Review: Legendary Tommy Makem

Subject: RE: Review: Legendary Tommy Makem
From: GUEST
Date: 18 Dec 07 - 05:58 AM

Don D,
I would have thought you'd have guessed ardmacha's nationalit by his remarks

Subject: RE: Review: Legendary Tommy Makem
From: Stringsinger
Date: 17 Dec 07 - 07:38 PM

It was my pleasure to play with the "lads" at the Gate of Horn. We recorded "Hearty and Hellish" there. Tommy was the kindest, nicest man, sensitive and open. Aside from the memorable Cobbler's Song there has never been anyone that I have ever heard that could
do the rendition he did of "Johnny I Hardly Knew Ya'" which sent chills down my back.
A great human being and I was fortunate to know him.

He is still the Bard of Armadgh as far as I'm concerned.

Frank Hamilton

Subject: RE: Review: Legendary Tommy Makem
From: ard mhacha
Date: 17 Dec 07 - 04:22 PM

DonD You didn`t offend me, but, really you were way out, still, no hard feelings.

Subject: RE: Review: Legendary Tommy Makem
From: Shaneo
Date: 17 Dec 07 - 05:54 AM

Christmas day on Tg4 [Irish TV] The Clancys and Tommy in concert.
New year's eve on R.T.E The Fureys concert from Vivar Street.

Well, it beats watching Charlie And The Chocolate Factory

Subject: RE: Review: Legendary Tommy Makem
From: joseph
Date: 17 Dec 07 - 04:24 AM

well said ardmacha,couldn't have put it better myself

Subject: RE: Review: Legendary Tommy Makem
From: GUEST,DonD
Date: 16 Dec 07 - 11:51 PM

Naive enough to have just clicked 'enter' instead of 'tab'. But naive has nothing to do with the question I asked, nor does my four score years of being an American. I would not think of questioning Ard Macha'a intellegence, parochialism, prejusices or anything else about his character becaus of his nationality, which I do not know. Or his/her gender or race, for that matter. I've been enjoying his/her postings here for years.

I'm glad to leearn that the story I was told is apochryphal, and as a great fan of Irish rebel songs I have no beef with the IRA as such, except to accept that their numbers included those who exceeded the bounds of 'civilized warfare' as did their enemies and every other armed force in history.

I heard the story from someone that I believed to have close connections to Tommy and Liam, but for all I can remember if might have been 'loyalist' terrorists instead. There were enough horror stories going around on both sides to make anything seem true.

I apologize to those offended by my innocent mistake.

Subject: RE: Review: Legendary Tommy Makem
From: GUEST,DonD
Date: 16 Dec 07 - 11:39 PM

Subject: RE: Review: Legendary Tommy Makem
From: Nerd
Date: 16 Dec 07 - 12:23 AM

Well, Barry's original point stands. What does DonD's naivete have to do with the US? I debunked it, and I'm American. I think CeltAddict is too, but I'm not sure. And I don't know that DonD is American.

So, if some Americans believe something and others don't, are the Americans who don't believe it demonstrating "US wisdom?" Or is it only when someone is wrong that their nationality becomes relevant?

Subject: RE: Review: Legendary Tommy Makem
From: Barry Finn
Date: 15 Dec 07 - 10:36 PM

Ya ard, maybe that question was a bit much but it was more your "Once again US naivety rears its head" retort that got caught in my throat, I couldn't help but spit it back out. OK, I'll wake up now.

Barry

Subject: RE: Review: Legendary Tommy Makem
From: Brendy
Date: 15 Dec 07 - 09:11 PM

A wee trad setup I was in, in my teens, played support to Makem & Clancy in The Ashburn Hotel in Lurgan, Co. Armagh.
Archie Fisher and Aly McBain were their 'backing musicians'

Glorious night...., especially as we 'youngsters' got to meet the greats on a more personal level.

I met Liam Clancy in Oslo some years ago, and I reminded him of the gig, and he remembered us, and a song one of the band sang..

There was a video made of that concert by some 'approved' person, but I never saw it, nor heard what happened to it.

A DVD would be the job, alright.

B.

Subject: RE: Review: Legendary Tommy Makem
From: ard mhacha
Date: 15 Dec 07 - 02:38 PM

For heavens sake Barry wake up, there was no reason for DonD to include such a stupid question.

