2nd Sound Feature (Oct. 1971 - March, 1972)

Photo Gallery - Band Lineups - Discography - Audio samples - Where Are They Now?

The Story

Editor's note: Every care has been taken to present only factual information in our stories based on first person reports, newspaper articles and photographic archives. If you can add anything or correct info in this story, please email us and let us know.

The story of such a short lived band would normally go unnoticed except that the lead singer was one of Ireland's best known female vocalists of the era, Eileen Reid. Eileen had retired from the Cadets Showband and the ballroom scene in 1968. The June 22, 1968 issue of Spotlight ran two conflicting blurbs about Eileen's retirement from the Cadets. The first announced her final Dublin appearance was scheduled for the Ierne Club on June 19th and the second said her last gig with the band would be the Television Club on June 22nd. In the article Eileen warned other girls about getting involved with the showband scene, "I would not recommend it to any girl - unless they had a great bunch of lads like the Cadets to work with, and then only for a few years." (6-22-68).

Eileen would marry Jimmy Day, sax player with the Cadets and had her first child, a girl named Pamela in 1969. After a short time, Eileen returned to the cabaret scene, playing gigs in and around Dublin.

In October, 1971 it was reported that Eileen would be joining George Kaye (formerly of the Smokeys) in his new band which had been named Real Country but was being renamed the George Kaye Band. This actually didn't happen as George formed a cabaret act with several other members of Real Country and the remainder of the lads joined with Eileen and the band was the brainchild of Des Kelly who felt his line-up of bands was top heavy with country outfits. Des Kelly Promotions would managed the "new" band which would be called The Second Sound. Their reported first gig was October 30th, 1971 in the Hibernian in Mallow. although another article says they played on the 29th in Moate, Co. Westmeath. A few nights later, Eileen was also advertised doing cabaret in Dublin, so we know she kept both gigs going for a time.

Her return to the showband scene was accompanied by a flurry of publicity, although many of the articles following her reappearance on the showband scene started with, "remember Eileen Reid," which was a little strange as she had only retired 3 years earlier. The band released a record, "My Dear Childhood Sweetheart" and it looked like they were set for a bright future.

The band's line-up was very strong with Eileen on Vocals, husband Jimmy Day (sax), Shea Cribben (Riviera Showband - bass), Joe Holleran (guitar), Bobby Clarke (Raindrops - trumpet), Paddy Higgins (drums), Joe Murray (Real Country - keyboards), and Colm Graham (guitar). Jimmy was the band's leader and Musical Director. The band hit the road running and all indications were there would be the band of 1972 to beat. Gigs were plentiful and they were playing all across the country as 1972 began.

On March 9, 1972, a small blurb in the Connaught Telegraph reported that the 2nd Sound were now backing Dermot Henry, as Eileen had returned to the cabaret scene. This wasn't actually true as it was later reported that most of the band had joined Dermot as the new line-up of the Virginians, but we will have to do more research to figure out which members joined the Virginians. However, no more advertisements appeared for Eileen and the Second Sound and we know Eileen and Jimmy returned to the cabaret scene (which they had never really left).

In only four short months, Eileen's return and departure from the showband circuit, if nothing else, indicated the scene was changing and many of the aging showband stars of the 1960's were having trouble fitting in with the new ballroom dance scene of the early 1970's.     

More to come.....

Photo Gallery

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Discography

Dear Childhood Sweetheart / He's A Pretty Good Man
M

Audio Clips

Coming Soon

Where Are They Now?