All About The Mainliners (1963-1982
and 2004-present)
Photo Gallery -
Band Lineups -
Discography
- Audio samples -
Where Are They Now?
The Story
Article
© GSM Productions
The history of Irish country music (or maybe more accurately, "Country and Irish") has been much maligned over the years, and no band more so than The Mainliners.
Although the band did not gain prominence until the mid to late
1960's, in an article in Spotlight in May, 1970, Tom McBride told
reporter Donal Corvin that he formed the band with Henry McMahon
when Tom returned to Ireland in 1963 after working in England. For
the next three plus years the band laboured away in obscurity making
as little as £5 a night.
The original lineup of the band
was: Tom McBride (vocals), Henry McMahon (sax), Seamus McMahon
(guitar), Ginger Morgan (bass), Ronnie Duffy (drums), John Beattie
(keyboards), and Cyril McKevitt (trombone).
It wasn't until the beginning of 1967 that the band broke through as "The Mighty Mainliners." True to form, most of the 60's showbands didn't have "front men" and the
Mainliners were no different. Although Tom McBride and Ginger Morgan were the
main singers in the band, neither were featured in the band's name.
In late 1966 the band released "Big" Tom McBride's recording of
"Gentle Mother" and it hit the Irish charts for the first time
in January, 1967. The single, which reached number seven in the
Irish charts,
was the first in a long line of hit records that firmly established
Tom and the Mainliners at the forefront of the Irish country scene. They
followed it up in late 67 with yet another hit, "Old Log Cabin
For Sale," which reached number 4 in the Irish charts and firmly
cemented their place as a top draw on the ballroom circuit.
The band soon dropped the "Mighty" moniker and became just the Mainliners. It was around this time that everything changed in the showband scene.
Stars like Brendan Bowyer, Dickie Rock, and Butch Moore stepped forward and took center stage. The Mainliners
followed suit and became known as Big Tom and The Mainliners.
For the next five years, the band defined "Country and Irish" music in Ireland,
taking over the mantle from Larry Cunningham and the Mighty Avons. They were huge stars and packed ballrooms and marquees from one end of
the country to the other. Castleblaney singer, Tom McBride, known to fans as
"Big Tom" became so popular, he was dubbed "The King" of Irish country music.
Although their popularity was staggering, their detractors were equally vocal in bashing the band and their brand of bastardized Irish
country and folk music in quick step or waltz time signatures. It
is possible that no band has ever polarized the Irish punters like Big
Tom and the Mainliners...folks either loved them or hated them, and there was
(and still is) no in between.
Tom
and the band had a string of hits, including Bunch of Violets Blue,
Sunset Years of Life and many others.
They also released a string of best selling albums as well. During this period the band
could do no wrong. Big Tom's records pulled at the heart strings of the older
generation, while the band's upbeat dance tempos kept the punters jiving all
night long. Young and old alike seemed to worship Tom, while others wondered
what was going on!
Then, in May, 1974, in what was then one of the all time
shocking events in Irish show business history, Big Tom left the band and
formed a new group, The Travellers. To the dismay of their loyal fans, the
Mainliners and Tom went their separate ways. This triggered a series of lineup
changes that would plague the band for the next decade. In fact, until Tom and
band reunited in 2004 for a short tour, enjoying the same success they did thirty years
earlier.
With the departure of Tom, the band immediately drafted singer John Glenn
(real name-John Hanratty) to fill
the big man's shoes. The band's fortunes continued to
grow and John also had a string of hit records. After several years, however, in
May, 1978, John left the Mainliners and formed his own band,
The Wranglers. In the aftermath of John's departure, there was a major
court case involving the Mainliners and their manager, John McCormack. It seems
there was a disagreement about existing dates for John and the Mainliners being
played by new band, The Wranglers. Top Rank Entertainments had taken
on the management of John's new band had advised promoters to contact Robert
Irwin (John's new manager) to confirm future John Glenn dates.
In the meantime, the band landed on their feet as they lured country singer Tom Allen away from his band,
The Sailors. However, Tom Allen and the Mainliners had a
short stint as in January, 1979, long time vocalist Ginger Morgan left the band to form his own pop group,
Hot Fever. A few months later, Tom Allen was also gone, having changed his name to T.R.
