The Long Black Veil

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More than three decades and many albums spent charting the gorgeous musical landscape of Ireland have made the Chieftains by far the world's most recognized and qualified ambassadors of Celtic sound and rhythm. Having toured the globe and garnered numerous awards, the traditional sextet has set its sights on something bigger: the pop charts. Though they've worked in the past with names like Roger Daltrey, Nanci Griffith, and Willie Nelson, on The Long Black Veil the Chieftains graduate to A-list guest stars with appearances by Sting, the Rolling Stones, and, yes, even Tom Jones.
It's a testimony to the considerable talents and character of the Chieftains that none of the celebrity personalities or egos upstage the band on this record. Rather, the musicians always stay in control and the instruments remain at the center of the songs. So while Mick Jagger delivers a stirring reading of the title song, it's the pipes and fiddles that transform the country standard into deep Gaelic soul music. Turns by Marianne Faithfull, Ry Cooder, Mark Knopfler, Sinead O'Connor, and old buddy Van Morrison (doing his own "Have I Told You Lately That I Love You?") come off predictably and competently, but breathing life into familiar, mostly traditional tunes like "The Lily of the West" and "The Foggy Dew" is ultimately the province of bandleader/tin whistler Paddy Moloney and his more-than-competent mates. --Roni Sarig

Product description

The Chieftains: The Long Black Veil! Features guest performances by The Rolling Stones, Van Morrison, Sting, Ry Cooder, Mark Knopfler, Sinead O'Connor, Phil Coulter, Marianne Faithfull, and Tom Jones. The Chieftains are: Kevin Conneff (vocals, bodhran); Martin Fay, Sean Keane (fiddle); Derek Bell (harp, tiompan, keyboards); Matt Molloy (flute); and Paddy Moloney (Uilleann pipes, tin whistle). TRACKS: 1. Mo Ghile Mear [Our Hero] (feat. Sting); 2. The Long Black Veil (feat. Mick Jagger); 3. The Foggy Dew (feat. Sinéad O'Connor); 4. Have I Told You Lately That I Love You? (feat. Van Morrison); 5. Changing Your Demeanour; 6. The Lily of the West (feat. Mark Knopfler); 7. Coast of Malabar (feat. Ry Cooder); 8. Dunmore Lassies (feat. Ry Cooder); 9. Love Is Teasin' (feat. Marianne Faithfull); 10. He Moved Through the Fair (feat. Sinéad O'Connor); 11. Ferny Hill (Instrumental); 12. Tennessee Waltz / Tennessee Mazurka (feat. Tom Jones); & 13. The Rocky Road to Dublin (feat. The Rolling Stones)., ISBN13:B000003FRH ISBN10:B000003FRH Material Type:audioCD