From: Galway
Active: 1971-
Style: Pop/Covers
Lineup (1975-89 approx):
- Tommy Flynn - lead vocals
- Senan Davies - guitar
- Willie Carty - guitar
- Tony Maher - keyboards
- Brendan Hogan - bass
- Mike 'Doc' Horan - drums & lead vocals
Bio:
A marginal case for inclusion. The Conquerors were an pop/rock covers oriented (show)band
whose new wave era singles are sometimes sold as 'indie' or mod. It's a stretch, perhaps, but
some rate these singles from 1978-82, many of which are covers of 1960s pop and beat classics
including The Beatles and The Equals, done in an upbeat 'party' style, which perhaps explains their
popularity.
The band's recording career dates all the way back to their first single in 1972. I can't really comment
on these early singles as I haven't
heard them but I'd be highly surprised to find anything 'mod' about them.
At some point they acquired a synthesizer which dominates the arrangements on their
later singles released in the 1980s on their own Conks label, launched in 1983.
"When I Get Back Home" for example is a dreadful
synth-drenched MOR ballad consisting mostly of harmony vocals over a synth heavy
arrangement. The B-side in contrast is an interesting instrumental arrangement of
a traditional tune played purely on synth. Anyone
paying more than 50p for any of these Conks singles needs their head examined.
Tommy Flynn was vocalist from 1975-85. He was preceeded by Tom Fitzgerald (1971-74)
and Derrick Mehaffey (1974). Louis Bergoine played drums at some point. The band
kept going right though the 1990s.
Discography
• Home Away From Home / Woman Hungry / Sweet Mental Revenge
7" - Release Records - RL 677 - IRL - 1972/73
A-side sung by Willie Carty, B-side by Brendan Hogan.
• Same Old Song / Arms Full of Empty
7" - Hawk Records - HASP.339 - IRL - 1974
A-side by Kris Kristofferson; B-side by Buck Owens.
I'm guessing a country-tinged sound prevails on this one.
• Singing A Song About Love / All My Love
7" - Hawk Records - HASP.353 - IRL - 1974
• Leading Lady / Same Old Story Again
7" - Release Records - RL.914 - IRL - May 1978
• Baby Come Back / Hey Girl
7" - Spider Records - WEB 004 - IRL - November 1978
Equals cover on the A-side, Small Faces on the B-side.
Produced by Liam Hurley.
Reached #12 in Irish charts in January 1979
• Galway Are Back / Same Old Story
7" - Spider Records - WEB 013 - IRL - August 1979
Novelty GAA tie-in re-recording of the previous single.
Reached #30 in Irish charts in September 1979
• You're Gonna Lose That Girl / You Made It Right
7" - Spider Records - WEB 024 - IRL - 1980? - PS
Beatles cover on the A-side.
• Softly Softly / Galway Are Back
7" - Spider Records - WEB 033 - IRL - 1980 - PS
Another Equals covers.
• Come On Over To My Place / Sugar Sugar
7" - Spider Records - WEB 043 - IRL - 1981 - PS
Two more 1960s covers: The Drifters (A-side) and The Archies (B-side).
• Help / Getting Out
7" - Cara Sel Records - 001 - IRL - 1982 - PS
7" - Libra Records - LHS 001 - IRL - 1982 - PS
Another Beatles cover on the A-side, done slow ballad style; reggae B-side by Gerry Kennedy.
Produced by Tony Maher in Greenfield Studios, Headford, Co.Galway.
• Getting Out / Help
7" - Conks Records - CRS 006 - IRL - 1985? - PS
Conks reissue with sides reversed
• Baby Blue / You Make It Right
7" - Drive Records - DRS 009 - IRL - February 1983 - PS
Reached #7 in Irish charts duing a 9 week run
• When I Get Back Home / Lagan Love
7" - Conks Records - CRS 001 - IRL - 1983
• You're The Reason Why / Leading Lady
7" - Conks Records - CRS 002 - IRL - 1983? - PS
• Scarlet Ribbons / When I Get Back Home
7" - Conks CRS 004 - IRL - 1984?
• When A Lady Falls In Love / Good Vibes
7" - Conks Records - CRS 007 - IRL - 1986 - PS
A-side by Bobby O'Driscoll.
Produced by Tony Maher & Frank Colohan in Greenfield Studios, Headford, Co.Galway.
• Cover Up / Getting It Out
7" - Conks Records - CRS 008? - IRL - 1986? - PS
• Pretty Woman / Tank U Jak
7" - Conks Records - CRS 009 - IRL - 198? - PS
Roy Orbison cover.
• Lonesome Me / Tank U Jak
7" - Conks Records - CRS 010 - IRL - 198? - 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:
