The Chieftains
An Irish Evening (BMG) (STAR)(STAR)(STAR) 1/2
Best of the Chieftains (Columbia) (STAR)(STAR)(STAR)
Chief Chieftain Paddy Moloney says in the liner notes to ”An Irish Evening” that ”every Chieftains concert is an event and each one is always different.” So, too, has every recent Chieftains recording been special, whether it be this delightful Belfast concert performance, featuring Texan Nanci Griffith and former Who singer Roger Daltrey; 1991`s instant Christmas classic ”Bells of Dublin”; ”Reel Music,” from their film scores; or 1988`s collaboration with Van Morrison. As willing as usual to stretch the limits of ”traditional” Irish music, in ”Evening” the lads offer delicious acoustic backing to such non-standards as the rocking ”Behind Blue Eyes” and ”Ford Econoline,” in addition to their usual toe-tapping fare. ”Best of . . .” is taken from three Columbia albums in the late `70s and is in a more familiar vein. No excuse anymore for a quiet St. Patrick`s Day.
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