New Spotlight Magazine

It is my intention to post a blog every Thursday (schedule allowing). Let me explain what New Spotlight was and what it meant to me (and probably a lot of other people) at that time.

New Spotlight was a weekly music magazine. It was originally called Spotlight but that was before my time. I don't remember when I first started buying it religiously but lately when going through some old stuff I discovered a bunch of them from the early '70's.

Now let me paint the scene a little about that time. I was around 15 years old and had just started to play the guitar. National radio (RTE) played very little music and practically all the music they did play was - well, not rock music, let's put it that way. There was no internet, no instant access to news and information, etc., so Spotlight (or New Spotlight in my case) was basically the ONLY source for any music info. It came out every Thursday and I can still remember the excitement of picking up my copy each week. If for some reason it wasn't there until Friday I was so disappointed!

It had - a letter's page called "Sound Off", it had a short news page (or pages) called "Scene", Larry Gogan's "Disc Preview", it had articles, it had a "charts" page and to me at that time the most important page of all was Pat Egan's "Heavy Sounds". This was my only way to find out what was going on in the rock world and my only way to get info about Rory Gallagher!!

The idea is that I will transcribe Pat's page here each week to show you what was happening within the rock music scene in Ireland in the early seventies. Happy reading. P.S. if I have time I'll try to do the charts as well because that will really show you what was selling in Ireland at the time.

Please feel free to leave a comment if you are one of the musicians mentioned in Pat's column, if you know some of the musicians mentioned or if you have any memories or stories to tell from this time.

Tip: if you're interested in reading them in chronological order you'll need to click on the 'archive' button and start with the 1st entry - June 21st 1973. Sometimes the info does follow on from the week before.

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New Spotlight - Ireland's National Music Entertainment Weekly - Vol. 7 No. 24 December 6th 1973

Dec 6, 1973

Loudest Whisper Plan Album

Loudest Whisper's musical, Children Of Lir, may go on to album. Leader/composer of the Cork group, Brian O'Reilly, is considering offers. The music of the show presented with such success during the past year , is also with a top British management agency who feel they could make a big success with it. Brian, who's again looking after group dates, says they need a manager. They are also unhappy at the way bookings have been going for them. "It's almost impossible for a group to play original material and be asked back again in this part of the country" says Brian. "It you don't play the Top 20 nobody wants to know."

There may be some line-up changes in the Dave Prim Band. They return to live gigs this weekend after a short lay off because of the illness of bass guitarist John Brennan who is now improving. The group hopes to have some A&R men over from London soon in an effort to get signed with a major British company.

Rockhouse, made up of the scene's most experienced musicians were the guest band at Gonzo's Rock palace last week. They drew a small crowd and didn't impress. If their old mate Deke O'Brien from Bees Make Honey (who incidentally was present) can get it together in Britain with his fine hand(band?) then surely Robbie Brennan and his mates can do likewise.

Fruupp, whose terrific first album "Future Legends" is now on general release called off their Liberty Hall concert. Poor promotion and a mistake in running the same night as Alan Stivell caused the group to opt out.

Sheriff manager Terry O'Neill called me this week to deny my report that his band Sheriff were late starting a gig at Gonzo's. All I can say is that the promoter of the gig complained that they were late.

I missed the Spud at the Stadium because of a traffic jam and a power failure but by all accounts they made their mark at a very Stivell concert. (not sure what this sentence is supposed to mean - Barry)

Tickets for the Stefan Grossman gig this Friday have been selling very well and Trinity Exam Hall should have a capacity house for the first visit by this very highly-rated guitarist-singer. He has made a number of big-selling albums and is one of the world's major folk artists.

New Groups

The three-piece Westmeath band Cloverhitch have been around for some months and spent time working in England. The group play originals and are hoping to release an album next summer. They are: Andy Kilmartin - lead guitar, Billy Sheriffe - drums and Gerry Flynn - bass and vocals.

Bratt are no newcomers but two ex-members of the original Time Machine and newcomer Tom Mylett have returned to take up where the old Time Machine left off. The group are playing some originals, rock and acoustic numbers. They hope to release a single after Christmas.

You only had to be at the first night of the New Gonzo Saturday Special at Morans to realise that pub rock is here to stay. Rodeo who opened the series drew a full house and boogied their way through a pretty hectic evening. Rodeo have one of the most relaxed and natural feels for their music I have ever heard from any Irish band. The vibes from them are so good. I could listen to them every night of the week. They are beginning to develop a kind of cosmic feel which is taking them away from the country stuff. I think I prefer them playing country goodness.

Pub rock is moving into the country. At the El Rodeo lounge in Carlow every Friday some of the country's top groups have been turning on the fans. Groups that have played the gig include Mushroom, Dave Prim, Rodeo, Gary Morre band, etc.

Incredible turn out of Dublin fans for the Pink Floyd movie is surely an indication of the terrific popularity of rock music at the present time. The show could have so easily sold out four houses and no doubt will be run again within the next few weeks. With contemporary music fans filling concert halls almost every week it's an incredible situation that we still don't have a rock music programme from our national station.

The Planxty album arrived in the shops last week and immediately it clocked up big sales. The new Horslips set should be in this weekend. First albums from Mushroom and Peggy's Leg also due within the next few days.

Comment

Nice move by Mushroom having Martin Ford produce their album - it has certainly paid off...a delay on sleeves held up the Horslips album last weekend...good reports on new Eyeless due now playing city gigs...four weeks and still no Gallagher album but Polydor have hopes for this weekend...five weeks past and Tir Na nOg fans still searching for their fave album...writing could be on the wall for Thin Lizzy unless Rocker single takes off...if Rory Gallagher can't play Dublin because of the venue problem Cork can expect hundreds of Dublin fans to make the trip down South...Demon Duck who felt my review of their act was unfair working hard to prove me wrong..."Tattoo", Rory's latest album doing well in British charts...in one Music Week chart, Lizzy album at No. 40

Pat Egan

Ireland's Top 20 Chart on the 6th December 1973

01 - Helicopter Song - Wolfe Tones

02 - I Love You Love Me Love - Gary Glitter (with the old countdown music leading up to No. 1)

03 - Why Oh Why Oh Why - Gilbert O' Sullivan

04 - Mountains Of Mourne - Don McLean

05 - Pal Of My Cradle Days - Sean Dunphy

06 - For The Good Times - Perry Como

07 - I Never Said Goodbye - Red Hurley

08 - Sorrow - David Bowie

09 - Top Of The World - The Carpenters

10 - Two Of The Usual - Hugo Duncan & The Tallmen

11 - Almost Persuaded - D.J & The Kerry Blues

12 - Forgive Me For Calling You Darling - Brian Harkin

13 - Let Me In - The Osmonds

14 - The Deepening Snow - Margo & Co.

15 - Photograph - Ringo Starr

16 - Won't Somebody Dance With Me - Lynsey De Paul

17 - To Love A Lady - Tony Treacy

18 - Dynamite - Mud

19 - Light In The Window - Philomena Begley

20 - Father - Geraldine Kane

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New Spotlight - Ireland's National Music Entertainment Weekly - Vol. 7 No. 23 November 29th 1973

Nov 29, 1973

Just to jog your memory a bit - here's what RTE television was serving up over the weekend of November 1973. Thursday: Hall's Pictorial Weekly was on at 8pm, Action Weekly at 8.30pm, For Your Pleasure[Brendan O'Dowda] and Scope [interview with Dalai Lama]. Friday: Tangents at 6.25, followed by Talk about Pop with Tony Johnson & Danny Hughes (I remember this programme and really liked it). Seven Days was on at 9pm followed by a film. Saturday: Sports Stadium for most of the day and then we had the Likes of Mike at 8pm and the Late Late Show at 9.45pm. Sunday: a film at 4pm, Black Beauty at 6.15pm and The Riordans at 7.20pm. Who didn't watch that show week in and week out??

