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
