The Corrs: Andrea Corr (vocals, tin whistle); Sharon Corr (vocals, violin); Jim Corr (vocals, guitar, keyboards, programming); Caroline Corr (vocals, drums, Bodhran).

Additional personnel: Michael Thompson (guitar); David Foster (keyboards); Neil Steubenhaus, Tal Herzberg (bass); Simon Phillips (drums); Noel Eccles, Des Reynolds (Celtic drums); Simon Franglen (programming).

All songs written by The Corrs except "Someday" (D. Foster/The Corrs).

Personnel: Jim Corr (vocals, guitar, keyboards, synthesizer, keyboard programming); Sharon Corr (vocals, violin); Andrea Corr (vocals, tin whistle); Caroline Corr (vocals, drums, bodhran); Michael Thompson (guitar); David Foster (keyboards); Simon Phillips (drums).

Audio Mixers: Dave Reitzas; Bob Clearmountain.

Recording information: Chartmaker Studios.

Photographer: Guzman/Rotterdam Conservatory Orquesta Tipica.

Unknown Contributor Roles: Noel Eccles; Bill Whelan.

Arrangers: Jim Corr; David Foster.

The appropriately named Corrs are an Irish pop group consisting of Andrea Corr on lead vocals and tin whistle; Caroline Corr on drums, bodhran, and vocals; Jim Corr on keyboards, guitar, and vocals; and Sharon Corr on violin and vocals. The traditional Irish instruments like the bodhran and tin whistle add a twist to the pop melodies of tracks like the title track and "The Right Time," where they are allowed some solo time. The Irish musical background of the band members is most obviously heard in Sharon Corr's violin work, used here more like a traditional Irish fiddle than a true classical violin. There are glimpses of the Corrs' skill as instrumentalists on tracks like "Erin Shore," the introduction on the album. There are a few of these instrumentals placed throughout the album, but unfortunately, none are much longer than two minutes. The focus is on the adult contemporary mid-tempo songs. The Corrs are more reminiscent of vocal pop group Wilson Phillips than traditional Irish bands like the Chieftains. ~ Susan Cruickshank

Released on the heels of the Corrs' tour with Celine Dion and their appearance at the Olympic Games, 1995's FORGIVEN, NOT FORGOTTEN blends wistful Celtic motifs, slick production, layered harmonies, and adult-contemporary songcraft into a sound that won the Irish group instant international favor. The siblings' real achievement here is their balance of moody Top 40 melodies with traditional Celtic elements--Andrea, Caroline, and Sharon Corr play tin whistle, bodhran, and violin, respectively.

Though "Erin Shore (Traditional Intro)," the album's instrumental opener, sounds like an old-school Irish ballad, the song quickly segues into the pulsing title track--a dramatic, minor-key pop tune with a chorus fleshed out by the lovely harmonies of the Corr sisters. The group's Celtic roots are evident in quick, melodic phrases throughout, and on the occasional instrumental (the bodhran-driven "Carraroe Jig"), but the Corrs go better with MTV than a glass of Guinness, as the bright, hook-driven rock of "Someday" or the power ballad "Closer" attest. FORGIVEN, NOT FORGOTTEN's multi-platinum status speaks to the appeal of the Corrs' rootsy, yet highly accessible, formula.

Dirty Linen (2-3/96, p.75) - "This Irish family band's sound is a slightly trad-inluenced version of slick pop-vocal groups like Wilson Phillips...the songs are interspersed with snippets of trad tunes, but this is much more of a commercial pop recording than a folky one."