Anne Nolan

Last updated

Anne Nolan
Born (1950-11-12) 12 November 1950 (age 74)
Dublin, Ireland
Occupation(s)Singer, actress, author, television personality
Years active1974–present
Television Top of the Pops
Loose Women
Family Denise Nolan (sister)
Maureen Nolan (sister)
Linda Nolan (sister)
Bernie Nolan (sister)
Coleen Nolan (sister)
Jake Roche (nephew)
Website www.denisenolan.co.uk/annenolan.html

Anne Nolan (born 12 November 1950) is an Irish singer, songwriter and author. She was a member of The Nolans. [1]

Contents

Early life

Anne Nolan was born in Dublin, Ireland, to Tommy (26 September 1925–1998) and Maureen Nolan (15 December 1926–30 December 2007), she is the second of eight siblings and the oldest of the Nolan sisters, preceding Denise, Maureen, Linda, Bernie, and Coleen respectively, as well as two brothers Tommy and Brian. [1] The family lived in Raheny, a suburb of Dublin, before moving to Blackpool, England in 1962. [1]

The Nolans

Anne, along with her sisters, was a part of the singing group The Nolans. The Nolans had a number one hit in 1979 with their song I'm in the Mood for Dancing. It charted at no.2 on Irish music charts, and was no. 1 on charts in Japan and South Africa. Anne left the group for a short period of time, between 1980 and 1982, with her sister Coleen stepping in for Anne. During Anne's two years absence from the group, they won the 1981 Tokyo Music Festival with their song "Sexy Music".

Anne reunited with The Nolans as a five-piece (including Bernie, Coleen, Linda and Maureen) for one-off performance of "I'm In the Mood for Dancing" first for BBC One's All Time Greatest Party Songs, hosted by Tess Daly, which aired on 17 December 2005 [2] and again on 9 August 2007 on Loose Women, [3] but dismissed any immediate prospect of a full-scale reunion. [4] Anne has only missed out on one reunion, which took place in 2009. She returned yet again in 2020, when they reformed, and remained in the group until its disbandment in 2022.

Later works

Anne released her autobiography, titled Anne's Song, on 27 March 2008. [5] In the book, co-written with Richard Barber, Anne said she had been repeatedly sexually abused by her father, [6] [7] from the age of 11 until she was 15 or 16. [8]

In 2012, Anne Nolan released her solo album, Just One Voice. [9]

In February 2020, it was announced that the Nolans would appear in a new TV series for Quest Red, The Nolans Go Crusing, [10] a rival show to Channel 5's award winning Cruising with Jane McDonald . In the first series, Anne performed with the group together for the first time in over 10 years. A second series was confirmed with the return of her sister Denise. [11]

In 2021, Anne and sister Linda Nolan released Stronger Together, a book about dealing with a cancer diagnosis. [12]

In November 2021, Anne spoke to the Daily Express about her career struggles as a Nolan member, in which she revealed the group were not paid correctly. [13] Anne is an ambassador for the Great Pink Run, in which she gave a rare performance to thousands of runners in 2022. [14]

In May 2023, Anne announced a new autobiography New Beginnings was released on 20 May 2023. A paperback version was later released in 2024. [14]

Personal life

In 2022, it was announced that Nolan had beaten cancer for the second time. [15]