Mushroom Have A Winner

Mushroom can hold their heads high. Anyone with doubts about their musical ability will have them removed with the release of their first album, Early One Morning. I have played it to a lot of rock fans at Sound Cellar and the reaction has been pleasant surprise. They are sure to have a big seller first time out.

Those who missed the East of Eden gig at Trinity slipped up badly. They are one of the best rock bands to hit these shores in a long time. They deal in sheer high energy and volume and Irishman Joe O'Donnell is very much the main attraction. It was the first time I have seen a fiddle used live totally as a rock instrument and after watching O'Donnell it's easy to see why he's getting so much attention in Britain. The vocals were lost behind a wall of sound but this was well compensated for by the excitement created by the super group. If they get the disc breaks in Britain in the coming months it's anybody's guess how big they will be.Trench band supported at Trinity in place of Dave Prim. The less said about their set the better. It just wasn't their night.

Promoter Gonzo wasn't very pleased with guest band Sherriff at the Rock Place in Moran's last week. A late start by the band plus almost deafening volume were the main causes. So many bands make the mistake of playing Gonzo's as if it were Madison Square Garden. When they did settle, Sherriff came up with some pretty useful stuff.

Rodeo, one of the country's best bands at the moment will guest at the first "special" which begins at Gonzo's this Saturday (24). The successful Tuesday session which first put the rock-pub palace on the map will continue as before and Gonzo's folk night will be on Wednesdays. The bar will open until midnight on Saturdays and the reeling and rocking will carry on way into Sunday morning.

Reaction to last week's ratings was very good and few groups disagreed with my placings. Peggy's Leg might have climbed a bit higher and I completely overlooked Zebedee who should have been in.

People may complain that Van Morrison was rude on his RTE interview. It was just unlucky for Tony Johnson that he happened to be doing the show because Morrison would have treated anyone else the same way. For five years RTE radio, and to a lesser extent, RTE television choose to ignore his massive US achievements. His songs topped the US charts, his albums sold in millions and Time magazine rated him as one of the five most important talents in rock. During all that time only Ken Stewart gave Van the airplay his records deserved. Times have changed and RTE finally decided to jump on the Morrison bandwagon. No wonder the Belfast star wasn't as smoothly charming as he might have been before the cameras.

With his Christmas concerts hanging in the balance and his albums just not getting into the shops Rory Gallagher is in danger of being forgotten by his Irish fans. While he's working his way across Britain and Europe on yet another tour his home following gets a raw deal from his record company. A spokeman for Polydor in Dublin told me "we still can't give any definite date for the release of the album."

Reform, Limerick's chart-busting rock trio, will soon release a follow up to "I'm Gonna Get You". One of four songs they recorded in London last month, it will also be the group's first worldwide release under a five year deal with Young Blood records, one of the world's most successful independent labels. At home the group are extremely busy. Manager Oliver Barry says: "They are in demand seven nights a week since "I'm Gonna Get You" became a hit.

Zebedee have made a number of line up changes...it would be nice to see more rock on The Late Late Show...the Jonathan Kelly Band was first class...still no Tir Na nOg album...reaction to the Pink Floyd film is incredible with unbelievable ticket sales in first few days...good review from John Peel for the Lizzy single "The Rocker"...Fruupp concert at Liberty Hall was not as successful as the group had hoped for. Too many concerts in too few days hit ticket sales...groups wishing to be featured in our Breakdown should send single photo's of each member of the band plus information...Don Weldon from Cork back in the group business and looking after Sleepy Hollow...Reform due for sizable spot on Talk About Pop shortly...Rock 'n' Roll movie, "Let The Good Times Roll" due for Dublin next month...Mushroom's appearance in the Johnny McEvoy show on RTE Saturday can't have done their image any good. The appalling sound left me wondering if any attempt was made to balance it or if anybody even listened to the quality before letting it on the air. Or maybe it got distorted as it went out. Apart from all that this type of show doesn't suit a group such as Mushroom...next week we'll feature Peggy's Leg in our Breakdown section and we'll also have a review of Mushroom's album.

Pat Egan

Ireland's Top 20 Chart on the 29th November 1973

01 - Helicopter Song - Wolfe Tones

02 - Mountains Of Mourne - Don McLean

03 - For The Good Times - Perry Como

04 - Sorrow - David Bowie

05 - I Never Said Goodbye - Red Hurley

06 - Why Oh Why Oh Why - Gilbert O' Sullivan

07 - I Love You Love Me Love - Gary Glitter (with the old countdown music leading up to No. 1)

08 - Pal Of My Cradle Days - Sean Dunphy

09 - Dynamite - Mud

10 - Almost Persuaded - D.J & The Kerry Blues

11 - The Deepening Snow - Margo & Co.

12 - Top Of The World - The Carpenters

13 - Forgive Me For Calling You Darling - Brian Harkin

14 - Do You Wanna Dance - Barry Blue

15 - Light In The Window - Philomena Begley

16 - Let Me In - The Osmonds

17 - Goodbye Yellow Brick Road - Elton John

18 - Knockin' On Heaven's Door - Bob Dylan

19 - Two Of The Usual - Hugo Duncan & The Tallmen

20 - Father - Geraldine Kane

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New Spotlight - Ireland's National Music Entertainment Weekly - Vol. 7 No. 22 November 22nd 1973

Nov 22, 1973

As you can see, Horslips graced the cover of Spotlight back in November 1973 and there is a short half-page article on them as well, with the report that Melody Maker had pointed out that they (Horslips) were a no-nonsense rock band, blending traditional airs into a fiercely contemporary music and added: "they were possibly the loudest, most exciting band to play the Albert Hall since Jimi Hendrix."

Delay on Rory's Album

The Rory Gallagher album "Tattoo" will be delayed up to three weeks and maybe longer according to Polydor. The LP now selling well in England came in for a severe hammering from Charles Shaar Murray in the New Musical Express. Although he said it was Gallagher's most satisfying to date, he went on to call the irishman a limited performer and a monotonous singer. But of course Mr. Murray is well-known for not enjoying anything he writes about. Sometimes I wonder why he bothers to write at all.

Dave Prim Band had to go off the road last weekend when bass guitarist John Brennan was taken ill with kidney trouble. "We were disappointed to miss the East of Eden gig at Trinity", said manager Smiley Bolger. John's still undergoing hospital tests at time of writing.

Making waves around Limerick are Joyless Eye, the group which features Francis O'Donnell, younger brother of East of Eden star Joe. Francis plays electric violin, guitar, keyboards and also sings. Mike O Brien (guitar, keyboards), Pat Buckley (bass) and Seamus McCarthy (drums). The group is managed by Kay O'Donnell, a sister of the O'Donnell boys. "We will be taking the group to play in Dublin shortly and I am sure they will surprise a lot of people."

Scripto from Letterkenny have a new lead guitarist. He is Peter O'Hanlon from Strabane. Only 17 he has greatly improved the group's overall sound, according to manager Bobby Elliott.

With so many good Irish rock acts at home and overseas I have, for the first time, been able to compile a popularity rating covering the top 20 acts. It's based on IRISH popularity only and does not take into account the international success achieved by such artists as Van Morrison and Rory Gallagher.

