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Strawberry Switchblade - Since Yesterday review on Pop Panel (Saturday Superstore, 20 October 1984)

Strawberry Switchblade fansite @strawfansite.bsky.social · 2d

Since Yesterday reviewed on the 'pop panel' segment of BBC kids' TV show Saturday Superstore. The non-musicians disparaged it but the musicians were approving. Delia Smith hated the 'doom & gloom', Midge Ure retorted 'I quite enjoy a bit of misery'!

www.youtube.com/watch?v=h1zt...

YouTube video by Strawberry Switchblade

Since Yesterday: The Untold Story of Scotland's Girl Bands

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Strawberry Switchblade fansite @strawfansite.bsky.social · 3d

You can watch the brilliant documentary Since Yesterday: The Untold Story of Scotland's Girl Bands in BBC iPlayer if you're in the UK (or on a VPN set to a UK server if you're elsewhere). Guaranteed to show you music you've never heard of that you'll love
www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/epis...

The story of the trailblazing Scottish girl bands who challenged a male-dominated industry.

www.bbc.co.uk

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Strawberry Switchblade fansite @strawfansite.bsky.social · 3d

See the full Q&A after the Since Yesterday documentary on our YouTube. Rose & Jill are with Libby McArthur (Sophisticated Boom Boom), Annie Spandex & Jane McKeown @lunglegband.bsky.social & Blair Young (co-director of the film), chaired by @nicolameighan.bsky.social

www.youtube.com/watch?v=H0f8...

'Since Yesterday' film post-screening Q&A with Strawberry Switchblade - GFT Glasgow, 19 October 2024

YouTube video by Strawberry Switchblade

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Strawberry Switchblade fansite @strawfansite.bsky.social · 3d

A year ago today Jill Bryson & Rose McDowall were at Glasgow Film Theatre for a panel discussion after a screening of the documentary Since Yesterday: The Untold Story of Scotland's Girl Bands. In this clip they look back on Strawberry Switchblade

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Strawberry Switchblade fansite @strawfansite.bsky.social · 6d

One of those albums that feels like a greatest hits

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Strawberry Switchblade fansite @strawfansite.bsky.social · 6d

Paul Cox was renowned for this kind of shot, somehow bleaching out facial features without making it feel blank or faceless. Bands with skin problems loved his work!

Strawberry Switchblade fansite @strawfansite.bsky.social · 8d

Strawberry Switchblade record company promotional photos for the press, 1984.

📸1 - unknown
📸2 - Peter McArthur
📸3 - Paul Cox

Black and white photo. Face to face from the side, turned to the camera.

Black and white photo, close up of faces. Rose lies down with eyes closed, Jill leans over her from behind and looks at the camera

black and white shot from across the room. High contrast so subtle details are lost. Both wear a lot of white polka dots.

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Reposted by Strawberry Switchblade fansite

Ellekay68 @ellekay68.bsky.social · 12d

@strawfansite.bsky.social Hope it's ok to ask on here, but if anyone knows of anyone selling a vinyl copy of Spell - Seasons in the sun, I'd be so grateful for the heads up. My daughter is a huge fan of Strawberry Switchblade and is also a fan of all the solo works by both Jill and Rose. Thank you.x

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Strawberry Switchblade fansite @strawfansite.bsky.social · 13d

Strawberry Switchblade, September 1985, around the time of their Jolene single.

📸 Mike Prior for No 1 magazine

Close up photo ina studio. Jill has red lipstick, crimped red hair and a hairband with red plastic roses. Rose stands next to her in a black PVC catsuit with black crimped hair and a diamante tiara, with purpley blue lipstick.

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Strawberry Switchblade fansite @strawfansite.bsky.social · 15d

Strawberry Switchblade, 1984/5. The person in their 1980s body warmer unintentionally serves to highlight the dramatic pizzazz of the band's aesthetic.

Outdoor photo, unposed, with Jill and Rose smiling at an unknown person. It's a sunny day, on the left is a person turned away from camera with long dark hair, wearing a red body warmer, checked shirt and blue jeans. In the centre is Jill Bryson with red back combed hair and a green strapless dress with black polka dots and black velevet sleeves. On the right is Rose McDowall in a white dress with black polka dots and ra-ra skirt.

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Strawberry Switchblade fansite @strawfansite.bsky.social · 18d

If you want a deeper dive, we've revamped the Strawberry Switchblade fansite - hear all the music they released (& loads they didn't), read vintage press articles, specially done interviews, plus a YouTube channel with videos& TV appearances & more. Enjoy!
strawberryswitchblade.net

Welcome to the definitive Strawberry Switchblade fan site. Interviews, downloads, discography, photos and more.

