The Bachelors

Last updated

The Bachelors
The Bachelors.png
The Bachelors in 1966
Background information
Origin Dublin, Ireland
Genres
Years active1957present
Labels Universal, Decca, Philips, Pickwick, London, Galaxy, Deram and others
MembersDisputed – see article
Past membersConleth (Con) Cluskey
Declan (Dec) Cluskey
John Stokes
Website Con & Dec the Bachelors
John Stokes' the Bachelors

The Bachelors were a popular music group, originating from Dublin, Ireland, but primarily based in the United Kingdom. They had several international hits during the 1960s, including eight top-ten singles in the UK between 1963 and 1966.

Contents

Career

The founding members of the group were Conleth (Con) Cluskey (18 November 1935 – 8 April 2022), his younger brother Declan (Dec) Cluskey (born 23 December 1941), and their friend John Stokes (Sean James Stokes) (born 13 August 1936). They formed their first band together in 1957: "The Harmonichords" (also seen as "The Harmony Chords"), a classically styled instrumental harmonica-act.

As the Harmonichords, they appeared on Hughie Green's Opportunity Knocks on Radio Luxembourg [1] and on The Ed Sullivan Show St. Patrick's Day special (filmed in Dublin, broadcast 15 March 1959), in which they played "Danny Boy". [2] They also played background music plus featured pieces in a 25-week radio comedy series called Odd Noises on Radio Éireann, which featured Eamonn Andrews. [1] In 1960, they changed their name to the Bachelors at the suggestion of Dick Rowe, A&R at Decca Records, who reportedly recommended the name "because that's the kind of boy a girl likes". [3]

During the 1960s, they had many successful songs in music charts in Europe, Australia, South Africa, South America, parts of the USSR, and the United States. Some of the most successful were "Charmaine" (1963); "Diane", "I Believe" (1964), "Ramona" and "I Wouldn't Trade You for the World" (1964); "Marie" (written by Irving Berlin) and "In the Chapel in the Moonlight" (1965). In 1965 they had the 'most played juke box track' with "The Stars Will Remember", from the film "It's all over town". Their last big hit in the UK was a cover of the Paul Simon song "The Sound of Silence" which reached No. 3 in April 1966.

Live work carried them into the 1970s with record-breaking theatre season shows. After a successful end to the 1960s with the album World of the Bachelors hitting the top 10 in 1968, the band became less and less dominant in the changing music industry. They remained successful recording artists and moved to the Philips label, which contracted easy listening stars such as Val Doonican and The New Seekers. Despite the Bachelors' last chart single being in 1967, they continued to play the cabaret circuit, still maintaining the original line-up until 1984, when there was "a messy split" between the Cluskey brothers and Stokes. [4]

Following the split, the Cluskey brothers appeared as "The New Bachelors" and Stokes as "Stokes & Coe"; Stokes allegedly also then appeared as "The New Bachelors" [5] and the Cluskeys performed as "Con & Dec, The Bachelors".

In 2008, a compilation CD I Believe – The Very Best of The Bachelors, featuring the 1960s hits together with two new songs recorded by Con and Dec Cluskey, was released through Universal, which had acquired the Decca catalogue, [6] (available in the US as an import from Uni Classics Jazz UK), [7] reached No. 7 in the UK album chart. [8] Con and Dec Cluskey appeared on TV and radio to promote the album.

Con Cluskey died on 8 April 2022, aged 86. He had been living in Elland, West Yorkshire, since 1970. [9] [10]

Film and television

Throughout the 1960s, the Bachelors racked up hit singles and albums, made guest appearances on all the then-current TV shows, [11] and appeared in two Royal Variety TV shows. [12] In 1963, they starred in It's All Over Town with Frankie Vaughan and The Springfields. The following year they appeared on the TV show Sunday Night at the London Palladium , then hosted by Bruce Forsyth: this episode, according to Paul Gambaccini, achieved the largest viewing audience ever for this very popular show. [12]

The Bachelors appeared in a film in 1964 called Just for You (known as "Disk-o-Tek Holiday in the USA), with DJ Sam Costa. In 1965 they made I've Gotta Horse with Billy Fury. In 1971 they starred in a TV situation comedy series called Under and Over playing three Irish navvies working on the London Underground. Six episodes were broadcast on BBC One. [13]

The group began 1970 by appearing on the BBC's highly rated review of the 1960s' music scene Pop Go The Sixties performing "Charmaine" and "Diane" live on the show, which was broadcast on BBC1 on 1 January 1970.

