The long awaited Dooleys CD
M. Williams | Manchester UK | 05/20/2005
(5 out of 5 stars)
"The Dooleys were the best UK family pop group of their era (late 70s - early 80s). At their height, they consisted of 3 brothers (Jim - lead vocals, John - guitar and Frank - guitar) and 3 sisters (Anne - vocals, Helen - keyboards and Kathy - vocals), they were joined by Anne's husband Bob Walsh on bass and the line up was completed with Alan Bogan, (who didn't have the decency to marry into the family) on drums.
The Dooley Family started performing as far back as 1970 at local events in their hometown Ilford. Then, after a succesful audition at a night club, started finding most of their work on the thriving night club circuit in the North of England.
In 1973 they moved north to Manchester and went on to win various awards for their live stage show. In 1977 they had their very first hit, "Think I'm Gonna Fall In Love With You" (No13) and rounded off the year with "Love Of My Life" becomming their first Top10 hit reaching No9.
The 2 chart hits enhanced their position as one of the UKs finest cabaret acts, with more hits following. "A Rose Has To Die" (No11), "Wanted" (No3) and "The Chosen Few" (No7) among others kept The Dooleys in the public eye in the UK.
Then in 1979, they began to chart in Japan with "Stone Walls" and "Wanted" becomming big hits. In 1980 they travelled to Japan to take part in the Tokyo Music Festival. Up against a strong field, containing many famous acts including Dionne Warwick, The Dooleys were awarded the Gold Prize (2nd place) with the song "Body Language". Around this time, the hits in their homeland were getting smaller, but Japan were embracing them and they had a run of hits around Asia.
There were changes of personnel in 1982 as 2 sisters left the group (Anne and Helen) along with their bass player. A further split with the departure of brothers John and Frank and their drummer left just Jim and Kathy to continue the group. This also lead to a second act being formed by those that had just departed. The Dooleys continued to tour for a number of years, but Jim and Kathy finally decided to part in 1992.
This cd covers the succesful years between 1977 and 82 and features 23 of their recordings for GTO Records, a label which also released records by Billy Ocean and Donna Summer at the time.
Most of the songs are written and produced by the Ben Findon / Mike Myers and Bob Puzey team who also wrote for Billy Ocean and another popular family group The Nolan Sisters (see their cd "The Singles Collection" too). There are also contributions by Barry Blue (a pop star in the UK during the 70s) and The Dooleys themselves feature as composers on a handful of tracks.
TRACK LISTING
1.Wanted
2.Stone walls
3.Body language
4.I spy
5.The Dancer
6.Tokyo feeling
7.Will you or won't you?
8.Move stars (and comic book heroes)
9.Forever
10.Meet me halfway
11.In a riddle
12.Secrets
13.Think I'm gonna fall in love with you
14.Don't take it lyin' down
15.A rose has to die
16.Honey I'm lost
17.Chosen few
18.Love patrol
19.Taken at the flood
20.Operator
21.What you got
22.Don't let me be the last to know
23.Love of my life
If you enjoy great middle of the road pop music, this is a must CD for you."
1970`s pop at it`s best!
Kenn Roy Rasmussen | Denmark | 06/02/2005
(5 out of 5 stars)
"The Dooleys are simply and absolutely great! if you in to a good old clean pop song with a perfect harmony to go with it...this is something for you! Carpenters, Abba and The Beach Boys have blessed us all with pure wonderful pop music at it`s very best! If you do not know The Dooleys, you are missing out on something! Big words...but coming from the heart!
Buy it...play it...and love it!"
Track Listings (23) - Disc #1