Barry McCabe

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 ean-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

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

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    

11 - For The Good Times - Perry Como 

12 - You Can Do Magic - Limmie & The Family Cookin'      

13 - Rockin' The Baby - The Hoot'nannys   

14 - Like Sister and Brother - The Drifters    

15 - Fool - Elvis Presley      

16 - Borrow Angel - Ray Lynam       

17 - Rock On - David Essex      

18 - Mary From Dunloe - Bill Ryan & Buckshot

19 - Daisy A Day - Danny Doyle

This week's cover has a photo of David Bowie. There was a guy in my class at school and he was BIG into David Bowie. He had the same hairstyle and all. I remember having a 'discussion' with him one day about who was the most successful - Rory Gallagher or David Bowie. I pointed out that Rory could sell out the Stadium in Dublin several nights in a row and Bowie couldn't. I had the upper hand of course because if my memory serves me right Bowie hadn't even played Ireland at that stage.

Such was my power of persuasion in those days that I got most of the class to agree with me. Ah, those were the days when everyone had their own favourite pop star or rock group. In our class alone we had people into Simon & Garfunkel and Neil Diamond, Deep Purple and Status Quo, Planxty and Horslisp and of course Rory Gallagher and David Bowie.

Photos in Pat's "Heavy Sounds" column this week include Sleep Hollow (who I had the pleasure of seeing once when they supported Rory in the Stadium), Zebedee - who look like they might be doing a bit of gardening (or is that weeding) and a drawing of Gary Moore by some guy called Francis Gaffney.

Cork Band Sleep Hollow boosts its line-up with the recruitment of a new bass player, John Rice. He came home recently from Britain where he had played for some time with Bent Frame. The groups's current bass man, Bill O'Brien, moves on to lead giving them a twin-lead-guitar sound.New man Rice will be with the band at Sgt. Peppers this Friday and at a series of rock dances in Cork's Shandon on Saturday.

Henry McCullagh can't be in the business for money! How many musicians will walk out of a band which has just scored a double-album and single No. 1 in the States, not to mention the prestige of playing alongside an ex-Beatle. No matter what Henry decides to do he can be sure of making a big thing of it.

When Peggy's Leg were featured at Gonzo's Rock Palace they drew one of the best crowds there for some weeks. On this showing it's only a matter of time until they come out top of the home-based lot. Jimmy Slevin is very much into the Rory Gallagher bag - the same style of playing, stage image and enthusiasm for work as the Corkman. For such a young band Peggy's Leg have an awful lot going for them. The band is built around Slevin and again, like Gallagher, it makes little difference who the back-up musicians are once they are of a fairly high standard. Few home-based bands of the moment can generate such excitement and for that reason alone they are a group no fan should miss seeing.

Chips, whose single has just been released in Britain, will headline a concert at Liberty Hall on 12th September. With the good following they have been picking up lately they should draw a fair sized crowd. Tickets for the gig are on sale now at the usual venues.

Mushroom, the group scene's current chart-busters, will be doing a solo concert at the Town Hall, Dundalk next Wednesday (5th). Promoter Larry Magnier has high hopes for a full house.

Well known clubman Larry Mooney is back in town after his stay in Galway. He will be looking after the group end of the new computer dates set up. Groups and promoters interested in getting on Larry's books should ring him at 501010. This could be a good chance for groups who find it hard to get regular work.

Zebedee, one of the scene's better young groups, are planning their first single. They will record two originals for release on a major international label. Manager Jim Plunkett told me: "Recent reaction to the lads has been terrrific. We have broken through in a big way and there's no holding them back now.

Mount Merrion Youth Centre will start a folk & blues session this Friday with Supply Demand and Curve, Eyeless and Johnny Norris. The show starts at 8pm. The club will also run a rock dance this Sunday.

At the free Blackrock gig on Sunday Niall Coll played a nice set but has nothing exceptional to offer. I don't mean to keep coming down on the singer/songwriter set but unless they are extremely talented they can become a bit of a bore. British visitors Gryphon, in town for some television and club work, play medieval folk music. If you like the Incredible String Band you would enjoy the new outfit. Personally I found their music without any guts.

With all the talent we have on the group scene, it's a bit of a mystery why our record companies haven't been in touch with their London offices about having some top brass over to see the action. Bands such as Peggy's Leg, Spud and Trench Band are all worth a share of any record contract. Surely Horslips, Thin Lizzy and Planxty have proved that the sales are there.

What's happening with Sheriff after the big blast-off...expect new Philip Donnelly/Frank Boylan group soon...fans are getting fed up with the on-off-on Gary Moore Band tour...expect the return of more showband men to the group scene...won't Henry McCullagh find the going easy now as an ex-member of Wings...don't expect the new Skid Row to sound anything like the old one...the sooner Gonzo gets his rock palace going on a Saturday night the better...Horslips in Scotland this week and not a bit worried by the JSD band...despite their success with Devil Among The Tailors Mushroom still seem to be unknown to the kids who helped put Horslips at the top...wouldn't a free Mushroom concert help put things right...James Duggan, the man behind the successful Horslips gig in the Phoenix Park has a few more dates in his diary...Reform record out tomorrow.

- Pat Egan

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

01 - Where The Three Counties Meet - Brendan Shine

02 - Welcome Home - Peters & Lee  

03 - I'm Leader Of The Gang - Gary Glitter   

04 - Devil Among The Tailors - Mushroom    

05 - Young Love - Donny Osmond  

06 - Shores Of Lough Bran - The Rocky Tops  

07 - Daisy A Day - Danny Doyle   

09 - Yesterday Once More - The Carpenters   

10 - Funny Face - Roly Daniels  

11 - Dancing On A Saturday Night - Barry Blue      

12 - You Can Do Magic - Limmie & The Family Cookin'    

13 - Mary From Dunloe - Bill Ryan & Buckshot   

14 - Has Anybody Seen My Sweet Gypsy Rose - Dawn Bell 

15 - You're The One I Can't Live Without - Ray Lynam & Philomena Begley     

16 - All Right, All Right, All Right - Mungo Jerry     

17 - 48 Crash - Suzi Quatro  

18 - Rag and Bone Man - Des Smith 

19 - Dear John - Two's Company