First published in Britain in 1987, this bracing, funny, honest,
and charming first novel tracks the brief existence of The
Commitments, a working-class Dublin band bent on bringing soul to
the people. Fortunately for Outspan and Derek, who've decided to
form And, And!, And, a syntho-pop cover band (as soon as they get
the money to buy instruments, anyway), Jimmy Rabbite consents to be
their manager. Jimmy's the sharpest industry observer in northern
Dublin ("Jimmy had Relax before anyone had heard of Frankie Goes to
Hollywood and he'd started slagging them months before anyone
realized that they were no good"), and is able to turn the band to
soul. Renamed the Commitments, Jimmy adds to the band - among
others - the three Commitmentettes; and a pro, Brother Joey "The
Lips" Fagan, a balding, motherly horn-player old enough to have
fathered the rest of the band. Brother Joey, who's played with
everyone from James Brown to the Beatles, takes over the band's
musical training to great success, and is soon sampling the
nonmusical talents of the Commitmentettes, much to the disgust of
his frustrated younger colleagues. After a lot of amusing
preparation, the band gains recognition in local pubs and the music
press. But Deco, the band's talented but oafish singer, lets
success go to his head, and despite an offer to record, friction
breaks up the band. We leave Jimmy, Outspan, and Derek as they
realize that what Dublin really needs is a country-western band.
Brash, human, smoothly executed, and seemingly authentic, full of
youth, energy, and good humor, this is a quintessential garage-band
romance - and a fine and promising debut. (Kirkus Reviews)
Barrytown, Dublin, has something to sing about. The Commitments are
spreading the gospel of the soul. Ably managed by Jimmy Rabbitte,
brilliantly coached by Joey 'The Lips' Fagan, their twin assault on
Motown and Barrytown takes them by leaps and bounds from the parish
hall to the steps of the studio door. But can The Commitments live
up to their name? The bestselling book behind the long-running West
End stage show. 'Unstoppable fun. A big-hearted, big-night out' The
Times
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