The Well Below the Valley

Planxty

Product Details

• Audio CD (October 25, 1990)
• Original Release Date: 1973
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Shanachie
• ASIN: B000000E65
• Also Available in: Audio Cassette  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #77,604 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

  Popular in this category: (What's this?)

  #46 in

  Music > Indie Music > Folk > International Folk

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com
Planxty's second album from 1973 is something that raises the awareness of Irish music with its inventive arrangements and superb playing. All the musicians are luminaries--Christy Moore, Donal Lunny, Liam O'Flynn, and Andy Irvine--and for a quartet they make a massive sound that's nearly as big as their impact, which still reverberates throughout Irish music today. O'Flynn's pipes are especially wonderful on slip jigs like "The Kid on the Mountain." Irvine's original song, "Time Will Cure Me" fits quite seamlessly into the traditional music beside the title track and an utterly beautiful "As I Roved Out." So much of the material here--and, more important, the style in which it's played (with grace rather than at breakneck speed)--has become part of the repertoires of Irish bands in the time since, confirming not only the importance of Planxty but the value of a powerful song or tune. --Chris Nickson

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

20 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars THE MATCH THAT LIT THE FIRE..., May 7, 2001

By	Larry L. Looney (Austin, Texas USA) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

Planxty's 2nd official album (the first Christy Moore solo outing, 'Prosperous' being their first album together) is the match that lit the fire in me for Irish traditional music. The Chieftains are great, no argument, but the voice has always been my favorite instrument in every genre of music, and Planxty cannot be beat for fine examples of Irish song. This is not the sing-along, stout-fueled pub atmostphere that most people associate with this genre -- this is more akin to the story-ballads sung by the raconteurs of an earlier era. This is the 'real deal'.

All four members of this stellar ensemble are incredible musicians and song-stylists in their own right. Liam Og O Floinn is without a doubt one of the finest Uilleann pipers of the modern age; Christy Moore and Andy Irvine have few peers among singers; and between them, Andy Irvine and Donal Lunny could surround us with stringed instruments. Though the group is no longer active as an entity, through their already-classic album releases, they have left us with an amazing legacy of some of the finest music Ireland has ever produced. All are still active individually -- O Floinn is a respected piper still; Moore has released several fine 'solo' records; Andy Irivine has put out albums on his own as well as with others, most notably the Irish 'super-group' Patrick Street; and Donal Lunny has not only released some fine material of his own (including stints with two other ground-breaking ensembles, The Bothy Band and Moving Hearts), but has become a well-respected producer as well.

I first heard this album soon after its original release in the early 1970s -- a friend of mine rushed into my workplace and announced seriously 'You HAVE to hear this -- it'll blow you away'. Later that night we must have listened to the album 3-4 times in succession -- we couldn't get enough of it.

The musicianship is superb, the recording quality pristine (especially considerering when it was released!) -- this is an excellent starting place for anyone unfamiliar with Planxty's work. From here, go back to the first album ('Planxty'), then try their reunion album from 1979, where the four are augmented by Irish flute master Matt Molloy (the only man to have played with the Holy Trinity of Irish traditional music -- The Chieftains, Planxty, and The Bothy Band).

Again, this is the 'real deal' -- none of that 'kiss me, I'm Irish crapola...Listen and prepare to be moved.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A fantastic album, December 7, 2000

By	"macsbooks" (Melbourne Australia) - See all my reviews

A fantastic album, as Planxty jostles for the position of best traditional Irish band ever. As technically proficient as any group anywhere, a well produced album which will be treasured by all folk and Irish afficianados.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Classic Irish music, November 16, 2008

By	David Dare (Newport, RI USA) - See all my reviews

This is classic Irish music. I listen to it pretty often, although I prefer the first album by Planxty. After the break is another great Planxty album. Highly recommended if you like "traditional irish" music. With Andy's mandolin, I'm not sure how "traditional" it is, but it is far more interesting to me than the "celtic" music you commonly see around in stores.