Perhaps it would be better for us (as fans) to accept that creative colaboration were one-off events that cannot really be re-captured and move on with the new creations of the individuals involved - rather than always creating pressure by comparing these with the earlier material?

I have found that the creative spark is encouraged by many things (including working with other musicians) but the creative period caused by this spark is never a constant thing and nor are the results.

The recent Planxty reunion certainly highlighted the growth that each individual musician had undergone; and while they performed no new material, there was a distinct subtlety and ease with which they played their music that far surpassed the original recordings.

I would agree with the growth of each musician's confidence and skill - since the collaboration came to and end. But is perhaps a sad fact for us to accept - that the creative collaboration that we treasure are just steps along the way of these musician's lives and that trying to recapture the time, place and elements - is perhaps unrealistic and a backward step?