Sunday 28 September 2008

Welcome

This is the first post of Dream Team Audio, an Internet music release hub where you will find a diversity of music from our Northern Irish artists:

All links will lead to free legal downloads uploaded by the artists themselves. Please visit the sites and download and enjoy. Pass on the links freely.

Paul McIlwaine (jazz & blues)

Paul Mcilwaine has been a musician for nearly thirty years and has enjoyed success in a variety of Northern Irish bands, most notably The Tearjerkers, Etc Etc, The Detonators and the Bob Dawson Big Band.

Paul records and produces on a regular basis and still gigs occasionally with the Rhythm Review. Main styles include Blues, Nu Jazz, Country and Ambient.

Nu is his first solo album, it is largely guitar based instrumental music that has indian inpired raga tunes and ambient guitar tones with a bit of funk thrown in.

The Tearjerkers (power pop)


The Tearjerkers are Paul 'Westie' Maxwel - Vocals, Howard 'Throb' Ingram - Bass Guitar, Paul 'Groover' McIlwaine - Guitar, Brian 'Brinsley' Rawson - Guitar, Nigel 'Squatty' Hamilton - Drums later replaced by Gregg Lindsay.

The band signed to local cult label Good Vibrations in 1978 before signing to Phonogram label releasing the following singles:- * Love affair, Murder Mystery, Through the Back Door (American compilation album) Phonogram , Where's Julie - Blue Rhythm Audio. The Tearjerkers also released a live album originally on cassette titled "Everybody Wants To Shag... "The Tearjerkers - This has become a highly sought after collectable.

The Tearjerkers scored a minor hit in the UK reaching number 74 in the UK singles chart with the single Murder Mystery produced by John Astley & Phil Chapman who had previously worked with the Who and Eric Clapton. This single was also released in France, Sweden, and Belgium where it was well received reaching the lower reaches of European hit parades. Murder Mystery was reviewed favourably on Radio One's Round Table on which Johnny Rotten gave it a thumbs up! This single now exchanges hands at very high prices and is one of the most prized 'rare' singles from the punk era. Subsequently, the band recorded sessions in Parkgate Studios in Sussex with Chris "Merrick" Hughes who was the drummer/producer of Adam & the Ants. Another recording session followed a short time later and this time it was produced by Lawrence Juber of Wings at Radio Luxembourg's studios in London.

The band toured Ireland with a number of well known international bands i.e. Thin Lizzy, Dexy's Midnight Runners, Doll By Doll and Rachel Sweet. The TJ's where also featured on local TV and national radio with sessions on RTE's Dave Fanning Show, the BBC's John Peel Show twice as well as Belfast's local Downtown Radio, in whose studio the band recorded a number of sessions. 1980 founding member and drummer Nigel left the band, he was replaced by Johnny Lee for a short English Tour and latterly with Gregg Lindsay.

The Tearjerkers in 1980 decided to release a studio album and worked with a variety of producers in London studios; including Lawrence Jauber (Paul McCartney), Chris Hughes (Adam and the Ants). Not entirely satisfied with the results the band continued to work on a new set of songs and produced the sessions themselves with the assistance of Stephen 'Rasta's' Nelson (DTR). Unfortunately the band split before the record could be issued.

In 2008 the band released an Internet version of this album which can be downloaded from Soundclick or itunes you will also find a free mini album of the Tearjerkers playing a London Gig in 1980 by following the Soundclick link.