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Celtic Music: The Chieftains

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The Chieftains Began the Celtic Music Revival

 

The Chieftains are credited with bringing traditional Irish music to the world's attention. Paddy Molony got some musicians together in 1962 and they recorded an album that was at the time regarded as a one-time thing. But five years later, they got together again, and a second album followed in 1968. Harpist Derek Bell joined in 1973, but they weren't playing full time until 1975.

The Chieftains stuck with tradition through their first nine albums, although not without criticism from some purists who thought they weren't being true to it. The purists were probably far less enthralled when the group began expanding their boundaries with their tenth album, Cotton-Eyed Joe. Since then they've recorded with many artists from different genres of music, with one of their most recent collaborations being with American country and bluegrass performers on Down the Old Plank Road and Further Down the Old Plank Road.

Paddy Molony and His Musical Friends 

Paddy Moloney has been the band's leader, plus he composes or arranges most of the music. The band's lineup changed several times in the 1960s and 1970s, it became more stable in 1979 when flautist Matt Molloy joined, replacing Michael Tubridy. From then until 2002, there were six members:

* Paddy Moloney (uilleann pipes, tin whistle, button accordion, bodhrán)
* Matt Molloy (flute, tin whistle)
* Kevin Conneff (bodhrán, vocals)
* Seán Keane (fiddle, tin whistle)
* Martin Fay (fiddle, bones) (retired from band, 2002)
* Derek Bell (Irish harp, keyboard instruments, oboe)(died 2002)

Since 2002, the band has consisted of four members. Other musicians from the beginnin until 1979 included:

* David Fallon (bodhrán)
* Ronnie McShane (percussion)
* Peadar Mercier (bodhrán, bones)
* Seán Potts (tin whistle, bones, bodhrán)
* Michael Tubridy (flute, concertina, and tin whistle)

The Chieftains (1963-1973) on Amazon 

The Chieftains recorded their first album on the Claddagh Records label, which has kept most of the recordings available.

The Chieftains 1

Originally released in 1963.

Release Date: 05/23/2000

Amazon Price: $18.98 (as of 10/12/2008)

The Chieftains 2

Originally released in 1969.

Release Date: 05/23/2000

Amazon Price: $18.98 (as of 10/12/2008)

The Chieftains 3

Originally released in 1971.

Release Date: 07/18/2000

Amazon Price: $18.98 (as of 10/12/2008)

The Chieftains 4

Originally released in 1973. Derek Bell on harp is heard for the first time.

Release Date: 07/18/2000

Amazon Price: $18.98 (as of 10/12/2008)

From the Beginning: The Chieftains 1 to 4

This is a boxed set of the first four albums by The Chieftains.

Release Date: 10/19/1999

Amazon Price: $49.98 (as of 10/12/2008)

The Chieftains (1975-1978) on Amazon 

The Chieftains 5

Originally released in 1975.

Release Date: 06/27/2006

Amazon Price: $22.98 (as of 10/12/2008)

Chieftains 6: Bonaparte's Retreat

Originally released in 1976.

Release Date: 06/27/2006

Amazon Price: $22.98 (as of 10/12/2008)

The Chieftains 7

Originally released in 1977.

Release Date: 10/25/1990

Amazon Price: (as of 10/12/2008)

Chieftains Live!

Originally released in 1977.

Release Date: 06/27/2006

Amazon Price: $42.99 (as of 10/12/2008)

Chieftains 8

Originally released in 1978.

Release Date: 02/01/2008

Amazon Price: $6.99 (as of 10/12/2008)

The Chieftains (1979-1985) on Amazon 

The Chieftains 9: Boil the Breakfast Early

Originally released in 1979.

Release Date: 02/19/2002

Amazon Price: (as of 10/12/2008)

The Best of the Chieftains

Originally released in 1992. This has tracks from The Chieftains 7, 8, and 9, the last albums of only Irish traditional music before they branched out to record with other artists and in other styles.

Release Date: 02/19/2002

Amazon Price: $10.99 (as of 10/12/2008)

The Chieftains 10: Cotton-Eyed Joe

Originally released in 1981. Nominated for Grammy Awards in 1993 for Best Pop Instrumental Performance, Best Country Vocal Collaboration, and Best Country Instrumental Performance.

Release Date: 06/27/2006

Amazon Price: (as of 10/12/2008)

Year of the French

Originally released in 1982.

Release Date: 10/17/1990

Amazon Price: (as of 10/12/2008)

The Chieftains in China

Originally released in 1985.

Release Date: 06/27/2006

Amazon Price: $42.99 (as of 10/12/2008)

The Chieftains (1986-1988) on Amazon 

Ballad of the Irish Horse

Originally released in 1986.

Release Date: 06/27/2006

Amazon Price: $22.98 (as of 10/12/2008)

Celtic Wedding: Music of Brittany

Originally released in 1987 and nominated for a Grammy Award in 1988.
MP3: Celtic Wedding $8.91

Release Date: 02/24/1998

Amazon Price: $11.98 (as of 10/12/2008)

James Galway & The Chieftains in Ireland

Originally released in 1987.
DVD: James Galway and the Chieftains In Ireland

Release Date: 10/25/1990

Amazon Price: $11.98 (as of 10/12/2008)

Irish Heartbeat

Originally released in 1988 and nominated for a Grammy Award the same year.

Release Date: 07/14/1998

Amazon Price: (as of 10/12/2008)

The Tailor of Gloucester

Originally released in 1988. This is a Beatrix Potter story read by Meryl Streep, with music by The Chieftains.

