Customer Reviews

Down the Old Plank Road: The Nashville Sessions

5 star:		(19)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

One sign of true stardom in the performing arts is the ability to share the stage, not only to let others have their moment, but to let them outshine you. In this respect, the Chieftains truly are stars of traditional music -- something I'm sure we all knew!

__Down the Old Plank Road_ features lots of current giants in the Bluegrass & Newgrass scene. Performances range from stunning to amusing, and many both point out the differences as well as heighten the similarities between Bluegrass and its Grandfather, Irish Traditional music. There is a higher proportion of vocal music than you would expect to find on a strictly Celtic album and the arrangements struck me as more Bluegrassy than Celtic, too, with instrumental virtuosity peeking out between the verses of songs rather than taking center stage as much. So if you listen mainly to Celtic music, you might find this odd and unsatisfying.

I really enjoyed all the songs, particularly Vince Gill's "Dark as Dungeon" and Allison Krauss' chilling "Molly Ban." The latter was probably the most "Celtic" track on the CD, with the possible exception of Bela Fleck's set of reels. I also liked the finale track, "Give the Fiddler a Dram" quite a bit and appreciated how it gave every player a solo moment -- something that both the Chieftains and Bluegrass tradition often do. I really would have liked the liner notes to be more detailed for this track, though; if you're unfamiliar with the artists' different styles it's hard to know who's doing what.

A real treat for fans of Bluegrass and Celtic music alike!

The Chieftains are in flying form on their latest album where the cream of the twin traditions of Irish Traditional and American Country Music come together for a Seisiun.

The album opens with a swirl of the harp strings as the band launch into the title track with vocals from John Hiatt who describes the Chieftains as "the original rock gods".

The guest artists come from both the new and the old traditions. They include Martina Mc Bride, Buddy Miller, Ricky Skaggs, Bela Fleck Jeff White, Vince Gill and many others.

On this fourteen track disc there a few stand out songs including:

"Molly Bawn" with Alison Krauss.

"Cindy" with Ricky Skaggs and Kentucky Thunder.

"Don't let your deal go down" by Lyle Lovett.

Perhaps the best of all is a song that has been slaughtered in many a singing pub by a "musician" engaged in mortal combat with a drum machine. This is by Vince Gill one of the biggest stars in Nashville, he sings " Dark as a Dungeon".

"Down the old Plank Road" is the Chieftains 40th album and a fitting tribute to Derek Bell their harpist who died recently. . He gave them their unique sound and added much of the humor to their style of playing.

I am an a la carte Chieftains fan. I never considered them "rock gods" but I really enjoyed my fifty four minutes "Down the Old Plank Road".

This album is so stunning.. Full of heartfelt music that will make you (literally) want to beg for more. Bluegrass is becoming more popular these days, because people WANT to hear the best in music. This album will not disappoint. My favorite tracks would be the title (John Hiatt, of course =).."Country Blues" with Buddy & Julie Miller and "Katie Dear" featuring Gillian Welch & David Rawlings (What a sound!!) I've never been a hugh fan of The Chieftains, but this album will give me more insight into their sound and possibly buy some of their collection. One of the best of 2002, along with Nickel Creek, Paul Westerberg, The Tragically Hip and James McMurtry, etc. Peace - JG "The Bear"

I can't believe I would even CONSIDER giving less than 5 stars to a Chieftains album, over the years they have been my #1 favorite. I have especially enjoyed their collaborations with artists from other styles of music: county (Another Country), Galicia (Santiago), even pop stars (Long Black Veil). In every case the Chieftain's joy of creating music and the sheer brilliance of their musicianship creates a new blend of their own styles and the styles of the collaborators. Think of "Another Country's" take on Heartbreak Hotel, or Tom Jones singing Tennessee Waltz (!) on the same album.

But on this album they seem relegated to the status of a back-up band! You can't hear them at all. Where are the wonderful solos of world-class musicians like fiddler Sean Keane or flautist Matt Meloy? Where is Paddy Moloney's banter? Where is Kevin Conneff's marvelous tenor? The artists that ARE featured are excellent, but they are no longer collaborating with the C's, they are merely using them as studio artists.

If you are a fan of the Nashville stars on this album, you will enjoy it, but only on the Finale track do we get anything like enough Chieftains presence for my tastes.

