Best of Sharon Shannon: Spellbound

Editorial Reviews

From the Label
Accordionist/fiddler Sharon Shannon has been described as "the Ry Cooder of Irish accordion music". She’s at home in a variety of styles, excels at all of them, and makes music that’s joyous and moving. Spellbound traces the first decade of an unorthodox and adventurous career with highlights from Shannon’s 1991 debut and her subsequent collaborations with reggae producer Dennis Bovell, as well as five tracks recorded especially for the album.

Best of Sharon Shannon: Spellbound,Sharon Shannon,Compass Records,Celtic,Celtic/Irish,Int'l & World Music,Pop
The Best Of Sharon Shannon: Spellbound
Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • If you can only own one Sharon Shannon CD...
  • Great Irish and Roots Music, Great Recording
  • too much of a good thing?
  • If you can't go to Clare, you can imagine you are there
  • Great music! Great variety! Great price!
The Best Of Sharon Shannon: Spellbound
Sharon Shannon
Manufacturer: Green Linnet
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

GeneralGeneral | Contemporary Folk | Folk | Styles | Music
GeneralGeneral | Folk | Styles | Music
Irish FolkIrish Folk | Traditional British & Celtic Folk | Folk | Styles | Music
Celtic FolkCeltic Folk | Traditional British & Celtic Folk | Folk | Styles | Music
Traditional FolkTraditional Folk | Folk | Styles | Music
GeneralGeneral | International | Styles | Music
GeneralGeneral | Celtic | International | Styles | Music
RockRock | Celtic | International | Styles | Music
GeneralGeneral | Folk | Indie Music | Stores | Music
CelticCeltic | Europe | International | Indie Music | Stores | Music
Similar Items:
  1. The Diamond Mountain Sessions

ASIN: B00000GV5C
Release Date: 1999-01-12

Tracks:

  1. Blackbird
  2. Bonnie Mulligan
  3. The 3 Headed Monster
  4. The Mighty Sparrow (Live)
  5. Kids
  6. Cavan Potholes
  7. Tickle Her Leg
  8. The Bungee Jumpers
  9. Mouth Of The Tobique
  10. Sandy River Belle
  11. The Bag Of Cats
  12. The Magic Foot
  13. A Song Of The Rosy Cross
  14. Each Little Thing
  15. Sparky
  16. The Woodchoppers (Live)
  17. Maguire & Paterson
  18. The Munster Hop
  19. Reel Beatrice
  20. The Marguerita Suite
  21. Spellbound

Amazon.com

Mama's got a squeezebox, and she definitely knows how to play it. For a decade, Ireland's Sharon Shannon has been nibbling at the edges of folk, taking a lot of chances, and making some glorious music. This summary of her work shows just how far she's gone--teaming her playing with reggae producer Dennis Bovell was just one daring move--and how good she is, both on the accordion and the fiddle. Add in a bit of unreleased material (including some singing from former Waterboy Mike Scott) and you've got an excellent representation of her solo work to date. If this is what she's achieved in her first 10 years, the possibilities for the future are staggering. Worldly, wise, and completely wonderful. --Chris Nickson

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars If you can only own one Sharon Shannon CD..........2005-09-20

Then this is the one you should have! This compilation of Sharon Shannon's work is the most complete, although its become somewhat dated since the release of her last two CDs. The disc includes many of her best: "Mouth of the Tobique", "Blackbird", "Bag of Cats" and many other enjoyable but perhaps not well known pieces like "Song of the Rosy Cross". This CD would be an excellent introduction to her music, especially the more traditional tunes. The only quality this CD lacks is Shannon's more recent practice of teaming up for "seshuns" with other world music artists, some famous in the U.S. and some less so.

If purchased along with one of her more recent works, (I'd recommend The Diamond Mountain Sessions) you would have a fairly complete idea of the kind of musician Shannon is and how she loves to collaborate with other artists.

This is a "must own" however for any Sharon Shannon fan. Enjoy!

5 out of 5 stars Great Irish and Roots Music, Great Recording.......2001-04-08

This compilation of Sharon Shannon's accordian based music is simply wonderful. It is primarily Irish sounding music, but with a brew of American, Swedish, French Canadian, Scottish, and other ethnic tunes thrown in. The accompanying musicians are top notch and the meldodic sound of accordian and fiddles is a treat. This is a long, harmonic, melodic, highly rhythmic, and well played CD, and I haven't tired of it after probably 10 listenings in the last 2 months. (My wife may be tired of hearing it--she just politiely closed the door as I listen to this lively music once again..) If you like Irish and other ethnic tunes played musically, it's hard to imagine that this wouldn't become one of your favorites.

