The Long Black Veil - Chieftains (The) (CD 1995)

There are Irish bands, and then there are the Chieftains. Long a mainstay of folk culture, and wonderful performers to boot, the Chieftains have been exposing the rest of the world to the marvelous rhythms and beat of traditional Irish music. Their renditions of Irish ballads, reels, chants, and jigs are infectious, fun, sometimes makes you laugh, sometimes cry, and never fail to move the heart and soul.

Done partially as a tribute album, and as a compilation, the Chieftains got a few of their friends over for a jam session, with musicians the likes of: the Rolling Stones, Van Morrison, Sting, Ry Cooder, Mark Knopfler, Sinead O'Connor, Phil Coulter, Marianne Faithfull and Tom Jones. None of the songs sound at all alike, with different moods and emotions being stirred up in each, and giving us a feast for the ears. It's obviously a labor of love for everyone involved with it, and it shows. If you like Irish music, I can't endorse this one enough.

Mo Ghile Mear
Starting off with a solo singing of the chorus, it's a grand, rather mournful lament with Sting providing the lead, and first sung in Gaelic then in English. It's a song about Bonnie Prince Charlie, and used as a song of rebellion and lament in the eighteenth century.

The Long Black Veil
Yep, you're not imagining things, that is indeed Mick Jagger singing lead here, giving voice to a sad ballad about mistaken identity, lost love and a hanging. Oddly enough, it works, and has a ghostly touch to it.

The Foggy Dew
Sinead O'Connor lends her voice to this, another song of rebellion, this time in memory of the men who lost their lives in the Easter Uprising in Ireland in 1916. It's sad, and rather melancholy. Ry Cooder on guitar.

Have I Told You Lately That I Love You?
Going to a change of pace here, Van Morrison singing this classic and does it well. It's lovely song, given with plenty of heart and has become a favorite of mine. This one picked up a Grammy for outstanding single, and deserved it too.

Changing Your Demeanour
Rolicking and a bit merry, it's a traditional Chieftains' tune, and wants you to get up and dance.

The Lily Of The West
Here's another traditional ballad, and as with most ballads of this sort, dealing with a cheating lover, sorrow and the morning after. Mark Knopfler is the vocal soloist here.

Coast Of Malabar
This one is my favorite cut on this one, and it's a sailor's song, singing about the girls left behind, and one in particular. It's great. With Ry Cooder for vocals and guitar.

Dunmore Lassies
No singing with this one, Ry Cooder on guitar.

Love Is Teasin'
Another song of lost love, the ones that got away and time. Marianne Faithfull sings this one, and it's perfect.

He Moved Through The Fair
Sinead O'Connor again, with another sad ballad about love. Ry Cooder on guitar.

Ferny Hill
A traditional Irish instrumental.

Tennessee Waltz / Tennessee Mazurka
Dedicated to the memory of Frank Zappa, it was first rather odd for me to listen to, but it grew on me after time. It's a fun tune, and shows that Tom Jones still has it.

The Rocky Road To Dublin
Winding the album up is this one, tearing along at a great pace, and everyone pulls out the stops and decides to have a good time with it. This time we don't just get Mick Jagger, we get the rest of the Rolling Stones as well, and they tuck a musical joke in towards the end.

The Chieftains are: Kevin Conneff (vocals, bodhran); Martin Fay, Sean Keane (fiddle); Derek Bell (harp, tiompan, keyboards); Matt Molloy (flute); Paddy Moloney (Uilleann pipes, tin whistle)

There is also a video available about the making of this album, but I have not been able to find it in any rental shop.