Cherish the Ladies

The Girls Won't Leave the Boys Alone

The Girls Won't Leave the Boys Alone Tracks

1. Song: The Broom of the Cowdenknowes

2. Song: Freeborn Man of the Traveling People

3. Song: Rambling Irishman

4. Song: Bonny Blue-Eyed Nancy

5. Reels: Mullin's Fancy/The Raveled Hank of Yarn/Gilbert Clancy's

6. Song: Erin Grá Mo Chrói [Ireland Love of My Heart]

7. Poc Ar Buile [The Mad Puck Goat]

8. Song: I'll Walk Beside You

9. Jigs: The Colliers' Set

10. Song and Jigs: The Queen of Connemara [Francis Fahy]/The Carraroe/The L

11. Song: Down by the Glenside [Peadar Kearney]

12. Song: The Jolly Beggarman

13. Reels: Last Night's Fun/The Chattering Magpie/The Black Haired Lass/The

Cherish the Ladies - The Girls Won't Leave the Boys Alone

The Girls Won't Leave the Boys Alone Review

Cherish the Ladies are primarily known for their instrumental skills--nearly every member is a contest-winning musician--so it might come as a bit of a surprise that on The Girls Won't Leave the Boys Alone, 10 of the 13 tracks are songs. But the assured way with which the band delivers its sweet harmonies on the opening track ("The Broom of Cowdenknowes") proves the Ladies can sing as well as they can play their fiddles, flutes, and accordions. They've invited a host of guest artists to perform with them, including folk singers Luka Bloom, Tom Chapin, Arlo Guthrie, and Pete Seeger; instrumentalists fiddler Brendan Mulvihill, banjo picker Eric Weisberg, and Chieftains member and flautist Matt Molloy; and the legendary Irish balladeers the Clancy Brothers. In a particularly moving gesture, the six band members pay tribute to their families by playing a lovely version of "The Queen of Connemara" accompanied by their fathers and brothers. The Girls Won't Leave the Boys Alone is a departure from Cherish the Ladies' previous dance-tune-based recordings, but the quality of the singing is so good that you don't miss the jigs and reels. --Michael Simmons

Users's Reviews

Feel free to add your comments about The Girls Won't Leave the Boys Alone

God be praised for the Ladies

The Girls Won't Leave the Boys Alone is one of the loveliest, liveliest, and pleasurable discs that I own. I knew the Ladies could play--but this disc also shows what wonderful singers they are.

I'm not usually one for recordings that I call "guest-fests." Yet the Ladies have picked such great partners (John McCutcheon, the Clancy Brothers and Arlo Guthrie among them) on this CD that I am most impressed.

Beyond its excellence, you just get the sense that this music was a blast to play. This is artistry and music done at its best--in community and friendship.

The songs are all great. There is not a weak link to be found. My personal favorite is the version of The Mad Puck Goat. Also of special note are Rambling Irish Man (with its excellent grouping of artists) and the absolutely haunting Down by the Glenside.

I give this disc my wholehearted recommendation.

Posted by Anonymous, on 2002-09-26

Who cherishes the ladies? I do

Clear, sweet voices are the main attraction of this CD, with well-chosen male guests to sing those songs best delivered in a masculine voice, like "Bonny Blue-Eyed Nancy" and "Queen of Connemara." The selections range from lively reels and jigs and the tongue-twisting (well, maybe not if you're Celtic) "An Poc Ar Buile" to the haunting "Broom of the Cowdenknowes," "Down by the Glenside," and my favorite, "Erin Gra Mo Chroi." This is another new-to-me group that I plan to collect more of.

Posted by Anonymous, on 2002-12-05

Compulsively listenable

I bought this Cd without ever having listened to a single note of the band's work. I had read a review in Sound and Vision, then the views here at Amazon, and I took a chance. I was not disappointed. Every song here is an absolute gem. The harmonies are magical, and the instrumentation will transport you. I play this disk again and again, and I think my wife is going to hide the CD if I play it at dinnertime once more. I promise you will not be disappointed. Buy this disk, and simply enjoy; it's magic, gorgeous, and worth any price.

Posted by Anonymous, on 2003-10-01

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Cherish the Ladies

The Girls Won't Leave the Boys Alone