Tommy Makem and the Clancy Brothers

**Strider** · 6th April 10, 12:27 PM

Has anyone else heard of them? If so what is you favorite song(s) by them?
I know they are Irish but they have good sounding folk type music

**auld argonian** · 6th April 10, 12:43 PM

Welllllll....these guys were pretty much responsible for a huge revival of Irish music back in the fifties and sixties. The story that I heard was that all of them came to America to make their fortune in other professions but played their music in clubs in New York just for a hoot and they got so popular that they ended up doing it for a living.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Clancy_Brothers

Tommy Makem passed away a few years ago but did a great tour around Ireland as a two part video program...it's a bit dated but it still holds up and you might catch it on your local PBS station around St. Pat's Day.

My all time fave of theirs is "Goodbye, Mrs. Durkin"...probably because my great-grandma was named Katie Durkin and the song is pretty funny and damn catchy.

Seems to be a lot of stuff on you-tube, if you're interested in a wee sample.

Best

AA

**Sir William** · 6th April 10, 01:17 PM

Not only heard of them, but I've heard them in concert. I loved their records (yes, records!) and I loved them in concert. They were great!

As auld argonian pointed out, Tommy Makem and the Clancy Brothers were pretty much responsible for the revival of Irish folk music. I listen to others, but I still come back to them, and I particularly liked the sound of just Liam Clancy and Tommy Makem.

Tommy Makem passed away on 1 August 2007 and Liam Clancy followed on 4 December 2009. They are, and will continue to be, sorely missed by those of us who enjoyed their music.

My favorite Tommy Makem tune is "Four Green Fields." For Liam it was probably "And the Band Played Waltzing Matilda," with "Willy MacBride" a close second. Singing together I like "Botany Bay" and "The Highwayman."

**Strider** · 6th April 10, 02:15 PM

@ Sir William. I wish I had a chance to see them in concert.

They were one of the first music groups I started listening to, and probably my favorite of all the Irish groups. Especially their songs Jug of Punch and Look at the Coffin

**The Kilted Reverend** · 6th April 10, 02:34 PM

I love their version of "Flower of Scotland"

Rev.

**Strider** · 6th April 10, 02:37 PM

That's probably the best version I have heard of it so far.

**Sionnach** · 6th April 10, 02:54 PM

I had the great pleasure to see them in concert in Cupertino, CA in the mid 80's. Every St. Patrick's Day my wife pulls out the old cassette tape and pretty much plays it all day long and we sing along. Sir William pretty much listed my personal favourites.
Regards,

**CameronCat** · 6th April 10, 04:28 PM

Geez! the kids today...<wink>

Lots of info (and a smile or two) via this link: http://tinyurl.com/ydzhzkx

As others have said, Makem and the Clancys were almost single-handedly responsible for (re)-establishing Irish and Celtic traditional music in the U.S.

I saw them two or three times and my favorites are too many to list. I do agree that their version(s) of Eric Bogle's songs are stunning. (Sorry folks, nobody does "The Highwayman" better than Phil Ochs!)

Their music also played a seminal role during the "Great Folk Music Scare" of the 60's (that term courtesy of Utah Phillips...), and inspired many of the better known groups such as Kingston Trio and Peter, Paul and Mary, and many others.

You'll find that many commercial successes for those groups were first performed by TM&CB. They were a tremendous group, and you'll find a whole education available by listening to them.

Enjoy the trip.

JT

**O'Callaghan** · 6th April 10, 07:56 PM

I believe that Tommy Makem actually wrote Four Green Fields, although it gets confusing in traditional music. Differentiating between songs written last week and those written centuries ago is often far from obvious. Once you realise that the 'fields' are actually Leinster, Munster, Connaught and Ulster it gets interesting, but political, of course.

**Sir William** · 7th April 10, 03:25 AM

Originally Posted by O'Callaghan

I believe that Tommy Makem actually wrote Four Green Fields, ....Once you realise that the 'fields' are actually Leinster, Munster, Connaught and Ulster it gets interesting, but political, of course.

He did and it is. He said in an interview that he composed it while riding on the New York subway.

Traditional or contemporary is no matter to me...I still like the song.