In December 2016, Con and Dec (performing as The Bachelors) appeared in Channel 4's Skeg Vegas, a one-off documentary following Skegness' Number One Entertainment Agent Noel Gee. [14]

Songs

The Bachelors' version of "Charmaine", with its descending melody that had already made it an evergreen, jogs along to a country guitar strum and a sprinkling of piano licks. Dick Rowe chose American Shel Talmy as record producer, who went on to produce some of The Kinks' classic rock hits. Another 1927 movie theme song, "Diane"—penned by the same songwriters as "Charmaine", Erno Rapee and Lew Pollack, and arranged in the same Nashville-like manner, but produced by Michael Barclay—was released in 1964 and gave the group their biggest international hit, reaching number one in the UK Singles Chart, as well as an American breakthrough at number ten.

Four of their hit songs ("Charmaine","Ramona","Marie" and "Diane") were taken from 1920s films. Jim Reeves had also covered the first three of these in the 1950s.

Discography

Single releases

YearTitles IRL
[15]
UK
[16]
NOR
[17]
US
[18]
US
AC
AUS
1962"Charmaine"86
1963"Faraway Places"36
"Whispering"18
"Long Time Ago"9
1964"Diane"211033
"I Believe"2233724
"Ramona"64938
"I Wouldn't Trade You for the World"1469137
"No Arms Can Ever Hold You"8727335
1965"True Love for Ever More"34
"Marie"915339
"Chapel in the Moonlight"2732289
1966"Hello, Dolly!"38
"The Sound of Silence"93
"Love Me With All Your Heart"383
"Can I Trust You?"26491243
"Walk with Faith in Your Heart"21832674
1967"Oh How I Miss You"30
"Marta"20
"Learn to Live Without You"28
"3 O'Clock Flamingo Street"
1968"If Ever I Would Leave You"
"The Unicorn"40
"I'll Walk with God"
"Turn Around, Look at Me"
1969"Where the Blue of the Night (Meets the Gold of the Day)"
"Punky's Dilemma"
"Everybody's Talkin'"
"My First Love"
"—" denotes releases that did not appear in the chart

Extended play (EP) releases

LabelYear of releaseTitleTrack listingUK Chart position
Decca 1963Bachelors"Charmaine"
"Bashanova"
"I'll See You in My Dreams"
"By the Light of the Silvery Moon"
5
1964Bachelors Vol. 2"Diane"
"Put Your Arms Around Me Honey"
"Moments to Remember"
"You'll Never Walk Alone"
7
The Bachelors' Hits"I Wouldn't Trade You for the World"
"Whispering"
"Ramona"
"I Believe"
1
1966The Bachelors' Hits Vol. 2"No Arms Can Ever Hold You"
"True Love for Evermore"
"Marie"
"In the Chapel in the Moonlight"
9

Albums

[16]

This discography (mostly) only includes UK releases. Over 70 albums have been released in the UK. [19]

No Arms Can Ever Hold You is a USA release (Stereo Edition: London Records PS 418, Mono Edition: London Records LL 3418)
The album contains the following songs:
A1) "No Arms Can Ever Hold You" (Crafer, Nebb – BMI) 3:02
A2) "Whistle Down The Wind" (Arnold – BMI) 2:15
A3) "I Do Adore Her" (Burgie – ASCAP) 3:15
A4) "Skip to My Lou (Arr. Martin, Blane – ASCAP) 2:08
A5) "Pennies From Heaven" (Burke, Johnston – ASCAP) 1:36
A6) "I'm Getting Sentimental Over You" (Washington, Bassman – ASCAP) 2:20
B1) "I'm Yours" (Mellin – BMI) 2:36
B2) "Mistakes" (Leslie, Nicholls – ASCAP) 2:34
B3) "With All My Heart" (Lynn, Lee – ASCAP) 2:55
B4) "The Saints" (Trad., Arr. Snider, Raymonde – BMI) 2:40
B5) "Far Far Away" (Kennedy – BMI) 2:28
B6) "If I Should Fall In Love Again" (Popplewell – ASCAP) 2:27

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Donovan</span> Scottish musician (born 1946)

Donovan Phillips Leitch, known mononymously as Donovan, is a Scottish musician, songwriter and record producer. He developed an eclectic and distinctive style that blended folk, jazz, pop, psychedelic rock and world music. He has lived in Scotland, Hertfordshire (England), London, California, and—since at least 2008—in County Cork, Ireland, with his family. Emerging from the British folk scene, Donovan reached fame in the United Kingdom in early 1965 with live performances on the pop TV series Ready Steady Go!.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Diane Warren</span> American songwriter (born 1956)

