Rock ‘n’ Roll goes Country with Mick Mulhern

AUSTRALIAN singer Kevin Johnston was something of a one-hit wonder in Ireland in 1974 when his song Rock ‘n’ Roll I Gave You the Best Years of My Life reached No. 8 in the Irish Pop charts, largely due to RTE’s DJ the late Val Joyce playing it regularly on his popular Airs and Races programme.

Mayo Country singer Mick Mulhern has now released a ‘Countrified’ new version of the song as his latest single.

While the original reached number 8 in the Irish charts and was in the Top 20 for 11 weeks – eight weeks in ‘74, two weeks in ‘75 and reached a lowly number 29 in the Top 30 for one week in 1982 – it failed to take Johnston to the top either here or in his native Australia.

Even when recorded by major American star Mac Davis, it only reached number 29 in the US Country charts and No. 15 in the Billboard Hot 100. Sadly, this much-loved song telling the story of a young musician’s dreams of making it to the top failed to reach number 1 there either.

While it did reasonably well in the UK even though it failed to reach the Top 20, it peaked at a credible No. 23 and was six weeks in the UK charts. A cover version released by Terry Jacks (of Seasons in the Sun fame), performed poorly too, only reaching number 97 in the US Hot 100.

So, despite it being the most recorded song written by any Australian, it’s reasonable success at home, and similarly abroad, sadly still only reflected the realities and disappointments that are unfortunately encountered along the way by so many singers trying to have a number 1 hit.

But as Mick Mulhern’s version places the emphasis more firmly on the storytelling at the heart of the song, charting a journey from youthful ambition and optimism to acceptance of where life ultimately leads, it might fare better here among an older Country audience.

Mick, from Bohola, Co Mayo, has established a strong following on the Irish Country music circuit and is one of the most requested singers on Country radio. His musical influences include George Jones, Charley Pride and Merle Haggard, along with Irish Country legends Big Tom and Ray Lynam.

Mick was encouraged to record the Kevin Johnston song by his friend the music journalist and broadcaster Michael Commins who heard him sing it at one of his concerts and loved his version.

Mick released his debut album, Stormy Horizons, in 2017, with Tony Allen of Foster & Allen describing it as “one of the best Irish albums of the year”.

He later followed it with the album Souvenirs in 2022. His recent recordings include The Easter Brothers’ song A Heart That’ll Never Break Again, while other popular songs include My Old Home in Mayo and You Waltzed So Softly Through My Mind.

He will appear with many of the leading names of Irish Country in the upcoming Michael Commins Concert in The Radisson Blu Hotel, Sligo on November 2nd and 3rd. Others on the shows include Effie Neill, Sandy Kelly, John Glenn, Tony Allen and young Jordan McPolin the current winner of TG4’s Glór Tíre. Tickets for the Sligo shows are available from Quinn’s Shop, Tuam.

Meanwhile, the writer of the Rock ‘n’ Roll song Kevin Johnston is still alive at 84 in his native Australia but as his career peaked in the 1970s, he now only makes occasional media and concert appearances.