Album review: THE HOOTENANNY – Plays The Songs Of Ron Ryan

Think Like A Key Music [Release date 02.09.22]

By all accounts, Ron Ryan was the writing force behind several of The Dave Clark Five’s hits in the sixties. He was introduced to Clark via his brother, early band member Mick Ryan. According to Ron his 50/50 royalty share wasn’t honoured by the bandleader and he then pursued a lower key life in country music. More recently, he hooked up with Joe Montague via Joe’s sixties music-based podcast. Montague’s band performs a selection of Ryan’s material.

The master stroke of these reworked songs is the use of a female lead vocal (Louie McDonald) which gives it a link to Dusty and even Kiki Dee. What could have been a fairly trite nostalgic exercise is elevated by Ryan’s good songwriting and McDonald’s soulful vocals.

The chronology of the songs is not clear, Montague comments “some from the 60s and some more recent, but every single track gleamed with the polished songwriting assocated with the 1960s.” The standout, which apparently gives Ryan goosebumps, is really a meld of sixties torch singer and the more contemporary: ‘The Thought Of Never Seeing You Again’.

Whatever, this is a worthwhile project that shines a light on a talented writer who might have forever remained a footnote in the sixties storybook. And on ‘The Light’ there is a cameo performance by Ryan himself on vocals.

This nicely annotated release is bolstered by half a dozen original recordings featuring Ryan with his band The Walkers from sessions in 1964 further attesting his pop credentials. ****

Review by David Randall

Featured Artist: JOSH TAERK

Since early 2020 Josh has been entertaining us with exclusive monthly live sessions,

Check out videos here: https://www.facebook.com/getreadytorockradio

David Randall presents a weekly show on Get Ready to ROCK! Radio, Sundays at 22:00 GMT, repeated on Mondays and Fridays), when he invites listeners to ‘Assume The Position’. The show signposts forthcoming gigs and tours and latest additions at getreadytorock.com. First broadcast on 16 November 2025.

UK Blues Broadcaster of the Year (2020 and 2021 Finalist) Pete Feenstra presents his weekly Rock & Blues Show on Tuesday at 19:00 GMT as part of a five hour blues rock marathon “Tuesday is Bluesday at GRTR!”. The show is repeated on Wednesdays at 22:00, Fridays at 20:00). This 600th show was first broadcast on 18 November 2025

How to Listen Live?

Click the programming image at the top of the page (top right of page if using desktop)

Get Ready to ROCK! Radio is also in iTunes under Internet Radio/Classic Rock
Listen in via the Tunein app and search for “Get Ready to ROCK!” and save as favourite.

More information and links at our radio website where you can listen live or listen again to shows via the presenter pages: getreadytorockradio.com

Power Plays w/c 1 December 2025

We feature all the artists selected in this sequence in 2025.

Featured Albums w/c 1 December 2025

09:00-12:00 The Best of 2003 – 2025 (Melodic Rock)
12:00-13:00 The Best of 2003 – 2025 (Melodic Hard Rock)
14:00-16:00 The Best of 2003 – 2025 (Singer Songwriter)

Our occasional Newsletter signposts latest additions to the website(s). We also include a selection of recent top albums, based on GRTR! reviewer ratings. The newsletter is sent out a few times a year.

If you’d like to register to receive this occasional mailing please complete the form:

If using a smartphone/tablet please tap here or re-orientate your device

(Note that this registration is separate from site registration which allows you to leave comments and receive daily emails about new content. If you wish to register for this – in addition or separately – please click or tap here – for more information – the form is at the foot of each page. Please read our privacy policy when opting-in to receive emails.