Track Listing

1. King Of Laois/Paddy's Jig/O'Keefes/Chattering Magpie - Chieftains
2. Foggy Dew - Chieftains & Sinead O'Connor/Ry Cooder
3. I Know My Love - Chieftains & The Corrs
4. Cotton Eyed Joe - Chieftains & Ricky Skaggs
5. Magdalene Laundries - Chieftains & Joni Mitchell
6. Live From Matt Molloy's Pub - Chieftains
7. Shenandoah - Chieftains & Van Morrison
8. Munster Cloak/Poc Ar Puile/Dingle Bells - Chieftains
9. Morning Has Broken - Chieftains & Diana Krall/Art Garfunkel
10. Morning Dew/Women Of Ireland - Chieftains
11. Mo Ghile Mear - Chieftains & Sting
12. Carolan's Concerto - Chieftains
13. Guadalupe - Chieftains & Linda Ronstadt
14. Full Of Joy - Chieftains & Chinese Ensemble
15. Here's A Health To The Company - Chieftains
16. Chasing The Fox - Chieftains & Elvis Costello
17. Long Journey Home - Chieftains & The Rolling Stones
18. Rocky Road To Dublin - Chieftains & Ziggy Marley
19. Redemption Song - Chieftains & Ziggy Marley

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #10909 in Music
• Released on: 2002-03-11
• Number of discs: 1
• Dimensions: .24 pounds

Amazon.co.uk Review
One of the elements that's made the Chieftains the stellar Celtic band in the world is their love of innovative collaborations with mainstream pop stars. The Wide World Over: A 40-Year Celebration gathers into a single collection some of the Irish ensemble's most memorable moments, including predictable alliances with artists such as Van Morrison, who sings "Shenandoah", to additional backing by the Irish Film Orchestra and unlikely pairings like the Rolling Stones, who add a rock kick and the "Satisfaction" riff to "The Rocky Road To Dublin". Cross-cultural experts Linda Ronstadt and Los Lobos demonstrate their versatility on the Mexican ditties "Txalaparta" and "Guadalupe", on which pipes and pennywhistle don't seem a whisker out of place, while Ricky Skaggs points to the Irish and British roots of American country music on the rousing "Cotton-Eyed Joe". Art Garfunkel, Sting, Sinead O'Connor, Joni Mitchell and Elvis Costello are also featured in classic performances with the band, while a brand-new collaboration with Ziggy Marley yields a gorgeous Don-Was-produced rendition of Bob Marley's "Redemption Song". The cliché that there's a bit of the Irish in all of us proves true in this wide-ranging, constantly rewarding and frequently surprising collection. And the tracks on which the Chieftains go it alone are also a gas. --Bob Tarte

CD Description
Celebrating forty years as Ireland's biggest exponents of traditional Irish folk music, 'The Wide World Over' brings together some of their most famous compositions. The album includes collaborations with a selection of artists including, Sting, The Corrs, The Rolling Stones, Van Morrison, and Sinead O'Connor, to name but a few.

Customer Reviews

Quite enjoyable mixture of the traditional & the eclectic
A collection that celebrates the Irish group's versatility
Reviewer: Neal Clark Reynolds from E. Taunton, MA United States
On the one hand, I sure hope that the Chieftains aren't leaving their traditional roots, and on the other hand, I enjoy their explorations of different musical styles.
These are all cuts from previous albums, so he who has all of their albums probably won't want this one. For the rest of us, there are some realy outstanding cuts. I especially enjoyed Sinead O'Connor's singing of the traditional "The Foggy Dew". That one's followed by The Corrs and "I Know My Love", another traditional with a fresh twist. Ricky Skaggs joining the group for "Cotton-Eyed Joe" was a real high point, spotlighting the relation of Irish traditional reels and jigs to bluegrass. Joni Mitchell is one of the greats, and hearing her own "The Magdalene Laundries" backed by the group is a real treat. And Van Morrison bares his soul in "Shenandoah", again highlighting the Irish influence on American music.

I was a bit disappointed with Diana Krall & Art Garfunkel's "Morning Has Broken", which certainly doesn't compare with Cat Stevens. So you can't win them all. Sting didn't seem appropriate on "Mo Ghile Mear" either.

However, I was pleasantly surprised by "Full Of Joy" with the Chinese Ensemble. That's one where it sounded everyone was having fun. And the closing rendition of Bob Marley's "Redemption Song" featuring Ziggy Marley was a winner.

All in all, if you don't have most of these on other Chieftain albums, you'll want this one

If you've ever thought of getting an Irish CD buy this
Not only does this give you a journey to Irish Isles through 40 years of one of the countries greatest bands but it features a wealth of International Artist with a love of music.

You'll get a real Irish flavour from the first track 'March of the King of Ladis', the pipes support Sinead O'Connor on the 2nd track and are followed by a very energetic version of 'I know my love' with the Corrs.

The thing about Irish music is that whenever it's played everybody joins in and has a great time and you will do the same listening to this. You'll be beating out the rythym especially to track 4 a right good Cotton Pickin Traditional tune.

Joini Mitchell allows you time to recover and contemplate about the Magdalene Sisters in 'The Magdalene Laundries' watch out soon for the film that features the Sisterhood. This version is typical Joini with lovely instumental backing by the boys.

One of my favorites features Art Garfunkle and Diana Krall's haunting version of Morning has Broken. This track was recorded, New Year's Day 2000 on the Ocean Explorer 1 just off Deception Island, can you imagine the scene.

The final track with Ziggy Marley just goes to show the variety of artists they have joined forces with over the years.

I've never seen them live but as they don't seem to be slowing down there's time yet. In the meantime this CD will do nicely.

Enjoyable foot and finger tapping rompt through four decades
If you haven't got any Irish music then get this and it'll take you through decades of collaborations. The guest list is impressive and you won't stop finger and foot tapping.

There's plenty of variety and the sleeve notes put some tracks in a nice historical context. I mean a track recorded on new year's day 2000 on Explorer 1 setting sail from Deception Island with ship mates like Diana Krall and Art Garfunkel, the imagery and sound superb. Journey with them to a typical Irish Pub in Dublin 'Live from Matt Molloy's Pub' To be sure you'll be carried off to the Emerald Isle and upto date with the Corrs.

It's pure Guiness sorry Genius, lovely.