“Mick and I have recorded about 1,000 songs as Foster & Allen. Every year we did an album, but when Covid came along we were doing very little and I had time to think about things that wouldn’t normally cross my mind,” says Tony Allen, about the starting point for his debut solo album, Daydreams and Memories.
The Lurgan-based singer has enjoyed almost 50 years of success as one half of Foster & Allen, but when the entertainment business ground to a halt during the pandemic, it was listening to Gerard Doran’s Your Health Is Your Wealth that ignited a spark in Allen.
“I recorded the song, which was so appropriate for that time, with Gerard in his Co Down studio and when I went back to Seamus Cullinane (producer) at my studio in Moate (Co Westmeath) we began picking songs.
“There’s always been a number of songs I wanted to record, that perhaps wouldn’t work so well on accordion with Foster & Allen, so I decided to do the whole thing myself.”
The project, however, was put on hold when another opportunity that took him “out of his comfort zone” came about with RTÉ.
In Lost In Music, they engaged with a new generation of Irish artists in bold new musical adventures, exploring rap, soul and indie rock.
“We travelled around Ireland meeting these young musicians for two one-hour specials. It was a great experience,” says the 72-year-old.
His album is a mix of new recordings of well-known favourites, combined with some original tracks by Irish songwriters, and features duets with Hugo Duncan, Philomena Begley and Brandon McPhee.
The album’s title, Daydreams and Memories, is taken from The Town Of Athlone, written by Kevin Sherrin. A formidable name in the Irish music scene, Allen credits him as the reason why he’s “in the music business”.
Foster & Allen performed in Clonard Monastery a few years ago and I enjoyed that. I say to young people starting off, you really have to play in every village in Ireland for people to get to know you. You can be on television or their computers every day of the week, but you need to play their local town to make a connection
— Tony Allen
It was Kevin Sheerin, who recommended Tony join him in the Kieran Kelly Band, replacing Brendan Shine.
“I was with them for nearly two years and it was great craic. Kevin is a lifelong friend of mine and I’m delighted with the song The Town of Athlone. It’s very appropriate, I’ve had great memories over the years.”
Staying with his home county, also on his album is Song For Westmeath specifically penned for him by PJ Murrihy. Another new song is Good Hearts Get Lost by Co Clare singer-songwriter Derek Ryan.
Other highlights from Daydreams and Memories include Embrace The World by Crawford Bell, who passed away in April this year.
“Crawford was a lovely man and a terrific songwriter. I picked that song because it’s about something different, but more relevant than ever in today’s world.”
There are also songs by US country legends: John Prine’s Blue Umbrella; Willie Nelson’s I Don’t Know a Thing About Love; John Denver’s Annie’s Song, and Flesh And Blood by Johnny Cash.
In the song 4033, Tony is accompanied by his wife Trionagh Allen and Danny Sheerin, and is dedicated to Danny’s late mother, Mary Sheerin.
“Mary was a great singer and a lovely woman, who was always smiling,” reminisces Allen, who has plans to perform some solo concerts this summer, as well as perform some easy listening concerts inside churches.
“Foster & Allen performed in Clonard Monastery a few years ago and I enjoyed that. I say to young people starting off, you really have to play in every village in Ireland for people to get to know you. You can be on television or their computers every day of the week, but you need to play their local town to make a connection.”
He’s definitely taken his own advice over the years, playing far and near.
“Mick and I toured Australia 20 times. Maggie was number one in Australia and New Zealand for five weeks back in the early ‘80s. But there comes a time when you have to say enough is enough. I don’t want to do an awful lot, but I still want to do something,” he chuckles.
Mick has released a number of trad albums over the years. So, what was his reaction to Tony finally releasing his solo record?
“He’s been on at me for years to do it,” he laughs. “We’ve never had an argument,” adds Allen about his 76-year-old musical partner.
In 1973, along with his brother Tom, Allen was part of Doc Carroll’s Nightrunners Showband, reuniting with Foster, whom he first played with in the Marylanders.
In 1975 the band were touring in England, when a friend – Pat Callaghan from Derry – who ran an Irish dance venue in Brixton, asked Allen, on keyboard and Foster, on accordion if they would help him launch his new pub.
It was the start of a lifelong partnership for the pair who have had an eclectic range of highlights over the years. It’s their infamous appearance on Top of the Pops in 1982, dressed as Irish leprechauns, singing A Bunch of Thyme, that is Allen’s overriding career high.
“We were on with The Boomtown Rats and The Nolans. There were people dancing away on the dance floor and walls of lights – it was a great experience,” recalls Allen.
Tony’s late entry as a solo artist certainly doesn’t mark the end of Foster & Allen, who at the end of this year will celebrate their golden anniversary.
“It’s hard to believe it’s been 50 years and we’ve had the same management and same record company since 1978. We will be doing an album for the anniversary and a tour,” enthuses Allen, who says “people” and “the craic” is what keeps him singing.