Dallas to release Who Shot J.R. Ewing? which became a huge Irish hit and established him as a strong act in his own right
with his own band, the TR Dallas Band.
For a short time in the summer of 1979, the band toured as a six piece using the name
The Mainliners, but the lineup changed again in late 1979,
when they
drafted Shelly (a.k.a. Jan Lynch), who had been touring with Hank Locklin and her band
Startime. Shelly reverted to her real name, and Jan and the Mainliners took to the road.
As of writing, we are unsure when (or if) the
Mainliners finally called it quits. However, good news for die hard
fans is that they are back after
nearly 30 years as
Big Tom and the Mainliners. Sadly Cyril McKevitt, the band's
trombone player for all those years passed away suddenly on 15th
September, 2009, just two days after completing the band's 2009
tour.
Photo
Gallery
Click on thumbnails for full image
*Cyril sadly
passed away on September 15 2009.
Discography
Singles:
Gentle Mother (Big Tom) -
#7 Irish Charts
Emerald Records - MD 1060 - December, 1966
An Old Log Cabin For Sale
/ If You're Lonesome At Your Table (Big Tom)
- #4 Irish Charts
Emerald Records - MD 1084 - September, 1967
The Old Rustic Bridge / Please Mama Please (Big Tom)
- #16 Irish Charts
Emerald Records - MD 1099 - 1968
Blue Eyes Crying In The Rain / The Old Rustic Bridge (Big Tom)
Emerald Records - MD 1183 - 1968
Flowers For Mama / Wheels Fell Off The Wagon (Big Tom)
- #16 Irish Charts
Emerald Records - GES 1130 - August, 1969
Sunset Years of Life / I'll Settle For Old Ireland (Big
Tom)
- #3 Irish Charts
Emerald Records - MD 1147 - May, 1970
A Bunch of Violets Blue / BJ the DJ (Big Tom)
Emerald Records - MD 1149 - August, 1970
Back To Castleblaney / Pins and Needles (Big Tom)
- #13 Irish Charts
Denver Records - DMC 1003 - January, 1971
Broken Marriage Vows / Tears In My Eyes (Big Tom)
- #1 Irish Charts
Denver Records - DMC 1007 - January, 1971
I Love You Still (Big Tom)
- #1 Irish Charts
Denver Records - December, 1972
Old Love Letters / Satisfied Mind / Music In My Heart (Big
Tom)
- #1 Irish Charts
Denver Records - DMC 1012 - May, 1974
Sunny Side of the Mountain (John Glenn)
- #5 Irish Charts
Denver Records - May, 1975
Call Me Darling (John Glenn)
- #9 Irish Charts
Misty Records - April, 1976
Turn Back The Years (John Glenn)
- #14 Irish Charts
Misty Records - January, 1977
A Little Country Town In Ireland (John Glenn)
- #6 Irish Charts
Misty Records - February, 1977
The Family That Prays (Tom Allen)
Unknown label - May, 1978
You Are My Sunshine (Tom Allen)
Unknown Label - Dec., 1978
Time Will Prove That I'm Right / Farewell Party (Jan Lynch)
Play Records - PLAY 133 - Feb, 1980
Albums:
Little Bit of Country and
Irish (Big Tom)
Emerald Records - SLD 33 - 1969
From Ireland (Big Tom)
Emerald Records - SLD37 - 1970
The All Time Hits of Big Tom & The Mainliners*
Emerald Records - GES 1051 - 1971
I'll Settle for Old Ireland (Big Tom)
Emerald Records - GES 1102 - 1974
The Image of Me (Big Tom)*
Denver Records - LPDNV2 - 1974
Ashes Of Love (Big Tom)
Denver Records - LPDNV 3 - 1975
Smoke Along The Track (Big Tom)
Denver Records - LPDNV 4 - 1975
Souvenirs (Big Tom)
Denver Records - LPDNV5 - 1975
Requests (Big Tom)*
Unknown Company - DEB105
Hits By The Dozen (Big Tom)*
Unknown Company - DEB105
The Best of John Glenn and the Mainliners (John Glenn)
Mint Records - 1979
Favourites (Big Tom)*
K-Tel Records - KLP55 - 1980
Info on releases marked
with an asterisk * provided by Richard Cooke
Audio Clips
