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Biography
Infobox musical artist | name = Strawberry Switchblade| image = Strawberry Switchblade.JPG| caption = Strawberry Switchblade: Rose McDowall (left) and Jill Bryson (right).| image_size =| background = group_or_band| genre = Pop rock , New Wave music|New Wave ,Allmusic|class=album|id=r223177|pure_url=yes Strawberry Switchblade Album review Allmusic Bubblegum pop|bubblegum | years_active = 1981–1986| Country = Glasgow | label = Warner Bros. Records|WEA , Korova (record label)|Korova | associated_acts =| website = http://www.strawberryswitchblade.net/ Fan Website | members =| past_members = Jill Bryson Rose McDowall Strawberry Switchblade was a female pop rock / New Wave music|New Wave band formed in Scotland in 1981 by Jill Bryson and Rose McDowall , best known for their song "Since Yesterday" in 1985.
History
Before being signed
The Punk rock|punk movement expanded rapidly in the United Kingdom in 1976. At the time, Rose McDowall and Jill Bryson were classic Glasgow punks. As the punk rock scene electrified Glasgow in the late '70s, they were a part of the bohemian art scene who adored the New York Dolls and who followed Scottish punk band Nu-Sonics during their career, with McDowall playing and recording with Paisley punk band The Poems. http://www.strawberryswitchblade.net/writings/tangents_01.php Strawberry Switchblade essay by Alistair Fitchett
As friends, McDowall and Bryson socialised in Glasgow pubs, catching many local bands at the time. One of these bands was Orange Juice , fronted by Edwyn Collins . Those emerging from New Pop and Orange Juice had recorded a live version of "Felicity" as a flexi-disc and intended to release it. The fanzine was to be named after a James Kirk song, and was to be called "Strawberry Switchblade" . The fanzine never materialised, however, and the "Felicity" flexi eventually appeared as an addition to the debut Postcard single "Falling and Laughing". The name Strawberry Switchblade became Rose and Jill's moniker as they began their career to pop stardom.
Having played at a John Peel gig in Scotland, Strawberry Switchblade were invited to record a session for his BBC Radio 1 show in October 1982.cite web | url= http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio1/johnpeel/artists/s/strawberryswitch/ |title=BBC - Radio 1 - Keeping It Peel - Strawberry Switchblade|publisher= BBC |accessdate=26 May 2011 They also recorded a session for David Jensen 's Radio 1 show three days later. On both sessions the band were augmented by James Kirk from Orange Juice on bass and Shahid Sarwar from The Recognitions on drums.
Early days making records
The sessions were heard by Bill Drummond (a Scotland|Scottish musician who went on to form The KLF ) and David Balfe , respectively manager and keyboard player with the recently defunct The Teardrop Explodes , who became the group's managers.cite web | url= http://www.strawberryswitchblade.net/interviews/drummond_01.php |title=Strawberry Switchblade - Bill Drummond interview |publisher=StrawberrySwitchblade.net |accessdate=26 May 2011
The band's first single, "Trees and Flowers", was released in July 1983 through 92 Happy Customers, an independent record label run by Will Sergeant from Echo & The Bunnymen , and sold over 10,000 copies. It was featured at number 47 in John Peel's 1983 Festive 50. "Trees and Flowers" was written by Bryson about her medical condition agoraphobia .
Drummond signed the band to Warner Music Group subsidiary Korova in 1983. They got a full backing band with whom they toured and began recording an album with producer Robin Millar . However, at the record company's behest, they reverted to the duo of Bryson and McDowall and for production duties they hired David Motion, who would soon go on to produce hits for Red Box (band)|Red Box .cite web | url= http://www.strawberryswitchblade.net/interviews/bysubject_13.php |title=Strawberry Switchblade - complete interviews, by subject: Recording the album |publisher=StrawberrySwitchblade.net |accessdate=26 May 2011
Since Yesterday
In late 1984 their second single, "Since Yesterday", was released. Having been given a large marketing push over the festive period, it became a UK top ten hit in early 1985, peaking at number 5, and also met with success in Europe and Japan .
Their cover version of "Sunday Morning" (originally by Velvet Underground ) was released as an extra track on the 12" of "Since Yesterday". It was not included on any of the Strawberry Switchblade albums.
