Customer Reviews
Probably the Greatest Folk Album in the World - Ever ! - By: Fergal Woods, 13 Feb 2008 
Marries folk & trad, instrumentals & songs, originals & timeless classics.If you're interestedin folk, or Irish music, or acoustic music you can't not have this album !
Planxty had 2 outstanding singersin Christy Moore (still enormously popularin his own right) & the hugely influential Andy Irvine (exceptional composer, & collector of folk songs from all over the world). The group featured the superb Liam O'Flynn on uileann pipes. Not only has O'Flynn influenced every Irish piper since, but also his prowess & beautiful tone have promoted the instrument to such an extent that many Scots & Galician pipers have added it along to their own native pipes. As if the above wasn't enough Donal Lunny & Irvine provided some of the best interwoven string accompaniments ever recorded on various bouzoukis & mandolins. Moore contributed fairly basic guitar but with the Lunny-Irvine team on board nothing else was needed. When you add great songs & tunes to four such magnificent performers you 're bound to end up with something special.The term "supergroup" is bandied around a lot these days but nobody I've seen referred toin that light can hold a candle to Planxty.
I could go through every track, but really it suffices to say that there isn't a weak moment on the album, & I agree with the other reviewer (and countless others) who reckon Irvine's "West Coast of Clare" is one of the finest love songs ever written.
Absolutely essential purchase !
Timeless Classic - By: Eoin Jordan, 06 Nov 2006 I first heard this album at a very young age when I found a cassette copyin my father's collection. For some reason I was aware of Christy Moore beingin the band, though I had no idea what layin store! From the Raggle Taggle Gypsy through to the Blacksmith via The West Coast of Clare, this album deserves the true title of absolute classic, & amazingly sounds so fresh today. This album led to my taking up the bouzouki, & I would be hard pressed to find one that has had such an influense on me.
This is the one! - By: John O'brien, 01 Jun 2004 For anyone hoping for an introduction to Irish music, this CD is the one to have. I have 5000+ CDsin my collection & across all genre's, this is my favourite. Nowhere else will you find such a mix of unbridled enegy, aching ballads & instrumental virtuosity. This was the Planxty's first & finest album & all subsequent efforts, though each having three or four great tracks, never captured the atmosphere of the first. Where will you find a finer ballad than the West Coast of Clare, heavier metal than Merrily Kissed the Quaker or anything, ANYTHING to compare to the Raggle Taggle Gypsy!
