Search - Clancy Brothers, Tommy Makem :: The Clancy Brothers & Tommy Makem

Review of the NEW, expanded edition

Francis King | Calgary, AB, Canada | 03/05/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"For serious fans of Irish folk music like me, who are incensed at how Sony has spit on its Clancy Brothers & Tommy Makem's Columbia catalogue, the release of this hugely expanded version of one of the quartet's greatest live recordings is nothing short of an early Easter miracle.



It seems like everything is here -- all the songs (plus the two from the 1962 Carnegie Hall concert attached to the original 1963 release of this album), all the between-song dialogue, even the guitar/banjo tuning. Wait 'til you hear the fun, innocent references to John F. Kennedy (then the U.S. president and still 9 months from his assassination).



Without the visuals, you're not always sure what's going on with the banter, but it helps to know there were some people actually sitting *behind* the group during the St. Patrick's Day, 1963 concert. That fact isn't readily apparent in the miniscule version of this album released in '63.



Also, you quickly understand what Liam Clancy's referring to in his brilliant liner notes when he refers to audience participation. Again, not evident on the truncated original release, in this version you hear how boistrous the crowd is, shouting out songs it wants to hear to the point where Makem, amidst the competing requests, yells "shut up!" It's quite amusing.



Beyond this, the sound quality is excellent, the performances as energetic and feisty as the truncated original album suggested, and the CD packaging is excellent -- lots of never-before-seen pictures of the boys at the hall and an in-depth essay placing the boys in their time.



Absolutely worth buying!"

Another nice compilation of really nice Irish folk

Mark A. Kintzley | Phoenix, AZ | 01/01/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"The Clancy Brothers are always a winner in the Irish folk arena. Hard to rate them because I like just about everything they do. You can sense that the Brothers and Tommy Makem pour themselves into their music with such feeling and power and it will make you feel proud to be Irish even if you are a Thai Mexican (not necessarily a reflection of the reviewer...hahaha). But in all honesty the music will have you wanting to sing and maybe even drink a few pints of Guiness which, by the way, never hurt anyone from what I hear!Throw this cd on, pour the Guiness in, and have some fun!"

Irish Music at its best

music lover | 01/01/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"The Clancy Brothers and Tommy Makem brought Irish music to the masses in Ireland as well as America. This album, their third and last before signing with Columbia, is a fine example of their simple early work. With great rebel songs like Brennan on the Moor, Roddy McCorely and Johnny I Hardly Knew Ye, and lullabys like Castle of Dromore and Eileen Aroon, there is something for every Irish fan on this disc. A Great Buy!!!"