Back in July 1983, Strawberry Switchblade released their debut 45 Trees And Flowers on a very small indie label called 92 Happy C. What was hugely impressive was that the duo, Jill Bryson and Rose McDowall, persuaded Roddy Frame to play acoustic guitar on the single.Coming to the attention of the legend that is Bill Drummond, the girls were soon signed to Korova Records, part of the Warners Music Group, and best known for being the imprint on which Echo & The Bunnymen material was released.
The first Strawberry Switchblade single released on Korova was Since Yesterday in October 1984. It took its time but eventually got into into the charts around Christmas time, eventually reaching the giddy heights of #5
It did seem as if the girls, who looked like goths but sang twee-like pop songs, had hit the jackpot and would be with us for years to come. Sadly, it was not be. The follow-up 45 Let Her Go didn't flopped to just #59, but that was a minor triumph is comparison to the next again single, Who Knows What Love Is, which didn't even break into the Top 75.
The duo had one last stab at re-finding the fame with a nifty cover version of Jolene - yes, the same song made famous by Dolly Parton, but when it too failed to do anything spectacular, Strawberry Switchblade officially disbanded.
So they are to all intents and purposes, your classic one-hit wonders. But a damn fine hit is was, even if the production now sounds oh-so-very 80s:-
mp3 : Strawberry Switchblade - Since Yesterday
Here's the b-side from the 7"
mp3 : Strawberry Switchblade - By The Sea
And here's a wee TOTP clip to enjoy as well:-
And while I'm on, here's the two sides of the final single:-
mp3 : Strawberry Switchblade - Jolene
mp3 : Strawberry Switchblade - Being Cold
Happy Listening
6 comments:
great single JC from a band that production ruined. If you haven't already, pop over to:
http://www.strawberryswitchblade.net/downloads/index.php
for an Aladdin's cave of sessions, b-sides, demos etc all free to download. It's a great site with an indepth overview of a sadly overlooked band.
Rose McDowall has also released several albums under the name "Sorrow" and as herself. One well worth checking out is "Cut With The Cake Knife" which, i believe, is tacks that were destined for the 2nd Strawberry Switchblade album.
I saw them at a Youth CND Demo at the Kelvinhall, I seem to recall, over 25 years ago, christ that's scary!
This is better than I remembered.
I remember the name but not the song. Listening now you'd think for sure they were American. Guess was that how it was done back then...
One of my wife's favorite bands from way back!
"Since Yesterday" was a tough one to follow, especially since the rest of the tracks on their debut LP lacked that track's bubbly pop counterpoint to the rather glum lyrics.
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