From: Limerick
Active: 1973-84
Style:
Lineup:
- Willy Browne - vocals, guitars, mandolin
- Joe Mulcahy - vocals, bass, harmonica
- Don O'Connor - vocals, drums, percussion
Bio:
Reform were a longstanding stomping, rowdy rock trio who incorporated some new
wave influences in the late 1970s but were never punk rock despite what you
might read elsewhere. Their singles are mostly good to great but the album is
cluttered with uninspired cover versions, is poorly mastered at too low a volume
and features ridiculously long gaps between the tracks on side one, making it
something of a missed opportunity. And let's not forget the atrocious cover
artwork! Even so it's a worthwhile pre-punk artefact which is becoming
increasingly hard to find.
Reform began life in Limerick in early 1968 as Colours, founded by Willie Browne
who'd previously been in a showband. The original lineup was a quartet with Joe
Mulcahy on rhythm guitar and Noel Casey on bass.
By 1973 they'd slimmed down to a trio, with Joe Mulcahy switching to base
following Noel Casey's departure, and they were known as Reform. Their manager
was Oliver Barry.
In 1973 they appeared on Spin Off (RTE TV) performing "I'm Gonna Get You" in a
battle of the bands competition format and emerged as eventual winners over The
Times and The Others among others. The prize was a recording deal with CBS.
A single "I'm Gonna Get You", produced by Billy Brown of the Freshmen, was
released in September 1973. A release was negotiated with Young Blood in the UK
and a second single for Young Blood/CBS followed in 1974, but nothing more came
of this relationship.
The band was then without a recording contract for a couple of years. A single
on Dolphin was slated for 1975 and received some radio play (so demos may exist)
but was ultimately cancelled.
They began recording again in 1977 with "Keep Music Live", a reaction against
disco, and in 1978 performed "You Gotta Get Up" in the National Song Contest.
But Eurovision hell was not to be.
The band was very active during 1977-79. They were very popular in Limerick
(where I grew up) and the south west in general and had a high public profile
in the area. Don O'Connor was an outspoken critic of Hot Press' Dublin-centric
coverage of the Irish rock scene. There are undoubtedly local live recordings
and radio recordings in existance, but I have no details about these.
Their debut album
finally came out in 1979 and is part singles compilation, part new recordings,
part covers and part original material. A mixed bag. Their final single for
CBS "Show Of Hands" came out in 1981.
In 1983 they released their last single "Million Dollar Man", inspired by a lottery
winner. In 1984 they were top of the bill at the Buddy Holly Convention organised
by the Limerick Rock 'n' Roll Club to mark the 25th Anniversary of his death. Reform
recorded a medley of his songs but these were never officially released.
Their final gig was on 31 August 1984 at the CYMS Hall in Killorglin, Co.Kerry.
Discography
• I'm Gonna Get You / Story of My Life
7" - Young Blood/CBS Records - YB1054 - IRL - September 1973 - no PS
Spent 5 weeks in the Irish charts in Sept/Oct 1973, peaking at #12
• One For The Boys / Salt Away
7" - Young Blood/CBS Records - YB1066 - 1974
• Got To Get You Into My Life / Matty Groves
7" - Dolphin Records - DOS131 - IRL - 1975 (unreleased) - PS?
Unreleased. Aired by Ken Stewart on Ken's Klub (RTE Radio), so demo
copies may exist.
• Keep Music Live / Tell Him So
7" - CBS Records - 5191 - IRL - 1977
• You Gotta Get Up / Brainwashed
7" - CBS Records - 6326 - 1978 - no PS
Spent 5 weeks in the Irish charts in May/June 1973, peaking at #3.
• Tail of the Dog / It's For You
7" - CBS Records - 7877 - IRL - 1979
• One For All
LP - CBS Records - 83668 - UK - 1979
Once a bargain bin perennial, now disappeared!
A Bay City Roller, Stuart Adamson and Magnum PI?
Nope, its a really bad drawing of Reform.
side one:
*Old Time Rock'N'Roll
*Shotgun Wedding
*Lord of the Manor
Tail of the Dog
*School Days
*It's For You
side two:
One For The Boys
Back To The Wall
You Gotta Get Up
*Rock'N'Roll (I Gave You The Best Years Of My Life)
One For All
I'm Gonna Get You (LP version)
Notes:
Produced by Jackie Hayden.
Engineered by Paul Waldron.
Cover design by T.P.Mac Curtain.
Half of the 12 tracks are covers [marked *].
• Show of Hands / Man of the World
7" - CBS Records - 1253 - 1981 - PS
• Million Dollar Man (I Wish I Was) / On My Way Back Home
7" - Little Black Records - LBS 002 - IRL - July 1983 - PS?
Help!
We need your help to correct and/or complete this entry. If you can provide more
information about this band, have scans, photos or any other memorabilia we can
use, or spare copies of any releases,
then please get in touch.
See Also:
