ClannadCountry of origin:Ireland Type of music generally:New Agey Celtic folk, traditional (and trad-based), mainstream pop (later albums) Status:Most recent release, In a Lifetime (compilation, 2020) See also:The Official Clannad Site Comparisons:Loreena McKennitt, Enya, Mary Black. (jbr@casetech.dk) Covers/own material:Own and traditional songs. Very occasional covers. General comments:Hmmm...Clannad is one of my favorite bands even though I don't have that many CDs by them. They have been around for quite some time. One album I have Fuaim (pronounced "Foom") dates back to '82. Enya was with them at that time. Fuaim has a mostly traditional Irish sound to it. Lovely album but much different from their more recent stuff. The later albums have a more mainstream sound that may appeal to those who shy away from the traditional. Your mileage may vary. (kcd@cray.com) Recommended first album:You may want to start with a compilation album (The Collection, PastPresent, Rogha, The Ultimate Collection, or An Diolaim. Having only PastPresent of these, I cannot recommend a first compilation album.) For lovers of traditional music, start with one of the earlier albums. For lovers of contemporary world/pop start with one of the '90s albums, particularly Anam or Lore. PastPresent may be the best way to get a feel for them as it combines their earlier, more traditional sound with the pop of their later albums. (JoAnn Whetsell) Recordings:
ClannadRelease info:1973—Phillips—LP 6392013 (Ireland); Boot Records—ITB 4016 (Canada) Availability:Rare Ecto priority:Recommended for fans of Clannad or traditional Celtic music. Group members:Maire Ni Bhraonain—harp, vocals Guest artists:John Wadham—drums Produced by:John Curran Comments:the album called simply Clannad is their very first release—very trad in its approach! (CAT@MAIL.KINROWAN.COM) Clannad 2Release info:1974—Gael Linn—LP 41 (Ireland); rereleased 1988—Shanachie Records—79007 (USA) Availability:Fairly wide Ecto priority:Recommended for fans of Clannad or traditional Celtic music. Group members:Maire Ni Bhraonain—vocals, harp Produced by:Donal Lunny Comments:As with Clannad, most of the songs on Clannad 2 are in Gaelic. Yet even if you don't understand Gaelic, which I don't, the lyrics and music penetrate you mind is some inexplicable way, letting you feel what the songs are about. (billonline@adlerbooks.com) DulamanRelease info:1976—Gael Linn—LP 58 (Ireland); 198?—Shanachie—79008 (USA) Availability:Fair Ecto priority:Recommended for lovers of traditional music Group members:Maire Ni Bhraonain—vocals, harp Guest artists:Nicky Ryan—vocal Comments:One of their best. (JoAnn Whetsell) Clannad In ConcertRelease info:1979—Shanachie—79030 (USA) Availability:Rare Ecto priority:Recommended for fans only Group members:Maire Ni Bhraonain—harp, vocals Produced by:Nicky Ryan Ring of GoldRelease info:1977—Celtic Music—CM CD 034 (Germany) Availability:Rare Ecto priority:Recommended for fans only Group members:Maire Ni Bhraonain—harp, vocals Comments:This is another live album. I haven't heard it. (JoAnn Whetsell) Crann UllRelease info:1980—Tara Records—CD/LP 3002 Availability:Rare Ecto priority:Highly recommended for fans or lovers of Celtic folk Group members:Maire Ni Bhraonain, Ciaran O Braonain, Pol O Braonain, Padraig O Dugain, Noel O Dugain Comments:I have read that Enya was in the group on this album as well as Fuaim, even though the liner notes don't reflect that. Of the early albums, this one is my favorite. I love the harp. It feels very green to me. (JoAnn Whetsell) FuaimRelease info:1982—Tara Records—CD 3008 (Ireland); reissued 1993—Atlantic Records—82481-2 Availability:Fairly rare Ecto priority:Recommended Group members:Maire Ni Bhraonain—harp, vocals Produced by:Nicky Ryan Comments:Also very good. Enya did sing on this album. There's a very funny song about drinking on it. This album is still very traditional, but it's livelier than some of the earlier ones. (JoAnn Whetsell) Magical RingRelease info:1983—BMG Records (UK) Ltd.