The Commitments (14 page)

—Joey called them corners.

—That’s it, said Dean. —Dead on. ——Four corners an’ you’re back where yeh started from. D’yeh follow me?

—I suppose so, said Jimmy. —Are yeh goin’ to leave?

—The Commitments?

—Yeah.

—No, Jaysis no. No way.

Jimmy was delighted with the way Dean answered him.

—How come? he said.

—It’s good crack, said Dean. —It’s good. The jazz is in me spare time. That’s okay, isn’t it?

—Yeah, sure.

—No, the soul’s grand, Jimmy. It’s good crack. It’s just the artist in me likes to get ou’ now an’ again, yeh know.

—Yeah, righ’. I know wha’ yeh mean. I’m the same way with me paintin’.

—Do you paint, Jimmy?

—I do in me bollix.

Dean was happy now. So he kept talking, to please Jimmy.

—No, I wouldn’t want to leave The Commitments. It’s great crack. The lads are great. ——You’re doin’ a good job too. An’ ——Keep this to yourself now.

—Go on.

——I fancy Imelda a bit too, yeh know.

—Everyone fancies ’melda, Dean.

—She’s great, isn’t she?

—Oh, she is indeed. ——A grand young one. ——Wha’ abou’ Joey’s ideas abou’ soul bein’ the people’s music an’ tha’?

—Don’t get me wrong, said Dean. —Joey’s great. ——He’s full o’ shi’e though. ——Isn’t he?

—I suppose he is a bit now tha’ yeh mention it.

——Brother Dean. ——But go easy on the solos though, righ’.

—Okay.

*   *   *

Now that Jimmy thought of it, Imelda might have
been holding The Commitments together. Derek fancied her, and Outspan fancied her. Deco fancied her. He was sure James fancied her. Now Dean fancied her too. He fancied her himself.

Imelda had soul.

*   *   *

There was no review in Hot Press. That was a disappointment. But they were in the Rhythm Guide.

Jimmy cut it out and stuck it on his wall.

*   *   *

The Commitments all arrived on Wednesday. They all helped with the gear. They all looked well. Deco’s hooter was back to normal.

—Is he here yet? James asked.

He stood behind Jimmy. Jimmy was sitting at a table at the door, taking in the money.

—Who?

—The man from Eejit.

—Not yet. I’d say he’ll come though.

—I sure as hell hope so, Massa Jimmy, said James.
—I’ll have to piss off righ’ after, okay. I’ve another oral tomorrow afternoon.

—Fair enough, said Jimmy. —Count tha’ for us.

Hot Press arrived, with someone else.

—He’s here, Jimmy told James. —Tell the others, will yeh.

—Goodie goodie, said James.

—Howyis, lads, said Jimmy.

—Hi there, said Hot Press. —The review’ll be in the next issue, okay. We were out of space. A big ad, you know.

—No problem, said Jimmy.

—This is Dave I was telling you about last week, remember?

—Oh, yeah, said Jimmy. —Howyeh, Dave. ——Jimmy——Rabbitte.

He shook Dave’s hand.

—Hi, Jimmy, said Dave. —Maurice tells me your guys are good, yeah?

—He’s righ’ too, said Jimmy. —They have it alrigh’. ——Go on ahead in, lads. I’ll be with yis in a minute. I’ll just rob a few more punters.

Jimmy was shaking.

The Commitments were great. Everything was right. They looked great too. Each one of them was worth watching.

They started with Knock on Wood. Mickah was cheered every time he loafed the drum. Then they did I Thank You. Then Chain Gang, Reach Out—I’ll Be There and then they slowed down with Tracks of My Tears. After that, What Becomes of the Broken Hearted. Then The Commitmentettes took over with Walking in the Rain, Stoned Love and Stop in the Name of Love.

Once the crowd knew that The Commitmentettes were finished they began to shout for Night Train.

They got it four songs later.

—ALL ABOARD, said Deco. —THE NIGH’ TRAIN.

There was pushing. Someone fell, but was up quickly. Nothing serious happened. They swayed and bopped as Deco did the roll call of American cities.

The crowd was waiting, getting ready.

—AN’ DON’T FORGET NEW ORLEANS —THE HOME O’ THE BLUES ——

  OH YEAH ——

  WE’RE COMIN’ HOME ——

All The Commitments could see now after the front rows was hands in the air, clapping, and a few women on boyfriends’ backs. Outspan grinned. Derek laughed. This was great.

—THE NIGH’ TRAIN —

  CARRIES ME HOME ——

  THE NIGH’ TRAIN —

  CARRIES ME HOME —

  SHO’ NUFF IT DOES ——

Jimmy looked at Dave from Eejit. He was smiling.

Deco and the girls chugged while The Commitments brought the train around for the home stretch.

