The Best of the Chieftains

Amazon.com essential recording
This set was culled from the Chieftains' seventh, eighth and ninth outings on the Irish Claddagh label, recordings that were released in America on Columbia. The Chieftains were still devoted primarily to Irish and some Scottish Gaelic material on this valuable selection of tunes. The CD provides an excellent overview of their style during that period (mid- to late '70s), a style that was a touch more academic and severe than it is now. As most of their seminal earlier recordings are now out of print in the United States, this is the only available compilation that traces the Chieftain's history and trajectory before they embarked on their bestselling intercultural expeditions and superstar collaborations. --Christina Roden

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No collection of Irish music would be complete without the Chieftains, who perform traditional songs without any annoying pop-music inflections or sappiness. A collection of their work for Columbia Records, The Best of the Chieftains is an excellent place to begin delving into their sizable catalog. From rousing foot-tappers like "Up Against the Buachalawns" and "Oh! The Breeches Full of Stitches" to wistful airs such as "No. 6 The Coombe" and "Chase Around the Windmill," it's all highly enjoyable music, performed by the finest musicians Ireland has to offer. I first heard this CD on someone's portable stereo in the Colorado mountains, but your living room should be sufficient if no mountains are available. --Genevieve Williams

The Best of the Chieftains,The Chieftains,Sony,British Folk,Celtic Folk,Celtic/Irish,Contemporary Celtic,Int'l & World Music,International Folk,Ireland,Irish Folk,Pop,Traditional Celtic,Traditional Irish Folk,World Music

Average customer rating: Irish Music Love this CD! A blast from the past The best of the early Chieftains It doesn't get any better than this

The Best of the Chieftains The Chieftains Manufacturer: Sony ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD British Folk | Traditional British & Celtic Folk | Folk | Styles | Music Irish Folk | Traditional British & Celtic Folk | Folk | Styles | Music Celtic Folk | Traditional British & Celtic Folk | Folk | Styles | Music General | Contemporary Folk | Folk | Styles | Music Traditional Folk | Folk | Styles | Music Britain | British Isles | Europe | International | Styles | Music Ireland | British Isles | Europe | International | Styles | Music General | International | Styles | Music General | Celtic | International | Styles | Music Similar Items: Irish Heartbeat The Bells of Dublin Long Black Veil The Essential Chieftains The Best Of The Irish Rovers [Remaster] ASIN: B000060P2Z Release Date: 2002-02-19

Tracks:

1. Up Against The Buachalawns
2. Boil The Breakfast Early
3. Friel's Kitchen
4. No.6 The Coombe
5. O'Sullivan's March
6. Sea Image
7. An Speic Seoigheach
8. The Dogs Among The Bushes
9. The Job Of Journeywork
10. Oh! The Breeches Full Of Stitches
11. Chase Around The Windmill: Toss The Feathers/Ballinasloe Fair/Cailleach An Airgid/Cuil Aodha Slide/The Pretty Girl
12. The Wind That Shakes The Barley/The Reel With The Beryle

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The tracks on The Best of the Chieftains are drawn from The Chieftains 7, The Chieftains 8, and Boil the Breakfast Early--three of the band's recordings from the late 1970s. This was the period when former Bothy Band and Planxty flautist Matt Molloy and vocalist/bodhran player Kevin Cunniffe joined up and finally fulfilled Paddy Maloney's vision of what the band should sound like. It also marks the last time the Chieftains recorded pure, unadulterated traditional Irish music. Not long after making these albums, the band set off on a new career that has included numerous movie and TV soundtracks, collaborations with pop stars of various stripes, and guest appearances with symphony orchestras. Although some purists decry the band's later attempts at crossover, the near perfection of tracks such as the exquisitely performed suite of dance tunes "Chase Around the Windmill" show that the Chieftains had taken the old tunes about as far as they could go. The group may have gone on to make better-selling records, but they never topped the traditional grace and charm of the songs on The Best of the Chieftains. --Michael Simmons

Customer Reviews:

Irish Music.......2007-05-14

If you are going to have an Irish party, this is the best music to have. The music is varied, jigs, reels and knee slapping songs that liven up any event and get you dancing.

Love this CD!.......2006-02-08

I love the Chieftains and I love this CD. I love it so much, I using a great many of the songs for the Prelude for my wedding.