Release Date: 08/30/1994

Amazon Price: (as of 10/12/2008)

The Chieftains (1989-1992) on Amazon 

A Chieftains Celebration

Release Date: 06/23/1989

Amazon Price: (as of 10/12/2008)

Over the Sea to Skye: The Celtic Connection

This outing with James Galway features Galway's unsurpassed flute playing and much traditional music of Scotland.
MP3: Over the Sea to Skye (The Celtic Connection) $9.99

Release Date: 01/18/1991

Amazon Price: $11.98 (as of 10/12/2008)

The Bells of Dublin

Release Date: 07/01/1991

Amazon Price: $9.98 (as of 10/12/2008)

Another Country

This album won a Grammy Award in 1993 for Best Contemporary Folk Album.

Release Date: 09/29/1992

Amazon Price: $11.98 (as of 10/12/2008)

An Irish Evening: Live At The Grand Opera House, Belfast

This album won a Grammy Award in 1993 for Best Traditional Folk Album.
MP3: An Irish Evening $9.99
DVD: The Chieftains - An Irish Evening

Release Date: 01/28/1992

Amazon Price: $11.98 (as of 10/12/2008)

The Chieftains (1993-1998) on Amazon 

The Celtic Harp: A Tribute to Edward Bunting with the Belfast Harp Orchestra

Winner of a 1994 Grammy Award for Best Traditional Folk Album.

Release Date: 02/09/1993

Amazon Price: $11.98 (as of 10/12/2008)

Long Black Veil

This was nominated for a 1996 Grammy Award for Best Contemporary Folk Album.
MP3: The Long Black Veil $9.99
DVD: The Chieftains - The Making of The Long Black Veil

Release Date: 01/24/1995

Amazon Price: $11.98 (as of 10/12/2008)

Film Cuts

MP3: Film Cuts $9.99

Release Date: 02/13/1996

Amazon Price: $16.98 (as of 10/12/2008)

Santiago

This won a 1997 Grammy Award for Best World Music.

Release Date: 10/01/1996

Amazon Price: $11.98 (as of 10/12/2008)

Long Journey Home (1998 Television Mini-series)

This is a soundtrack album produced by Paddy Molony with two tracks by The Chieftains. The series documented the story of the Irish in America. The album won a 1998 Grammy Award for Best Traditional Folk Album.

Release Date: 01/13/1998

Amazon Price: (as of 10/12/2008)

The Chieftains (1998-2002) on Amazon 

Fire in the Kitchen

Originally released in 1998, this is the result of a kitchen party (with tape rolling) with Canadian musicians.

Release Date: 04/02/2007

Amazon Price: $34.99 (as of 10/12/2008)

Tears of Stone

Originally released in 1999.
MP3: Tears Of Stone $9.99

Release Date: 02/23/1999

Amazon Price: $11.98 (as of 10/12/2008)

The Chieftains Collection: The Very Best of the Claddagh Years

Originally released in 1999.

Release Date: 10/05/1999

Amazon Price: $18.98 (as of 10/12/2008)

Water From the Well

Originally released in 2000.
DVD: Water from the Well

Release Date: 02/22/2000

Amazon Price: $11.98 (as of 10/12/2008)

The Wide World Over: A 40 Year Celebration

Originally released in 2002.
MP3: The Wide World Over: A 40 Year Celebration $9.99

Release Date: 03/05/2002

Amazon Price: $13.98 (as of 10/12/2008)

The Chieftains (2002- ) on Amazon 

Down the Old Plank Road: The Nashville Sessions

Release Date: 09/17/2002

Amazon Price: $11.98 (as of 10/12/2008)

Further Down the Old Plank Road

Release Date: 09/09/2003

Amazon Price: $11.98 (as of 10/12/2008)

Live From Dublin: A Tribute to Derek Bell

MP3: Live From Dublin - A Tribute To Derek Bell

Release Date: 02/22/2005

Amazon Price: $13.98 (as of 10/12/2008)

The Essential Chieftains

The 18 tracks of the first disc features just the Chieftains, while the 17 tracks on the second feature their collaborations with artists worldwide.
MP3: The Essential Chieftains

Release Date: 02/21/2006

Amazon Price: $13.97 (as of 10/12/2008)

The Chieftains - Planxty Fanny Power - on YouTube 

The Chieftains Feat. Derek Bell Glastonbury 1982

'Fanny Power' by Turlough O'Carolan. Features the late and sadly missed Derek "ding-dong" Bell on harp. Martin Fay battles to keep his instrument in tune as the British high summer never lives up to expectations. Derek Bell was more than just a harpist and played a wide range of instruments. He will forever go down in the history of music as the man who released a solo album featuring compositions and arrangements where he played all of the many instruments. The title of the album was unfortunately called "Derek Bell Plays With Himself"....

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The Chieftains on eBay 

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The Chieftains Links 

The Chieftains official website
Biographies, tour dates, discography, photos, and more.
Claddagh Records
The Chieftains' home label since the beginning.
Celtic Music lenses by MobyD
A lens to help you find other Celtic Music lenses I've made.
The Chieftains Video Showcase
Videos of the Chieftains from YouTube.
Music at Matt Molloy's
Lens about the CD Music at Matt Molloy's and how it was recorded.

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MobyD

About MobyD

I'm very interested in Celtic music and have created a series of lenses about performers. See Celtic Music: Lenses for my latest lenses on the subject. I'm also interested in puns (see my website Have Pun Will Travel), science fiction, photography, computer stuff, and Renaissance faires. I'm located in the Portland, OR metro area.

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