1-Horslips, 2-Rory Gallagher, 3-Van Morrison, 4-Planxty, 5-Thin Lizzy, 6-New Skid Row, 7-Fruupp, 8-Rodeo, 9-Mushroom, 10-Reform, 11-Dave Prim Band, 12-Peggy's Leg, 13-Spud, 14-Tir Na nOg, 15-Keltic Wine, 16-Time Machine, 17-Cromwell, 18-Sleepy Hollow, 19-Sherriff, 20-Angel

Highly-rated British solo star guitarist/singer Al Stewart will be doing a concert at Liberty Hall next Wednesday (21st). He will be supported by popular Dublin solo singer Stac in a show promoted by Brian Godfrey.

I was knocked out to hear Van Morrison sing a few numbers at a small farewell get-together in his Sutton hotel. Even singing for just a few people he gave it everything he's got. It was a spectacular experience for me and one I shall always remember. I can't wait for him to come back early in the spring when, I am told, he will play a number of concerts here.

It wasn't the Trench Band who drew a full house to Gonzo's last Tuesday, but a rumour that a certain superstar was going to surprise everyone by giving a free gig. It didn't happen, of course, and fans had to be happy with a very ordinary set from Trench, who really don't look like achieving anything with their present line-up.

Terry O' Neill has taken over Sherriff who now have Davy Hall as lead singer. Never a man to stay with any band for a long time he has fronted a number of groups over the last couple of years.

Alan Dee, Mattie Kelligan and Sammy Whiteside, former lead guitarist with Taxi, are forming a new band. " We won't be calling it Watchtower this time," says Sammy. " We want to get down to playing some serious music, and we have not even thought about a name."

Scotland's answer to Horslips, the JSD Band, will be at Trinity next Monday night for their first Irish date ever. The group who have two successful albums on Fly Records will be playing some dates in the North. They have just recently returned from a US tour.

Planxty are at Trinity tomorrow night, Friday.

Next Friday and Saturday (23rd & 24th) November the Pink Floyd film " Floyd at Pompeii" will be screened at two special late night movies. The John Lennon film " Imagine" will also be shown as support. It now seems likely that Floyd leader Roger Waters will attend the first night showing. Tickets at the Carlton and at Sound Cellar, only 60p.

Promoters interested in booking the Gary Moore Band contact Peter Bodie at Kopace Promotions, who are looking after the tour.

Cork fans will have the chance of seeing one of the best bands in the country next Sunday when Rodeo play a gig at University College, Cork. It's a chance not to be missed.

Getting to see Mushroom on a live gig is beginning to become a real problem for me. For the second time in a couple of months I failed to gain admission to one of the group's city dates. Anyone thinking a rock critic's job is an easy one should have been with me last Saturday night in the freezing cold at Belfield. From the outside it sure looked like a scene worth getting into. Trouble is getting in without an I.D. card.

Hot drinks were handed out at Zero's which was badly needed after the Belfield trip and the sounds from Gaslight were going down well with the biggest crowd Zero's had seen in a long time. Zero's now under new management has undergone some very cool changes and the nice thing about it is that it is still very much a rock venue.

Comment...the Trinity concert scene is one of the best things happening for groups at the moment...a great shame that illness should hit the Dave Prim Band just when they are really getting it together...big demand for Horslips tickets...bad move by Fruupp having their Dublin concert same night as Alan Stivell.

Pat Egan

Ireland's Top 20 Chart on the 22nd November 1973

01 - For The Good Times - Perry Como

02 - Sorrow - David Bowie

03 - Top Of The World - The Carpenters

04 - Goodbye Yellow Brick Road - Elton John

05 - Mountains Of Mourne - Don McLean

06 - I Never Said Goodbye - Red Hurley

07 - Let Me In - The Osmonds

08 - My Friend Stan - Slade

09 - Almost Persuaded - D.J & The Kerry Blues

10 - Knockin' On Heaven's Door - Bob Dylan

11 - Laughing Gnome - David Bowie

12 - Day Dreamer - David Cassidy

13 - Light In The Window - Philomena Begley

14 - Forgive Me For Calling You Darling - Brian Harkin

15 - Dynamite - Mud

16 - Why Oh Why Oh Why - Gilbert O' Sullivan

17 - Suffer Little Children - Cork Children's Choir

18 - The Deepening Snow - Margo & Co.

19 - Father - Geraldine Kane Borrow Angel - Ray Lynam

20 - Two Of The Usual - Hugo Duncan & The Tallmen

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New Spotlight - Ireland's National Music Entertainment Weekly - Vol. 7 No. 20 November 8th 1973

Nov 8, 1973

It seems everyone was best pleased this week in the Irish rock scene. It seems we were pleased that Van Morrison was home. Michael Deeny, who was managing Horslips at the time, informed us that 'the boys' were very pleased with the way things had turned out for them over in England. Skid Row had every right to be pleased with themselves as they drew close to 2,000 fans to their Stadium gig. Reform were pleased with the way their recording stint had turned out over in London and the producer Martin Ford was pleased with the way Mushroom's album had turned out. So, all in all, a happy bunch of lads in Irish rocker land this week! Read on...

Spud Split With Manager

Spud have split from their manager, PJ O'Sullivan and have also lost one of their original members. Group leader Don Knox told me: "PJ is very involved with the cabaret scene and just didn't have the time to devote his full attention to the group. We are keen to get in on the university and rock circuit as we feel this is where our future lies."

A little note of welcome home to Van Morrison who arrived in the country last week. We're all very glad you're here Van, but maybe just a little disappointed you're not doing any concerts. We wish you well and hope you have a very peaceful and enjoyable stay.

Peggy's Leg were at Gonzo's last Tuesday week and by all accounts continue to pick up new fans. They have been playing the same programme now for some time (or maybe I just keep hearing the same numbers) and I think now they are almost in a position to all originals, especially on short gigs like Gonzo's. I would still like to see another pub gig in town as it would help to make up for the lack of real rock venues.

Although the Fruupp album is on its third week of release it has yet to go on sale on the home market. However, manager Paul Charles is hoping to have it out here by the end of next week.

Terry O'Neill, one-time manager of Horslips and Thin Lizzy, is returning to the rock business and will be looking after a number of well-known acts. Terry, recently married, is a devoted follower of the Guru Maharaji.

Thin Lizzy's live performances and their album have been have been coming in for some pretty unkind reviews from the rock press in Britain. It seems after all that "Whiskey In The Jar" was more of a drawback than a help in getting the band over to the kind of public that they want so much to be rated among. I have to agree with the writer and I did mention this before that whoever chose the A and B sides for the album made a terrible blunder in not reversing them. Side two of the album is one hundred percent better, whereas side one seems to have been rushed.

Pink Floyd bass guitarist Roger Waters may be coming to Dublin for the premier of "Pink Floyd at Pompeii" movie. The film, which will be shown at the Carlton cinema shortly, is a full-colour production containing all the tracks from their million selling "Dark Side of The Moon" album.

Back in town last week was BP Fallon who is presently working on a book about Led Zeppelin.

Gaslight, the Cork group currently making a comeback, will be playing their first Dublin gigs next weekend when they play Zero's on the 10th plus some other venues to be finalised this week.

Van Morrison was at Gonzo's Rock palace last Tuesday but went away before Rodeo came on stage. A pity really, because he missed another great performance by this incredibly good Northern band. The group's music is full of genuine country feeling and a freshness I have seldom heard from any Irish band. Rodeo are going to be a big name before too long and don't you forget where you heard it first. Easily the best group of musicians on the road here at the moment.