Diane Eve Warren is an American songwriter. She has won an Academy Honorary Award, Grammy Award, an Emmy Award, two Golden Globe Awards and a consecutive Billboard Music Award for Songwriter of the Year (1997).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lemar</span> Musical artist

Lemar Obika, known as Lemar, is an English singer, songwriter and record producer. Initially rising to fame after finishing third on the first series of British talent show Fame Academy, he was later signed to Sony BMG, where he has gone on to release five studio albums, three of which are certified platinum or double platinum by the British Phonographic Industry (BPI).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jackie Trent</span> English singer-songwriter and actress (1940–2015)

Yvonne Ann Gregory, better known by her stage name Jackie Trent, was an English singer-songwriter and actress. She was best known for co-writing several hits for Petula Clark in the 1960s and the theme tune to the Australian soap opera Neighbours in 1985.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tony Hatch</span> English composer

Anthony Peter Hatch is an English composer for musical theatre and television. He is also a songwriter, pianist, arranger and producer.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Sylvers</span> American R&B family vocal group

The Sylvers were an American R&B family vocal group from Watts, Los Angeles, California. The Sylvers were a popular act during the 1970s, recording the hit singles "Fool's Paradise", "Boogie Fever", and "Hot Line". Prior to becoming the Sylvers, the four eldest members recorded as the Little Angels, appearing on shows such as You Bet Your Life and Make Room for Daddy, and opening for such acts as Johnny Mathis and Ray Charles. During this time, they released two singles: "Santa Claus Parade" b/w "I'll Be a Little Angel" on Warwick Records and "Says You" b/w "Olympia" on Capitol Records.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Val Doonican</span> Irish singer (1927–2015)

Michael Valentine Doonican was an Irish singer of traditional pop, easy listening, and novelty songs, who was noted for his warm and relaxed vocal style.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Twinkle (singer)</span> English singer-songwriter (1948–2015)

Lynn Annette Ripley, better known by the stage name Twinkle, was an English singer-songwriter. She had chart success in the 1960s with her songs "Terry" and "Golden Lights".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Steve Mac</span> British musician and producer (born 1972)

Steve McCutcheon, known professionally as Steve Mac, is a British record producer, songwriter and musician. A multi-award-winning producer, he is one of the most prolific songwriters and record producers in modern British music, with contributions to 30 number one singles in the UK Singles Chart.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Damien Dempsey</span> Irish singer and songwriter

Damien Dempsey is an Irish singer and songwriter who mixes traditional Irish folk contemporary lyrics that deliver social and political commentaries on Irish society. Damien sings in his native, working-class accent in the English language, and to a lesser extent in the Irish language.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">I Just Don't Know What to Do with Myself</span> 1964 hit single for Dusty Springfield

"I Just Don't Know What to Do with Myself" is a song written by Burt Bacharach and lyricist Hal David.

"Charmaine" is a popular song written by Ernö Rapée and Lew Pollack. The song was written in 1926 and published in 1927. However, Desmond Carrington on his BBC Radio 2 programme marked the song's writing as being in 1913.

"Feeling Good" is a song written by English composers Anthony Newley and Leslie Bricusse for the musical The Roar of the Greasepaint – The Smell of the Crowd. It was first performed on stage in 1964 by Cy Grant on the UK tour.

Wayne Anthony Hector is a British songwriter who is best known for his work with pop artists such as Nicki Minaj, One Direction, the Wanted, Toše Proeski and Olly Murs. He co-wrote seven of Westlife's number one singles, including "World of Our Own" and "Flying Without Wings".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Marv Tarplin</span> American guitarist (1941–2011)

Marvin Tarplin was an American musician, best known as the guitarist for the Miracles from the 1950s through the early 1970s. He was one of the group's original members and co-wrote several of their biggest hits, including the 1965 Grammy Hall Of Fame-inducted "The Tracks of My Tears". He is also a winner of the BMI Songwriter's Award, and the ASCAP Award Of Merit, and was a 2012 posthumous inductee into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame with the Miracles.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Script</span> Irish rock band

The Script is an Irish rock band formed in 2001 in Dublin, by lead vocalist, keyboardist, guitarist Danny O'Donoghue, lead guitarist Mark Sheehan and drummer Glen Power. The band moved to London after signing to Sony Label Group imprint Phonogenic and released their first album The Script in August 2008, preceded by the debut single "We Cry" as well as other singles such as "The Man Who Can't Be Moved", "Breakeven" and "Before the Worst". The album peaked at number one in both Ireland and the UK. Their next three albums, Science & Faith (2010), #3 (2012) and No Sound Without Silence (2014), all topped the album charts in Ireland and the UK, while Science & Faith reached number two in Australia and number three in the United States. Some of the hit singles from the albums include "For the First Time", "Nothing", "Hall of Fame" and "Superheroes". The band's fifth studio album, Freedom Child, was released on 1 September 2017, and features the UK Top 20 single "Rain". Their sixth studio album, Sunsets & Full Moons, was released on 8 November 2019, and features the single "The Last Time". A Greatest Hits album was released on 1 October 2021.

