The Bluebells are a Scottish indie new wave band who were first active between 1981 and 1986 and have since then reformed a number of times.

The band first split up in the mid-1980s, but enjoyed an unexpected revival in 1993 when ‘Young At Heart’ was used in a Volkswagen television advertisement.

Re-issued as a single, it was No. 1 for four weeks and led to the band reforming temporarily to perform the song on BBC Television’s Top of the Pops.

CD 1:
1. EVERYBODY’S SOMEBODY’S FOOL (Alternative Version)
2. YOUNG AT HEART
3. I’M FALLING
4. WILL SHE ALWAYS BE WAITING
5. SOME SWEET DAY
6. CATH (Longer Version)
7. RED GUITARS
8. SYRACUSE UNIVERSITY
9. AIM IN LIFE
10. LEARN TO LOVE
11. SOUTH ATLANTIC WAY
12. THE PATRIOT GAME
Bonus tracks
13. FOREVERMORE
14. ALL I EVER SAID
15. FALL FROM GRACE
16. HAPPY BIRTHDAY (TURN GOLD)
17. CATH (12” Version)

This 34-track Expanded Deluxe 2CD Edition of The Bluebells’ debut album “Sisters,” that was originally released in 1984, and which has been rejigged for this 2CD reissue, at the band’s request, opens on an alternate version of EVERYBODY’S SOMEBODY’S FOOL (produced by Robin Millar) and then reveals their tour de force, the always memorable, and vibrantly catchy YOUNG AT HEART (which, unbeknownst to me, is actually a cover of a Bananarama track).

Along next is the another fan favorite in the form of he luxurious I’M FALLING and the string-soaked, Elvis Costello-produced WILL SHE ALWAYS BE WAITING and they are backed by the pop pleasures found within SOME SWEET DAY, and then comes one of the catchiest singles of the eighties, a long version of CATH, the memorable RED GUITARS and the free-flowing SYRACUSE UNIVERSITY.

Then we get the Elvis Costello produced AIM IN LIFE (once a cassette-only bonus song) and the Motown-inspired LEARN TO LOVE, before the first disc rounds out on the glorious SOUTH ATLANTIC WAY and their, it has to be said, somewhat jarring cover of THE PATRIOT GAME.

CD 2:
1 SUGAR BRIDGE (IT WILL STAND) (7” Version)
2 CATH (US Remix) #
3 EVERYBODY’S SOMEBODY’S FOOL (Original Album Version)
4 HAPPY BIRTHDAY (TURN GOLD) (Alternative Version) #
5 FOREVER YOURS, FOREVER MINE (EVERMORE) #
6 H.O.L.L.A.N.D.
7 TENDER MERCY
8 YOUNG AT HEART (Extended Version)
9 CATH (Original Album Version)
10 WISHFUL THINKING (WILL SHE ALWAYS BE WAITING)
11 SMALLTOWN MARTYR
12 ALL I AM (IS LOVING YOU)
13 CATH (Remix)
14 THE BALLAD OF JOE HILL
15 SUGAR BRIDGE (IT WILL STAND) (12” Version)
16 CATH (Alternative Version) #
17 FOREVER YOURS, FOREVER MINE (EVERMORE) (Instrumental) #
# Previously unreleased

This 2CD package continues onward with a batch of wonderful bonus tracks, that include five previously unreleased remixes, alternative and instrumental versions, and kicks of with blissfully tuneful SUGAR BRIDGE (IT WILL STAND) and a previously-unreleased CATH (US Remix) and then comes another EVERYBODY’S SOMEBODY’S FOOL, and the pure loveliness that ebbs and flows within both the previously-unreleased cuts HAPPY BIRTHDAY (TURN GOLD) (Alternative Version) and FOREVER YOURS, FOREVER MINE (EVERMORE).

Up next is unadulterated happiness found within every note of H.O.L.L.A.N.D. and the aptly-titled TENDER MERCY, before we are gifted and extended version of YOUNG AT HEART and a heard-it-before, but nonetheless beloved CATH, which is itself followed by one of the best melodic tracks from the brilliant Exile on Twee Street album WISHFUL THINKING (WILL SHE ALWAYS BE WAITING), then come the dutiful SMALLTOWN MARTYR and a lushly crafted ALL I AM (IS LOVING YOU).

The second disc then rounds out on a rousing remix of CATH and their impassioned version of a song written by Alfred Hayes and Earl Robinson and was first recorded and released by Michael Loring in 1939, THE BALLAD OF JOE HILL, the music coming to a close on one of my favorite songs of all time SUGAR BRIDGE (IT WILL STAND) (12” Version), another alternative and previously-unreleased version of CATH, and a cool, previously-unreleased instrumental FOREVER YOURS, FOREVER MINE (EVERMORE).

The CD package includes a fully illustrated 20-page booklet containing a sleeve note by MOJO and Record Collector writer Lois Wilson in conversation with Robert Hodgens.

Sisters will be reissued on 24th November 2023 via Cherry Red. There is no vinyl release although Last Night From Glasgow reissued it on the format early last year.

The band have reformed again a number of times since 2008 and most recently released ‘In the 21st Century’, an album of new material in 2023.

Official 2CD Purchase Link

The Bluebells @ Facebook