Horslips' manager Michael Deeny tells me: "The boys are very pleased with the progress they have made across the water. Reaction on live gigs has been fantastic and so far everything is running to plan." The group's new album "The Tain" will be released next month and Deeny is hoping to have to tape (cassette and 8-track) available on the same day as the album.

After a highly successful German trip (where Record Mirror reports they are really big) East Of Eden arrived in Ireland this week for their first ever Irish tour. Although they have still failed to break through in England in a big way Eden are finding the rest of Europe only too willing to accept them. Their latest single, "Sin City Girls" almost made it in Britain and is currently in the German Top 20. Main interest to Irish fans will be Joe O'Donnell from Limerick who is on fiddle with Eden. He is one of the main reasons why the band's comeback has been such a successful one.

Joe's younger brother is following closely in his footsteps. He has also taken up electric voilin with a group.

So Henry McCullagh has gone back to his old mate Joe Cocker and together they intend to go on the road with a new band. I guess I was hoping Henry might front his own band but it seems he prefers to let someone else have the biggest share of the limelight.

The students council at Trinity tell me everybody is welcome at any of their rock gigs. "There is no question of only students being admitted" a spokesman said.

Despite not selling out the Stadium for their comeback gig, Skid Row can feel well pleased with themselves that they drew close to 2,000 fans. It was a very big gamble trying to fill such a venue when the fans had no idea what the group had to offer. (see next week's column for a review of the concert).

Reform have recently recorded three originals in London and one of them will be released shortly as their new single. "We were very pleased with the way everything went over there," said Don O'Connor, the group's leader. "I think they were surprised we had so much to offer".

Martin Ford, well-known British producer/musician was in Ireland recently to produce the first album for Mushroom which will be released before Christmas on the group's own label. Ford, who has worked with many of the top names in the rock business including the Rolling Stones, was pleased with Mushroom and feels that the album could well bring them to the notice of some of the major companies in Britain.

Pat Egan

Ireland's Top 20 Chart on the 8th November 1973

01 - My Friend Stan - Slade

02 - For The Good Times - Perry Como

03 - Day Dreamer - David Cassidy

04 - Sorrow - David Bowie

05 - Eye Level - Simon Park Orchestra

06 - Almost Persuaded - D.J & The Kerry Blues

07 - Laughing Gnome - David Bowie

08 - Goodbye Yellow Brick Road - Elton John

09 - Light In The Window - Philomena Begley

10 - Suffer Little Children - Cork Children's Choir

11 - I Never Said Goodbye - Red Hurley

12 - Ballroom Blitz - The Sweet

13 - You're Still The Only One I've Ever Loved - Colm & the Sundowners

14 - Where The Three Counties Meet - Brendan Shine

15 - Love And The Country - Tommy Drennan

16 - Knockin' On Heaven's Door - Bob Dylan

17 - Rockin' The Baby - The Hoot'nannys

18 - Lonely Lady - Sands

19 - Borrow Angel - Ray Lynam

20 - Ooh Baby - Gilbert O' Sullivan

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New Spotlight - Ireland's National Music Entertainment Weekly - Vol. 7 No. 19 November 1st 1973

Nov 1, 1973

OK, I hope I'll manage to be a bit more consistent or productive this year as regards uploading Pat Egan's "Let It Rock" , the charts, as well as commenting on various other stuff in the magazine. For example, this week's edition has a very nice colour three-page spread of Thin Lizzy's visit to Amsterdam. Hmm, I wonder if good ol' Phil indulged himself of some of the local delicacies.

Other news of the day - Horslips to return for concert - Horslips only concert in Dublin before the end of the year will be at the National Stadium on Thursday 29th Nov. It follows their current British tour and precedes a brief tour of Germany.

Donal Lunny leaving Planxty - to concentrate on songwriting and record production and Alan Stivell also back in Ireland in November for a concert at the Stadium. (Barry: I think my brother was at that concert as he was a big Stivell fan).

Anyway, here's Pat's column.

Why not more of Eden in Ireland?

East of Eden, the highly-rated British rock band which features Irish fiddle player Joe O'Donnell start their Irish tour next Wednesday. The only disappointment in the schedule for the trip is the fact that they are down for only one Dublin gig and that is at Trinity College. Hardly the kind of place to attract the city's hard core rock fans. With four dates between their Belfast and Trinity dates surely the group could play Liberty hall as well. Venues and dates include: Jordanstown (31st), Colraine (November 1st), RTE's Talk About Pop (2nd), Cork (3rd), Queen's, Belfast (4th) Trinity, Dublin (8th), Clonmel (9th), Ballina (10th) and Oldcastle (11th).

Fans of the Gary Moore band will be pleased to know that a tour is being set up for early December. "At the moment everything looks fine for a trip at that time" said Gary on the phone from London. "You have no idea how much we are looking forward to getting home. The hassles over those planned tours which never came off were not our fault and there was nothing we could do about the mess-up". The Moore album "Grinding Stone" has been selling very well here and fans want to see them live.

First supplies of the Lizzy album "Vagabonds of the Western World" sold out in some shops in a few days. But more were rushed in and fans should now be happier. The hold up was apparently caused by a shortage of material used in LP sleeves.

Reform have been to London to record a follow up to their hit "I'm Gonna Get You". Their producer Miki Dallon will have the boys over again next month to start work on an album to be released on Dallon's own label Young Blood.

Peggy's Leg, currently working on their first album for release before Christmas have run into a number of problems. There was a hold up in completion of the master tape because of technical hitches and it now looks as if there could be some delay on the sleeves. Manager John Dee told me: "There's a six-week delay on sleeves at the moment but we have a novel idea which may overcome this problem. At the moment we are still working to a late November release date. Our picture shows two of the boys working on a track. Incidentally they've called off their Liberty Hall concert until they do some more support work for experience.

Another pub rock gig to which I have been meaning to draw your attention takes place every Friday night at the House Bar in Poulaphouca, Co. Wicklow. Tim Booth, the former Strangely Strange member and artist is behind this scene which, by all accounts, is well worth a visit.

A big blaze at a printing plant in Lancing, Sussex, has delayed the release of "Future Legends", the first Fruupp album and the best Irish LP of the year. "Some copies will already be in the shops but there may be some delay on second orders", said manager Paul Charles. He also tells me that Hawkwind, with the same agency as Fruupp, will be returning here in January.

Dave Prim Band played a special lunch-time gig at Trinity last Thursday and Rodeo were featured the following day.

In one week almost all the top Irish acts worked in and around London at the same time. Horslips were at the Albert Hall, Gary Moore at the Marquee, plus Thin Lizzy, Fruupp, Bees Make Honey, Jonathan Kelly and many others. With so much Irish talent working across the water it's only a matter of time until we have another breakthrough by one of our acts.

At Gonzos, new boys to the rock arena, Aton, showed a lot of promise but were much too loud. It was only at the end of their set that I was beginning to enjoy them. They need a good singer though. Trench Band sounded disjointed and I hope they can get it more together in the weeks ahead.

Skid Row hoping to get to the States after Christmas...nice reviews of Horslips at Albert Hall...Lizzy album out here on 8-track cassette...Cromwell planning a first album in the New Year...big slaes assured for second Planxty album due soon...Sheriff will need to get back on the road soon or be forgotten...whatever happened to Scripto?

