Speaking of Sweeney's Men-Why is it hard to get their music?

**Thu Dec 11, 2003 4:43 am**

This last summer, I bought four CDs from an Ebay vendor in Ireland. Three of them made it, but the fourth - which was a Sweeney's Men double CD - never showed. I wrote, received promises, and still no show. Then in September, I ordered the same CD from Amazon, along with some others, and the same thing happens again. Every CD in the order appears in my mailbox -- except the Sweeney's Men one. Now, I'm not superstitious, but if I order from a third vendor what are my chances of getting this CD? Is it a rare and elusive thing?

And if someday I have TWO Sweeney's Men CDs show up, one of them goes to a friend with a story of how I purchased it especially with them in mind...

**Thu Dec 18, 2003 9:43 pm**

Sadly, Amazon contacted me today pushing back the shipment of the ill-fated Sweeney's Men CD til February. I've been through this before with a Mahones CD, which Amazon finally admitted they couldn't provide. I eventually got the Mahones CD from a vendor in Boston, so it can't be TOO hard.

I have a single Sweeney's Men track on one of those compilation CDs put out by the major Celtic music labels--maybe Green Linnet. It's not a bad track! I really want that CD.

**Thu Jan 15, 2004 12:12 am**

The entire double album is available on the Rhapsody (http://www.listen.com) music service -- that's how I heard it. Not sure how much it costs to burn the CD, but I think it's something like 49 cents per track now.

It's a pretty good disc...It's cool to hear songs from a younger Terry Woods.

**Fri Dec 17, 2004 2:02 am**

Just to close this out: I had the opportunity to spend a week and a half in Ireland last month to hang around with the Horslips crowd. During my travels I made it to Cork City and the Living Tradition music store. There I finally added the 2004 double CD of Sweeney's Men to my check-in luggage. It is a well-presented collection of their music and the CD booklet notes got a strong approval rating for accuracy from my friends in Cork. I'm very impressed with the old-time influence on "Pretty Polly" and it was a trip to hear "Dance to Your Daddy" which I know primarily as a Horslips tune.

There was a great article about Sweeney's Men in a Mojo a couple of issues back.

**Wed Mar 30, 2005 10:38 pm**

Can't remember if I got it off Amazon or Barnes and Noble, but I got "The Legend of Sweeney's Men," a two-disc anthology, without any problems. A tremendous collection, with special focus on Waxie's Dargle (clearly the inspiration for the Pogues' version), Derby Ram, Sally Brown, Old Woman In Cotton, and Old Maid In The Garret. This cd is a must for any true fan of Irish music... Mary Black fans need not apply.