The Chieftains - Tears of Stone

This album is a follow-up to the 1995 album The Long Black Veil. The idea is the same: the Chieftains play house band for many guest vocalists and musicians. The difference this time around is that all the musicians and vocalists featured are women. Sinéad O'Connor is the one return performance, and she justifies that honor with her sorrowful and beautiful rendition of the traditional song "Factory Girl." The roster of guests is diverse, and it is a credit to the musical ability of the Chieftains to keep a common thread going and blend their arrangements with all the different voices. Bonnie Raitt sounds just as much an Irish folk singer on her track "A Stor Mo Chrio" as Loreena McKennitt does on her version of "Ye Rambling Boys of Pleasure." The trick is that Paddy Maloney's arrangements highlight the unique talents of each guest. Most of the songs are traditional Irish tunes with new arrangements, the exceptions being the haunting "The Magdalene Laundries" written and sung by Joni Mitchell and strange but somehow fitting "Sake in the Jar" written and sung by Akiko Yano. The song features Japanese percussion instruments and should stick out among the distinctly Celtic contributions here, but it blends right in. Paddy Maloney states in the liner notes that the point of the project was to "marry the many-faceted voices of contemporary women artists from around the world with the simple beauty of traditional Irish music." It is a job well done. ~ Susan Cruickshank, All Music Guide

Name Credits Akiko Yano Piano, Performer, Vocals Alex Marcou Assistant Engineer Andrea Corr Tin Whistle, Vocals Annbjørg Lien Performer, Fiddle Anúna Performer, Choir, Chorus Arty McGlynn Guitar Bonnie Raitt Vocals, Dobro Brenda Fricker Vocals Brian Masterson Engineer, Editing, Mixing Caroline Corr Bodhran, Vocals Chito Kawachi Japanese Percussion Ciaran Cahill Assistant Engineer, Mixing Cookie Rankin Vocals Derek Bell Keyboards, Harp, Tiompan Diana Krall Vocals, Performer Eileen Ivers Fiddle, Performer Erik Della Penna Guitar Frez-Albrecht Assistant Engineer George Fullan Assistant Engineer Gospel Jubilees Choir, Chorus Greg Calbi Mastering Heather Rankin Vocals Hutel Hutchinson Bass James Blennerhassett Double Bass James OMara Design, Artwork, Photography Jeffrey Lesser Engineer Jim Corr Guitar Jimmy Rankin Guitar Joan Osborne Vocals, Performer John Morris Rankin Piano Jonathan Ford Assistant Engineer Joni Mitchell Performer, Guitar, Vocals Kate Ryan Artwork Kevin Conneff Bodhran Kweyao Agyapon Djembe Loreena McKennitt Performer, Harp, Vocals Máire Breatnach Fiddle, Performer Malachy Robinson Double Bass Martin Fay Fiddle Martin O'Connor Accordion Mary Chapin Carpenter Vocals, Performer Matt Molloy Flute Matt Rollings Piano Mike Griffith Assistant Engineer Natalie MacMaster Fiddle, Performer Natalie Merchant Performer, Vocals Nathaniel Townsley Choir, Chorus Noel Bridgeman Percussion Paddy Moloney Mixing, Editing, Uillean Pipes, Producer, Tin Whistle Patrick Fitzgerald Keyboards Raylene Rankin Vocals Richard McCullough Assistant Engineer, Mixing Rob Hyman Keyboards Russell Malone Guitar Seán Keane Fiddle Sharon Corr Fiddle, Vocals Sinéad O'Connor Vocals, Performer Sissel Performer Takahiro Nochimura Engineer The Screaming Orphans Vocals (Background) Tracey Dares Piano Troy Halderson Editing Una Ni Chanarim Cello Wayne Wilkins Assistant Engineer William Wittman Guitar, Engineer Zan McLeod Guitar