Song of the Day: 'Young at Heart' by the Bluebells

This one really takes me back to my high school, days one of the sweetest videos of the New Wave era. Bluebells guitarist Robert Hodgens co-wrote "Young at Heart" with Siobhan Fahey of Bananarama -- it appeared on the girls' "Deep Sea Skiving" debut in 1983 -- but it wasn't until his band released it in 1984 did it hit the U.K. Top 10. Then nearly a decade later, the song was used in a VW advertisement and shot to the top of the charts, where it remained for four consecutive weeks. I never got to see the band live -- they were part of the Scottish invasion I adored so much that also included Aztec Camera and Orange Juice -- but I see that they have done some reunion gigs as recently as May 2011. High school was a long time ago, but there's still hope that I can see them live -- even if I'm barely young at heart these days.

 

Music Box: The Bluebells

An old high school friend who I haven't seen in 20 years sent me the link to a YouTube(d) audio file of "Cath" by the Bluebells, an old fave from the Dobson High days. One listen and I felt like a 16-year-old listening to my Bluebells EP in my bedroom on West Kiva. (How I nearly wore that record out!) "I'm Falling" (brilliant!) and "Young at Heart" were great too, the latter co-written with Siobhan Fahey of Bananarama/Shakespear's Sister fame. (Oh, and I forgot, "Everybody's Somebody's Fool" is the best!) Between the Bluebells, Orange Juice, Altered Images, Aztec Camera and the Questions, there was a period in the early '80s when I thought Scotland must be the most wonderful place on earth. Thanks for the memory, Mike. I just ordered their singles collection and can't wait for it to arrive.

In the meantime, you can download the band's out-of-print, never-issued-on-CD debut full-length album, "Sisters," here. (And in case you're feeling guilty it is worth noting that there are zero Bluebells songs on iTunes, so I'm guessing TuneLovinJacket transferred this album from the original vinyl. And I have to say it it sounds pretty damn good.)

"I'm Falling" (these things just happen I guess ...)

"Cath" (woah, woah ... it takes a lot to make me laugh ...)