Deco broke away from the girls.

He growled: —STARTIN’ OFF IN CONNOLLY —

Screams, roars and whistles.

—MOVIN’ ON OU’ TO KILLESTER —

Everyone jumped in time, including Dave from Eejit. And Jimmy.

—HARMONSTOWN RAHENY —

  AN’ DON’T FORGET KILBARRACK —THE HOME O’ THE BLUES ——

  HOWTH JUNCTION BAYSIDE —

  GOIN’ HOME —

  THEN ON OU’ TO SUTTON WHERE THE SNOBBY BASTARDS LIVE —

  OH YEAH ——

  OH YEAH ——

The crowd sang with Deco.

—NIGH’ TRAIN —

  COMIN’ HOME FROM THE BOOZER —

  NIGH’ TRAIN —

  COMIN’ HOME FROM THE COMMITMENTS —

  NIGH’ TRAIN —

  GETTIN’ SICK ON THE BLOKE BESIDE YEH —

  NIGH’ TRAIN —

  BUT IT DOESN’T MATTER COS HE’S ASLEEP —

  NIGH’ TRAIN —

  CARRIES ME HOME —

  NIGH’ TRAIN —

  CARRIES ME HOME —

  NIGH’ TRAIN —

  TO ME GAFF —

  NIGH’ TRAIN —

  CARRIES ME HOME ——

  OH YEAH ——

  OH YEAH ——

Then The Commitments did it all over again. There wasn’t time for an encore but it didn’t matter.

The Commitments were delighted with themselves.

—You’re professionals, Brothers and Sisters, said Joey The Lips. —You ooze soul.

—That’s a lovely thing to say, Joey. You ooze soul too. —I blush.

Dave from Eejit came over to the platform.

—Great show, said Dave.

—Thanks, pal, said Mickah.

—Very visual, said Dave.

—Didn’t sound bad either, did it? said Mickah.

—It sounded great, said Dave. ——Ladies, wonderful. Amazing.

—Thanks very much, said Natalie.

—Yeah, said Bernie, —thanks.

—See now, said Natalie. —We’re wonderful.

—Amaaazing, said Imelda.

Dave went over to Jimmy.

—Can we talk, em?

—Jimmy.

—Jimmy, right. Can we talk? Over here, yeah?

They went into a far corner. Hot Press came with them.

—Did yeh like tha’, Dave? Jimmy asked.

—Great, terrific. ——Great.

—They’re not bad at all, sure they’re not, Dave? said Jimmy. —They need a bit o’ polishin’ maybe.

—No, no, said Dave. —That’d ruin them. Leave them as they are. Raw, you know.

—Fair enough. Wha’ever yeh say. You’re the expert.

—The senior citizen. The trumpet, yeah? He’s a terrific idea.

—That’s Joey The Lips Fagan.

—Yeah.

—He played with James Brown.

—Right.

—Among others.

—The ladies too. ——Great visuals.

Jimmy nearly laughed. He hid behind his glass. Then he asked Dave a question.

——Would yeh be interested in us, Dave?

—Yeah, right. Definitely.

Jimmy held his glass to his chest. He knew it would rattle if he put it on the table.

Dave continued.

—We release singles only. At the moment. We’re small, and happy that way, yeah? We’re not in it for the lucre, yeah? You heard the Reality Margins single? Trigger Married Silver and Now They’re Making Ponies? From the Fanning session?

Jimmy lied.

—Yeah. ——It was very good.

—That was Eejit. ——It didn’t get the airplay. They were scared of it, you know. ——We sign bands for one single, yeah? No fee, sorry. We pay for the studio time so long as it’s not more than a day, and the producer. We do the package. A good picture cover. You’ve seen the label

—Yeah, said Jimmy.

He wasn’t lying this time.

—It’s good ——very nice.

Hot Press spoke. —Dave set up Eejit as a springboard for new bands. The Eejit record is meant to be the first step on the ladder. The idea is that the major labels hear it and if they like you they sign you.
The Eejit single is to help you get a proper contract. It gives you a voice.

—That’s right, said Dave.

—Tha’ sounds fair enough, said Jimmy. —That’d be great. Has it worked so far?

—Yes and no, yeah? said Dave. —Reality Margins are before their time.

Hot Press laughed.

Dave explained.

—My little brother plays percussion for Reality Margins, yeah? But you know The Baby Docs?

—Yeah. ——Bitin’ the Pillow. ——Yeah, it’s good, tha’.

—CBS and Rough Trade are sniffing there, said Dave.

—That’s good, said Jimmy. —I hope it works ou’ okay for them now.

—So, Jimmy, said Dave. —Tell me. ——Would The Commitments be interested in recording Night Train for us?

