The Chieftains 2

The Chieftains

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The Chieftains 2 Review

by Bruce Eder

This is the real stuff, the very best of the group's early albums and the best representation of the Chieftains' original sound. If anything, the group is more confident the second time out, and the material, consisting of traditional airs, jigs, and polkas, is stronger than on the first album. Opening with the gorgeous double jig "Banish Misfortune, Gillan's Apples," which goes back to the time of the 16th century fiddler Raftery of Connacht, the record simply gets better all the way through. Though more familiar as a harp piece, "Planxty George Brabazon" (written by the harper-composer Turlough O'Carolan) comes off stunningly here played on pipes, flutes, etc., without a plucked instrument in sight; "The Foxhunt" is a great showcase for Martin Fay and Seán Keane's fiddle skills; the mournful, somber, but beautiful "Am Mhaighdean Mhara" was the tune that Stanley Kubrick absorbed into his movie Barry Lyndon, and tells a magical story of torment and lost love. Production on the album is first-rate and, in particular, makes excellent use of stereo separation.

Track Listing

Title/Composer Performer Time Stream
1
Banish Misfortune/Gillian's Apples
Paddy Moloney
The Chieftains 03:35 SpotifyAmazon
2
Seóirse Brabston
Traditional
The Chieftains 03:30
3
Bean an Fhir Rua
Traditional
The Chieftains 02:51 SpotifyAmazon
4
An Phis Fhliuch /O'Farrell's Welcome to Limerick
Traditional
The Chieftains 03:35 SpotifyAmazon
5
An Páistín Fionn /Mrs Crotty's Reel/The Mountain T
Traditional
The Chieftains 04:13 SpotifyAmazon
6
The Fox Hunt
Traditional
The Chieftains 05:15 SpotifyAmazon
7
An Mhaighdean Mhara /Tie the Bonnet/O'Rorke's Reel
Traditional
The Chieftains 04:15 SpotifyAmazon
8
Callaghan's /Byrne's Hornpipe
Paddy Moloney
The Chieftains 03:15 SpotifyAmazon
9
Pigtown/Tie the Ribbons/The Bag of Potatoes
Traditional
The Chieftains 02:35 SpotifyAmazon
10
The Humours of Whiskey/Hardiman the Fiddler
Traditional
The Chieftains 02:55 SpotifyAmazon
11
Dónall Óg
Traditional
The Chieftains 03:56
12
Brian Boru's March
Traditional
The Chieftains 03:14 SpotifyAmazon
13
Sweeney's Polka/Denis Murphy's Polka/The Scartaglen Polka
Traditional
The Chieftains 03:30 SpotifyAmazon
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The Chieftains 2

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