3 out of 5 stars too much of a good thing?.......2000-09-06

Owning this album is like having a pound of nutmeg in the cabinet; it's nice enough, but you don't use it all at once. It makes a good mix-in, though. (I was disappointed that it didn't have "Coridinio", which I still think is her best.)

5 out of 5 stars If you can't go to Clare, you can imagine you are there.......1999-12-22

I have been to County Clare, and Shannon's music is pure there. I don't think you will find a fresher breath of Irish air anywhere on a CD. And as they say in Ireland, if you don't like the weather, wait a few minutes. Sharon Shannon like the Irish weather blows alternately gentle and fierce. A great album.

5 out of 5 stars Great music! Great variety! Great price!.......1999-11-18

This is the favorite cd for everyone in our family (ages 9, 12, and 40-something parents). Sharon is accompanied by a variety of superb musicians on tunes from her previously released cd's. She's kinda like the Ry Cooder of Irish accordion music: she's at home in a variety of styles, excels at all of them, and makes music that's joyous and moving. She and her musical companions will definitely have you tapping your feet, if not dancing across the floor. If you like traditional Irish music or Irish music with an electric update, you'll like this. You may not realize how good an accordion can sound, til you've heard Sharon's dancing fingers. This cd will be right at home on your shelf with the Bothy Band, Altan, Solas, and Donal Lunny's Coolfin.
The Spellbound: The Best of Sharon Shannon
Average customer rating: Not rated
    The Spellbound: The Best of Sharon Shannon
    Sharon Shannon
    Manufacturer: Compass Records
    ProductGroup: Music
    Binding: Audio CD

    GeneralGeneral | Contemporary Folk | Folk | Styles | Music
    Celtic FolkCeltic Folk | Traditional British & Celtic Folk | Folk | Styles | Music
    GeneralGeneral | International | Styles | Music
    GeneralGeneral | Celtic | International | Styles | Music
    RockRock | Celtic | International | Styles | Music
    Similar Items:
    1. The Diamond Mountain Sessions
    2. Libertango
    3. Tunes
    4. Out the Gap
    5. The Sharon Shannon Collection 1990-2005

    ASIN: B0007N19GE
    Release Date: 2005-02-22

    Tracks:

    1. Blackbird
    2. Bonnie Mulligan
    3. The 3-Headed Monster
    4. The Mighty Sparrow (Live)
    5. Kids
    6. Cavan Potholes
    7. Tickle Her Leg
    8. The Bungee Jumpers
    9. Mouth Of The Tobique
    10. Sandy River Belle
    11. The Bag Of Cats
    12. The Magic Foot
    13. A Song Of The Rosy Cross
    14. Each Little Thing
    15. Sparky
    16. The Woodchoppers (Live)
    17. Macguire & Patterson
    18. The Munster Hop
    19. Reel Beatrice
    20. The Marguerita Suite
    21. Spellbound
    The Spellbound: The Best of Sharon Shannon
    Average customer rating: Not rated
      The Spellbound: The Best of Sharon Shannon
      Sharon Shannon
      Manufacturer: Independent
      ProductGroup: Music
      Binding: Audio CD

      GeneralGeneral | Contemporary Folk | Folk | Styles | Music
      GeneralGeneral | Folk | Styles | Music
      Celtic FolkCeltic Folk | Traditional British & Celtic Folk | Folk | Styles | Music
      GeneralGeneral | International | Styles | Music
      GeneralGeneral | Celtic | International | Styles | Music
      RockRock | Celtic | International | Styles | Music
      InternationalInternational | Imports | Stores | Music
      ASIN: B00009Q99M
      Release Date: 2006-04-06

      Tracks:

      1. Blackbird
      2. Bonnie Mulligan
      3. 3-Headed Monster: The 3-Headed Monster/Quick Nurse, the Screens!
      4. Mighty Sparrow [Live]
      5. Kids: Fead an Fhiolair/Never Going Back Again
      6. Cavan Potholes
      7. Tickle Her Leg
      8. Bungee Jumpers
      9. Mouth of the Tobique: Lad O'Beirnes/Dowds Favourite/The Mouth of ...
      10. Sandy River Belle
      11. Bag of Cats: The Barrow Burn Reel/Lexy Macskills/The Trip to Windsor
      12. Magic Foot
      13. Song of the Rosy Cross
      14. Each Little Thing (Diarmuid's March)
      15. Sparky
      16. Woodchoppers (Et Reel des Voyageurs) [Live]
      17. Macguire and Patterson
      18. Munster Hop
      19. Reel Beatrice
      20. Marguerita Suite
      21. Spellbound

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