Van Morrison and the Chieftains “Irish Heartbeat” (1988)<i> Mercury</i>

Some things just complement one another naturally. Bacon and eggs. Gin and tonic. Laurel and Hardy. Van Morrison and the Chieftains. When these legendary sons of Erin came together five years ago, it turned out to be one of those unions wherein the sum is greater than its parts, estimable as those part are.

Both Morrison and the Chieftains have recorded more than their share of classic albums during their respective careers, but the sparks that flew during these sessions were of the once-in-a-lifetime order. The material is mostly traditional Irish folk songs, ranging in temperament from the tragic, heartbreaking “Carrickfergus” to the giddy, carefree “I’ll Tell Me Ma.” Morrison sings with joy and a fierce sense of Irish pride remarkable even for a man long recognized as a master at communicating these sentiments. At times, he seems so lost in the rapture of the moment that his chanting and droning sound almost supernatural.

Meanwhile, the Chieftains’ tin whistles are caroling, bones are clacking and fiddles are singing, equal parts musical mastery and festive abandon. Although “Irish Heartbeat” has a loyal cult of adherents, it never received the widespread recognition and exposure it so rightly warrants as a marvelous coalition, one of the very finest albums of its decade.