Track Listing

1. Lots Of Drops Of Brandy
2. Bean An Fhir Rua
3. Jack Of All Trades
4. Within A Mile Of Dublin/The Old Blackthorn
5. Dusty Miller
6. Lovely Sweet Banks Of The Moy
7. An Poc Ar Buile
8. Dingle Set
9. Planxty George Brabazon
10. May Morning Dew/Kilfenora Set
11. An Buinnan Bui
12. County Tyrone/Newry Hornpipe
13. Ballyfin Polkas
14. Casadh An Tsugain
15. Live From Matt Molloy's Pub
16. An Gaoth Aneas

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #17662 in Music
• Released on: 2000-03-13
• Number of discs: 1
• Dimensions: .24 pounds

Amazon.co.uk Review
On Water from the Well, Paddy Moloney and the Chieftains return to the traditional Irish music that first made their reputations in the early 60s. Unlike most of their recordings from the 1990s there is nary a rock star, folk singer, or symphony orchestra to be found. Instead the Chieftains have chosen to play with some of Ireland's finest musicians, including Barney McKenna, Seamus Begley, Altan, and the Kilfenora Ceili Band. Here the Chieftains cover the entire spectrum of Irish traditional music, from a stately version of "Planxty George Brabazon" with the Belfast Harp Orchestra to a raucous session in flautist Matt Molloy's pub to a number of ballads sweetly sung by Kevin Conneff. The Chieftains have always performed at the highest level, but on Water From the Well the combination of familiar tunes and great musical guests seems to have inspired them to some of their best playing in years.--Michael Simmons

CD Description
On 1999's TEARS OF STONE, the Chieftains' prior effort, thevenerable Irish institution collaborated (surprisingly successfully) with a number of pop performers, some of whom (Bonnie Raitt, Natalie Merchant, Joan Osborne) had little or no discernible connection with traditional Irish music (apart from enjoying it, of course). On the aptly titled WATER FROM THE WELL, the Chieftains return to more authentic Irish turf, and the results, unsurprisingly, are gorgeous; nobody plays this music more ravishingly.
About a third of the albumis sung (Frankie Lane--no, not the "Rawhide" guy--guests onthe jaunty "Jack of All Trades"), but the strictly instrumental numbers are often the most impressive, with Chieftain Derek Bell's harpsichord lending astonishing orchestral textures on "Lots of Drops of Brandy", the Belfast Harp Orchestrafleshing out the seraphically lovely "Planxty George Brabazon", and Dubliner (and almost Chieftain) Barney McKenna adding piquant banjo on "Within a Mile of Dublin".

Customer Reviews

Good variety
Good traditional with a good combination of instruments. The variety of the selections is great. Solid all the way through.

Go out and Buy it
As an Irishman who is sometimes a little cautious about some of the "Irish" music available, I am hard to please when it comes to Albums like this. However, the Chieftains never fail to please. In short, when a Canadian friend asked for an example of Irish Music at it's best - I posted her this CD. Enough Said !

In two words - Buy It!
A little over two years ago, I purchased my very first Irish music CD - Music At Matt Molloys. We then visited Ireland and heard a LOT of pub music. I now have over 100 CDs and I rate "Water From The Well" second only to "Music At Matt Molloys". This is a great compilation of typical Irish traditional tunes. My only advice is - get it!