(Victor) Last year, legendary traditional Irish band, The Chieftains, released Down The Old Plank Road: The Nashville Sessions, which paired them with some of the best artists in American country music and Americana which included such names as Earl Scruggs, Del McCoury, Allison Krauss, Lyle Lovett, Buddy & Julie Miller and Gillian Welch & David Rawlings, to name a few. The purpose of the project was to show the strong ties between traditional Irish music and traditional American country and bluegrass music. The album met with critical acclaim, hailed as one of their very best efforts, and was nominated for two Grammy awards. The project also spawned a TV special and DVD which was recorded live at the Ryman. For those who've seen the concert, there were a few appearances by artists performing songs that were not included on the original CD. It turned out the sessions resulted in more material than would fit on the disc, and instead of releasing a double disc set, they opted to release two separate albums.

The good news is that the songs performed by the artists at the Ryman show that did not appear on the first disc are included on this one, along with several other artists and songs who's contributions didn't make either the first disc or the concert. John Hiatt and Ricky Skaggs, who had cuts on the original disc, return for the second.

Where Down The Old Plank Road focused more on traditional Irish songs, half of Further Down The Old Plank Road focuses on traditional American songs, while the other half is comprised of Irish traditionals, some dating back to more than a century ago. The American traditionals include John Hiatt's spirited romp through an old minstrel tune "Jordan Is A Hard Road To Travel," which he performed during the Ryman concert. John Prine delivers a warm and terrific rendition of "The Girl I Left Behind," which surfaced in country music with Charlie Poole's 1925 version, though the song actually dates back to turn-of-the century Tin Pan Alley. Ricky Skaggs delivers an aching and haunting minor-key gospel song "Talk About Suffering" that appears to have it's roots in old Southern spirituals. Likewise, Allison Moorer give a mournfully chilling rendition of a pre-Civil War Southern hymn "Hick's Farewell." Doc Watson provides a dazzling display of guitar work on the instrumental "Fisherman's Hornpipe," a song which surfaced both in Ireland and America around the turn of the century. Patty Loveless gives a stark and anguished rendition of an old mountain ballad "Three Little Babes," which has it's roots in an ancient Irish folk song. Carlene Carter contributes the disc's most contemporary song, "Bandit Of Love" which she reprises from her 1980 release Musical Shapes. The one song on the disc that has been previously released is the collaboration with Chet Atkins on "Chief O'Neill's Hornpipe," which appeared on The Chieftain's first Nashville foray, 1992's Another Country.

Tim O'Brien delivers a standout rendition of "Shady Grove," a song that's shared equally by both cultures. The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band perform "The Squid Jiggin' Ground," which interestingly didn't originate in either America or Ireland, but in Newfoundland, Canada by Irish immigrants.

The Irish traditionals include Emmylou Harris' beautiful reading of the bittersweet ballad "Lambs In The Greenfield." Don Williams contributes his warm baritone on a gentle version of an Irish/Scottish folk song, "Wild Mountain Thyme," while Rosanne Cash offers up the haunting tale of murder and betrayal "The Lily Of The West." Jerry Douglas' masterful dobro blends seamlessly in the Irish instrumental "Rosc Catha Na Mumhain," into which they incorporate bits of the American traditional "Arkansas Traveller" which results in something of an Irish hoedown. Joe Ely delivers the perfect touch to "The Moonshiner," a song that apparently can be applied to both sides of the Atlantic.

While to some, this release may appear that The Chieftains are trying to milk the success of the earlier Down The Old Plank Road. Rest assured that is not the case, as all of these songs from the sessions that didn't make the original release are every bit of the same outstanding caliber, and Further On Down The Plank Road is a delightful and very satisfying sequel.  

Standout Tracks: "The Raggle Taggle Gypsy," "Hick's Farewell," "Shady Grove," "The Girl I Left Behind," "Lambs In The Greenfield," "The Moonshiner/I'm A Rambler," "Three Little Babes," "Fisherman's Hornpipe/The Devil's Dream," "The Lily Of The West"  

The Last Word:  Fans of old time traditional American country/roots music and/or traditional Irish music will find much here to enjoy. 

On The Net:  www.irish.com www.amazon.com

AnnMarie Harrington TakeCountryBack November 2003