This came out in 2002 – or at least that’s when I got it. Here’s what I said about it back then (with some minor editing):
Not many musicians get to play at their own wake. In fact, Chieftains harpist Derek Bell may be the first.
The 67-year-old suddenly died last month within days of the release of the venerable Irish troubadours’ latest album. At least it sounds like he went out having a blast. Down The Old Plank Road finds the 40-year-old band taking a road trip to the southern U.S., where they explore the links between their traditional Celtic folk and American bluegrass and country. And with the help of a long list of guests — Bela Fleck, Earl Scruggs, David Rawlings and Gillian Welch, Ricky Skaggs, Martina McBride, Buddy and Julie Miller, Lyle Lovett, Vince Gill, Alison Krauss and John Hiatt, to name a few — they find plenty of common ground. And as they alternate Irish classics like Molly Ban with Americana chestnuts like Don’t Let Your Deal Go Down, it becomes hard to tell whether you’re at a pub night or barn dance. Or an Irish wake.
