Macalla Explained

Macalla
Type:	studio
Artist:	Clannad
Cover:	Clannadmacalla.jpg
Caption:	Macalla was Clannad's first internationally successful album.
Released:	14 October 1985^[1]
Recorded:	Power Play, Zurich, Switzerland Ridge Farm, Surrey, England Windmill Lane, Dublin, Ireland
Genre:	Folk
Length:	37:11
Label:	RCA
Producer:	Steve Nye
Prev Title:	Legend
Prev Year:	1984
Next Title:	Sirius
Next Year:	1987

Macalla is a 1985 musical album by the Irish folk group Clannad. It is their ninth album and is known for the duet between Clannad's singer Moya Brennan and U2 vocalist Bono on the single "In a Lifetime". An alternate version of the album's first track, "Caisleán Óir", was used throughout the third Robin of Sherwood series.

The album's title is Irish for "echo". Two of its songs are sung entirely in Irish: "Caisleán Óir", which translates as "golden castle", and "Buachaill Ón Éirne", which means "shepherd from the Erne".

Track listing

1. "Caisleán Óir" (Ciarán Brennan, Máire Brennan) – 2:06
2. "The Wild Cry" (Pól Brennan) – 4:41
3. "Closer to Your Heart" (C. Brennan) – 3:29
4. "In a Lifetime" (a duet with Bono) (C. Brennan, P. Brennan) – 3:08
5. "Almost Seems (Too Late to Turn)" (P. Brennan) – 4:51
6. "Indoor" (P. Brennan) – 3:53
7. "Buachaill Ón Éirne" (Traditional) – 3:08
8. "Blackstairs" (P. Brennan) – 4:15
9. "Journey's End" (Noel Duggan, Pádraig Duggan) – 2:42
10. "Northern Skyline" (C. Brennan, P. Brennan) – 4:58
11. "Caisleán Óir – Planet Heaven Mix" (bonus track available only on 2003 Deluxe Edition) – 7:04

Charts

Chart (1986)	Peak position
U.S Billboard Billboard 200	131
UK Albums Chart	33

Singles

1. "Closer to Your Heart" (September 1985)
2. "Almost Seems (Too Late to Turn)" (November 1985)
3. "In a Lifetime" (January 1986)

Personnel

Band

• Ciarán Ó Braonáin – bass, guitar, keyboards, vocals
• Máire Ní Bhronáin – vocals, harp
• Pól Ó Braonáin – flute, guitar, percussion, vocals
• Noel Ó Dúgáin – guitar, vocals
• Pádraig Ó Dúgáin – guitar, mandolin, vocals

Additional Musicians

• Bono – vocals
• Mel Collins – saxophone
• Danny Cummings – percussion
• James Delaney – keyboards, synthesizer
• Anto Drennan – guitar, electric guitar
• Paul Moran – drums
• Steve Nye – keyboards

Production

• Steve Nye – producer
• Louis Austin – engineer
• Justin Birt – assistant engineer
• Ron Kurz – engineer
• Martin Pearson – assistant engineer
• Kevin Maloney – engineer
• John Grimes – assistant engineer
• Kevin Metcalfe – mastering
• Anton Corbijn – photography
• Jill Furmanovsky – photography

Additional information

• Engineered by Martin Pearson and Ron Kurz (Power Play Studio)
• Engineered by Louis Austin (Ridge Farm Studio), Assistant engineer - Justin Birt
• Engineered by Kevin Maloney (Windmill Lane Studio), Assistant engineer - John Grimes
• Mixed at Windmill Lane Studio
• Mastered at Townhouse Studios by Kevin Metcalfe
• Sleeve direction by Mainartery
• Photography - Jill Furmanovsky
• Clannad photography by Anton Corbijn

External links

• This album at Northern Skyline

Notes and References

1. Web site: Music Week. 65.