Pat Egan

Ireland's Top 20 Chart on the 1st November 1973

01 - My Friend Stan - Slade

02 - For The Good Times - Perry Como

03 - Almost Persuaded - D.J & The Kerry Blues

04 - Eye Level - Simon Park Orchestra

05 - Laughing Gnome - David Bowie

06 - Suffer Little Children - Cork Children's Choir

07 - Ballroom Blitz - The Sweet

08 - Sorrow - David Bowie

09 - Light In The Window - Philomena Begley

10 - You're Still The Only One I've Ever Loved - Colm & the Sundowners

11 - Caroline - Status Quo

12 - Ooh Baby - Gilbert O' Sullivan

13 - Borrow Angel - Ray Lynam

14 - Day Dreamer - David Cassidy

15 - I Never Said Goodbye - Red Hurley

16 - Goodbye Yellow Brick Road - Elton John

17 - Love And The Country - Tommy Drennan

18 - Where The Three Counties Meet - Brendan Shine

19 - I'm Gonna Get You - Reform

20 - Lonely Lady - Sands

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New Spotlight - Ireland's National Music Entertainment Weekly - Vol. 7 No. 17 October 18th 1973

Oct 18, 1973

Huge Sales Lost on Unavailable Albums

If Thin Lizzy lost sales during last week because their album wasn't in the shops it's anybody's guess what last weekend's sales must have cost them. It's now two weeks since the first rock press advertisements promoting Vagabonds Of The Western World were published. The initial interest has now waned so much that there can be no doubt the delay has cost the band dearly. Lizzy's is just one of a dozen or so top rock albums which have been on release in Britain for weeks but still have to make an appearance in Irish shops. They include sets by Status Quo, Focus, Genesis, Leon Russell and Kris Kristofferson and wife Rita Coolidge.

Peggy's Leg will top the bill on their own Liberty hall concert on Wednesday week (24th). It will be the groups' only Dublin date before the release of their first album at the end of November. While recording the LP last week group leader Jimmy Slevin had his Les Paul guitar stolen from outside the studios. However, thanks to some fast work by the Gardai at Terenure, the instrument was recovered and returned to the group. So pleased were the boys that they have promised to send one of the first copies of the album to the lads at the Garda station.

Look in this Friday night at Talk About Pop on RTE and get yourself an eye-full of the best rock band in the land. Rodeo, our friends from the North, will be showing what good country-rock is all about. Not to be missed on any account.

Donnycarney Youth Club will hold a rock show on Sunday afternoon (28th) at the parish hall. Running for five hours it will feature Angel, Absent, Harvest, Research, Aton and Volcano. Buses 20, 20a, 42, 42a, 27, 27a, 27b. Admission is 60p (which seems a bit high to me) because Angel are the only band on the bill with anything big going for them.

The trouble with Gentry who were at Sgt. Peppers last Friday is that they are caught between two different scenes not only musically but with fans as well. Showband followers look upon them as a group and rock fans see them as a sort of semi-showband. It's a pity really because the new line-up plays very good rock. Cahir O' Doherty sounds as good as ever though he has lost some of his old punch. They seemmed to be enjoying themselves on Friday even on The Osmonds' " Going Home".

James Duggan, who has spent the summer running free and charity gigs for everyone's pleasure brought his peace party to Dublin's Sheriff Street on Sunday. A big crowd of locals and some outsiders were treated to some good sounds from The Trench Band with new singer Dave Murphy showing some signs of doing a good job. He's been knocking around for too long and it's about time he got a break. He deserves it.

Keltic Wine, currently doing well in the charts, may tour Europe early in the New Year. A Dutch agency Tzhumon have offered the boys dates in Germany and Holland. Manager John Dee said: " The success of the single has been a great boost to the group. Ballroom dates are heavier and things are looking great."

After parting with lead singer Pat Ward, Sheriff now appear to be having problems about the signing of new front man Bernard White. It seems he has changed his mind about joining.

Irish groups should pick up good end-of-year sales with albums. Latest to join the LP league are Mushroom who are to release a first set shortly on their own label. (We've heard that story before somewhere!). November 23rd is the date for the second Horslips album " The Tain". Tours for the group have been line up in Germany, Holland and Belgium. Horslips are currently on an 18-date tour of England. Chips also hope to have their first album on Forever Records released before Christmas.

After spinning the Fruupp album I'm confident it has every chance of becoming a best seller. It must stand out as a major step forward for the group who, at this rate of progress, will become a huge name in a matter of months. "Future Legends" is my No. 1 choice as the Irish rock album of the year. It takes a bit of getting into but once you've heard it a few times you won't be able to stop playing it.

Tir na nOg's new album due out this weekend...why did Procol Harum pull out of Dublin date when they are playing almost every other major European city this month...Dave Prim Band came over well on RTE last Friday...Badly needed: more pub gigs like Gonzo's...spending too much time in the States is not doing Rory Gallagher's European popularity any good...what's stopping the Philip Donnelly band getting on the road...on the Thin Lizzy album the second side should be the top because it's so much better...again this week British rock press carried full-page ads for an Irish band - this time Fruupp...Skid Row in the Stadium on Oct. 31st with some good supporting acts and it could be a great night...Reform, with a hit single to their credit, breaking a lot of new ground...a lot of interest in the East Of Eden tour...didn't the story about Philip Lynott going deaf get a bit out of hand

- Pat Egan

Ireland's Top 20 Chart on the 18th October 1973

01 - Ballroom Blitz - The Sweet

02 - For The Good Times - Perry Como

03 - Suffer Little Children - Cork Children's Choir

04 - Ooh Baby - Gilbert O' Sullivan

05 - Eye Level - Simon Park Orchestra

06 - My Friend Stan - Slade

07 - Almost Persuaded - D.J & The Kerry Blues

08 - Borrow Angel - Ray Lynam

09 - Where The Three Counties Meet - Brendan Shine

10 - Shores Of Lough Bran - The Rocky Tops

11 - Monster Mash - Bobby Pickett & The Crypt Kickers

12 - Light In The Window - Philomena Begley

13 - Laughing Gnome - David Bowie

14 - Love And The Country - Tommy Drennan

15 - The Dean & I - 10 CC

16 - Angie - The Rolling Stones

17 - Oh No, Not My Baby - Rod Stewart

18 - Rockin' The Baby - Hoot'nannys

19 - I'm Gonna Get You - Reform

20 - Angel Fingers - Wizzard

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New Spotlight - Ireland's National Music Entertainment Weekly - Vol. 7 No. 16 October 11th 1973

Oct 11, 1973

Album Coming From Peggy's Leg

Peggy's Leg, one of our most promising young bands, will have a first album on the market before Christmas. The album - a live studio set of originals - will be called "Grinilla" and should be in the shops around the end of November. It's a very shrewd move by manager John Dee to cash in on the Christmas market and the continuing popularity of rock. At this time of the year the group are sure to pick up big sales and with the price of the album at only £1.75 they look to be on a winner.

Bernard White the former frontman with Elmer Fudd is to replace Pat Ward as lead singer with Sheriff. White has been without a group since Fudd went off the road some months back. It can really only be seen as a personality change because both Ward and White are not unlike in their styles. The ex-Elmer Fudd man is a singer with many years experience and spent a number of months on the British scene. It will be interesting to see how he progresses with Sheriff.

What happened at RTE

There was no comment from the Skid Row camp about the group's failure to appear on RTE's new pop show which went out last Friday. I understand that the group were unhappy with the treatment handed out by the crew recording the show. This is not the first time groups have walked off on pop shows at Donnybrook. The Urge, under pressure to perform some stints which did not suit their music, also walked off a "Like Now" series. It's common talk between groups that with the exception of one or two people on TV shows here that the crew cameramen, floor manager, etc. have little interest in the music and are only interested in getting the show into the can as quickly as possible. This being the case, groups who take their music very seriously can't be blamed for taking action.

