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Tommy Drennan & The Monarchs
Tommy Drennan & The Top League
Tommy Drennan (solo)

From: Limerick

Active: '60s onwards

Style: Showband Singer

Bio:

tbd.

The Monarchs formed circa 1960 and turned professional in 1961: Tommy Drennan, Brian Meehan, Brendan Moynihan, John Frawley, Dermot Heraty, Mike Kavanage, Frank Hogan.

From the liner notes of their debut LP:

"The music and song of Ireland which you hear on this album is presents by The Monarchs, seven talented young entertainers from Limerick, on the banks of the Shannon river. Formed in 1960 and fully professional since 1961, The Monarchs are amongst the most sought after of Irish showbands. Already they have several hit recordings to their credit, which have been released in many parts of the world. Their biggest seller has been 'Boolavogue', which was the first ever patriotic Irish ballad to reach the Irish Record Charts.
Featured vocalist Tommy Drennan joined the band after an outstanding careeras a solo artist on radio, TV and variety. He has been featured on all the band's recordings to date, and like other members of the band, he is qequally at home singing Irish ballads or the latest pops from the hit parade. The other members of the Monarchs Showband are:- Brian Meehan, Brendan Moynihan, John Frawley, Dermot Heraty, Mike Kavanagh and Frank Hogan.



Tommy Drennan and The Monarchs Discography




• Ballad Time EP
7" - Ember Records - EMB-EP-4555 - UK - 1964 - PS


• Boulavogue / Bless This House
7" - Ember Records - EMBS 201 - UK - 12/1964 - PS
Entered the Irish charts on 14.12.1964, peaking at #4 in an 8 week run.


• Kevin Barry / The Patriot Game
7" - Ember Records - EMBS 213 - UK - 5/1965


• Molly / My Prayer
7" - Ember Records - EMBS 214 - UK - 5/1965
Entered the Irish charts on 17.05.1965, peaking at #9 in a 1 week run.


• Really Don't Want To Know / Before This Day Ends
7" - Ember Records - EMBS 226 - UK - 2/1966


• 50 Years After
LP - Ember Records - EMB 3373 - UK - 1966
LP - Quality Records - Q 5001 - Canada - 1966

Notes: Recorded in 1966, commemorating the 1916 Rising.



• Step Together / The Dying Rebel
7" - Quality Records - 1885X - Canada - 1966 - no PS
Both tracks from the 50 Years Later LP.


• Connemara Cradle Song / The Holy Ground
7" - Ember Records - EMBS 238 - UK - 2/1967?
Entered the Irish charts on 10.03.1967, peaking at #16 in a 4 week run.


• The Finest of the Irish
LP - Decca Records - DL 74923 - USA - 1967
Compilation for the US marker.


Hugh Trainor - Sean South Of Garry Owen /
Tommy Drennan & The Monarchs - A Nation Once Again
7" - Ember Records - EMBS 251 - UK - 4/1968


• Rising Of The Moon / Maureen (Irish Cradle Song)
7" - Ember Records - EMBS 259 - UK - 1/1969


• Come Home Rollin' Stone / Peggy Gordon
7" - HMV - IP 1323 - IRL - 1969
Entered the Irish charts on 09.08.1969, peaking at #12 in a 3 week run.


• Where Were You When I Nedeed You / Ann
7" - HMV - IP 1324 - IRL - 1969
Entered the Irish charts on 07.11.1969, peaking at #14 in a 3 week run.


• Little Boy Lost / Day Is Done
7" - EMI Columbia - IDB 759 - IRL - 1970
Entered the Irish charts on 30.07.1970, peaking at #6 in a 9 week run.


• Love Is A Beautiful Song / Lonely Road
7" - EMI Columbia - IDB 765 - IRL - 1970
Entered the Irish charts on 06.11.1970, peaking at #12 in a 5 week run.


