The Best of Altan (1997)

About this title: If you don't count The Chieftains, Altan is probably the most popular traditional Irish group in the world right now. And they continue to find favor among hardcore folkies where The Chieftains don't, since they resist the temptation to record albums with the likes of Roger Daltrey and Van Morrison. The band originally formed around the husband-and-wife nucleus of flutist Frankie Kennedy and fiddler/singer Maighread Ní Mhaonaigh, who recorded their first duo album in 1983. Other members accreted to the group over time, until it gradually hardened into the five-piece ensemble that is ... read more

Tracks:

1. Tommy Peoples/The Windmill/Fintan McManus's [Traditional/Tourish]
2. Moll Dubh A'ghleanna [Traditional]
3. Jimmy Lyon's/The Teelin/The Red Crow/The Broken Bridge [Traditional/NiMhaon]
4. The Sunset [McConnell/Quinn]
5. Glory Reel/The Heathery Cruach [Traditional]
6. The Flower of Magherally [Traditional]
7. Mazurka [Traditional]
8. A Bhean Udal Thail [Traditional]
9. King of the Pipers [Traditional]
10. Sí Do Mhaimeo Í [Traditional]
11. The Jug of Punch [Traditional]
12. Emyvale/Ríl Gan Ainm/The Three Merry Sisters of Fate [Traditional]
13. The Mhaighdean Mhara [Traditional]
14. Dúlamán [Traditional]
15. Drowsy Maggie/Rakish Paddy/Harvest Storm [Traditional/NiMhaon]
16. An Feochán [Peoples]

Note: This is a general synopsis. Each listing is further described below.