Customer Reviews

Story of Clancy Brothers & Tommy Makem [VHS]

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

 

 

You probably have to be about my age (60+) to have been a fan of the Clancy's in their early 1960's glory days. Sadly I never got to see them in concert, although I lived only an hour from New York City, their home base. I did, however, see them on their famous extended appearance on the Ed Sullivan TV variety show, and that hooked me solidly. The fact that Pete Seeger liked them, Bob Dylan liked them, Peter, Paul and Mary liked them, and the Kingston Trio liked them, helped. They were alternately raucous and reverent in commercializing and popularizing some of the best of the old Irish songs. We're talking about pro-independence anthems, novelty songs, children's tunes, ribald lyrics, and some contemporary American folk creations as well. They just plain always sounded great and were fun to hear. They wear well...some of their tracks I must have heard hundreds of times now without getting tired of them. This documentary is only about an hour and was made in 1984, the year the group had a reunion concert in New York, 15 years since they stopped being "The Clancy Brothers and Tommy Makem." (Never underestimate Makem's contributions to the legacy of this bunch...he was a vital part.) The three Clancys and Tommy show us their hometowns in Ireland and share some memories of growing up there, and of coming to America via Toronto in hopes of being professional actors. Each was surprised that the singing quickly eclipsed the dramatic careers. There are now lots of Irish musical groups, some from the isle, and some from the states. Nobody sings with as much joy, however, as Tom, Liam and Patrick Clancy and Tommy Makem. This is well-worth watching if you have an interest in folk music and the participants in the famous folk revival of the late 1950's. No, the concert segments do not feature entire songs, but rather a taste of how they looked and sounded back in the days. Buy their reissued CD's for the whole songs. Buy this dvd for a glimpse into the men who made this fine music.

DO NOT BUY THIS DVD/VHS...unless all you want is a documentary on the Clancy brothers. Unlike what the Amzon listing & advertisments suggest, this is only a documentary. There is very little concert footage at all (just small portions of the reunion concert). The documentary is decent for a diehard fan...but make sure you realize that you are only getting a documentary that runs less than the 60 mins the details suggest. While the documentary is somewhat intersting...you are only getting a documentary with a little concert footage.

This is a good video but leaves some intriguing items out or unexplored - such as the full reunion concert - the alleged IRA ties that Patrick and Thomas Clancy had in the 1940's up to the time they immigrated to the USA in 1951. In addition the sources of their songs, especially the ones in Irish (gaelge) should have been examined. However sparse the material is, the Clancys and Tommy Makem are always engaging and for die hard fans, it is worth it to purchase.

A must see for any Clancy Brothers & Tommy Makem fan. For someone who has enjoyed their music for many years but never got to see them in person, this was a great way to get to know them a little better. These gents made great music together, and they had a sense of humor to match. RIP Boys - Ain't it grand!

The main points of this DVD review were used to review to review some of the Clancy Brothers and Tommy Makem CDs previously. I think the main points of appreciation apply here in this one hour film documentary that traces their steps, fittingly, before and during a 1984 New York City reunion concert. In addition to the points below about the key role they played in bringing back the Irish musical tradition there are some very good interviews with each member about their takes on their earlier success in this country. Also included are interviews with musicians like Bob Dylan, Tom Paxton and Dave Van Ronk who were influenced by the group (and perhaps later, in turn, influenced them). And of course it goes without saying that this presentation jas the "boyos" doing rousing versions of many old standards like "Finnegan's Wake", "The Rising Of The Moon", ad "Brendan On The Moor". There certainly could have been more such music but this is a story behind the scenes after all. Here are those other points:


"I have mentioned in this space more times than one is reasonably allowed that in my youth in the early 1960's I listened to a local folk music radio program on Sunday nights. That program played, along with highlighting the then current up and coming folk revivalists like Bob Dylan and Dave Van Ronk, much American traditional music including things like the "Child Ballads". In short, music derived from parts of the "British" homeland. What I have not previously mentioned is that directly after that program I used to listen on that same radio station to the "Irish National Hour", a show devoted to all the old more traditional and unknown Irish ballads and songs. And, by the way, attempted to instill a respect for Irish culture, Irish heritage and the Irish struggle against the "bloody" British. (That struggle continues in one form or another today but that is a subject for another time.) Of course, today when every other `progressive' radio station (or other technological format) has its obligatory "Keltic Twilight" programs we are inundated with music from the old country this is no big deal but then it was another question.

All of this is by way of reviewing the music of the Irish Diaspora. Our Irish forebears had the `distinct' opportunity of following the British flag wherever it went, under one set of terms or another. And in those days the sun never set on the British Empire. So there are plenty of far flung traditions to talk about. But, first comes the old country and hence this review of The Clancy Brothers and Tommy Makem. Chocky Ar La (roughly translated- "Our Day Will Come")

I have mentioned elsewhere that every devotee of the modern Irish folk tradition owes a debt of gratitude for the work of the likes of Tommy Makem and The Clancy Brothers for keeping the tradition alive and for making it popular with the young on both sides of the Atlantic. The obvious musical skills, talent and commitment to craftsmanship of this group during its history need no comment by me. Nor does their commitment to keeping alive the Irish folk tradition need further comment. Here the "boyos" produce a veritable what's what of music of the Irish Rebellions from the early days through Wolfe Tone's United Irishmen in 1798 to Easter, 1916 and beyond to the Civil War period. "

Every fan of the Clancy Brothers and Tommy Makem should own this video. What a story. What a legacy they have left.