—66305-2 Availability:Wide Ecto priority:Highly recommended Group members:Pol O'Dugain, Maire Ni Bhraonain, Pol O Braonain, Noel O Dugain, Ciaran O Braonain Guest artists:James Delaney—special guest Produced by:Richard Dodd Comments:This is probably a "must have". (jbr@casetech.dk) LegendRelease info:1984—RCA (UK)—ND71703 Availability:Fairly wide Ecto priority:Middle Group members:Maire Brennan—lead vocal, harp Guest artists:James Delaney—keyboards Produced by:Tony Clarke Comments:This is the soundtrack of Robin of Sherwood, a TV version of the Robin Hood legend. As such, the music is not as distinct as, e.g. Magical Ring. OK for background listening, though. (jbr@casetech.dk) MacallaRelease info:1985—RCA/Ariola Limited—70894 (UK); RCA—8063-2 (USA) Availability:Wide Ecto priority:Highly recommended Group members:Maire Ni Bhraonain, Pol O Braonain, Ciaran O Braonain, Padraig O Dugain, Noel O Dugain Guest artists:Bono (U2)—additional vocals on "In a Lifetime" Produced by:Steve Nye Comments:This album is widely considered one of their best. It has the first appearance of the song "In a Lifetime". (JoAnn Whetsell) The CollectionRelease info:1987—K-Tel International—CD 215 Availability:Rare Group members:Pol O Braonain, Ciaran O Braonain, Maire Ni Bhraonain, Padraig O Dugain, Noel O Dugain Guest artists:James Delaney—keyboards SiriusRelease info:1987—RCA (UK)—ND75149 Availability:Rare Ecto priority:High for lovers of Celtic folk. Group members:Maire Brennan, Ciaran Brennan, Poul Brennan, Noel Duggan, Padraig Duggan Guest artists:Robbie Blunt—guitar, electric guitar Produced by:Greg Ladanyi and Russ Kunkel Comments:Not as good as Magical Ring. (jbr@casetech.dk) The Angel and the Soldier BoyRelease info:1989—RCA—PD 74328 (UK) Availability:Rare Ecto priority:For fans only Comments:This album has 25 minutes of instrumental music and 25 minutes of music narrated by Tom Conti. I haven't actually heard the album. (JoAnn Whetsell) PastPresentRelease info:1989—BMG Records (UK) Ltd.—9912-2-R RE 1 Availability:Wide Ecto priority:Highly recommended Group members:Maire Brennan, Ciaran Brennan, Pol Brennan, Noel Duggan, Padraig Duggan Guest artists:James Delaney—keyboards Produced by:Richard Dodd, Steve Nye, Pol Brennan, Tony Clarke, Greg Ladanyi, Russ Kunkel, Ciaran Brennan Comments:PastPresent is sort of a greatest hits CD with songs off from many of their albums including Legend, Macalla, Magical Ring, and Sirius. Strongly recommended. It's a good place to start. (kcd@cray.com) Atlantic RealmRelease info:1989—BBC Enterprises—CD 727 Availability:Rare Ecto priority:For fans only Group members:Maire Brennan, Ciaran Brennan, Paul Brennan, Noel Duggan, Padraig Duggan Produced by:Paul and Ciaran Brennan AnamRelease info:1990—RCA—PD 74762 (UK); 1992—RCA—PD 782409-2 (USA) Availability:Wide Ecto priority:Highly recommended Group members:Maire Brennan—vocals, harp Guest artists:Mel Collins—saxophones Produced by:Ciaran Brennan, Paul Ridout, Richard Dodd, Steve Nye Comments:My second favorite Clannad album. Some really beautiful songs here. (JoAnn Whetsell) BanbaRelease info:1993—BMG Records (UK) Ltd.—Atlantic—82503-2 Availability:Wide Ecto priority:Highly recommended Group members:Maire Brennan—vocals, harp Guest artists:Anto Drennan—guitars Produced by:Ciaran Brennan, Denis Woods, John Donnelly Comments:Banba, and Maire Brennan's Maire—if I could take my favorites off each, I could make an album I truly love. As it is there are a few gems on each with quite a few duds. (jjhanson@att.net) ThemesRelease info:1995—Celtic Heartbeat/Atlantic—82737-2 Availability:Wide Ecto priority:Recommended Group members:Maire Brennan, Ciaran Brennan, Paul Brennan, Noel Duggan, Padraig Duggan Guest artists:Bono (U2)—additional vocals on "In a Lifetime" Produced by:Ciaran Brennan, Tony Clarke, Paul Ridout, Paul Brennan, Richard Dodd, Denis Woods, John Donnelly, Steve Nye Comments:A compilation of most of what I'd heard