and shortly after said his high beam headlights had not been working and asked if I could take a look. Back then there was full service that included a windshield wash, oil, fluid and tire pressure checks. When doing this (a Grand Cherokee if I recall) the only thing different from most other customers was some fancier than average clothing hanging in the back seat. I checked the vehicle and found the high beam switch, located on the floor in those days, to be faulty. I recall at some point saying to the guy you look familiar and he just smiled and sang a couple bars of wasn’t that a party. It was a huge hit all over the radio at that time so I thought the guy was a cover singer in a band from somewhere. We had a replacement switch in stock so after I installed it and verified everything worked fine, he handed me his credit card and the name on the card was Will Millar. During our interaction he had asked a few general questions about the area and was just a humble cool guy. Not quite the same service station employee experience as depicted in a ZZ Top Video but very cool just the same.
Its a shame this song isn’t twice as long! Absolutely love this.. Its been almost 8 years since I was last in Ireland, now that Im of age Id love to go to a nice pub and listen to the irish rovers, dance about with the crowd and just enjoy life
This takes me back to the 80s. Oh my goodness how we used to belt this out. This morning this song just popped in my head after the hubby and I got up a bit late... see, we had our own little party. We're empty nesters and we can do that lol... any way... I said to him, "wasn't that a party?" He was like, huh? So I had to play the song for him this morning. Now it's stuck in his head and he was singing it as he headed out the door. 😆 Good times, good memories. Here's to making new ones even in this messed up world. 🥂 Cheers!
I remember watching reruns of the Rovers in the 70's when they used to perform out of Vancouver in some pub in 1970. I am 49 now and still love them. Being of Scottish background myself I have nothing but love for Irish and Scottish music, even when I was a kid
I was just a kid when CBC aired The Irish Rovers variety show. Always loved the group and this song by far is my favourite one by them. Thank you for the great memories
Saw these guys in Wenatchee, Wa. about 25 years ago and It was the absolute best concert I have ever been to. Great singers and entertainers and very funny too. Would love to see them again.
Will was my mom's boyfriend in high school. Taught her to diive in an MG. I can remember being backstage and jimmy turning a flute. I was probably 7 or 8 at the time. Still have personal autograph LPs of the Unicorn
wow, just found this version. saw this episode on tv a long time back. put my cassette recorder in front of the tv and recorded it. played it until the tape stretched. thanks for the memories.
I REMEMBER this from my youth! You were my fave Rover as a wee bairn as we share the same name. My band did a very popular cover of "Wasn't That a Party?" in the 90s, rocked up considerably. Had a fella touring the country, writing a book about club bands, tell me my arrangement was the best version of the song he'd seen in any bar in Canada. I recently read that it was considered a 'country cross over' song. I never once thought that...
Will, what a wonderful memory, especially of Jimmy. Brought back a lot of memories. Appreciate the post and wish I'd seen it back when you first put it up.
Several years back, I had the pleasure of being the chaufeur to the Rovers during the Irish Festival on the Miramichi. Jimmy Fergusons nephew had replaced Jimmy by then. They sang and sang, and sang some more. Great bunch of guys, so they were!
Will, I remember ye lads from when I was a lad, growing up (and yes, I AM half-Irish), and "The Unicorn Song." But I heard this in 1981 on American Top 40 with Casey Kasem, and saw the performance on Solid Gold-just say it was love at first listen. Recently, I came back to this song via St. Paddy's Day, and now you boys have weaved the magic on me, enough to request it again from another favorite DJ, Barret Hansen, aka "Dr. Demento," on his recent internet broadcast. The fact it's still a favorite with so many folks, as I found out, that says something about The Irish Rovers-and says that this little "leprechaun" is now a fan, again. Thank you all (including the big man, Jimmy Ferguson, we miss you, buddy) for the music, the fun, and the memories-and sure'n' I hope you're all in Heaven a half hour before the devil knows you're dead! :)
I first heard this in 1980 at the 2001 club in Her, WV. We went there because the drinking age in Pennsylvania had been raised and the girls in our group couldn’t get in tho clubs if just to dance.
I doubt if there was a single folk group in the sixties that didn't include a Tom Paxton song in their repertoire. This is a great version of the original
You must have written this song after one of those crazy all-night parties in at the McGinley's in Petaluma! I have fond memories of those days, even if I was just a wee lass peeking 'round the corner at all the silly (drunken) grownups in my parent's living room, haha! Happy St. Paddy's Dy 2020 Will! Best Wishes from Shawn McGinley & my 87 yr young father, Dan
Amazing song indeed! This one and Drunken Sailor got me into listening the Irish Rovers old albuns! You guys were amazing!! Do you by any chance got hold of the tapes from the album of the 30th anniversary?
love that song. heard it for the first time in the 80s by the band Fumble at a festival, they played it more rock n roll like ..... but this version is great too. is this the original?
