Song:Diane
Album:Presenting The Bachelors
The Irish group The Bachelors scored a top ten hit in 1964 with Diane. They were a much bigger deal in England. Despite the timing, they weren't a British Invasion act. And though they look like a folk music group, they recorded Tin Pan Alley standards. The Bachelors are from Dublin, Ireland with Conleth Cluskey, his brother Declan Cluskey and John Stokes. At first they were called The Harmonichords. Decca Records A & R man Dick Rowe suggested the name change to The Bachelors. He signed them and assigned them to producer Shel Talmy, best known for producing The Kinks. Charmaine was their first top ten hit in England in 1962 followed by I Believe. Diane topped the British charts in 1964 but it also reached #10 on the Billboard Hot 100. The song was written by Erno Rapee and Lew Pollack for the 1927 film Seventh Heaven. Mario Lanza, Jim Reeves and Miles Davis are among those who have recorded Diane. This is typical of the songs The Bachelors recorded. Their music was aimed at an older audience. Though Diane was their biggest US hit, The Bachelors continued to have success in England. This CD from the British reissue label RPM is a repackaging of The Bachelors first US album with some bonus tracks added. Beware of off labels selling re-recorded versions of The Bachelors hits. Though The Bachelors faded in the late 60s, they continued to perform in the 70s and record for Philips Records. They split in 1984. The Cluskey brothers still perform as The New Bachelors. Stokes also performs as The New Bachelors. I guess there is a legal dispute about the use of the name The Bachelors. Both groups tour the oldies circuit in England. Here are The Bachelors performing Diane and I Believe on a 60s variety show.
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