The Nolans

The Nolans biography

The Nolans are an all-female band consisting of a group of sisters. The group, best known for their song "I'm In the Mood for Dancing", gained prominence as guest performers on numerous television shows in the United Kingdom. The majority of their charted singles and albums occurred in the early 1980s but they continued to be active until 2005 and were particularly successful in Japan. The sisters have pursued varying solo careers in acting, music and television presenting.

In 2009 The Nolans reformed for a one-off concert tour in Ireland and in the UK, spawning an album and DVD.

Early career: 1974-79

Tommy (1925-1998) and Maureen Nolan (1926-2007), who had both worked as singers in Ireland, moved their family from Dublin to Blackpool in 1962, and launched a family singing group, The Singing Nolans, in 1963. The original lineup comprised the parents, sons Tommy and Brian, and daughters Anne (born 12 November 1950), Maureen (born 14 June 1954), Linda (born 23 February 1959) and Bernadette ('Bernie', born 17 October 1960).

The family performed even as the five girls all went to school at Blackpool's St Catherine's Catholic Secondary School. The Nolans also attended The Cardinal Wiseman School in Greenford, Middlesex. As well as performing frequently on the northern club circuit, The Singing Nolans recorded an album, The Singing Nolans, a single "Blackpool" - which was a song about their local football club, Blackpool F.C., and is still used on match days at Bloomfield Road - and the EP "Silent Night" for the Nevis label in 1972.

In 1974 the five daughters began performing as The Nolan Sisters. After guesting on Cliff Richard's TV show, they began regular appearances on variety and comedy shows including Summertime Special, The Morecambe & Wise Show and The Two Ronnies. In 1975 they supported Frank Sinatra on a UK tour and Rolf Harris in South Africa.

They released one uncharted single on EMI in 1974 and several more on Target Records between 1975 and 1977, A 1977 eponymous album on the Hanover Grand label was sold only at the London Club Room in Drury Lane, and is ranked by price guides as the most collectible UK release by the group.

Their chart breakthrough came in 1978 with the covers album 20 Giant Hits on Target, which reached Number 3 in the UK. That year they also supported Engelbert Humperdinck on a US tour, and Denise left the group to pursue a solo career.

In 1979, the group participated in the UK Eurovision selection contest A Song For Europe. The group had been pre-booked to promote the song on many BBC shows, leading to speculation that it had been taken for granted they would win the competition. One booking was representing the BBC at the 25th Anniversary celebrations for the Eurovision network, which was staged in Montreaux, Switzerland, in April 1979.

After signing with CBS subsidiary Epic Records in 1979, the group enjoyed their greatest period of commercial success. Although their debut release - the failed UK Eurovision entry "Harry, My Honolulu Lover" - did not chart, their second Epic single "Spirit, Body and Soul" reached number 34. At the end of 1979, the group released the disco-flavoured single "I'm In the Mood for Dancing", which became their best-known tune and biggest hit. It reached number 3 in the UK, and number 1 in Japan, The song, like the majority of The Nolans' hit singles, was written by Ben Findon, Mike Myers and Robert Puzey.

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