NOOOOOOOOOOOO...they recorded that as just The Rovers because they wanted an image change to be associated with this particular song. It was the label's idea.
They have all their instruments and are in a bar. I wonder why it still sounds like they lip synched it and why that might have been necessary? Love the song and had the single. Saw them live in 1981 in Lansing, MI with my folks and grandma.
Watched you guys as a child my late Grand Dad , loved you guys , we watched you together for many yrs on the CBC on Sunday nights . Watching this video brought back 50 yrs of memories now 55 , I still love your songs and acts you did on TV , Thank you !
Thanks for sharing this., any memory Of Jimmy ferguson is always special.
One late afternoon in the very early 80’s I was working at a service station when a vehicle pulled up for fuel. The gentleman asked for the tank to be filled and shortly after said his high beam headlights had not been working and asked if I could take a look. Back then there was full service that included a windshield wash, oil, fluid and tire pressure checks. When doing this (a Grand Cherokee if I recall) the only thing different from most other customers was some fancier than average clothing hanging in the back seat. I checked the vehicle and found the high beam switch, located on the floor in those days, to be faulty. I recall at some point saying to the guy you look familiar and he just smiled and sang a couple bars of wasn’t that a party. It was a huge hit all over the radio at that time so I thought the guy was a cover singer in a band from somewhere. We had a replacement switch in stock so after I installed it and verified everything worked fine, he handed me his credit card and the name on the card was Will Millar. During our interaction he had asked a few general questions about the area and was just a humble cool guy. Not quite the same service station employee experience as depicted in a ZZ Top Video but very cool just the same.
Loved watching this with my parents as a child. Many fond memories of good times.
Thanks for all the great music guys!
Its a shame this song isn’t twice as long! Absolutely love this.. Its been almost 8 years since I was last in Ireland, now that Im of age Id love to go to a nice pub and listen to the irish rovers, dance about with the crowd and just enjoy life
¹1
A simpler and happier time.I do miss Will Miller
This takes me back to the 80s. Oh my goodness how we used to belt this out. This morning this song just popped in my head after the hubby and I got up a bit late... see, we had our own little party. We're empty nesters and we can do that lol... any way... I said to him, "wasn't that a party?" He was like, huh? So I had to play the song for him this morning. Now it's stuck in his head and he was singing it as he headed out the door. 😆 Good times, good memories. Here's to making new ones even in this messed up world. 🥂 Cheers!
Loved your comment 😄
This song brings back fond memories of my childhood. This is one of my favorite country classics, along with "Gonna Hire a Wino" from David Frizzell.
😂😂😂😂😂😂
I still recall watching these guys ever time they where on TV
Jimmy looked sharp in that Tuxedo! I miss that man and his amazing voice every day.
"The cat was talkin back." That's when things are really headed downhill.
I remember watching reruns of the Rovers in the 70's when they used to perform out of Vancouver in some pub in 1970. I am 49 now and still love them. Being of Scottish background myself I have nothing but love for Irish and Scottish music, even when I was a kid
I was just a kid when CBC aired The Irish Rovers variety show. Always loved the group and this song by far is my favourite one by them. Thank you for the great memories
Brings back great memories
I am from Chile and I do not know why I imaginated cows, goats, gooses, Honey and milk all over my hot baking bread. Just a word... Fantastic.
Saw them on the 50th anniversary tour. Wish Will was still with them
Great song.....In fact one of the best songs I have ever heard.
Thanks!!! Party on!!
Learned this as a teen, never knew who sang it. Now I know
Quite the line up of special guests
You guys were so much fun. Great feel good music. If I remember correctly you filmed a couple of episodes of the beachcombers in gibsons.
I first heard this as a 12- year- old, then not again til some 34 years later.
A fun little piece of music
Saw these guys in Wenatchee, Wa. about 25 years ago and It was the absolute best concert I have ever been to. Great singers and entertainers and very funny too. Would love to see them again.
Will was my mom's boyfriend in high school. Taught her to diive in an MG. I can remember being backstage and jimmy turning a flute. I was probably 7 or 8 at the time. Still have personal autograph LPs of the Unicorn
My dad and mom just loved your group and so did I in the 80's just awesome all around.
I grew up on Irish Rovers throughout the 70s as a little kid.. great times.. thanks for being part of my life👍
wow, just found this version. saw this episode on tv a long time back. put my cassette recorder in front of the tv and recorded it. played it until the tape stretched. thanks for the memories.
love this song and the unicorn song
I REMEMBER this from my youth! You were my fave Rover as a wee bairn as we share the same name. My band did a very popular cover of "Wasn't That a Party?" in the 90s, rocked up considerably. Had a fella touring the country, writing a book about club bands, tell me my arrangement was the best version of the song he'd seen in any bar in Canada. I recently read that it was considered a 'country cross over' song. I never once thought that...