Discography

Studio albums

YearTitleDetails
1972The Singing Nolans
  • Released: June 1972
  • Label: Nevis
  • Formats: LP
1975The Nolan Sisters
  • Released: 1975
  • Label: Hanover Grand
  • Formats: LP
197820 Giant Hits
  • Released: 7 July 1978
  • Label: Target
  • Formats: LP, MC
  • Released in Japan in February 1981
1979 Nolan Sisters
  • Released: 19 November 1979
  • Label: Epic
  • Formats: LP, MC
  • Released in Japan as Dancing Sisters
1984 Girls Just Wanna Have Fun!
  • Released: 1 November 1984
  • Label: Towerbell
  • Formats: CD, LP, MC
1986Tenderly
  • Released: 1986
  • Label: Stoic/Spartan
  • Formats: LP
1991 Playback Part 2
Rock and Rolling Idol
  • Released: 21 August 1991
  • Label: Teichiku
  • Formats: CD
  • Kyōko Koizumi cover album
  • Japan-only release
Tidal Wave
  • Released: 21 September 1991
  • Label: Teichiku
  • Formats: CD
  • J-pop cover album
  • Japan-only release
1992 The Hottest Place on Earth
  • Released: 21 May 1992
  • Label: Teichiku
  • Formats: CD
  • Featuring Princess Princess cover songs
  • Japan-only release
Please Don't
  • Released: 23 September 1992
  • Label: Teichiku
  • Formats: CD
  • Kayōkyoku cover album
  • Japan-only release
2005 The Nolans Sing Momoe 2005
  • Released: 19 January 2005
  • Label: SMDR GT Music
  • Formats: CD
  • Japan-only release
  • Re-recording of Playback Part 2

EPs and mini-albums

YearTitleDetails
1972The Singing Nolans ( Silent Night )
  • Released: December 1972
  • Label: Nevis
  • Formats: 7" EP
1983Greatest Original Hits – 4 Track E.P.
  • Released: March 1983
  • Label: Epic
  • Formats: 7" EP
1984The Nolans
  • Released: March 1984
  • Label: Scoop 33
  • Formats: 7" EP, MC

Singles

SingleYear
"Blackpool" (as the Singing Nolans)1972
"But I Do" (as the Nolan Sisters)1974
"(Won't You) Make a Little Sunshine Shine" (as Nolan Sisters)1975
"Rain" (as the Nolan Sisters)1976
"Thanks for Calling" (as Nolan Sisters)
"When You Are a King" (as the Nolan Sisters)
"Love Transformation" (as Nolan Sisters)1977
"Love Bandit" (as Nolan Sisters)
"Don't It Make My Brown Eyes Blue" (as the Nolan Sisters)1978
"Harry My Honolulu Lover" (as Nolan Sisters)1979
"Spirit, Body and Soul" (as Nolan Sisters)
"I'm in the Mood for Dancing"
"Dressed to Kill"1983
"Girls Just Wanna Have Fun" (Japan-only release)1985
"Goodbye Nothin' to Say"
"Let's Spend the Night Together"1986
"I'm in the Mood for Dancin '89" (re-recording)1989
"Take Me All" (Japan-only release)1991
"Rock and Rolling Idol" (Japan-only release)
"Tidal Wave" (Japan-only release)
"Sexy Music" (re-recording; Japan-only release)
"Colourful Nolans" (Japan-only release)1992
"Mother Earth" (Japan-only release)
"I'm in the Mood for Dancing" (re-recording)1995
"Won't Be Long" (Japan-only release)2006

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Denise van Outen</span> English actress and television presenter

Denise van Outen is an English actress, singer, dancer and presenter. She presented The Big Breakfast, played Roxie Hart in the musical Chicago both in the West End and on Broadway and finished as runner-up in the tenth series of the BBC One dancing show Strictly Come Dancing.

The Nolans were an Anglo-Irish girl group who formed in Blackpool in 1974 as the Nolan Sisters, before changing their name in 1980. From 1979 to 1982, the group had a run of hits, including "I'm in the Mood for Dancing", "Gotta Pull Myself Together", "Who's Gonna Rock You", "Attention to Me" and "Chemistry". They are one of the world's biggest selling girl groups. They were particularly successful in Japan, becoming the first European act to win the Tokyo Music Festival with "Sexy Music" in 1981, and won a Japan Record Award in 1991.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Coleen Rooney</span> English television personality

Coleen Mary Rooney is an English media personality. She is married to English football manager and former player Wayne Rooney.

