The Bluebells

Last updated

The Bluebells
OriginScotland
Genres
Years active1981–1986, 1993, 2008–2009, 2011, 2018, 2019, 2023–present
Labels London, Sire
MembersRobert Hodgens
David McCluskey
Ken McCluskey
Lawrence Donegan
Craig Gannon
Neil Baldwin
Russell Irvine
Gary Crowley

The Bluebells are a Scottish indie new wave band, [3] active between 1981 and 1986 (later reforming in 1993, 2008–2009, 2011, 2018, 2019 and 2023).

Contents

Career

The Bluebells performed jangly guitar-based pop not dissimilar to their Scottish contemporaries Aztec Camera [2] and Orange Juice. [3] They had three top 40 hits on the UK Singles Chart, all written by guitarist and founder member Bobby Bluebell (real name Robert Hodgens) – "I'm Falling", "Cath", and their biggest success "Young at Heart". [3] The latter was co-written with Siobhan Fahey of Bananarama [3] (originally recorded on the Bananarama album Deep Sea Skiving ) and violinist Bobby Valentino, and made it to number 8 on the UK Singles Chart on its original release in 1984. The band also released one EP, The Bluebells , and one full-length album, Sisters . [3]

The band split up in the mid-1980s, but enjoyed an unexpected revival in 1993 when "Young at Heart" was used in a Volkswagen television advertisement. [3] Re-issued as a single, it was number one for four weeks and led to the band reforming temporarily to perform the song on BBC Television's Top of the Pops . [3] A compilation album followed, The Singles Collection, which peaked at No. 27 on the UK Albums Chart in April 1993. [4]

The band reformed in late 2008, with original members the McCluskey brothers and Bobby Bluebell, to support Edwyn Collins at a show in Glasgow on 23 January 2009. On 29 May 2011, the band performed as part of the Southside Festival. On 17 December 2018, the band performed on a Christmas edition of The Quay Sessions for BBC Scotland. In 2019, the Bluebells appeared performing "Young at Heart" in an episode of the last series of the BBC Scotland sitcom Still Game . [5]

The band released In the 21st Century, an album of new material in 2023. [6]

Post-Bluebells

Prior to achieving chart success, bass player Lawrence Donegan left the band to join Lloyd Cole and the Commotions and then later trained as a journalist and is now a golf correspondent for The Guardian , having previously worked at The Scotsman . The other members of the band stayed in the music business after the split – David McCluskey and his brother, Ken, formed a folk duo, the McCluskey Brothers. Ken also works as a lecturer at Glasgow Kelvin College teaching music business, and David uses music therapeutically with a wide variety of people. Robert Hodgens has worked as a professional songwriter and formed a new group called The Poems, signed to the American label Minty Fresh.

Band members

Discography

Albums

TitleAlbum detailsPeak chart positions
UK
[7]
SWE
[8]
The Bluebells EP
  • Released: 1983
  • Label: Sire
Sisters
  • Released: 1984
  • Label: London, Sire
2229
Second
  • Released: 1992 (Japan only)
  • Label: Vinyl Japan
The Singles Collection
  • Released: 1991, 1993, 2005
  • Label: Deram, London Records, Warner Platinum
27
Exile On Twee Street (a collection of early recordings & demos)
  • Released: 2014
  • Label: Cherry Red, Vinyl 180 [9]
In the 21st Century
  • Released: 28 April 2023
  • Label: Last Night from Glasgow [10]
97

Singles

YearTitlePeak chart positions Certifications Album
UK
[11]
GER
[12]
IRE
[13]
NED
[14]
1982"Forever More"Non-album single
1983"Cath"62The Bluebells EP
"Sugar Bridge (It Will Stand)"72
1984"I'm Falling"1126 Sisters
"Young at Heart"813
"Cath (Remix)" (re-issue)38
1985"All I Am (Is Loving You)"58Non-album single
1993"Young at Heart" (re-issue)155115The Singles Collection
2023Gone TomorrowIn the 21st Century

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References

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  2. 1 2 "The Bluebells | Biography & History". AllMusic.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Colin Larkin, ed. (1997). The Virgin Encyclopedia of Popular Music (Concise ed.). Virgin Books. p. 154. ISBN   1-85227-745-9.
  4. Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 66. ISBN   1-904994-10-5.
  5. "Still Game Series 9, Episode 5 - Hitched". British Comedy Guide.
  6. "The Bluebells – In The 21st Century". Discogs.com. Retrieved 15 May 2023.
  7. "UK Albums". Official Chart Company. Retrieved 22 May 2016.
  8. "Swedish Albums". Swedishcharts.com. Retrieved 22 May 2016.
  9. "The Bluebells – Exile On Twee Street". Discogs.com. 28 July 2014. Retrieved 15 May 2023.
  10. Shepherd, Fiona (24 April 2023). "Album reviews: The Bluebells | Withered Hand | The Orb | Michael Hamilton". The Scotsman . Retrieved 3 May 2023.
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  14. "Dutch Singles". Dutchcharts.nl. Retrieved 7 May 2016.
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