The Irish Rovers was the first concert I ever saw as a teenager.
Ya, I was cool.
Will, what a wonderful memory, especially of Jimmy. Brought back a lot of memories.
Appreciate the post and wish I'd seen it back when you first put it up.
Good memories. Thank you so much!
Several years back, I had the pleasure of being the chaufeur to the Rovers during the Irish Festival on the Miramichi. Jimmy Fergusons nephew had replaced Jimmy by then. They sang and sang, and sang some more. Great bunch of guys, so they were!
Great story, plus, who doesn’t love the Miramichi😁
If you don't like this song...then there's no hope for you.
Will, I remember ye lads from when I was a lad, growing up (and yes, I AM half-Irish), and "The Unicorn Song." But I heard this in 1981 on American Top 40 with Casey Kasem, and saw the performance on Solid Gold-just say it was love at first listen. Recently, I came back to this song via St. Paddy's Day, and now you boys have weaved the magic on me, enough to request it again from another favorite DJ, Barret Hansen, aka "Dr. Demento," on his recent internet broadcast. The fact it's still a favorite with so many folks, as I found out, that says something about The Irish Rovers-and says that this little "leprechaun" is now a fan, again. Thank you all (including the big man, Jimmy Ferguson, we miss you, buddy) for the music, the fun, and the memories-and sure'n' I hope you're all in Heaven a half hour before the devil knows you're dead! :)
RIP Jimmy McCullogh. Love these guys.
I wish I would of gone to the pub back in 1986 when I was in Vancouver.
Has to be the newest addition to my playlist of favorite song's
They Rocked
I first heard this in 1980 at the 2001 club in Her, WV. We went there because the drinking age in Pennsylvania had been raised and the girls in our group couldn’t get in tho clubs if just to dance.
Wishing could have been able to see the whole show !!
Thanks for sharing this, Will! Been a fan of the Irish Rovers since the 1960s.
Wish I'd been there, Will! Thanks for everything!
Trust me ,. We've all been there after a good party
Loved the unicorn
This is real music!!!!!
This makes my heart smile.
Oh, the memories! Thanks for sharing! :-)
this is an awesome song I remember my parents drinking to this song.awe the good ol days
Jimmy Ferguson worked in my dad's department, met his wife on The Dating Game!!!
I doubt if there was a single folk group in the sixties that didn't include a Tom Paxton song in their repertoire. This is a great version of the original
You must have written this song after one of those crazy all-night parties in at the McGinley's in Petaluma! I have fond memories of those days, even if I was just a wee lass peeking 'round the corner at all the silly (drunken) grownups in my parent's living room, haha!
Happy St. Paddy's Dy 2020 Will!
Best Wishes from Shawn McGinley & my 87 yr young father, Dan
Know how to take the smile off an Irishman's face?
Just yell .. " Last Call "
That's funny. Half Irish half polish once I find that guy I was going to kick the crap out of him
I was Born & only 6 years old when they were on TV. Wasn't that a Party when My mother yelled at Me.....
You either love this tune or your wrong.
love it
They were never the same after Jimmy died.
Surprising number of C&W guests
Yup lots but also a lot of the 'Heads' of Irish music. Clancy's, Tommy Makem, Chieftans, etc etc
Amazing song indeed! This one and Drunken Sailor got me into listening the Irish Rovers old albuns! You guys were amazing!!
Do you by any chance got hold of the tapes from the album of the 30th anniversary?
I thought that i was the only one
love that song. heard it for the first time in the 80s by the band Fumble at a festival, they played it more rock n roll like ..... but this version is great too. is this the original?
Vancouver. B. C. expo. '86.
LOL OH MAYBE NOT. Green aligators..the whole world may know. OR - They were there!
Happy Saint Patrick's day everyone :)
❤️🙏🏻🙏🏻🇨🇦
Would love to see the rest of this anniversary concert. Is it posted anywhere?
NOOOOOOOOOOOO...they recorded that as just The Rovers because they wanted an image change to be associated with this particular song. It was the label's idea.
Does anybody know the name of the jig/reel played at the very beginning during the introduction??
Craggy Island
Our family used to all the time. Are their videos for sale on these shows
Four thumbs down...what the.....
Thanks for sharing.
Classic
11:58 AM 01-FEB-2022. TUE.
Piano solo??
24 people never had a party.
Play
Wasn't that a cool tune? Had forgotten all about it. Could have been the whiskey.
They have all their instruments and are in a bar. I wonder why it still sounds like they lip synched it and why that might have been necessary? Love the song and had the single. Saw them live in 1981 in Lansing, MI with my folks and grandma.