Irish Groups Climb The Charts

With Reform climbing the charts and Keltic Wine just outside things are looking very bring for groups on the home scene. Reform's entry into last week's chart at No. 13 brings the total of groups in the chart in recent weeks to four. Hopes are high that the new Skid Row single "Dublin City Girls" and "Hurricane Sailor" (the current Keltic Wine release) will bring the total of groups with hits up to half a dozen. Surely with groups making such a breakthrough RTE must see the need for a regular rock programme from the station.

Someone at Decca in London slipped up last week because the new Thin Lizzy album "Vagabonds Of The Western World" failed as the management promised to make its appearance in Irish shops. Big sales could have been picked up by the group as hundreds of Lizzy fans searched the city hoping to buy the new album. It amazes me why Decca and manager Ted Carroll couldn't have taken the trouble to have the album on sale here the same day as Britain. Being in the record business I have never been one to believe that albums can't be in the shops on their British release dates. Last weekend lots of fans had the money to buy the album: why take the risk they won't have it this week? Why let them buy another album when with a littel effort they can buy yours on the day they want it.

New Gallagher release

A new Rory Gallagher album is due for release in Britain later this month. Polydor in Dublin are aware of this but chances are that Irish fans will be kept waiting and that sales will be lost. Why can't record companies plan in advance and make it their business to please the customer?

The new Fruupp album "Future Legends"may not be a monster seller but it is without doubt a fine piece of recording. Musically it's bound to turn a lot of heads who had felt this Northern foursome had little to offer. It's hard to define exactly what kind of rock Fruupp are into - there's a touch of the heavies but with a classical approach - a kind of cross between Yes and King Crimson. The album shows Fruupp's Vincent McCusker to be a very under-rated talent - a writer of exceptional class and a guitarist to be reckoned with. It's an album for Fruupp to be proud of and a great chance for breaking through.

The Dave Prim band from Kilkenny, who have been happening big in recent months, are top of the bill at a free concert in Trinity next Thursday October 11th.

Loudest Whisper, Cork's No. 1 rock outfit, will be back on the road in a couple of weeks. Dublin dates are being lined up for the group who recently lost Ron Kavanagh to a solo career. Group leader Brian O'Reilly who wrote the Children of Lir has just finished a new musical "Perseus". The premiere will be at the Fermoy Youth Centre at Christmas.

Fruupp Concert

Fruupp will return to Liberty Hall for a concert on November 20th as part of an extensive Irish tour. It will be the groups last trip home for some time as they are hoping to make their first American trip early in the new year. The groups last concert at Liberty Hall in August was a minor success and with an album now due out they should have no trouble in selling out the venue.

Chips' manager Roger Armstrong tells me "Frank Boylan is proving to be a great boost to the band. He was just the man we wanted and I now have great hopes for the present band." New bass player Boylan is pictured here with another recent Chips signing, drummer Reno Smith.

Writing from London where he's just returned after a long European tour taking in Germany, Holland Austria and Yugoslavia, Joe O'Donnell (East of Eden's Irish-born fiddle player) tells me: "I'm looking forward to playing at home next month". The European tour was Joe's first big tour since he joined the band. Writing about the tour, Record Mirror carried this report: "On the opening night of their current German tour an audience of 6,000 packed in the Fabrik Club in Hamburg to see the group. 2,000 had to be turned away. After their set several rushed the stage damaging the group's P.A. equipment. After 30 minutes of chanting East of Eden returned to stage to play another hour. East of Eden will be playing Irish dates next month.

Comment

Horslips full page ads in last week's British rock papers very impressive...the rock press also carried full page ads for the new Lizzy album...Dave Prim band due for first TV spots shortly...new Emmet Spiceland came over very nicely on new RTE pop show - more please!...Horslips album now out on tape and already the good sales should show them what a costly delay it has been...Peggy's Leg recording their album all this week...best track on the new solo Garfunkel album is "I Shall Sing" written by Van Morrison.

- Pat Egan

Ireland's Top 20 Chart on the 11th October 1973

01 - Ballroom Blitz - The Sweet

02 - Ooh Baby - Gilbert O' Sullivan

03 - For The Good Times - Perry Como

04 - Suffer Little Children - Cork Children's Choir

05 - Monster Mash - Bobby Pickett & The Crypt Kickers

06 - Where The Three Counties Meet - Brendan Shine

07 - Angel Fingers - Wizzard

08 - Oh No, Not My Baby - Rod Stewart

09 - Angie - The Rolling Stones

10 - Shores Of Lough Bran - The Rocky Tops

11 - Borrow Angel - Ray Lynam

12 - I'm Gonna Get You - Reform

13 - The Dean & I - 10 CC

14 - Light In The Window - Philomena Begley

15 - Rock On - David Essex

16 - Young Love - Donny Osmond

17 - All The Way From Memphis - Mott The Hoople

18 - Almost Persuaded - D.J & The Kerry Blues

19 - Rockin' The Baby - Hoot'nannys

20 - Dancing On A Saturday Night - Barry Blue

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New Spotlight - Ireland's National Music Entertainment Weekly - Vol. 7 No. 15 October 4th 1973

Oct 4, 1973

Gosh, how about that - this week's Spotlight is from Oct. 4th 1973, almost 35 years ago to the day. A photo of Slade on the front this week. I have to admit, when I was a teenager I loved Slade. They had a real, raw power to them and that appealed to me at that time/age.

There was a guy in my village and around this time he bought an amplifier and electric guitar and he learned to play some of the Slade riffs (and Up Around The Bend from Creedence). I thought he was soooooo cool. He was kind enough to loan me his guitar (maybe his amp too, I don't remember) and I turned everything up to 11 and let fly with the few chords and riffs I knew. Such was the joy of growing up in a small village that everyone just shook their head or smiled going past our house and let me at it. Maybe they thought I'd grow out of it!!

The poor guy who owned the guitar used to have to come down to our house and ask for it back (and amazingly he gave it to me over and over). Those were the days!

Singer Leaves Sheriff

Pat Ward, one of the scene's top singers, has parted company with his group Sheriff which he helped form only a couple of months back. "We had different ideas on which way the band should head musically and I was left with little choice when it came to the push," he explained. Pat, had been winning many fans with his Bowie image and powerful funky voice, was very upset about the break. "I was very much the odd man out and must admit to being disappointed at what has happened," he said. He is now on the look out for a new band.

Frank Boylan, former bass player with the Gary Moore Band, has joined Chips. "We're very happy to have got a guitarist with Frank's experience and I am sure he will add greatly to the band's sound," said manager Roger Armstrong. Boylan, one of the originals from the period when Gallagher, McCullagh and Morrison played the Irish clubs, has also been with the Creatures, News and Mellow Candle.

Rodeo, one of the scene's big names, will guest star with Procol Harum at the Stadium on Saturday fortnight. The Irish band is picking up a following on all their gigs and will soon be in a position to do a Liberty hall concert on their own. Let's hope the big promoters running gigs at the Stadium and Carlton will feature them and some of the fine groups we have.

Thurles Rock Scene

Gerry Kinane, manager of Pyramid, is trying to get a regular rock scene going in Thurles. He has set up a gig every couple of weeks and reaction so far has been great. "We had Peggy's Leg down last week and they drew a great crowd," he reported. Next on the list to visit Thurles are the Dave Prim Band and Keltic Wine. Groups interested in playing the new scene there may contact Gerry at 137 The Donahies, Raheny, Dublin 5.

A Stadium concert is being set up for the new Skid Row. A number of well known bands will support them on their first major come back gig in Dublin.

