First 10 Years: 1986-95

Altan | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (May 2, 1995)
• Original Release Date: May 1, 1995
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Green Linnet
• ASIN: B000005CPL
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Audio Cassette
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #168,101 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Pretty Peg/New Ships A-Sailing/The Bird's Nest/The Man From Bundoran

2. Andy De Jarlis/Ingonish/Mrs. McGhee

3. Ceol A'Phiobaire

4. The Wedding Jig/Hiudai Gallagher's March/James Byrne's/Mickey Doherty's/Welcome Home Grainne

5. Donal Agus Morag

6. Tommy Bhetty's Waltz

7. Fermanagh Highland/Donegal Highland/John Doherty's/King George IV

8. An Feochan

9. Mazurka

10. The Cat That Ate The Candle/Over The Water To Bessie

11. Brid Og Ni Mhaille

12. Drowsy Maggie/Rakish Paddy/Harvest Storm

13. Citi Na Gcumann

14. Tommy Peoples'/The Windmill/Fintan McManus's

15. Dobbin's Flowery Vale

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An excellent selection, July 2, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: First 10 Years: 1986-95 (Audio CD)

From the beginning, Altan was characterized by its passionate, full-blooded performances of traditional tunes, and of recent compositions in the traditional manner. Although their personnel varied and they went through several producers, their albums are consistently listenable and of high quality. With the 1994 death of Frankie Kennedy, who co-founded the band with his wife Maire ni Mhaonaigh, the band lost one of its anchors. Although they've rebounded and done some excellent work since then, their sound is different without Kennedy's delicate and thoughtful flute playing.
This CD presents highlights from the five albums the band made before Kennedy's death. The selection is uniformly excellent and showcases the band's range, from wild jigs and reels to the almost corny "Tommy Bhetty's Waltz," the humorous "Donal agus Morag," and the distinctive "Mazurka." The vocals are lovely, and the two solo flute selections are beautifully done. And the final track is heartbreaking: by the time it was recorded, Kennedy was struggling with cancer, and his consciousness of his own mortality gives his performance a profound sadness that almost brought me to tears the first time I heard it. If you already have Altan's first five albums, there are no surprises here, but if you aren't familiar with their work this is a great place to start.

5.0 out of 5 stars One of the greatest Irish band ever, August 20, 2009

By 

A Customer (New York, NY) - See all my reviews

This review is from: First 10 Years: 1986-95 (Audio CD)

Wonderful tight playing, phrasing, excellent renditions of some real Irish classics in terms of jigs and reels, this is an excellent collection of Altan's best recordings from over a decade. It is rare to find such a combination of talented Celtic musicians in one band all able to work together to make such an incredible body of work over the years. Go raibh maith agat! Maith libhsa! And long may the music continue.

5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful music!, May 4, 2008

By 

Avid Reader - See all my reviews

This review is from: First 10 Years: 1986-95 (Audio CD)

Very great CD filled with their early music - highly recommended for Irish/Gaelic/Celtic music fans