This album starts with the infectiously fun and drivingly energetic "Down the Old Plank Road." The enjoyment heard in that song between the Chieftains and many of the finest performers of old and new country flows through this album. Each of the songs has charm and is enjoyable, but there are a few that are truly outstanding along with the title track. My personal favorites include "Country Blues," beautifully rendered by Buddy and Julie Miller; Don't Let Your Deal Go Down, a song sung with urgency by Lyle Lovett; a beautiful rendition of a less known version of an American lullaby "Whole Heap of Little Horses", sung by Patty Griffin with a voice that gives me chills; and finally, for sheer fun, Jeff White singing "Tennessee Stud" with the Chieftains weaving a musical tapestry behind the vocals calling this song of an American and his horse to the mythic tales of old, where a champion could always depend on his steed. I love the album and all the collaborations. My only reservation is the obligatory jam session included at the end. While it is traditional for a Chieftain's album and shows off a variety of instrumental virtuosity by the participants, the form is just a little tired and I would have preferred that they have two more tracks highlighting great songs from the American tradition with a Celtic Twist. Still, the album pleases me greatly and I recommend it to anyone caught up in the songs brought back to us by O Brother Where Art Thou, Songcatcher and Down From the Mountain.

Another all-star country-Celtic guest-fest, exploring once again the centuries-old links between Irish folk and American country and bluegrass music. Along for the ride are Top 40 acts such as Vince Gill and Martina McBride, along with bluegrassers Alison Krauss, Del McCoury and Earl Scruggs, as well as alt-ier types like Lyle Lovett, Buddy & Julie Miller, and Gillian Welch, whose version of "Katie Dear" is one of the best tracks on here. In general, this album is a pleasant and interesting mix, if anything much stronger than 1992's like-minded "Another Country" album. This disc occasionally drifts a bit and seems to lack punch on a tune or two, (Lovett, in particular, seems uninspired, though I hardly think it's the Cheiftains fault...) but the good songs are certainly worth checking out, and this is a remarkably vigorous set by these illustrious old-timers. Recommended!

RCA Victor has sent us a little bit of "O Brother Where Art Thou", with this latest release "Down The Old Plank Road", from one of my favorite groups The Chieftains. Here we can visit and capture the best of both worlds. Celtic sounds that we've grown to love over the years and Mountain Music that only Ralph Stanley, Emmylou Harris and Alison Krauss & Unison Station is at home with. Good ole down home foot stomping music with a pinch of Irish thrown in for good measure.

Now I go back to "The Chieftains 1" (1965), on the Shanachie label. Each release had a number back then, but my favorite was "The Chieftains 4" (1973), they were on LP's and each release was awaited very impatiently. Many of their early recordings are still available through record stores, websites and used music stores. They recorded for Shanachie, CBS, Columbia Records, Windham Hill, DRG and RCA their latest and most successful label to date. One outstanding RCA album is "Bells of Dublin", which is a Christmas CD and video as well. Appeared with James Galway (my favorite man with the golden flute) "Over the Sea to Skye" (1990), with Galway and Paddy Moloney serving up corn beef and cabbage with side orders of Irish dishes.

The Nashville Sessions which appeared on PBS is an all-star country cast into mountain music with an Irish flavor. Some stand outs are ~ MOLLY BAN (BAWN)", featuring Alison Krauss with her trademark style in singing ~ "DARK AS DUNGEON", a Merle Travis tune with a great arrangement by Paddy and performance by Vince Gill in an outstanding vocal interpretation ~ very difficult to pick any other cues, except the last track "GIVE THE FIDDLER A DRAM (FINALE)", everyone is having a ball, with each artist giving their all.

Much of what you hear on this album, has been handed down from generation to generation. On these shores and abroad music is the common language, this proves we are not that different on this small planet we share. So Celtic and Mountain Music (bluegrass) fans, this is a keeper!

Total Time: 55:24 on 14 Tracks ~ RCA Victor 09026-63971-2 ~ (9/17/2002)

This CD has not left my player since I acquired it 4 days ago.

This is a very rare occassion for me in that I don't see a weak track on this wonderful collaboration of the premier Irish band
and some of Nashville's finest.

While I enthuiastically give 5 stars to this album, I would like to give ten stars to several of the cuts. Gillian Welch and David Rawlings have performed the definitive version of "Katie Dear" here, for my money. Lyle Lovett's "Don't Let Your Deal Go Down" and Buddy and Julie Miller's "Country Blues" are, in and of themselves, worth the price of this CD.

If you are only going to buy one CD of this Genre (Bluegrass or
Celtic) this one would be an excellent choice.

I have been a Chieftains fan for as far back as i can remember, I also am bluegrass fan. Quite simply put, the album is wonderful. It combines the stellar arrangements and beyond-masterful performances of the Chieftains with many of the tradidional bluegrass staples. The album is incredible and i would recommend it to anyone.

Excellent, if somewhat eclectic, album, and I wish the Chieftains had been more front and center. But I find the album a consistent delight, with (and to be expected)typically first- rate performances from Gillian Welch, Alison Krauss, Earl Scruggs, Ricky Skaggs, etc. But the revelation for me was Martina McBride's "I'll Be All Smiles Tonight." Where did that come from? She could out-Rhonda Rhonda Vincent when it comes to powerful Bluegrass ballad wailing. I've never been a big McBride fan, but I'd sure be interested in more stuff like this.