Between the Jigs and the Reels: A Retrospective cover

Released 10 years ago

Between the Jigs and the Reels: A Retrospective

Planxty · 2016

240 min · 53 tracks · music of Ireland

A vibrant collection of traditional Irish folk melodies infused with spirited performances, capturing the essence of Celtic musical heritage.

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Top tracks — play these first

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    True Love Knows No Season — This track serves as a poignant introduction to the album, blending heartfelt lyrics with traditional melodies that resonate deeply within Irish culture.
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    The Pursuit of Farmer Michael Hayes — A lively instrumental piece that showcases the band's virtuosic musicianship and ability to energize audiences with its rhythmic complexity.
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    Nancy Spain — This song exemplifies Planxty's knack for storytelling through music, merging beautiful melodies with evocative narratives that capture listeners' imaginations.
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    Timedance — A dynamic blend of jigs and reels that demonstrates the band's skill at creating intricate arrangements while maintaining an infectious energy throughout.

Elevation

Our rating, out of 100 — and why.

AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.

57 /100
Foothills
Higher than 5% of albums we've rated

The album effectively captures traditional Irish music but may feel lengthy and less cohesive due to its extensive tracklist.

What we noticed

  • The instrumentation prominently includes traditional Irish instruments such as the bouzouki, fiddle, and tin whistle, contributing to an authentic sound.
Composition 25% of the score
6/10

the writing — melody, harmony, structure, lyrics

Craft 20% of the score
7/10

production, performance, arrangement

Durability 25% of the score
5/10

whether it rewards returning to it

Distinctiveness 18% of the score
6/10

whether it sounds like itself

Sequencing 12% of the score
4/10

running order, pacing, length

Influence 6/10

Significant within its genre. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.

Is this for you?

Good fit if you like

  • spirited performances with lively energy
  • joyful celebration of cultural heritage
  • for communal gatherings
  • nostalgic melodies that evoke memories
  • varied tempos for diverse moods

Maybe skip if you

  • prefer modern, polished production
  • seek concise, radio-friendly tracks

Where this album fits

Career context
Released in 2016, this retrospective album marked Planxty's return to the spotlight after their hiatus since the early 1980s. It celebrated their influential work in the Irish folk scene, encapsulating decades of music that helped define the genre. The compilation features both studio recordings and live performances, showcasing the band’s evolution and enduring legacy.
Stylistic neighbors
The Chieftains· Altan· Lúnasa

Tracklist

Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.

Disc 1

  • 1 True Love Knows No Season (Billy Gray) 5:30
  • 2 Pat Reilly 3:16
  • 3 Sí Bheag, Sí Mhór 3:33
  • 4 Follow Me Up to Carlow 2:19
  • 5 Baneasa's Green Glade / Mominsko Horo 5:55
  • 6 The Aconry Lasses / The Old Wheels of the World / The Spike Island Lasses 3:30
  • 7 The Pursuit of Farmer Michael Hayes 6:09
  • 8 Accidentals / Aragon Mill 5:59
  • 9 The Irish Marche 3:35
  • 10 The Rambling Siúler 4:20
  • 11 The Well Below the Valley 5:31
  • 12 Junior Crehan's Favourite / Corney is Coming 2:36
  • 13 Roger O'Hehir 5:33
  • 14 Smeceno Horo 4:31
  • 15 The West Coast of Clare 5:33
  • 16 Nancy Spain 4:29
  • 17 Timedance 6:35