• Share My World
LP - EMI Talisman Records - STAL 6019 - IRL - 1970
LP - MFP Records - MFP 50019 - UK - 1970
Singles compilation 1967-70. Some tracks re-channeled stereo.


• Taxes By The Score / Mary Ann Regrets
7" - EMI Columbia - IDB 785 - IRL - 1971
Entered the Irish charts on 03.07.1971, peaking at #8 in a 6 week run.


• O Holy Night / Lonely Without Love
7" - EMI Columbia - IDB 794 - IRL - 1971 - PS
Entered the Irish charts on 02.12.1971, peaking at #1 in a 5 week run.


Hugh Trainor / Tommy Drennan & The Monarchs - Irish Explosion
LP - Ember Explosion - SE 8006 - UK - 1971
Split compilaton LP.

Notes: Compilation of LP and 45 tracks by Hugh Trainor (on side one) and The Monarchs (on side two). Both artists released their sole proper LP on Ember in 1966 which were five years old at the time of this release. The front cover artwork of these albums is reproduced unaltered (apart from song titles), Trainor on the front, the Monarchs on the back.



Tommy Drennan and The Top League Discography




• When My Summer Sunshine Is Gone / Try A Little Kindness
7" - Play Records - PLAY 17 - IRL - 1972


• The Promise And The Dream / Beggar To A King
7" - EMI Columbia - IDB 818 - IRL - 1972
Entered the Irish charts on 19.10.1972, peaking at #3 in a 12 week run.


• Lead Us Through / Doreen
7" - EMI Columbia - IDB 826 - IRL - 1973
Entered the Irish charts on 01.03.1973, peaking at #6 in an 8 week run.


• Love And The Country / Cinderella
7" - EMI - EMD 4003 - IRL - 1973
Entered the Irish charts on 11.10.1973, peaking at #8 in a 4 week run.


• Beautiful Peace / December's Song
7" - EMI - EMD 4011 - IRL - 1973


• Harvest Moon / The Sunny Side of My Lfe
7" - EMI - IEMI 5017 - IRL - 1974?


• Love and the Country
LP - EMI Green Label - LEAF 7003 - IRL - 1974

Notes: An album of all new material written with Denis Allen. Probably the hardest LP to find now.



• When All your Loves Have Gone / This Time
7" - EMI - IEMI 5033 - IRL - 1975


Tommy Drennan Solo Discography




• I Pretend / Sweet Surrender
7" - Skylark Records - BK001 - IRL - 1976


• If Dreams Came True / If You Take My Hand
7" - Skylark Records - BK004 - IRL - 1976
Entered the Irish charts on 19.11.1976, peaking at #7 in a 2 week run.


• Today / Molly
7" - Skylark Records - BK007- IRL - 197?


• You Light Up My Life / The Other Side Of Me
7" - Polydor Records - 2078 087 - IRL - 1978


• I Can't Live My Life Without You / Picture of You
7" - Polydor Records - 2078 095 - IRL - 1978


• Sunshine Lover / Aging Lady
7" - Polydor Records - 2078 101 - IRL - 1979
Entered the Irish charts on 24.05.1979, peaking at #17 in an 8 week run.


• Mind Confusion / When Love Comes
7" - Polydor Records - 2078 115 - IRL - 1980 - PS


• A Little Love, A Little Kiss / The Promise And The Dream
7" - Smashed Records - SMASH 009 - IRL - 1983


• Julie / Wonderful Tonight
7" - TLC Records - TLC 001 - IRL - 1984


• Your Love / Sentimental Friend
7" - TLC Records - TLC 002 - IRL - 1985





See also: Official website: tommydrennan.com


Help!: We need your help to complete this entry. If you can tell us more about this band then please do! We welcome any corrections, missing details, connections to other bands, where are they now, etc. We also need photos, scans, copies of releases or live or demo recordings, and any other memorabilia gathering dust in the attic. If you can help, then please get in touch.




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