Search - Tommy Makem, Liam Clancy :: We've Come a Long Way

One of Their Best

09/02/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Queen of Connemara and Mary Ellen Carter are just two of the wonderful tracks on this, the last joint album by Tommy Makem and Liam Clancy. It was, incidently, released in 1987, not 1964, and is one of the two or three "best" by these talented troubadors--and believe me, I have all their long-play releases! Just call me a SERIOUS fan in Illinois!"

IF You Ever Find It, BUY IT!

Francis King | 07/02/1999

(5 out of 5 stars)

"One of the 5 best released collections. This is the one that ended my brother's fascination with Heavy Metal. From Queen of Connemara to Drill Ye Tarriers, this one is beauty in every note."

Famed Irish folk duo go out in style

Francis King | Calgary, AB, Canada | 03/15/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Released in 1987, this is the final recording made by Liam Clancey and Tommy Makem before the duo split up. It's also by far the most interesting musically, and at least some of the credit goes to producer/musician/arranger extraordinaire Donal Lunny.Lunny, who's worked with just about everybody in the Irish music world, contributed bouzoukis, bodhrans and keyboards to the 13 songs. He also did much of the arranging, so much of We've Come A Long Way has more variety than previous M&C recordings. Indeed, maybe there was too much variety for Makem. I interviewed him in the mid 1990s and when I mentioned how much I enjoyed this recording, he didn't have much to say. Perhaps it's no surprise, since he apparently didn't contribute any of his trademark tin whistle or banjo to the musical menu.Still, you'll be blown away by the silky, elegant ballads Roseville Fair, Golden and Queen of Connemara. Frog In The Well is a fun Clancey Brothers & Tommy Makem standard redone here, and The Mary Ellen Carter is a feisty treatment of a folk classic by the late Canadian troubadour Stan Rogers.All in all, I'd say Makem and Clancey finished with their strongest recording."