Disc 2

  • 1 The Blacksmith / Smithereens (Live from the Late Late Show, 1972) 4:27
  • 2 Three Drunken Maidens / The Foxhunter's Reel (The Music Makers, Live from the National Stadium, 1973) 2:53
  • 3 When First Unto This Country (The Music Makers, Live from the National Stadium, 1973) 3:32
  • 4 Sweet Thames Flow Softly (The Music Makers, Live from the National Stadium, 1973) 3:54
  • 5 The Gold Ring (Jig) (The Music Makers, Live from the National Stadium, 1973) 2:20
  • 6 Hey! Sandy (The Music Makers, Live from the National Stadium, 1973) 3:39
  • 7 Kitty Gone a Milking / Music of the Forge (Reels) (The Music Makers, Live from the National Stadium, 1973) 2:01
  • 8 Only Our Rivers Run Free (The Music Makers, Live from the National Stadium, 1973) 2:44
  • 9 Raggle Taggle Gypsy / Tabhair dom do Lámh (The Music Makers, Live from the National Stadium, 1973) 4:29
  • 10 Three Drunken Maidens / The Foxhunter's Reel (Reprise) (The Music Makers, Live from the National Stadium, 1973) 2:45
  • 11 The Good Ship Kangaroo (Live from the Abbey Tavern, 1980) 4:18
  • 12 Ride a Mile / Hardiman the Fiddler / The Yellow Wattle (Jigs) (Live from the Abbey Tavern, 1980) 4:30
  • 13 The Hackler from Grouse Hall (Live from the Abbey Tavern, 1980) 2:43
  • 14 An Bonnán Buí / The West Wind (Reel) (Live from the Abbey Tavern, 1980) 4:36
  • 15 The Jolly Beggar (Live from the Abbey Tavern, 1980) 4:10
  • 16 Sally Brown (Live from the Abbey Tavern, 1980) 3:40
  • 17 Bean Pháidin / Raskish Paddy (Live from the Abbey Tavern, 1980) 3:46
  • 18 Little Musgrave (Live from the Abbey Tavern, 1980) 9:41
  • 19 East at Glendart / Brian O'Lynn / Pay the Reckoning (Double Jigs) (Live Aisling Gheal Special, 1980) 4:06
  • 20 The Lady on the Island / The Gatehouse Maid / The Virginia / Callaghan's (Reels) (Live Aisling Gheal Special, 1980) 4:25
  • 21 As I Roved Out (Live Aisling Gheal Special, 1980) 5:05
  • 22 Smeceno Horo (Live Aisling Gheal Special, 1980) 6:42
  • 23 Johnny of Brady's Lea (Festival Folk, Live from the National Stadium, 1982) 5:16
  • 24 The Pullet / The Ladies' Pantalettes (Reels) (Festival Folk, Live from the National Stadium, 1982) 2:13
  • 25 I Pity the Poor Immigrant (Festival Folk, Live from the National Stadium, 1982) 4:50
  • 26 Arthur McBride (Festival Folk, Live from the National Stadium, 1982) 4:38
  • 27 True Love Knows No Season (Billy Gray) (Festival Folk, Live from the National Stadium, 1982) 6:05
  • 28 Timedance (Festival Folk, Live from the National Stadium, 1982) 5:09
  • 29 You Rambling Boys of Pleasure (Festival Folk, Live from the National Stadium, 1982) 5:55
  • 30 The Good Ship Kangaroo (Festival Folk, Live from the National Stadium, 1982) 4:26
  • 31 Táimse Im' Chodladh (Festival Folk, Live from the National Stadium, 1982) 3:38
  • 32 Thousands Are Sailing (Festival Folk, Live from the National Stadium, 1982) 5:38
  • 33 The Queen of the Rushes / Paddy Fahy's (Jigs) (Festival Folk, Live from the National Stadium, 1982) 3:30
  • 34 Little Musgrave (Festival Folk, Live from the National Stadium, 1982) 9:20
  • 35 The Scholar / The Chattering Magpie / Lord McDonald's / The Virginia / Callaghan's (Reels) (Festival Folk, Live from the National Stadium, 1982) 6:00
  • 36 The Cliffs of Dooneen (Festival Folk, Live from the National Stadium, 1982) 4:05

What to play next

Live 2004
Go back to

Live 2004

2004
Full Planxty discography Artists like Planxty Which Planxty albums to start with
Celtic rock Irish folk music

Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata