Details
Track Listing
No track list available
| Details | | Contributing artists: | Mary Black, Maura O'Connell | | Distributor: | Universal Distribution | | Recording Type: | Studio | | Recording Mode: | Stereo | | SPAR Code: | DDD |
Album Notes
Van Morrison & The Chieftains: Van Morrison (vocals, guitar, drums); Kevin Conneff (vocals, bodhran); Martin Fay (fiddle, bones); Sean Keane (fiddle); Derek Bell (harp, tiompan, keyboards); Matt Molloy (flute); Paddy Moloney (Uilleann pipes, tin whistles).
Additional personnel: Ciaran O'Braonain (bass); Mary Black, Maura O'Connell, June Boyce (background vocals).
Recorded at Windmill Lane Studios, Dublin, Ireland in September and December 1987 and January 1988.
All tracks have been digitally remastered from the original master tapes.
It was inevitable that Ireland's finest singer and its most celebrated traditional folk ensemble would eventually collaborate. We have both talent and providence to thank for the fact that their collaboration, IRISH HEARTBEAT, works as well as it does. The Celtic folk influence had always been lurking just below the surface in Morrison's music, occasionally peeking out, as on INTO THE MUSIC. His evocative, emotional style is a perfect fit with the timeless sound of the Chieftains.
Things get off to a rollicking start on the randy "Star Of The County Down" before moving into more introspective areas. The beautiful ballad "Raglan Road" explores Celtic myths while examining the nature of art and inspiration. The well-known tune "She Moved Through The Fair" is given a haunting reading here, as Morrison fully exploits the ghostly aspects of the tale. Morrison sounds perfectly at home on the traditional tunes that are the Chieftains stock in trade, and they back him with equal aplomb on the tile track, a paean to home and family that is the album's sole original tune.
Industry Reviews
Included in Q Magazine's Best Folk Albums of All Time - ...the most effective of uber-Irishman and Cheiftan's leader Paddy Moloney's genre-busting experiments....a wonderful album where the guv'nors of Irish folk are at their joyous best alongside...the sound of Van Morrison actually having fun.
Q (11/01/1999)
Rolling Stone 4 Stars - Excellent
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