Customer Reviews

The Makem & Clancy Collection

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This is one of the best of the "Clancy Brothers, Tommy Makem, all as a group, some solo albums, some with just two singers, some with moms, grandmas and kids" genre. There are now so many "Clancy/Makem" collections, collaborations, compilations and re-issues of original LP's that it is hard to keep everything straight. This one is just Liam Clancy and Tommy Makem getting lucky and putting out an album in the late 1980's that combined wacky fun and bitter protest and made both succeed. "A Place in the Choir" and "The Garden Song" are bright, brief offerings worth the purchase price all by themselves. But then you get "The Dutchman" and "The Band Played Waltzing Matilda" and my favorite of the bitter anti-war songs, "Willie McBride" as well! Everything on this one is listenable, but half are brilliant. If you already like these guys, add this item to the collection. If you want a good introduction to the world of Clancy/Makem, one that shows the innocence as well as the somber side of things Irish, you cannot go wrong buying this CD.

I've listened to this album since childhood, and it is probably the most treasured CD in my collection. In particular, "The Ballad of St. Anne's Reel", "Four Green Fields", "Willie McBride", and "The Band Played Waltzing Matilda" stand out. A must have for any Folk and/or Irish music fan.

I grew up listening to Irish music and this album in particular -- we have had it so long that we first owned it on record. It is one of my favorites of all time. It contains gentle ballads, anti-war protests, feel good "I love life" songs.

This music is a collection of heart-felt songs. There is joy and sadness, delight and despair ... the entire range of feelings ... but mostly there is ... fun ... when listening to "The Makem & Clancy Collection".

These numbers are not just a lot of slick productions ... with their impersonal lyrics and assembly-line melodies. They are (to me) music at its most down-to-earth and its most enjoyable.

"A Place in the Choir" starts things off, and we're led to believe that ... what is to follow will be a standard, harmless series of Irish ballads ... but, the very next song ... "The Cobbler" let's us in on the truth ... and we are taken into the heart of the Makem/Clancy appeal ... the deeply held opinions and feelings of men who care about people.

"The Dutchman" is a beautiful and touching ballad about a simple man and his loving wife. "Willie McBride" is an anti-war statement ... and an effective one. "Morning Glory" is a rousing song with a funny twist. "Ballad of St. Anne's Reel" is a nice song about a traveller. "Gentle Annie" is a heart-felt tribute to, well, Annie. "Rambles of Spring" is an appropriately fun and rollicking song to end the CD (tape) with ... but the gem of the collection is "The Band Played Waltzing Matilda". It sort-of has to catch a hold of you (before you will think it's special), but once it does, you are very much taken by the story and they effective way it is sung.

Some of these songs were recorded live ... the CD is a nice mixture of live and studio recorded music ... and the audience clearly has a deep affection for these boys ... as is easy to understand.

But this CD would make a nice gift ... here is some real music ... as perhaps music was intended to be played.

This quality CD combines American, Irish, traditional, contemporary, studio, and live cuts. This thoroughly enjoyable set just might define the term "hootenany" to those too young to have experienced the 50's & 60's. A unique CD worth every penny.

This group has long brought us the songs of Ireland - both sides. And they continue to do it well.

This album was the first irish folk album i ever listened to and it is still the best. Liam Clancy has one of the best voices in any time. He is up there with Elvis

Coming from the other side of the argument, I'm no fan of Irish rebel songs........ but that is only a part of their music. What remains is simply marvelous. Whether serious or full of rollicking fun, these guys leave the others standing.

I love this album. It is loaded with all great songs and I just neede to augment my vinyl collection with a more portable medium. I highly reccommend it, particularly since the last of this entire band passed away last year.

You either love this kind of music or you don't. These guys are classic musicians of this genre and I loved this album. Good quality recordings of songs that are excellent of their type. I bought to primarily to learn two of the songs, and loved almost all of them.