Song Tradition

Song Tradition Artist: Tommy Makem
Label: Shanachie
Category: Music



Average customer rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars
Media: Audio CD
Number Of Discs: 1


UPC: 016351524522
EAN: 0016351524522
ASIN: B000005ZAI


Release Date: 1998-04-21

Related Categories:

General General
Related | Folk | Styles | Music
Irish Folk Irish Folk
Related | Traditional British & Celtic Folk | Folk | Styles | Music
Britain Britain
Related | British Isles | Europe | International | Styles | Music
General General
Related | International | Styles | Music
General General
Related | Pop | Styles | Music
General General
Related | Celtic | International | Styles | Music
Ireland Ireland
Related | British Isles | Europe | International | Styles | Music

Tracks:

  1. Long Woman's Grave
  2. Canny Auld Lad
  3. Galway City
  4. Peace And Justice
  5. Bold Fisherman
  6. Sweet Dromintee
  7. Maid Of Ballydoo
  8. Men Of No Conscience
  9. Darkley Weaver
  10. Maid Of Fivey
  11. Golden Vanity
  12. Lough Tay Boat Song
  13. Uncle Dan
  14. Ships Of War
  15. Newry Town
  16. Captain Farrell

Customer Reviews:

4 out of 5 stars This one grows on you!.......2001-09-02

Makem's voice, always heavy on the vibrato, did seem a little muddy at first. Some fiddling with the equalizer, however, brought out his familiar depth and richness. I've had this CD for over a year and have just recently been listening to it with greater appreciation, especially some of the less-often heard tracks, such as Sweet Dromintee and the beautiful Lough Tay Boat Song. Sign me a serious Tommy fan, however.

2 out of 5 stars Disappointed.......2000-06-08

There are good songs on this album, however, I was extremely disappointed in the quality of the CD. Makem's voice doesn't ring true compared to other albums. It seems somewhat muffled and the tone is not clear. If not for that, I would have rated it much higher.

2 out of 5 stars One man's vibrant is another man's quavering.......2000-02-29

Tommy Makem is an institution in Irish folk music. He has been playing banjo and singing for many many many years. His early work (1955-1962) with the Clancy Brothers is a delight. Heck, I enjoyed his 1997 memoir/travelogue, "Tommy Makem's Secret Ireland". His book, along with a stellar review, convinced me to buy this album.

Well, the music is beautifully arranged, and the instrumentals show real musicianship throughout. However, I'm no fan of vibrato, and frankly, the artist's voice seems so weak. It quavers in every single song. Maybe this is intentional, maybe not. Bottom line: Makem sounds like he's in his early 80s.

Now that I've opened the jewel box, I can't return it to Amazon.com so I'll have to see what I can get for it at the used CD store. Please please please don't buy this album - Makem is a wonderful musician and has many other releases which must sound better.

5 out of 5 stars Tommy's Most Recent Triumph.......1999-12-15

This is Tommy's newest album and it's extremely well done. Makem's voice is still nearly as vibrant as it was in the sixties durring the heyday of the Clancy Brothers. But the arrangements of the songs are richer and have more savvy than older albums without being over-arranged.

As usual with TM, this album is a blend of traditional folk songs and Makem originals. Songs like "Long Woman's Grave" "Peace And Justice" and "Ships Of War" are new classics written by Makem. Tradional songs like "Lough Tay Boat Song" "Sweet Dromintee" and the riotous "Uncle Dan" are given wonderful interpretations by Tommy. There are also several reworkings of previously recorded material in keeping with the "Song Tradition". And thank you Tommy for finally, after almost forty years, recording "Whiskey In The Jar" entitled "Captain Farrell" on this CD.

One final note. A good deal of the instrumental work and backing vocals on this CD are by Tommy's own sons which I feel only ads another layer of meaning to this album's title, "The Song Tradition". I simply cannot imagine any fan of The Clancy Brothers And Tommy Makem not enjoying the heck out of this CD.

Music CD:

  1. Christmas in the Northwest ~ Various Artists
  2. Unexpected ~ Erika Luckett
  3. Traditional Irish Pipe Music ~ Finbar Furey
  4. Troubadours of Folk, Vol. 5: Singer-Songwriters of the 1980s ~ Various Artists
  5. Lann Huel -- Cadou ~ Manu Lann Huel
  6. Les Sampou ~ Les Sampou
  7. Ruby Shoes ~ Louise Taylor
  8. Stepping on the Bridge ~ Hamish Moore
  9. Halcyon Days: The A&M Years ~ The Strawbs
  10. Squeezebox ~ LynnMarie

Music CD

Music CD

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Weiss Christmas ~ Ilene Weiss

Catch 22 ~ Hypocrisy

God Loves the Dead ~ Ancient

Distance ~ Hikaru Utada

Vampyria ~ Tete Montoliu

X fuer en U ~ BAP

Pigro ~ Ivan Graziani

Home ~ Saga

Deadlock: Wedlock ~ Richard Gibbs

Angie Is a Shoplifter ~ Mark Broom