Bachelors/Harmonichords Feature (1957-197?)
Photo Gallery -
Band Lineups -
Discography
- Audio samples -
Where Are They Now?
The Story
Editor's note: Every care
has been taken to present only factual information in our stories
based on first person reports, newspaper articles and photographic
archives. If you can add anything or correct info in this story,
please email us and let us know.
The
Bachelors started life as a trio called the Harmonichords in 1957.
The first reference to them we found was an advert for an
"All Star Show" in the Archbishop Byrne Hall in
Harrington Street in Dublin (see below). It appears they were quite
busy on radio at the time, and even though our research could not
find any mention of them playing live gigs, that may mean they were
not advertised in the Dublin papers.
In October 1958, we came across
them again as they took part in the Denis Brennan New Variety Show
on RTE radio where they were described as "Beginners Please"
discoveries (which we assume was a radio talent show at the time).
Initially the band played harmonicas, hence the name.
The band was
made up of Con and Declan Cluskey along with John Stokes. By late
1958, they were featuring on the radio on a weekly basis usually on
a programme called "Odd Noises" which was hosted by future
entertainment legend Eamon Andrews and produced by Fred O'Donovan.
We also assume they were playing live gigs in locals halls, pubs and
concerts at the same time. For the next year, the group went from
strength to strength, regularly appearing across the country in
"variety shows" which basically brought the "Odd Noises" program
stars to local venues which seems to have been the predominant way
that "non showband" performers could reach a wider live audience.
Jim Garvey saw the band in a variety show early on and became their
manager although we are not sure when.
On St.
Patrick's Day, 1959, the famous American "Ed Sullivan Show" taped a
special in Dublin which included the Harmonichords. In April, 1959,
the band started to tour the country, usually performing in
ballrooms alongside the top showbands of the day which was another
way cabaret artists and folk singers were able to be heard outside
of the big cities. Throughout 1960 the band was on the road,
although they apparently each had day jobs at this time: John as a
carpenter, Con as an electrician and Dec as a Civil Engineer working
at C.I.E. (Ireland's then rail service).
The fame the
boys had gained through their regular appearances on the Eamon
Andrews radio program carried them through the early part of the
1960's when the Variety Show scene was still a very large part of
the Irish entertainment scene and they became one of the hottest
"guest stars" on the circuit (see below). By 1961, the band had
abandoned their harmonicas and become a straight cabaret folk group
with Con and Dec on guitar and John playing the upright bass, moving
with the folk boom which had started in the United States and across
Britain. (As an aside, contrary to the Wikipedia article on the
group, they did not change their name to the Bachelors in 1960).
On January 7th,
1962, the group made its first appearance on Telefis Eireann (TE)
Ireland's new television service which had started broadcasting a
week earlier on December 31st, 1961. As with most artists of the
day, an appearance on TE, Ireland's first (and only) television
station brought instantaneous recognition across the nation and the
Harmonichords continued their rise as one of Ireland earliest top
"cabaret" acts.
In mid 1962,
the band turned professional and quit their "day jobs" taking the
chance to make it after touring Britain with Nina and Frederick. By
the end of the year they had signed with Decca Records and in
October they recorded the 1926 song, "Charmaine" which was released
in December, 1962 and with a month had entered the British Charts
climbing to number 6 and becoming the 35th biggest selling record of
the year in the UK outselling classics like Elvis Presley's "Return
to Sender" and Cliff Richard's "Lucky Lips." It would also reach
number 8 in the Irish Charts staying on the chart for 3 weeks. After
touring in Britain for an extended period, the group came home to a
hero's welcome as one of the few Irish bands to actually "make it"
in the UK in a big way and the best was yet to come.
More to come.....
click on thumbnails for full image
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True Love For Evermore |
Far Far Away |
F 12108 |
Mar-65 |
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Marie |
You Can Tell |
F 12156 |
May-65 |
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In The Chapel In The Moonlight |
The Old Wishing Well |
F 12256 |
Oct-65 |
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Hello Dolly |
There's No Room In My Heart |
F 12309 |
Dec-65 |
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The Sound of Silence |
Love Me With All Your Heart |
F 12351 |
Mar-66 |
9 |
2 |
18-Apr-66 |
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Can I Trust You? |
Who Can I Turn To |
F 12417 |
Jun-66 |
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Walk With Faith In Your Heart |
Molly Malone |
F 22523 |
Nov-66 |
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Oh How I Miss You |
Ghost Mountain |
F 22592 |
Mar-67 |
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Marta |
My World (Il Mondo) |
F 22634 |
Jun-67 |
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3 O'clock Flamingo Street |
Learn To Live Without You |
F 22689 |
Oct-67 |
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If Ever I Would Leave You |
Cabaret |
F 22719 |
Dec-67 |
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The Unicorn |
You've Got To Say We're Through |
F 22757 |
Mar-68 |
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I'll Walk With God |
I Can't Wish You Any More |
F 22814 |
Jul-68 |
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Turn Around, Look At Me |
Lovers Such As I |
F 22839 |
Oct-68 |
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Where The Blue Of The Night |
Caterina |
F 22911 |
Apr-69 |
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Punky's Dilemma |
Arrivederci Maria |
F 22946 |
Jul-69 |
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Everybody's Talkin' |
Blaydon Races |
F 22965 |
Sep-69 |
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My First Love |
Phil The Fluter |
F 22983 |
Nov-69 |
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Diamonds Are Forever |
Where There's A Heartache (There Must Be A Heart) |
F 13248 |
Nov-71 |
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The Land Of The Other Way Round |
Children At Play |
F 13345 |
Oct-72 |
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