Customer Reviews

The Best of The Tannahill Weavers 1979-1989

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I saw these guys play in Charlotte Oct. 13 of this year, and Wow!! They are great! I'm a student piper, so I was simply amazed at the skill and speed of Duncan, the piper. The songs are great, every one of the men in Tannahill Weavers is very talented and you can see they not only just sing, but they sing with emotion, love and meaning. You will not be disappointed in any of their CD's. I guarantee that if you are a lover of scottish/irish music the slightest bit, you will fall in love with this group's soulful music.

When it comes to bagpipe music, the Tannies are far and wide my favorite. Superbly blended with the entourage of other traditional celtic instruments, these songs are truly inspiring and heartwarming. From the foot-thumping energy of Johhny Cope, to the powerful drama of Jamie Raeburn's Farewell, this album will surely raise your spirits and stir your soul! Forget all that new-age pseudo-celtic music that has flooded the market in recent years. If you want the best of traditional jigs and reels, this is where to find it. The _Best of_ is a perfect place for new listeners of the Tannies and new listeners of celtic music in general to start out. If this music doesn't have you out of your seat and dancing, you must be tied to the chair! Give it a listen!

I do not consider myself an expert on traditional Scottish music, but I do know what I like --and I love this album (and the Tannies!) It is one of my all-time favorites of any genre. Everytime I play it, I am blown away. And I play it often! Some highlights (and there are lots of highlightable moments here): "Atholl Highlanders/Johnny Cope" -- these two Jacobite songs are melded perfectly and, to put it as best I can, they ROCK! Also, there's the devestating, "Jamie Raeburn's farewell" -- one of very few Tannies songs to feature that non-traditional Scottish instrument, the electric Guitar. Heart-wrentchingly emotional. But these are just two great moments in an overall awesome collection.

This CD is a great introductioin to both Traditional Scottish music and the Tannahill Weavers. If you have any interest in Scottish/Celtic music, piping, or just plain good music, then get this CD!

I could not help be listen to album for seven days straight. The whiskey helped...but moreso the music was so riveting I could not leave the house. I am now deaf in one ear but it was worth it. You must hear this album. CuckCoo ForCeltic

This is one of my favourite Tannahill Weavers albums. My favourite selections on this one are "Farewell to Fiunary & Heather Island - because of their sheer beauty, and also because they emote the Scots' longing for home, especially after The Clearances. Also, the musicianship is unparalleled! I have ALL the Tannahill Weavers cds, and heartily recommend them to anyone who has a bit of Highland blood in their veins!

For three decades, the Tannahill Weavers have been the finest ambassadors of the Scottish music scene. With their mixture of bouzouki, fiddle, whistles, bodhran, mandolin, guitar and, of course, the pipes, they produce an exhilarating combination of jigs, reels and ballads.

This collection begins with "The Geese in the Bog/The Jig of Slurs," which for years was the band's opening number in concert. Most listeners will recognize Robert Burns' "Auld Lang Syne," but the grace and melancholy of this tune bears little resemblance of the oft-sung New Year's Eve version. Here, the Tannies restore this famous song's eloquent beauty. "Tranent Muir" is a rousing battle song. "The Highland Laddie" is a delicate ballad of a Lowland girl's love for a Highland man. "Lucy Cassidy" is a showpiece for the pipes. [The liner notes tell the story of Lucy who for 20 years was married to an alcoholic. One day he discovers in a bottom drawer a large sum of money and three golf balls. When he inquires of his wife how she was able to put away such a nest egg for their old age she replied, "When you came home drunk each night, I would go next door to Harry the golfer for love and affection. Every time I did, he gave me a golf ball to remember the occasion. Then I'd sell them twelve for a pound."] Every song (from the five Green Linnet studio albums the band recorded prior to the 1989 release of this collection) is a gem.

The Tannies have it all: good singing, good playing and an intensity that will move your soul. While I'm not Scottish, every time I play this album I wish I were. ESSENTIAL [Running Time - 46:21]