One Band a Month - The Commitments: More Than Mustang Sally
You remember the movie. You remember the suits. You remember Joey "The Lips" Fagan. You definitely remember "Mustang Sally."
And if you're anything like me, you probably remember shouting along to it. But here's the thing...
The Commitments were bloody brilliant.
And somewhere along the way, we forgot just how good they were.
A Soul Band From Dublin?
On paper, it sounds slightly ridiculous.
Take a bunch of young Dubliners, throw them together, tell them they're going to bring soul music to Ireland, and let them loose on some of the greatest songs ever written.
What could possibly go wrong?
Well...
Quite a lot, actually.
That's part of what makes The Commitments so much fun.
But beneath the arguments, egos, romances and general chaos was something rather special. A group of musicians who genuinely understood the music.
The story revolves around Jimmy Rabbitte, a music obsessive with a vision. He doesn't want another Dublin rock band. He wants soul. Otis Redding. Wilson Pickett. Aretha Franklin. Sam & Dave.
Music with horns.
Music with rhythm.
Music that makes you move.
And so The Commitments are born.
Or, more accurately, assembled.
And then the problems begin.
Because getting a group of musicians to play together is one thing.
Getting them to behave like a band is something else entirely.
At the centre of it all is Deco Cuffe, played by Andrew Strong.
And bloody hell...
That voice.
Strong was only a teenager when he played Deco, but he sounded like he'd been dragged through thirty years of soul clubs before anyone put a microphone in front of him.
Raw.
Powerful.
A little rough around the edges.
Exactly what the songs needed.
And he wasn't alone.
Glen Hansard played guitarist Outspan Foster. Angeline Ball became Imelda. Maria Doyle Kennedy played Natalie. Félim Gormley took on the saxophone.
Then there was Joey "The Lips" Fagan, the band's supposedly experienced trumpet player, who may or may not have been quite as experienced as he claimed.
Together, they created something that felt far more convincing than a fictional band had any right to.
And that's where Alan Parker got something very right.
He didn't treat the music as background decoration.
The music was the story.
The performances were filmed and recorded with the energy of a real band playing live.
And the soundtrack became one of those rare movie records that could escape the film entirely.
You didn't need to have seen The Commitments to enjoy the music. You just needed ears.
Which brings us to the obvious question. Why are we still talking about "Mustang Sally"?
Don't get me wrong. It's fantastic. But it's only the beginning.
Because once you start digging into the soundtrack, you realise this wasn't simply a movie built around one memorable song.
There is some seriously good soul music here.
The magic is in the performances.
"Take Me to the River" has that swagger.
"Try a Little Tenderness" gives Andrew Strong the opportunity to absolutely tear the roof off.
"Chain of Fools" lets the female vocals shine.
"In the Midnight Hour" is pure energy.
And "I Can't Stand the Rain" brings something completely different — slower, darker and dripping with atmosphere.
The Commitments weren't merely copying these songs.
They were having fun with them.
And you can hear it.
The Commitments – Beyond Mustang Sally
"Take Me to the River"
A great example of why this band worked. Groove, horns, vocals and attitude all locked together.
"Try a Little Tenderness"
Andrew Strong's showcase. If you've only heard "Mustang Sally", this is the one that should make you stop and pay attention.
"Chain of Fools"
The female voices of The Commitments get their moment, and they absolutely deserve it.
"In the Midnight Hour"
Joyous, energetic soul music. This one practically demands that you get out of your chair.
"I Can't Stand the Rain"
A completely different mood. Slower, more intimate and wonderfully atmospheric.
"Bring It on Home to Me"
Beautifully understated and a reminder that the band didn't need to shout to make an impression.
"Mr. Pitiful"
Raw, punchy and full of that classic soul energy that Jimmy Rabbitte was chasing from the beginning.
"Treat Her Right"
And here's another one that deserves to be rescued from the shadow of the big numbers. Fun, infectious and impossible not to enjoy.
So... Were They Really a Band?
Here's the funny part.
The Commitments were fictional. But the music wasn't. The performances weren't. And the talent certainly wasn't.
Some of those musicians went on to significant careers. Glen Hansard became a celebrated singer-songwriter. Andrew Strong continued performing and recording. Others carved out careers in music and acting.
So perhaps calling The Commitments a "fake band" misses the point entirely.
For a brief moment, a fictional Dublin soul band became real enough to make millions of people fall in love with the music.
And that's quite an achievement.
Final Thoughts
There's a reason The Commitments still works.
It's funny.
It's chaotic.
It's gloriously Irish.
But underneath all of that is a genuine love for soul music.
Jimmy Rabbitte might have been convinced he was putting together the greatest soul band Dublin had ever seen.
He may have been slightly ahead of himself.
But he wasn't wrong about the music.
Because once those horns kick in, the rhythm section locks down and Andrew Strong opens his mouth...
you believe them.
So yes, put on "Mustang Sally."
Sing along.
Have a laugh.
Then keep going.
Because The Commitments were never just about one song.
They were about the joy of discovering what happens when a bunch of people who absolutely love music get together and, against all odds...
make something bloody brilliant. 🎷🎸
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