A blast from the past.......2004-04-06

The title of this album is rather deceptive: it's not a selection from the Chieftains' entire catalog of recordings, but instead from the 3 albums (7, 8, and 9) that they put out on the Columbia label in the late 70's. That said, it's a worthy addition to anyone's Irish music library: it showcases the band at the pivotal point when they underwent major personnel changes and began to expand into less traditional ventures such as film scores. I've owned the three albums in question for years (and bought this one because the old vinyl was wearing out); this selection includes most of my favorite tracks from those albums, and shows what a solid, spirited, high-quality band they were from the start. (But it's instructive to compare the flute solos in the "Chase Around the Windmill" set with those from the earlier albums: with all due respect to Michael Tubridey, I feel that the addition of Matt Molloy, with his thoughtful and beautifully phrased flute playing, gave the group much more depth.)

The best of the early Chieftains.......2003-11-27

The retro style of Paddy Moloney's hair on the cover of this disc is a good metaphor for this CD, a remastered 1970s recording incorporating the best tracks from three of the Chieftains' early LPs. As far as traditional Irish music goes, it's not the purest of the pure, but it shows how this group gave a new twist to their country's music before venturing into the equally exciting realm of television and film music. If you're a fan of the Chieftains' later work, you'll definitely love this CD -- it's not really all that different, just less programmatic and commercialized.

There are some really incredible tracks here, like "O'Sullivan's March", an old 18th-century military tune arranged for the entire band -- the flutes in the middle section preserve the wonderful old fife-like quality of the original song. "Sea Image" and "Speic Seoigheach", composed by Paddy Moloney himself, point toward the group's later development as a band blending a traditional feel into their own original compositions. And the rest of the tracks show exactly why these marvelous Irishmen were nominated for a Grammy over twenty years ago.

Five stars easily!

It doesn't get any better than this.......2003-01-26

This anthology is incredible. Irish traditional music just doesn't get any better than this! The selections are timeless, the orchestration is always perfect. Paddy Maloney's pipes and whistles really drive the music and the late great Derek Bell's brilliant Celtic harp playing is top-notch! Anyone who enjoys Irish traditional music should own this collection...preferably on CD!

Average customer rating: A Fine Traditional Irish Album Pure Irish Pleasure

The Chieftains Collection: The Very Best of the Claddagh Years The Chieftains Manufacturer: Atlantic / WEA ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD British Folk | Traditional British & Celtic Folk | Folk | Styles | Music Irish Folk | Traditional British & Celtic Folk | Folk | Styles | Music Celtic Folk | Traditional British & Celtic Folk | Folk | Styles | Music General | Contemporary Folk | Folk | Styles | Music Traditional Folk | Folk | Styles | Music Britain | British Isles | Europe | International | Styles | Music Ireland | British Isles | Europe | International | Styles | Music General | International | Styles | Music General | Celtic | International | Styles | Music Similar Items: Chieftains Collection: The Very Best of the Claddagh Years, Vol. 2 The Best of the Chieftains The Chieftains 9: Boil the Breakfast Early Water From the Well Film Cuts ASIN: B00001U03G Release Date: 1999-10-05

Tracks:

1. The March Of The King Of Laois or Ruari Og O Mordha
2. The Musical Priest, The Queen of the May
3. An Paistin Fionn (The Fair Child), Mrs. Crotty's Reel, The Mountain Top
4. Tabhair Dom Do Lamh (Give Me Your Hand)
5. The Morning Dew
6. Bean An Fhir Rua (The Red-haired Man's Wife)
7. John Kelly's Slide / Merrily Kiss The Quaker / Denis Murphy's Slide
8. Mna Na Heireann
9. The Walls Of Liscarroll
10. Sonny's Mazurka / Tommy Hunt's Jig
11. Samhradh, Samhradh (Summertime, Summertime)
12. Seoirse Brabston (George Brabazon)

Amazon.com

The melodies on Collection may be ancient but this is the sound of a revolution. Before Paddy Maloney gathered together some of the best traditional musicians in Ireland in 1963 to form a band, such music was performed solo, if at all. The Chieftains not only reintroduced traditional music to the Irish public, they pioneered a new way of playing it. Bands such as Planxty, the Bothy Band, Clannad, and Altan all owe the Chieftains a debt of gratitude. The tracks on this CD are drawn from their first five records and represent a time before they began to compose movie soundtracks, jam with rock stars, and collaborate with symphony orchestras. This is the music of the Chieftains in its purest form. --Michael Simmons

Customer Reviews:

A Fine Traditional Irish Album.......2001-03-05

I have been looking for a long time for a Irish album like this one. This is a collection of many traditional airs, reels, and slides that are performed very well. I heard many of these tracks when I visited Ireland a couple of years ago. If you are looking for a album that really represents the full range of traditional Irish music, I really encourage you to purchase this album.

Pure Irish Pleasure.......2000-06-11

This CD makes you feel as if you've got the rolling green hills of Ireland right outside your front door. A definate must for Celtic music lovers.

