Product Details

Before they became synonymous with Irish traditional music, the Chieftains were an affable bunch of part-timers, occasionally banding together under the sway of Uilleann piper Paddy Moloney and composer Sean O'Riada. Well, sort of. The Chieftains were actually a fairly serious lot back in the late '60s and into the early '70s; they were among the first Irish bands to delve into the Celtic roots of traditional tunes, investing them with an ancient power while unleashing the innate lightness and swing of their material and instruments. Collecting tracks from 13 albums released on Claddagh Records, the label founded by Moloney for the preservation of Irish roots music and poetry, this set hearkens back to the group's formative years. It should be a perfect tonic for those who have wondered where the Chieftains are headed, as every new album brings a collaboration with artists from all over the globe. It doesn't get any more Irish than these vintage cuts, bona fide classics like The Mornin