This came out in 2000 — or at least that’s when I got it. Here’s what I said about it back then (with some minor editing):
After spending the past few years collaborating with everyone from Keith Richards to Rita MacNeil, riding the crest of the Celtic wave and generally cementing their spot as The Beatles of Irish music, what could Paddy Maloney and his Chieftains possibly do that’s new? Well, how about something old?
For this latest release (timed to coincide with a new TV special) the long-serving sextet returns to its roots — musically, commercially and geographically. Water From The Well’s 17 tracks — 16 traditional standards and one Maloney composition — were recorded at a variety of sites throughout the Emerald Isle, from staid studios to raucous pubs. Amid the pipes, whistles, harps and drums, the closest thing to a rock star (if you don’t count Frankie Lane) is fiddler Ashley MacIsaac, who — despite the title — is on his best behaviour on the rollicking Dingle Set. All told, Water From the Well is a refreshing taste of The Chieftains of olde.