and liked from the group. A favorite disc for those curling up under the bed and refusing to deal with reality moods. (jzitt@humansystems.com) LoreRelease info:1995—Atlantic—82753-2 Availability:Wide Ecto priority:Highly recommended Group members:Maire Brennan—vocals, keyboards, harp Guest artists:Bridin Brennan—backing vocals Produced by:Ciaran Brennan, Hugh Padgham, Denis Woods Comments:Finally, the new Clannad album Lore has been released in Germany. To my surprise, the greedy record company released it as a 2 CD-set. The (in my opinion absolutely superfluous) bonus CD, called Themes and Dreams, contains 5 songs that already appeared on the PastPresent best-of album, and 1 song from Banba. A few months ago they released a Themes album with soundtrack music from Clannad which also contains these songs. It's really annoying because one has to pay for the extra disk. But Lore was worth the money. It's an excellent album. Some novelties: Maire contributed three songs, 6 of the 11 songs are in Gaelic, Vinnie Colaiuta plays drums, some other musicians from Maire's solo albums appear (Ciaran seems to have recognized her talent). One of the traditional songs ("Alasdair MacColla") has already been interpreted by Capercaillie (it's the first track on Sidewaulk). The two versions are totally different. Capercaillie's version is more traditional and down to earth, while Clannad's version is slower and more complex and dense. I don't know which one I like better; they both have their appeal. "Trail of Tears" was the track that Thomas Loefke performed in his concert. (Dirk.Kastens@rz.Uni-Osnabrueck.DE) LandmarksRelease info:1997—BMG Entertainment Intl, UK & Ireland Ltd.; Atlantic—83083-2 Availability:Wide Ecto priority:Recommended Group members:Maire Brennan—lead vocals, keyboards, harp Guest artists:Anto Drennan—slide guitar, Spanish guitar, acoustic guitar, electric guitar Produced by:Ciaran Brennan Comments:I was glad that Clannad won best New Age album, even though Landmarks was relatively weak. (Patrick) An DiolaimRelease info:1998—Music Club under license from Gael-Linn—50063 Availability:Wide Group members:Maire Brennan, Ciaran Brennan, Paul Brennan, Noel Duggan, Padraig Duggan Comments:I haven't heard this, but as far as I know, it's a retrospective of the early recordings, when Paul Brennan was still with the group. (JoAnn Whetsell) Live in ConcertRelease info:2005—KOCH Entertainment—KOC-CD-9674 Availability:Wide Ecto priority:Highly recommended Group members:Maire Brennan—vocals, harp Guest artists:Deirdre Brennan—backing vocals, bodhran Comments:Released in 2005, this album's tracks were actually recorded in 1996. The tracks skew to their earlier, more traditional material, but with the contemporary feel with which they approached later work such as Lore. It's a winning mixture of the two. (JoAnn Whetsell) NádúrRelease info:2013—ARC Music—EUCD2471 Availability:Wide Ecto priority:Highly recommended Group members:Moya Brennan—vocals, harp Guest artists:Ged Lynch—drums, percussion Produced by:Pól and Ciarán Brennan Comments:A really excellent album, up there with their best work. The sound is most reminiscent of albums like Magical Ring and Macalla, even occasionally their earlier more traditional work. Perhaps because it brings together the five original members of the band. It's a reunion I'm very glad for. They sound wonderful together, making music that is original and traditional, contemporary and timeless. (JoAnn Whetsell) Further info:"I Will Find You" (from Banba) appears on the soundtrack to the film The Last of the Mohicans. "Both Sides Now" (with Paul Young) appears on the soundtrack to the film Switch. "(The Theme From) Harry's Game" appears on the soundtrack to the film Patriot Games. The single "Christmas Angels" can be found on the charity compilation Forgotten Angels. Thanks to Bill Adler, Jens P. Brage, and JoAnn Whetsell for work on this entry.
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