—I’d say they would, yeah, said Jimmy. (And to himself:—Yeh fuckin’ budgie, yeh!)

—You don’t know for sure?

—We’re a democratic group, Dave, said Jimmy. —Soul is democracy.

—Right, said Dave. —We could put that on the sleeve.

—Good thinkin’.

—I see a double A-side, said Dave. —Side A, the studio Night Train. The other side A, the live Night Train.

—I like it, said Hot Press.

—I’d buy tha’, said Jimmy.

—It’d get the airplay, said Dave. —It’d sell. It’d chart, yeah? It’s good, unspoilt roots stuff, you know. ——Pure. ——And very fuckin’ funny.

Jimmy washed his giggles back with the last of his pint.

——Would we have to pay you annythin’, Dave? he asked.

—No, said Dave. —It’s cool. ——We’re funded by the Department of Labour, yeah? Youth employment, yeah? They pay me. Any profit goes back into Eejit.

—Go ’way! said Jimmy. —That’s grand.

—I suppose I’m just a hippy, you know, said Dave. —And my parents are rich. ——Are The Commitments on the dole?

——Some o’ them.

—That’s good, said Dave. —The Department will like that.

Hot Press laughed.

—We’d have to sign somethin’, wouldn’t we? said Jimmy.

—Right, yeah. A simple, one-off contract, yeah?

—We could do tha’ annytime.

—Right.

—Yeh don’t have one on yeh, I suppose?

—Tomorrow.

—Okay, righ’. ——I’ll see if I can talk the group into it. Will we have to meet annyone?

—No.

—No one from Eejit?

—I’m Eejit.

Hot Press laughed again.

—Just yourself?

—Just myself, said Dave.

He pretended to type.

—I’m even the secretary, yeah?

—Fair play to yeh, Dave, said Jimmy.

Jimmy went to the door with them. They said their goodbyes and arranged to meet the next night in The Bailey.

Jimmy took some deep breaths.

That was perfect. The Commitments wouldn’t be tied to a little gobshite label run by hippies. Just the one single (Night Train would be a big hit in Dublin) and the big boys would be queuing up for The Commitments, readies in hand. Jimmy wondered if they should wait a bit before they gave up their jobs.

Jimmy took one more long breath, clapped his hands, rubbed them, and went back inside to tell The Commitments.

But they didn’t exist any more. Somewhere in the quarter of an hour Jimmy had been negotiating with Dave from Eejit, The Commitments had broken up.

Outspan and Derek were the only ones still at the platform. The rest were gone.

Jimmy leaned against the wall.

——Wha’?

—They all fucked off, said Outspan.

He was explaining how it had happened.

—Why?

—I’m not sure, said Outspan. —It was over before I copped on tha’ ann’thin, was happenin’. ——Do you know, Derek?

—I think it was when Deco seen Joey kissin’ ’melda.

—Imelda?

—Yeah.

—Wha’ abou’ Bernie?

—She didn’t seem to mind.

—For fuck sake! said Jimmy. ——Real kissin’, like?

—Oh yeah, said Derek. —They were warin’ alrigh’. Over where you are.

—I seen tha’ bit alrigh’ said Outspan.

He shook his head.

—Nearly puked me ring.

—Then Deco said he was sick o’ this, said Derek,—an’ he pulled Joey away from her, righ’. An’ he called ’melda a prick teaser. An’ tha’ wasn’t on cos she isn’t, so I went to give him a boot, righ’. But then Deco had a go at Joey. I think he fancied ’melda, d’yeh know tha’? ——He gave Joey a dig. Hurt him. Then Mickah went for Deco. He got him a few slaps an’ Deco ran ou’ an’ he said The Commitments could fuck off an’ Mickah went after him.

—How come I didn’t see annythin’? Jimmy asked.

—It happened very fuckin’ fast, said Outspan. —I didn’t see ann’thin’ either an’ I was here, sure.

—Where’s James?

—He had to go, remember?

—That’s righ’. ——Dean?

—Dean took it very badly, Jim, said Derek.

—I heard this bit, said Outspan. —He ——Listen to this now. ——He said he was fucked if he was goin’ to waste his time jammin’ —Jammin’! —jammin’ with a shower o’ wankers tha’ couldn’t play their instruments properly. ——Tha’ wasn’t on. ——I gave him a dig. An’ he fucked off. I think he was cryin’. ——Spa!

——Fuckin’ great, said Jimmy.

—D’yeh know wha’? said Derek. —I think Dean
fancies ’melda too. It’s a gas really when yeh think abou’ it.

—It’s a fuckin’ scream, said Jimmy. —Where’s Joey?

—He went to the hospital. He thinks his nose is broke. The girls went with him but I don’t think he wanted them to. He was tryin’ to get away from them. They had to run after him.

Jimmy sat down on the platform.