Customer Reviews

We've Come a Long Way

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Queen of Connemara and Mary Ellen Carter are just two of the wonderful tracks on this, the last joint album by Tommy Makem and Liam Clancy. It was, incidently, released in 1987, not 1964, and is one of the two or three "best" by these talented troubadors--and believe me, I have all their long-play releases! Just call me a SERIOUS fan in Illinois!

Released in 1987, this is the final recording made by Liam Clancey and Tommy Makem before the duo split up. It's also by far the most interesting musically, and at least some of the credit goes to producer/musician/arranger extraordinaire Donal Lunny.

Lunny, who's worked with just about everybody in the Irish music world, contributed bouzoukis, bodhrans and keyboards to the 13 songs. He also did much of the arranging, so much of We've Come A Long Way has more variety than previous M&C recordings. Indeed, maybe there was too much variety for Makem. I interviewed him in the mid 1990s and when I mentioned how much I enjoyed this recording, he didn't have much to say. Perhaps it's no surprise, since he apparently didn't contribute any of his trademark tin whistle or banjo to the musical menu.

Still, you'll be blown away by the silky, elegant ballads Roseville Fair, Golden and Queen of Connemara. Frog In The Well is a fun Clancey Brothers & Tommy Makem standard redone here, and The Mary Ellen Carter is a feisty treatment of a folk classic by the late Canadian troubadour Stan Rogers.

All in all, I'd say Makem and Clancey finished with their strongest recording.

One of the 5 best released collections. This is the one that ended my brother's fascination with Heavy Metal. From Queen of Connemara to Drill Ye Tarriers, this one is beauty in every note.

As a big fan, I think that the only one of Tommy's Makem's records better than this is "Songbag" which is very special in making old and overly-familiar music quite fresh and moving. This one has brought hours of pleasure to our whole family. Choice cut - The Queen of Connemara".

I was 6 years old when my parents took my sister and I to Makem & Clancy's final concert in Boston. We loved the show so much that afterwards we bought this album and two of their solo efforts (on cassette!). "We've Come a Long Way" quickly became our family favorite, and we played "The Mary Ellen Carter" so many times that the tape is now worn out. When I found out that Amazon had the album on CD I quickly bought a copy for myself and one for my parents. These are the songs of my childhood; beautiful, funny, and inspirational. HIGHLY recommended for any lover of Irish folk music.

As a long time fan of a two generations of the Clancy/Makem recordings, I hate to say "this is as good as it gets" again. But this is as good as it gets!

This is a mature Makem and Clancy. Comparing "Peg Leg Jack" with "Golden" gives a good idea of Makem's vocal range.

In the same way "Parcel of Rogues" with "Fair and Tender Ladies" gives us an idea of what Clancy can do with his voice.

"We've Come a Long Way" , written by Makem, I believe, gives a window into their long friendship and intertwined careers. It is a good humored, upbeat song. You get the idea that they like each other, or, at least, they fake it real well.

They do a wonderful frog love song: "Frog in the Well"; 2 boat songs: "Queen of Connemarra" [a melodic love song to a boat], The Mary Ellen Carter" [an inspiational boat song]; a powerful work song: "Drill Ye Tarriers Drill. A highway man song, a couple of love songs, Clancy singing in Irish round the thing out.

The arrangements and back up are superb. Read the credits and you will see why.

As usual their baritone voices play off one another beautifully and when they sing together, they sing as one.