<i>Loose Women</i> British talk show

Loose Women is a British talk show that broadcasts on ITV weekdays from 12:30 pm to 1:30 pm. The show focuses on a panel of four female presenters who interview celebrities, talk about aspects of their lives, and discuss topical issues ranging from politics and current affairs to celebrity gossip and entertainment news. The 3,000th episode of Loose Women was broadcast on 15 May 2018. The show celebrated it's 25th anniversary on 6 September 2024.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Coleen Nolan</span> English singer, television personality and author (born March 1965)

Coleen Patricia Nolan is an English singer, television personality and author. She was a member of the pop group The Nolans, in which she sang with her sisters. With over 30 million records sold worldwide, The Nolans are one of the world's biggest selling girl groups.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bernie Nolan</span> Irish actress, singer (1960–2013)

Bernadette Therese Nolan was an Irish actress, singer and television personality, formerly lead vocalist of the girl group the Nolans. She was the second youngest of sisters Anne, Denise, Maureen, Linda and Coleen. From the age of two, Bernie was brought up in Blackpool, Lancashire, England.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jane Moore</span> English journalist and television personality (born 1962)

Jane Moore is an English journalist, writer, and television personality. She is a columnist for the tabloid The Sun and writes regular articles for the newspaper The Sunday Times. She was a panellist and anchor on the ITV lunchtime chat show Loose Women between 1999 and 2002, returning as a regular panellist from 2013 onwards. Since 2018, Moore has been regularly relief-anchoring Loose Women. In November 2024, it was announced that Moore would appear as a contestant on the twenty-fourth series of the ITV reality show I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here!.

Brenda Claudina Susan Edwards is an English singer, actress, television personality and presenter. In 2005, she finished in fourth place on the second series of The X Factor. Since 2019, she has been a weekly panellist on the ITV daytime chat show Loose Women. Edwards alongside Charlene White, Judi Love, and Kéllé Bryan became the first all black panel in the shows 25 year history the panel has been seen several times since then. In January 2021, she became a presenter on the BBC One programme Songs of Praise.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">St Mary's Catholic Academy</span> Academy in Blackpool, Lancashire, England

St Mary's Catholic Academy is a school in Layton, Blackpool, Lancashire. The school was involved with the Building Schools for the Future (BSF) scheme and, despite the scheme being cancelled, it was announced in August 2010 that for this school it would go ahead.

<i>Nolan Sisters</i> (album) 1979 studio album by the Nolan Sisters

Nolan Sisters is a 1979 album by the Irish sibling pop group the Nolan Sisters. It was their first album to be released on Epic Records and contained a mixture of original material and cover versions of popular songs. Two singles, "Spirit Body and Soul" and "I'm In the Mood for Dancing", were released from the album, the latter becoming the group's best-known song, peaking at No.3 in the UK, while the former was also a top 40 hit. The release of that single also marked a group name change to the Nolans.

Jodie Christine Prenger is an English actress and singer, best known for winning the second series of The Biggest Loser in 2006 and the BBC talent show I'd Do Anything in 2008, the latter of which subsequently launched her career in theatre. In 2022, she began portraying the role of Glenda Shuttleworth in the ITV soap opera Coronation Street.

<i>Making Waves</i> (The Nolans album) 1980 studio album by The Nolans

Making Waves is a 1980 album released by the pop group The Nolans. In the UK, the album went gold and featured four top 20 singles.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Stacey Solomon</span> English singer and television personality

Stacey Chanelle Clare Swash is an English television personality and singer. She was a contestant on the sixth series of the ITV singing competition show The X Factor in 2009, in which she finished in third place. The following year, she appeared on the tenth series of the ITV reality show I'm a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here!, which she won.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">I'm in the Mood for Dancing</span> 1979 single by The Nolan Sisters

"I'm in the Mood for Dancing" is a single by the Irish pop group The Nolan Sisters. Originally released in December 1979, the song became a top-three hit in the UK in February 1980. A blend of pop and disco, it has since become synonymous with the group and remains their biggest hit. It was also a hit in many countries around the world. In Japan and South Africa, it reached number one.