Average customer rating: No Hype -- Just the Finest "Best of " Chieftains Collection The very best of the claddagh years (volume two)

Chieftains Collection: The Very Best of the Claddagh Years, Vol. 2 Chieftains Manufacturer: Atlantic / WEA ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD British Folk | Traditional British & Celtic Folk | Folk | Styles | Music Irish Folk | Traditional British & Celtic Folk | Folk | Styles | Music Celtic Folk | Traditional British & Celtic Folk | Folk | Styles | Music General | Contemporary Folk | Folk | Styles | Music Traditional Folk | Folk | Styles | Music Britain | British Isles | Europe | International | Styles | Music Ireland | British Isles | Europe | International | Styles | Music General | International | Styles | Music General | Celtic | International | Styles | Music Similar Items: The Chieftains Collection: The Very Best of the Claddagh Years The Best of the Chieftains The Chieftains 9: Boil the Breakfast Early The Chieftains 8 The Chieftains 7 ASIN: B00004Z453 Release Date: 2000-10-24

Tracks:

1. Kerry Slides
2. The Hunter's Purse
3. Callaghan's/Byrne's
4. Round The House And Mind The Dresser
5. Brian Boru March
6. An Mhaighdean Mhara
7. Ceol Bhriotanach
8. Drowsy Maggie
9. Away With Ye
10. Carolan's Concerto
11. Cherish The Ladies
12. Donall Og
13. Ril Mhor

Customer Reviews:

No Hype -- Just the Finest "Best of " Chieftains Collection.......2002-08-02

There are several "best-of" Chieftains compilations, released on a handful of different labels, but this one is the best. This record, as well as the other Claddagh Chieftains releases, tends to get overlooked in the record store bins in favor of the the flashier Columbia and RCA discs. This is a shame, since the Chieftains did some of their purest, most exhilarating recording for Claddagh.

These recordings were made long before the so-called "Celtic Revival" of the Riverdance-era, for a traditional music label who respected the music too much to march a never-ending parade of celebrity singers through the Chieftains' studio or design New Agey covers for their albums. The bare- bones production on this disc does a far better job of capturing the Chieftains' energy and inventive arrangements than the later state-of-the-art recordings. This is most apparent on "Carolan's Concerto", a tune the Chieftains have recorded several times in their career with the likes of James Galway and the Irish National Orchestra, but never as well, and to such dramatic effect, as they did here -- playing by themselves, in a quiet studio without benefit of reverb or extra musicians, elevating Carolan's simple tune to a soaring masterpiece.

The very best of the claddagh years (volume two).......2001-01-25

It was one of those days... I did not like to do anything. Anything period. Well, anything does not includ listening to music on net! I discovered The Chieftans by surfing around the net!!! It changed my mode like a flash. Wish I knew how to dance with it.

Average customer rating: Ireland at best

Very Best of Claddagh Years The Chieftains Manufacturer: Import [Generic] ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD British Folk | Traditional British & Celtic Folk | Folk | Styles | Music Irish Folk | Traditional British & Celtic Folk | Folk | Styles | Music Celtic Folk | Traditional British & Celtic Folk | Folk | Styles | Music General | Contemporary Folk | Folk | Styles | Music Traditional Folk | Folk | Styles | Music General | International | Styles | Music General | Celtic | International | Styles | Music International | Imports | Stores | Music ASIN: B00004R8NI Release Date: 2002-01-29

Tracks:

1. March of the King of Laois
2. Musical Priest/The Queen of May
3. Paistin Fionn: Mrs. Crotty's Reel: The Mountain Top
4. Tabhair Dom Do L (Give Me Your Hand)
5. Morning Dew
6. Bean an Fhir Rua
7. John Kelly's Slide/Merrily Kiss the Quaker/Denis Murphy's Slide
8. Mna Heann
9. Walls of Liscarroll
10. Sonny's Mazurka/Tommy Hunt's Jig
11. Samhradh, Samhradh
12. Seorise Brabston

Album Details

15 Tracks from Irelands Finest Compiled from The1964-75 Albums.

Customer Reviews:

Ireland at best.......2000-06-10

this is chieftans at their best - say no more

Average customer rating:

Chieftains Collection: The Very Best of the Claddagh Years, Vol. 2 Chieftains Manufacturer: Claddagh Records/Celtic ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD British Folk | Traditional British & Celtic Folk | Folk | Styles | Music Irish Folk | Traditional British & Celtic Folk | Folk | Styles | Music Celtic Folk | Traditional British & Celtic Folk | Folk | Styles | Music General | Contemporary Folk | Folk | Styles | Music Traditional Folk | Folk | Styles | Music Britain | British Isles | Europe | International | Styles | Music Ireland | British Isles | Europe | International | Styles | Music General | International | Styles | Music General | Celtic | International | Styles | Music ASIN: B000053W32 Release Date: 2006-06-27

Tracks:

1. Kerry Slides
2. Hunter's Purse
3. Callaghan's /Byrne's Hornpipe
4. Round the House and Mind the Dresser
5. Brian Boru's March
6. Mhaighdean Mhara
7. Ceol Bhriotch
8. Drowsy Maggie
9. Away with Ye
10. Carolan's Concerto
11. Cherish the Ladies
12. Dl
13. Ril Mh

Average customer rating: Not as I expected The Originals Wow. to "searching for a song" Searching for a song?

