Search - Clancy Brothers, The / Tommy Makem :: Irish Songs Of Drinking & Rebellion

Points off for poor mastering, packaging

R.L. Holly | Austin, TX USA | 02/28/2003

(3 out of 5 stars)

"Terrific material here from the Clancys and Makem, no question about that. The original two albums this CD has been assembled from are classics of Irish traditional folksong, and in a way, this CD package is the best way to acquire both in digital format at a bargain price. However, the mastering for CD is perfunctory at best and a cheat at worst. The first half, the rebel songs from the original "Irish Songs of Rebellion" (aka Rising for the Moon; be aware of many repackagings of Clancy Bros. material on various labels) is the better job, although the production still sounds thin. But the second half, the drinking songs from "Come Fill Your Glass with Us", is woeful. The playing speed is too fast compared to the original vinyl and these songs have patently been prepared from a vinyl LP, not original master tapes -- you can still hear the pops and clicks and turntable hum. There's no excuse for this.



Many reviewers of other Clancy Bros. albums have complained about shoddy repackagings and haphazard presentation and noted that it's about time Sony/Columbia put some effort into compiling a complete set of Clancy Bros. recordings in proper sound quality. I heartily second this motion. ..."

If you buy one Clancy Brothers CD...this is the one!!

S. Michael | Conyers, GA USA | 03/14/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Ah, Ireland, the land of sad love and happy war. The songs are funny, rousing, sad, uplifting and satirical all at the same time. Many of the songs, such as "Nell Flaherty's drake are camoflaged songs of protest against the British "oppressors." I find my self humming the songs and I'm not even Irish. What's even more unusual is my 17 year old son likes the songs too."