A Let-Down

Heard Demon Duck at Gonzo's last week for the first time since they changed line-up. They split in halves, the other forming that fine young band Zebedee. It appears to me that Zebedee came out of the shake-up best. Demon Duck just don't have the same quality in their music. They were the loudest band I have ever heard in Gonzo's - a mistake many groups make when playing there. Any enjoyment in their music was lost in too much volume. The group's singer, although a hard worker, just doesn't come across. Duck might be a fine band for dancing to but for concerts and pub gigs they need a new approach.

Too Many Oldies

Spud were at the Old Sheiling again last Sunday and although they went down a storm, I was disappointed that they featured so few new numbers. They still rate well above the average cabaret or pub group and in a way it's a pity to see them to audiences who really only want to sing along and don't care who they do it with. The college tour lined up for the group should help whip them back into shape.

Reform, climbing the best-sellers with their single, are another group who could do with some new numbers. I saw them twice in the last week and they were still winning new fans with a lot of old material. This is probably why they haven't changed their set for some time. I think it's time they did a few more songs like "City Of New Orleans" - it's on harmony numbers like this and on the Crosby, Stills and Nash songs they really show their strength. They went down marvelously on the Glitter programme, especially the first show, but I felt it wasn't really their kind of outing.

Our action picture features that up and coming Limerick band, Work Farm. Now playing regular gigs in Dublin, the group's manager, Christy Linehan tells me the boys have added a number of big ballrooms to their circuit and are really making ground everywhere they play.

Guitarist Jimmy Slevin, the man behind the rise of Peggy's Leg, told me this week: "I know we're no supergroup and I was very upset by the publicity which tried to build us into something we're not. It's my wish to build up the band by hard work. I have seen too many groups flop after super-type publicity."

Smiley Bolger, manager of the Dave Prim Band, has been offered agency outlets in England by the people who handle Gryphon, the folk band whose latest album has just entered the charts there. "We have not yet made up our minds about leaving the country but we find the offer very encouraging," Smiley said.

Kopace Promotions tell me that the Tir Na nOg tour which would have taken them all over the country is off. "They asked us to arrange it and then changed their minds," said Peter Bodie. "It's all very disappointing."

East of Eden will be at Trinity College, Dublin on Thursday November 8th. They will also play other college gigs. It will be Joe O'Donnell's first trip home since he joined the righly-rated British band.

Shorts

If the new Skid Row sell out the Stadium, they are back in a big way...Great Tir Na nOg single badly hammered by British reviewers...Philip Lynott is reported to be going deaf but the story merited only a few lines in the evening papers' pop section on Saturday...Rory Gallagher's new album, Tatoo, already on release in Canada...Van Morrison album climbing American top thirty, is now No. 24...big sales for Keltic Wine's "Hurricane Sailor"...won't it be a bit odd if Kid Jensen puts the Lizzy album at No. 1 in his heavy twenty seeing that his voice is on one track?...concerts here in December by almost every major Irish rock act...Fruupp album out in Britain next Friday and it could be a hit.

- Pat Egan

Ireland's Top 20 Chart on the 4th October 1973

01 - Ballroom Blitz - The Sweet

02 - Ooh Baby - Gilbert O' Sullivan

03 - Suffer Little Children - Cork Children's Choir

04 - For The Good Times - Perry Como

05 - The Dean & I - 10 CC

06 - Young Love - Donny Osmond

07 - Where The Three Counties Meet - Brendan Shine

08 - Angel Fingers - Wizzard

09 - Angie - The Rolling Stones

10 - Dancing On A Saturday Night - Barry Blue

11 - Shores Of Lough Bran - The Rocky Tops

12 - Has Anybody Seen My Sweet Gypsy Rose - Dawn

13 - I'm Gonna Get You - Reform

14 - Devil Among The Tailors - Mushroom

15 - Rock On - David Essex

16 - Rockin' The Baby - The Hoot'nannys

17 - Borrow Angel - Ray Lynam

18 - Almost Persuaded - D.J & The Kerry Blues

19 - Monster Mash - Bobby Pickett & The Crypt Kickers

20 - Morning Dew - The Chieftains

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New Spotlight - Ireland's National Music Entertainment Weekly - Vol. 7 No. 14 September 27th 1973

Sep 27, 1973

Gary Glitter on the cover of this week's Spotlight. Funny how people's star can rise and fall so dramatically. No need to ask what he's doing now (as his photo has been in the papers quite a bit recently and not for singing). Slightly 'fatter' edition this week with a few new features. One is interviewing the people behind the scenes (which this week is Michael Deeny (Horslips' manager). I'll try to find time to post that over on the official Horslips site. Gilbert O'Sullivan straight in at No. 1 in the charts this week with "Ooh Baby" (I don't remember that one as well as some of his other songs) and a couple of other new entries, including "Angie" from The Stones. Anyway, Pat's column is still here so let's get busy with that.

New Tir Na nOg album

The new Tir na nOg album, "Strong In The Sun", will be released next Friday (28th). A single of the same name is already out and must rate as the best thing the band has yet recorded. It's easy to see that Chrysalis, the group's record company, are trying to do what Polydor did with Medicine Head and get the duo into the charts. The album looks like being another big seller so let's have this one on time EMI.

Thin Lizzy's should be in Irish shops on Friday - maybe before. I have been playing a copy for the past few days and I love it. It's easily the best thing from the band so far and could well be one of the big Christmas albums for 1973. The songs have never been better and any of four tracks would make an ideal single. A Song For While I'm Away is my personal favourite. The double-tracking of Philip's voice and the string backing are very effective touches. Philip, very much a romantic at heart comes into his own on this one. Gonna Creep Up On You and The Rocker will win the band many new fans among the heavy set. It's hard to take Nero And The Madman (that should be The Hero And The Madman - Barry) and I couldn't make up my mind if Kid Jensen was serious or not on his spoken word bit.

Off The Road

Trench Band are going off the road for about a month. Group leader Mark Costigan explains: "There are a number of weak links that we want to clear up and the best way to do it is to get out for awhile and re-group. We're going into rehearsals with some new musicians and we'll surface again next month". First gig for the new look band will be at a free concert in Trinity on October 16th.

Support For Harum

Hope Jim Aiken will put on a good rock group such as Rodeo, Zebedee, Trench Band, Spud, Sheriff, Peggy's Leg, Dave Prim Band or Angel when he gets round to lining up support acts for Procol Harum at the Stadium next month. Groups need the experience of playing his venues plus the boost it gives them to gig alongside an act such as Procol.

Up With The Best

Heard Rodeo at both Gonzo's and Zero's last week and it's easy to see why their popularity continues to grow. I like the idea of letting them win their won fans on live gigs and avoiding the hype that few bands can't live up to. In country rock I rate Rodeo as good as Pure Prairie League, Brinsleys, Commander Cody, Burritos or any country style rock band I have heard on record. With a good producer such as Dave Robinson behind them I am confident they could produce a first-class album.

Good Vibes

A Galway group now making waves are Judgement - a three-piece heavy outfit who feature about 50% originals. Like most country bands they are keen to break into Dublin but not having any contacts in the capital they are finding the going rough. Almost every country based band has the same problem. The only advice I have to offer is to get in touch with some of the better known Dublin managers.

Rockin' Trad

Time Machine's single "As I Rowed Out" is a traditional number that the Woods band do so well on their album. The song is in keeping with today's tastes but it's slaughtered from beginning to end.

New Image

Tir Na nOg's "Strong In The Sun" (Chrysalis) provides a new image for the group with a terrific Leo O'Kelly song. I am not a big fan of the duo but this single is a knock-out - a hit if ever I heard one. Great chorus which you can't help singing along with and a really fine production by Matthew Fisher. It could well be the lift-off in Britain for them.