Subject: RE: Review: Legendary Tommy Makem
From: GUEST,nickr90
Date: 15 Dec 07 - 08:01 AM

Tommy did injure his hand in a work related accident see "Festival Legends" - John O'Brien Jnr.
The double CD is on Emerald Music - www.emeraldmusiconline.com
People in Ireland or able to get Irish TV and radio can see a tribute of TG4 over Christmas and on RTE Radio One a repeat of a concert featuring Tommy

Subject: RE: Review: Legendary Tommy Makem
From: Barry Finn
Date: 14 Dec 07 - 01:27 PM

DD asked a question, outlandish as it was, it was a question & what's with the US naivety generalization scratch. Tommy quite enjoyed our New Hampshire surroundings & all of his many American cousins, didn't find us locals to be naive at all neither do any of his offspring.

That was quite a slash

Barry

Subject: RE: Review: Legendary Tommy Makem
From: ard mhacha
Date: 14 Dec 07 - 12:39 PM

Once again US naivety rears its head, DonD not even Bush would believe that.

Subject: RE: Review: Legendary Tommy Makem
From: Nerd
Date: 14 Dec 07 - 12:51 AM

I just thought about it, and that story about the IRA is even less likely than I originally realized. The Clancy Brothers' first record was an album of rebel songs. Tommy wrote "Four Green Fields," which makes his own republicanism (in the Irish sense) pretty clear. Pat and Tom Clancy had been members of the IRA before leaving Ireland. The idea that the IRA would harass, kidnap and torture people who clearly and publicly shared their goals (though not their methods) is pretty far-fetched, especially in light of the bad publicity it would have brought. Not credible, I think....

Subject: RE: Review: Legendary Tommy Makem
From: Nerd
Date: 14 Dec 07 - 12:30 AM

I can confirm that Tommy's hand problems were the result of an injury he sustained at work early on in his time in New Hampshire. You can see it mentioned in some of the more thorough obituaries, such as the one in the guardian here .

The other story is quite fantastic, and certainly those thorough obituaries wouldn't leave it out if it were true. It sounds to me like anti-IRA propaganda from people who hold the opposing viewpoint.

Subject: RE: Review: Legendary Tommy Makem
From: Jim Lad
Date: 13 Dec 07 - 09:22 PM

Just a wee bit early to be walking on this grave.

Subject: RE: Review: Legendary Tommy Makem
From: Celtaddict
Date: 13 Dec 07 - 08:47 PM

I have never heard that story from Tommy or any of his three sons, nor have I read it, nor heard it from Liam Clancy. That makes the tale pretty hard for me to believe. However, when Tommy came to the U.S. he worked in the mills in New Hampshire, and he did suffer a serious hand injury there, which rendered him unable to work for quite some time, and left residual injury.

Subject: RE: Review: Legendary Tommy Makem
From: Marc Bernier
Date: 13 Dec 07 - 04:17 PM

wow! I'v never heard that story.

Subject: RE: Review: Legendary Tommy Makem
From: GUEST,DonD
Date: 13 Dec 07 - 04:09 PM

Is it fact or legend that Tommy and Liam Clancy were kidnapped by the IRA who tried to extort them into taking a political stance tha was beyond their principles? As I heard it, as a warning or threat of worse to come, Tommy's left index finger was broken and healed straight so he couldn't use it to play.

In later performances preserved on tape it's clear that that finger is sticking up and he's using fingerings without it.
Can anyone verify?

Subject: RE: Review: Legendary Tommy Makem
From: joseph
Date: 13 Dec 07 - 05:34 AM

I agree with Effsee those of us who had the privelege of listening to tommy during his career either solo or with the Clancy's or his son will never firget the pleasure of heering many of his grat compositions. May He Rest In Peace

Subject: RE: Review: Legendary Tommy Makem
From: Effsee
Date: 12 Dec 07 - 08:40 PM

No tracklist? I don't need this vulture to remember one of the greatest, I have the originals and my memories!

Subject: RE: Review: Legendary Tommy Makem
From: Wesley S
Date: 12 Dec 07 - 05:09 PM

Could this be it?

Tommy Maken 2 CD set

Subject: RE: Review: Legendary Tommy Makem
From: Rapparee
Date: 12 Dec 07 - 04:19 PM

Yeah! Tell all!

Subject: RE: Review: Legendary Tommy Makem
From: Art Thieme
Date: 12 Dec 07 - 04:06 PM

What double CD of Tommy Makem's music are you talking about? What label is it on? Is it at Camsco yet? What are the tracks?

Art

Subject: Review: Legendary Tommy Makem
From: GUEST,nickr90
Date: 12 Dec 07 - 02:51 PM

At last the people of Ireland can enjoy the music of the maestro. It is sad that it took his death to see a new release of his music. There are box sets from every Tom Dick or Harry but a legend of the folk scene as a writer, performer, arranger and simply chatter has not been so honoured. We are thankful for small mercies with a double CD but long for his DVDs to be converted and released as a genuine box set tribute.