Linda Nolan is an Irish singer, actress and television personality. After moving with her family to Blackpool at the age of three in 1962, she attained fame as a member of the girl group The Nolans in 1974, along with her sisters Anne, Denise, Maureen, Bernie and Coleen. As a member of the Nolans, Linda toured with Frank Sinatra in 1975, won the Tokyo Music Festival in 1981, and had seven UK top 20 hits between 1979 and 1982.

<i>Im in the Mood Again</i> 2009 studio album by The Nolans

I'm in the Mood Again is the 2009 comeback album by the Irish all-girl pop band The Nolans. Although eight people have been involved in the line up of the band, only four - Coleen, Linda, Maureen and Bernie - returned for this recording. The album consists of many "diva anthems" and also some of The Nolans' greatest hits. It was Bernie's final recording before her death in 2013.

Denise Nolan is an Irish singer, songwriter and actress. She was a member of The Nolans.

<i>Please Dont</i> 1992 studio album by the Nolans

Please Don't is a cover album by the Irish pop group the Nolans. Released on 23 September 1992 exclusively in Japan by Teichiku Records, the album consists of 10 English-language covers of popular kayōkyoku songs from the 1960s.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Melanie Blake</span> English talent agent and author

Melanie Blake is an English author, columnist and talent agent. Blake began her career working as a camera assistant on Top of the Pops and eventually formed her own music agency. After representing music stars, she formed an acting and PR agency which primarily represented soap actresses from British and American soap operas. In 2018, Blake made the decision to lessen her client list to focus on her writing career. She has since released three bestselling novels: The Thunder Girls (2018), Ruthless Women (2021) and Guilty Women (2022), all of which were inspired by her experiences in both the music and soap industries. Blake is set to release the final instalment of the Ruthless trilogy, Vengeful Women, in 2024.

Maureen Nolan is an Irish singer who was a member of The Nolans.

References

  1. 1 2 3 Larkin, Colin (1998). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music 3rd Edition Volume V: Louvin, Charlie-Paul, Clarence. London: Macmillan. p. 3969. ISBN   0-333-74134-X.
  2. "All-Time Greatest Party Songs (2005)". IMDb.com. 17 December 2005. Retrieved 4 July 2013.
  3. ""Loose Women" Episode #11.149 (2007)". IMDb.com. 9 August 2007. Retrieved 22 April 2008.
  4. "Loose Women- The Nolans interview". Youtube.com. Archived from the original on 12 December 2021. Retrieved 5 April 2008. Uploaded copy of interview.
  5. "Random House:Book Details for Anne's Song". Random House. Retrieved 31 March 2008.
  6. Wallis, Sarah (10 March 2008). "Nolans singer Anne was sexually abused by father Tommy". Daily Mirror. Retrieved 31 March 2008.[ permanent dead link ]
  7. Dwyer, Ciara (7 April 2008). "I'm in the mood for telling". Irish Independent. Retrieved 7 April 2008.
  8. The dark secret of Anne Nolan, blackpoolgazette.co.uk; accessed 22 February 2016.
  9. "Anne Nolan - Just One Voice". AmazonUK. 29 August 2021. Retrieved 28 September 2012.
  10. "The Nolans announce exciting new family show in the Mood for Cruising". Goodtoknow.co.uk. 19 February 2020.
  11. "Denise Nolan rejoins The Nolans for first time in 43 years for TV performance". Retropopmagazine.com. 29 August 2021. Retrieved 28 September 2021.
  12. "Stronger Together by Anne and Linda Nolan". penguin.com. 29 August 2021. Retrieved 28 September 2021.
  13. "'We didn't receive all the money' The Nolans star Anne speaks out on career struggles". DailyExpress. 29 August 2022. Retrieved 28 September 2022.
  14. 1 2 "Anne Nolan 'New Beginnings'". BlackpoolEcho. 29 August 2022. Retrieved 28 September 2022.
  15. "Stronger Together by Anne and Linda Nolan". IrishMirror. 29 August 2022. Retrieved 28 September 2022.