SISTER IRENE O'CONNOR

Sister Irene O'Connor recorded her first album 'Sing A Song To The Lord' in the early 70s on the Philips label. The songs on the album were all composed by her but not in the usual hymnal style but more in the style of popular music of the day to appeal to a younger audience. In 1973 she recorded 'Fire of God's Love', with Sister Marimil Lobregat an album that has since developed an international cult following. A decade earlier the two nuns met while teaching young children in Singapore. In the 60s Singapore was a hub for sisters traveling on missions throughout Southeast Asia and Sister Marimil Lobregat was passing through, on her way to Indonesia, when she met Sister Irene O'Connor. They only spent a short time together, but a friendship blossomed that was rekindled more than a decade later when they both found themselves staying in a convent in Sydney's Point Piper.

Sister Irene had an album worth of new songs and was looking to record them. Sister Marimil was working in Homebush at the Catholic Audiovisual Centre as a recording technician and, across a series of Sunday afternoons, the two made use of a small soundproof room at the convent and the studios in Homebush to record the album which was released both in Australia and the U.S but only sold in small numbers. A single was released from the album titled ''Fire'' which sold moderately. ''Fire'' has found it's way into genres as diverse as Praise & Worship, Psychedelic Pop, Folk Pop, Synth Pop and Avant-garde Christian. ''Fire'' has also featured in the BBC series Killing Eve and sampled in the song ''Where's the Catch'' by Electronic Music artist James Blake (featuring Hip Hop superstar Andre 3000). ''Fire'' has been used as the concert opening for the international Swedish Heavy Metal band, InSolitude.

SINGLES 
''Fire (#98) / O Brother!'' 1973 Philips 

EPs

'Message Of The Bells' 1973 HMV

ALBUMS  

'Fire Of God's Love' 1973 Philips
'Sing A Song To The Lord' 1973 Philips
Sing A Song To The Lord Vol. 2 1973 Philips
'Pilgrims With St. Francis Of Assisi' [with Frances Denaro FMM] 1982 Ave Maria Publications
'Sing For Joy - Songs, Narratives And Music To Accompany "Joy For Living": An Education Of Faith Programme For Grade One' The Confraternity Of Christian Doctrine

References

http://top100singles.blogspot.com.au/