New Blues Feature (1972-1983)

Photo Gallery - Band Lineups - Discography - Audio samples - Where Are They Now?

The Story

The story of the New Blues actually starts with the final days of one of Ireland's top showbands, The Royal Blues. Late in 1971, a relatively young (23) Glen Curtin came home to Cork after spending 3 years in England on the cabaret scene. He was recruited to front a new band called simply, Glen Curtin's Band. Along with a 16 year old Cork girl who went under the name, Tara, the new band was managed by Matt Nodwell who had previously looked after the fortunes of Pat Lynch.

In May, 1972, an article in Spotlight reported that Glen (whose own band had not done well) had been drafted into a reconstituted New Blues along with Tara, the girl singer who had also been with his own band previously. His own band had only been on the road for nine months and Doc Carroll had left the Blues to front his own band The Nightrunners. Explained Glen, "Things didn't go as well as expected and after nine months I was on the point of going back to London when Tommy Hayden asked me to front the New Blues."

A Spotlight article in September, 1973 said the band's female vocalist, Dublin-born Lola (Anne Mooney) had been with the band for 12 months, but we don't know what happened to Tara. Lola's first record was released in late 1973 and was called Down By The River.

As with many bands who underwent major changes, the New Blues never quite lived up to the success of the original Royal Blues, although they continued to do reasonable business and had the very talented Glen Curtin, who recorded their only chart single, I'd Love You to Want Me in 1973.   

In 1974 Glen was tapped to replace Red Hurley in the Nevada. Frank Gill joined Lola (Anne Mooney) as the band's two lead singers. Dave Flood also left the band to move to Johnny McEvoy's Band, but had also left that band by February, 1975.

1975 proved to be a tumultuous year for the band. Early in the year, shakeups in the lineup lead to big changes. Kieran Cavanagh joined the band in March 1975. At that time Lola was still there, but Glen Curtin had just left a short time earlier. Lola departed later that year in July and an article in Spotlight announced the signing of Ballinasloe native, Nora Larkin as the band's new female lead singer. She had previously been singing in England in the Birmingham area, but returned home to take up the new position with the Blues. 

At the same time Lola, who was quoted in Spotlight that "singing in the dance halls was repetitive and uninteresting," moved into cabaret. There was talk of a single with Tony Kenny called "All The Loving People," (written by the Swarbriggs), but we're not sure if it was released. Frank & Vincent Gill and the original drummer, Paddy Glynn, were still in the band.

In early 1976, Kieran Cavanagh bought out Vincent Gill's interest in the band and continued on as both the bass player and manager. The "new" New blues were formed and with the exception of Kieran and Tommy Lyndsey (both from Easkey, Co. Sligo), it was a new line up. The band was then fronted by Carole Wallace from Drogheda and Keith Beattie (keyboards) from Dublin.

Kieran Cavanagh takes up the story from a recent email, "We were together until mid 1982 when I disbanded the band as manager and bass player. Everyone scattered to various bands and walks of life, but of course our then sax player, Ritchie Buckley, went on to great things playing with Van Morrison and other well known International artists."

More to come...

Photo Gallery

click on thumbnails for full image

Discography

Don't Say A Word (Glen Curtin)
Polydor Records - 1973
Love Me Love Me Love Me (Glen Curtin)
Polydor Records - 1973
All For The Love of Sunshine (Glen Curtin)
Polydor Records, October, 1973
I'd Love You To Want Me / Meadow Green (Glen Curtin) - #7 Irish Charts
Polydor Records - November, 1973
Down By The River (Lola)
Hawk Records - HASP 324 - 1973
Over and Over (Lola)
Hawk Records - Unknown - September, 1974
I'm So Afraid of Falling / The Snows of '49 (Lola)
Hawk Records - HASP 355 - December 1974
Dance (Lola)
Tap Records - TAP 003 - 1976
Never Can Tell (Carole)
Play Records - PLAY 103 - 1977
Turn Away (Carole)
Play Records - PLAY 107 - 1977
Baby You Should Be Laughing (Carole)
Play Records - PLAY 111 - 1978
Wayward Wind (Carole)
Dallas Records - DAL 103 - February, 1981
You Keep A Knocking (Carole)
Dallas Records - DAL 105 - 1981

Our thanks to Peter Kinsey for his help with this discography

Audio Clips

Coming Soon

Where Are They Now? (more to come)