Skid Row's "Dublin City Girls" which I have heard so far only on cassette doesn't sound like a hit by the tape I heard. However, it does prove that the sound is there in Eamonn Andrews studios if the right musicians go in to get it out. I'm looking forward to hearing it on disc.

The New Emmet Spiceland were at the Country Clue, Portmarnock, last Saturday. While they looked great it was obvious from the start that they were up against it in a venue such as this.They would have been more suited to Gonzo's. Only "Mary From Dungloe" caused a ripple among the senior-adult audience. They should either forget about the contemporary scene and go pop or vice-versa.

Shorts

Peggy's Leg leader Jimmy Slevin should have more sense than to let stories such as the one in the Evening Press on Saturday be published. Supergroup my foot...Warning to new Skid Row line-up: don't overdo the publicity bit...Reform on the Glitter show - was it really their scene...thanks to Horslips for the offer of a trip to see the album being recorded...if Mushroom are wise they won't release an album on one of the labels run by their management...Thin Lizzy big news in Germany...former lead singer with Elmer Fudd, Bernard White raving about Sleepy Hollow: "best band I heard in ages" he said...talking about Elmer Fudd, whatever happened to Jody Pollard, Mojo and Keith Mansfield...Frank Boylan for Chips?...Cork's Gaslight hoping to sign with Oats Records.

- Pat Egan

Ireland's Top 20 Chart on the 20th September 1973

01 - The Dean & I - 10 CC

02 - Young Love - Donny Osmond

03 - Where The Three Counties Meet - Brendan Shine

04 - Ooh Baby - Gilbert O' Sullivan

05 - Suffer Little Children - Cork Children's Choir

06 - Dancing On A Saturday Night - Barry Blue

07 - Shores Of Lough Bran - The Rocky Tops

08 - Has Anybody Seen My Sweet Gypsy Rose - Dawn

09 - Angel Fingers - Wizzard

10 - Devil Among The Tailors - Mushroom

11 - Angie - The Rolling Stones

12 - Borrow Angel - Ray Lynam

13 - For The Good Times - Perry Como

14 - Rockin' The Baby - The Hoot'nannys

15 - Rock On - David Essex

16 - Welcome Home - Peters & Lee

17 - Fool - Elvis Presley

18 - Yesterday Once More - The Carpenters

19 - Our Last Song Together - Neil Sedaka

20 - Like Sister and Brother - The Drifters

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New Spotlight - Ireland's National Music Entertainment Weekly - Vol. 7 No. 13 September 20th 1973

Sep 20, 1973

Well, well, well - I just have to print out a letter sent to Spotlight by Paul O'Rourke from the North Strand, Dublin. Time might have proved him slightly wrong.

"Pat Egan's idolising of Rory Gallagher as flattering to the musician but boring to people who are not obsessed with what he does. His assessments of the Irishman's talents are exaggerated and misleading. The Heavy Sounds column is continually littered with bits of useless information about Rory's every movement. The former Taste man is by no stretch of the imagination an 'international superstar' as Pat describes him. It would be much more realistic to call him a successful musician. Sales of his albums are not internationally significant. His home concerts, while well attended, are usually too predictable and too average for lovers of good rock. So give us a break Pat from the continuous plugging. It's most irritating".

Pat writes further about this in this week's column. So, do you agree/disagree? Leave a comment and let us know what you think.

Skid Row caused a mini-riot in Sligo's Gaiety cinema as fans went wild over the music of the new line-up. "The lads went down a storm and things just got a little out of hand", said a spokesman for the group. Lack of security at the venue was blamed for the trouble. It's reported that payment of the group's fee for the concert has been held up pending assessment of damage to fixtures. More Skid news is that a first single will be released in a couple of weeks. They were in the Eamonn Andrews Studios last week and cut a number of tracks.

I have been playing some tracks from the new Thin Lizzy album over the last few days and the reaction from fans who have heard them has been fantastic. Gonna Creep Up On You, Little Girl in Blue and the title track - Vagabonds Of The Western World - are all superb. The production is probably the best I have heard from any Irish group for some time. The album, to be released next Friday (21st) will be the subject of a massive Decca publicity campaign on television, radio and press in Britain.

Absinthe, the new three-piece heavy band who played support to Gryphon here recently, do a lot of originals and hope to break into the club scene in a big way during the coming months.

Gary Moore and his band won't be coming home this month after all. Of what must rate as one of the greatest mess ups, Moore's Irish agency Kopace said: "Gary's band have just switched agencies in England and he has a lot of univercity gigs lined up for this month and the next.We are hoping to fix a tour for the band in December. Kopace, a new Irich enterprise, is currently working on tours for Tir Na nOg and East of Eden.

Sheriff, back at Gonzo's last week, again played some really fine music. Lizzy manager Ted Carroll was just one of the well-known group heads who came away from the gig raving about the band. "It was hard to believe I was in Dublin. I could have been in any London club. Sheriff are a really great band - as good as anything I've heard lately".

Former Loudest Whisper guitarist Ron Kavanagh who recently split from the group to go solo is out of hospital after a serious electrical shock. On stage in Cork he touched a live microphone and had a bad fall in which he fractured his skull.

The sun was on James Duggan's side last Sunday for the Bray charity gig in aid of the travelling people. Skid Row's last minute decision to pull out didn't help and even at 25p admission there were people climbing over the wall. Trench Band were on stage when I arrived and I was not really impressed with what they had to offer. They lacked any real power and with all the equipment on stage hiding them from view they seemed to be making no contact with the audience. Guitarist/singer Big Dave filled in well on his short spot before Sheriff. Like the Trench Band, Sheriff were not in top form and the kids seemed more interested in the free orange drinks than the music.

Despite what a contributor to 'Sound Off' might have said I think Rory Gallagher is a lot more than just a successful musician. He is a festival bill-topper, major concert artist, successful album seller and Ireland's most popular rock name. But more important still, Rory is the living proof that Irish rock acts can be big in Europe and that we're every bit as good as anyone else when it comes to making good rock music. Would the reader have me overlook Gallagher's achievements and in doing so neglect the hero star of thousands of young people here not to mention the inspiration he has given to all Irish rock musicians?

Ger Gavin, writing from Castlebar tells me that the Welcome Inn, which changed from discs to groups during the year is now the most successful group centre in the West. All the top Irish outfits and big pop British names have played there. It has also featured some of the best mobile discos in the country. The man behind the Castlebar venture that's helping groups break through in the West is Tony McHugh.

Philip Lynott co-produced the new Thin Lizzy album...Horslips' tour with Steeleye could well give them the big lift-off in Britain...Sheriff could do with a few original numbers in their programme...nice cover on the new Lizzy album by Dublin artist Jim Fitzpatrick...Brush Shiels says Ireland has five of the best guitarists in the business - Rory Gallagher, Henry McCullagh, Gary Moore, Ed Dean and Louis Stewart...what about Eric Bell and Paul Keogh?

- Pat Egan

Ireland's Top 20 Chart on the 20th September 1973

01 - Young Love - Donny Osmond

02 - The Dean & I - 10 CC

03 - Where The Three Counties Meet - Brendan Shine

04 - Suffer Little Children - Cork Children's Choir

05 - Dancing On A Saturday Night - Barry Blue

06 - Shores Of Lough Bran - The Rocky Tops

07 - Devil Among The Tailors - Mushroom

08 - Yesterday Once More - The Carpenters

09 - Welcome Home - Peters & Lee

10 - Has Anybody Seen My Sweet Gypsy Rose - Dawn