The Best of the Chieftains The Chieftains Manufacturer: Sony ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD British Folk | Traditional British & Celtic Folk | Folk | Styles | Music Irish Folk | Traditional British & Celtic Folk | Folk | Styles | Music Celtic Folk | Traditional British & Celtic Folk | Folk | Styles | Music General | Contemporary Folk | Folk | Styles | Music Traditional Folk | Folk | Styles | Music Britain | British Isles | Europe | International | Styles | Music Ireland | British Isles | Europe | International | Styles | Music General | International | Styles | Music General | Celtic | International | Styles | Music Similar Items: Further Down the Old Plank Road Over the Sea to Skye: The Celtic Connection The Celtic Harp: A Tribute to Edward Bunting with the Belfast Harp Orchestra ASIN: B00000284K Release Date: 1992-01-28

Tracks:

1. Up Against The Buachalawns
2. Boil The Breakfast Early
3. Friel's Kitchen
4. No. 6 The Coombe
5. O'Sullivan's March
6. Sea Image
7. An Speic Seoigheach
8. The Dogs Among The Bushes
9. The Job Of Journeywork
10. Oh! The Breeches Full Of Stitches
11. Chase Around The Windmill, Toss The Feathers...
12. The Wind That Shakes The Barley, The Reel With...

Amazon.com essential recording

This set was culled from the Chieftains' seventh, eighth and ninth outings on the Irish Claddagh label, recordings that were released in America on Columbia. The Chieftains were still devoted primarily to Irish and some Scottish Gaelic material on this valuable selection of tunes. The CD provides an excellent overview of their style during that period (mid- to late '70s), a style that was a touch more academic and severe than it is now. As most of their seminal earlier recordings are now out of print in the United States, this is the only available compilation that traces the Chieftain's history and trajectory before they embarked on their bestselling intercultural expeditions and superstar collaborations. --Christina Roden

Amazon.com

No collection of Irish music would be complete without the Chieftains, who perform traditional songs without any annoying pop-music inflections or sappiness. A collection of their work for Columbia Records, The Best of the Chieftains is an excellent place to begin delving into their sizable catalog. From rousing foot-tappers like "Up Against the Buachalawns" and "Oh! The Breeches Full of Stitches" to wistful airs such as "No. 6 The Coombe" and "Chase Around the Windmill," it's all highly enjoyable music, performed by the finest musicians Ireland has to offer. I first heard this CD on someone's portable stereo in the Colorado mountains, but your living room should be sufficient if no mountains are available. --Genevieve Williams

Customer Reviews:

Not as I expected.......2005-09-18

The Chieftains are known for their rowdy, spirited Celtic music. Most of the music on this CD was quieting, dirge-like and disappointing to the expectation of the "spirited" music I could pound my knees and legs, get up and dance with.....Too many other artists to enjoy just the Chieftains. I'm wondering who puts these 'favorites' together.

The Originals.......2000-09-27

After having heard the Chieftain produced "Fire In the Kitchen" album, this CD was like taking a step back in time. It was the first true taste of traditional Irish music that I ever heard. No fancy computers to "beef up" the sound, just true Irish music played from the heart. The CD is well paced with a good mix of toe-tapping jigs and reels, and slower marches, but the emotion is always there. This CD is traditional, and it reminds us of the origins of the music that has made its impact on mainstream america, origins that should never be forgotten.

Wow........2000-02-11

Like at first I thought this CD would be lame because it was my dad's CD.But I was sooooo wrong!This CD is brilliant!The instruments are played very well and the voices are great.Some songs are energetic and others are slow.Either beat,both are good.I love irish type music and if you enjoy this type of music,you'll really like this!

to "searching for a song".......1999-08-02

The song that was played on TV at the time of JFK jrs funeral ( they said it was one of his favorites) was "Carrickfergus" and it's on the album "Irish Heartbeat" by Van Morrison and the Chieftains. Hope this helps. If you can, let me know if you see this.

Searching for a song?.......1999-07-25

I'm looking for the song that was song at the time of J.F Kennedy Jr. memorial, I believe I heard it on the Today show with Katie Curic. I hope you will know what it is or where I can go....

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