Strawberry Switchblade fansite @strawfansite.bsky.social · 18d

If anyone wants a deeper dive, we've revamped the Strawberry Switchblade fansite - hear all the music they released (& loads they didn't), read vintage press articles, specially done interviews, plus a YouTube channel with videos& TV appearances & more. Enjoy!
strawberryswitchblade.net

Welcome to the definitive Strawberry Switchblade fan site. Interviews, downloads, discography, photos and more.

Strawberry Switchblade fansite @strawfansite.bsky.social · 18d

If anyone wants a deeper dive, we've revamped the Strawberry Switchblade fansite - hear all the music they released (& loads they didn't), read vintage press articles, specially done interviews, plus a YouTube channel with videos& TV appearances & more. Enjoy!
strawberryswitchblade.net

Welcome to the definitive Strawberry Switchblade fan site. Interviews, downloads, discography, photos and more.

Strawberry Switchblade fansite @strawfansite.bsky.social · 18d

If anyone wants a deeper dive, we've revamped the Strawberry Switchblade fansite - hear all the music they released (& loads they didn't), read vintage press articles, specially done interviews, plus a YouTube channel with videos& TV appearances & more. Enjoy!
strawberryswitchblade.net

Welcome to the definitive Strawberry Switchblade fan site. Interviews, downloads, discography, photos and more.

Strawberry Switchblade fansite @strawfansite.bsky.social · 20d

Absolutely vital work. With marginalised groups & counterculture, it's never going to be taught in the mainstream, if we don't write down then it will be lost. As we get older, our role increasingly becomes telling people what we've seen.

Strawberry Switchblade - Jolene (different version) (Cheggers Plays Pop, 26 September 1985)

Strawberry Switchblade fansite @strawfansite.bsky.social · 21d

1 - First meeting at The Garage, Glasgow, late 1982

2 - St Christopher's Place, London, the day they signed a record contract, summer 1983

3 - With Ryuichi Sakamoto, Tokyo, 1985. Sakamoto was lined up to produce the 2nd album which was never recorded

📸©️ Peter McArthur, used with permission

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Strawberry Switchblade fansite @strawfansite.bsky.social · 21d

Happy birthday to David Balfe, ex-Teardrop Explodes keyboard player & Strawberry Switchblade manager. Balfey produced debut single Trees & Flowers & final single I Can Feel, played keyboards on tracks like Beautiful End, & co-wrote Black Taxi too.

(Pic captions in next post 🧵)

Black and white sepia toned photo of Balfe sat in a chair staring into space next to Jill and Rose.

Bright sunny day sat round an outdoor table at a cafe or restaurant. Balfe, Jill and Rose look surprisingly subdued for people who've just bagged a record deal. It has the air of 'we're restlessly waiting for our food, why are you taking a photo?'

Rose, Jill and Sakamoto sat at a restaurant table, Balfe stands beside it.

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Strawberry Switchblade fansite @strawfansite.bsky.social · 24d

Here's an anomaly - 40 years ago this week Strawberry Switchblade were promoting their electropop cover of Jolene. They mimed to it on BBC TV's kids' show Cheggers Plays Pop. Thing is, it's a unique version - it isn't the 7", the 12", nor the BBC radio session version
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dt9W...

YouTube video by Strawberry Switchblade

Strawberry Switchblade - BBC Janice Long session, September 1984 - YouTube

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Strawberry Switchblade fansite @strawfansite.bsky.social · 25d

Personnel:
Rose McDowall – guitar, vocals
Jill Bryson – guitar, backing vocals
David Balfe – synthesiser
Drew McDowall (credited as Gunter Lemon) – drum machine

Recorded at BBC Maida Vale 5

Produced by Martyn Hales

The 3 non-covers were licensed from the BBC for commercial release.

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Strawberry Switchblade fansite @strawfansite.bsky.social · 25d

41 years ago today Strawberry Switchblade recorded a Janice Long BBC radio session. Although they'd just completed their album they recorded 3 brand new atmospheric keyboard-based songs & a cover of Jolene. It's a peek into what the 2nd album would have sounded like.

www.youtube.com/playlist?lis...

The band's fourth BBC session, recorded 27 September 1984. First broadcast 24 October 1984. Rose McDowall - guitar, vocals Jill Bryson - guitar, backing voca...