The track's opening fanfare came from Sibelius ' Symphony No.5, which had also featured prominently in the coda section of the earlier hit "Beach Baby" by The First Class . The band's' strikingly contrasting black and white wardrobe, including the polka dot rah-rah skirt s worn for the sleeve of "Since Yesterday", attracted coverage at the time.Citation needed|date=April 2009 Their somewhat ' Gothic fashion|gothic ' appearance was also of note.Citation needed|date=April 2009
Later records
However, they attained little more than the unenviable title of one-hit wonders , when all subsequent releases to "Since Yesterday" failed to reach the Top 50 in the UK Singles Chart .
In March 1985 they released their next single, "Let Her Go", a tune in a similar vein to "Since Yesterday".
Following the release of their eponymous album in April, in May 1985 they released a further single, the ballad "Who Knows What Love Is",cite web | url= http://www.strawberryswitchblade.net/discography/singles.php|title=Strawberry Switchblade - singles discography |publisher=StrawberrySwitchblade.net |accessdate=26 May 2011 one of two tracks on the album produced by Phil Thornalley of The Cure .cite web | url= http://www.strawberryswitchblade.net/interviews/bysubject_16.php |title=Strawberry Switchblade - complete interviews, by subject: Recording the album iv|publisher=StrawberrySwitchblade.net |accessdate=26 May 2011
Their fifth single, an electro-pop cover of Dolly Parton 's " Jolene (song)|Jolene ", was issued in September 1985 in the UK and Japan.
Although their commercial success had waned in the UK they remained popular in Japan and two later singles, "Ecstasy (Apple of My Eye)" and "I Can Feel", were only issued in that country. The second of these only featured McDowall as by this time the partnership had irreparably fractured. By early 1986, the group had disbanded.
In December 2005, Warner Bros. Platinum Records released a career retrospective of the band, made up of sixteen different tracks from various recordings on one compact disc.cite web | url= http://www.strawberryswitchblade.net/discography/albums.php|title=Strawberry Switchblade - albums discography |publisher=StrawberrySwitchblade.net |accessdate=26 May 2011
Discography
Infobox artist discography| Artist = Strawberry Switchblade | Image = | Caption = | Alt = | Studio = 1 | Live = | Compilation = 2 | Video = | Music videos = 4 | Tribute = | EP = | Singles = 7 | B-sides = 11 | Soundtrack =
Studio albums
Year
Album details
Chart positions
U.K. cite web
1985
Strawberry Switchblade (album)
Released: April 1985 (expanded edition released in Japan, 1997)
Label: Korova (record label)|Korova / Warner Music Group|WEA
25
Compilation albums
Year
Album details
1985
The 12" Album
Released: 1985 (originally Japan only, Issued on CD in Canada, 1995)
Label: Warner-Pioneer Corporation
2005
The Platinum Collection
Released: December 2005
Label: Warner Platinum
Singles
Year
Title
Album
Chart positions
U.K.
U.K. Indie cite web
IRL cite web
NL cite web
1983
"Trees and Flowers"
—
–
3
–
–
1984
"Since Yesterday"
Strawberry Switchblade
5
–
6
24
1985
"Let Her Go"
59
–
–
–
"Who Knows What Love Is? "
84
–
–
–
"Ecstasy (Apple of My Eye)" (released in Japan only)
"–" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that territory.
B-sides
"Go Away" (1983)
"Trees and Flowers (Just Music)" (1983)
"By the Sea" (1984)
" Sunday Morning (The Velvet Underground song)|Sunday Morning " (1984)
"Beautiful End" (1985)
"Michael Who Walks By Night" (1985)
"Poor Hearts" (1985)
"Let Her Go (Kitchensynch Mix-Up)" (1985)
"Black Taxi" (1985)
" Jolene (song)|Jolene (Extended Mix)" (1985)
"Being Cold" (1985)
Music videos
Year
Title
Director
1984
"Since Yesterday"
Tim Pope
1985
"Let Her Go"
"Who Knows What Love Is? "
Jolene "
References
reflist Category:Scottish musical groups Category:Musical groups established in 1981 Category:Musical groups from Glasgow Category:British pop punk musical groups Category:British New Wave musical groups Category:Scottish punk rock groups Category:British girl groups