"Your Auntie Grizelda" is a song recorded by the American pop rock group The Monkees. Diane Hildebrand wrote the lyrics and Jack Keller composed the music. It is the first released song of the band with Peter Tork on lead vocals.

Angela McCluskey is a Scottish singer-songwriter based in California. She performs as a solo artist and as a member of the folk rock group Wild Colonials. McCluskey has also provided vocals for Curio and recorded the European dance hit and US Mitsubishi commercial hit "Breathe" among other songs with Télépopmusik. Angela also sang "Beautiful Things" for American Express and more recently her voice can be heard on the Schick Quattro commercial singing "I’m Not the Girl". Her songs have appeared on the soundtracks for the films Rachel Getting Married, Sherrybaby, The Beat That My Heart Skipped. Her music has also been featured in the TV series Grey's Anatomy.

Pop Go The Sixties! was a one-off, 75-minute TV special originally broadcast in colour on 31 December 1969, to celebrate the major pop hits of the 1960s.. The show was a co-production between the United Kingdom's BBC and West Germany's ZDF broadcasters. The latter showed it on 18 January 1970 under the title "Schlag auf Schlagers". Although a co-production, it was primarily produced by the BBC and recorded at the BBC's Television Centre in London, in late 1969, featuring largely only British pop acts and hits.

<i>Insatiable</i> (album) 2010 studio album by Nadine Coyle

Insatiable is the debut studio album by Irish recording artist Nadine Coyle. It was released in the United Kingdom and Ireland on 8 November 2010, through Black Pen Records. Looking to transition from the electropop styles of her previous music as part of Girls Aloud, Coyle began to work on a solo album during the hiatus of the group. She enlisted writers and producers such as Toby Gad, Guy Chambers and William Orbit, co-writing its thirteen tracks alongside them. Coyle began to embrace a more sophisticated sound with Insatiable, and its songs incorporate genres of pop rock and R&B.

References

  1. 1 2 Kilmainham & Inchicore Local Dictionary of Biography
  2. "The Ed Sullivan Show Season Episodes". tv.com. Archived from the original on 8 February 2013. Retrieved 20 September 2008.
  3. Ian Whitcomb. "The Very Best of the Bachelors" . Retrieved 20 September 2008.
  4. Ruhlmann, William. "Allmusic Biography of the Bachelors" . Retrieved 8 July 2009.
  5. "John Stokes – The Truth". Thebachelors.co.uk. Retrieved 8 July 2009.
  6. 1 2 "I Believe: The Very Best of the Bachelors". Amazon.com. 21 July 2008. Retrieved 21 September 2008.
  7. "I Believe: The Very Best of the Bachelors". Amazon.com. Retrieved 21 September 2008.
  8. "Top 40 Albums Archive Week 31". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 21 September 2008.[ dead link ]
  9. "Con Cluskey, singer with the Bachelors, the first Irish band to have a UK No 1 single – obituary" . The Telegraph. 13 April 2022.
  10. Scargill, Tom (13 April 2022). "Former Bachelors singer and Elland resident Con Cluskey dies aged 80". Halifax Courier.
  11. "The Bachelors". The Internet Movie Database . Retrieved 21 September 2008.
  12. 1 2 Gambaccini, Paul (1993). Television's Greatest Hits. Gloucester (published 1995). ISBN   978-0-563-36247-0.
  13. "The UK Sitcoms Guide U-V". Memorable TV. Archived from the original on 10 October 2008. Retrieved 21 September 2008.
  14. "Skeg Vegas – All 4". Archived from the original on 14 December 2016. Retrieved 7 December 2016.
  15. "The Irish Charts: All There Is To Know: The Bachelors". Irish Recorded Music Association. Archived from the original on 2 June 2009. Retrieved 28 April 2012.
  16. 1 2 "Artist Chart History: Bachelors". The Official UK Charts Company. Retrieved 28 April 2012.
  17. "Norwegian Charts: The Bachelors". Hung Medien. Archived from the original on 13 January 2016. Retrieved 28 April 2012.
  18. "The Bachelors: Chart History". Billboard. Retrieved 28 April 2012.
  19. Sleeve Notes to I Believe – The Very Best of The Bachelors

Other sources