1 By the Time It Gets Dark - Mary Black, Denny, Sandy
2 Schooldays Over - Mary Black, MacColl, Ewan
3 Once in a Very Blue Moon - Mary Black, Alger, Pat
4 Farewell Farewell - Mary Black, Thompson, Richard [
5 Sparks Might Fly - Mary Black, Brazil, Noel
6 Katie - Mary Black, MacCarthy, Jimmy
7 Leaving the Land - Mary Black, Bogle, Eric
8 There Is a Time - Mary Black, Duhan, Johnny
9 Jamie - Mary Black, Sinnott, Declan [pr
10 Leaboy's Lassie - Mary Black, Traditional
11 Trying to Get the Balance Right - Mary Black, Duhan, Johnny
12 Moon River [Live][*] - Mary Black, Mancini, Henry
13 Don't Explain [Live][*] - Mary Black, Herzog, Arthur

From Amazon.com

Mary Black ; By the Time It Gets Dark

 Album Rating: (5 of 5 stars)

Review Comments: Of the dozen or so Mary Black CDs I have this became an instant favorite.

Amazon Verified Purchase

classic Mary Black

 Album Rating: (4 of 5 stars)

Review Comments: this CD is so good but, of course, somewhat depressing when listened to at length...great CD to turn someone on to Mary Black for the 1st time

Stunning

 Album Rating: (5 of 5 stars)

Review Comments: The reviews are absolutely right on here, Mary Black is just stunning on this album, she got the balance right. Lea Boys Lassie is an amazingly wonderful song, listen to it over and over.

Beautiful

 Album Rating: (5 of 5 stars)

Review Comments: Mary's melodies are at times light-hearted and whimsical (By the Time it Gets Dark), at times haunting (Leaving the Land). All are lovely.

Powerful Expressiveness

 Album Rating: (5 of 5 stars)

Review Comments: This was the album that got me hooked on Mary Black. I'd already purchased some of her others because music fans I trust had told me her music's worth spending some time with. But I didn't really get sold on her until this album.

SPARKS MIGHT FLY was the first song that really won me over. With a lovely, gentle piano playing in the background, her voice really rings out strong and expressive. You can feel every word she belts out so that individual lines really get to you. Lines that don't sound so powerful on paper like, "I see my brother's face grow dark with care," then "Don't call him a misfit!" just hit you in the gut and resonate.

She really is just so expressive throughout this album. There's a subtle power to it that makes her voice more interesting than it would otherwise be. And it makes some of the songs which might not be so spectacular on their own really reach your heart. Like DON'T EXPLAIN is a song I normally wouldn't like because the singer is forgiving a man who cheats ... which is something that goes against my personal beliefs. But ... the way she sings it is so expressive and raw that I'm "with her" and on her side for the duration of the song. Now, that's talent when you can make someone who disagrees with you empathize as you sing.

I recommend BY THE TIME IT GETS DARK for anyone curious about why Mary Black is a favorite of so many music conniseurs. Listen to it several times. It won't be long before it starts to get to you.