Friday Night Jukebox, Vol. CCV--The Bluebells: Cath

Outside of themselves, their family members, a handful of Scots, and myself, I'm not sure too many folks remember this week's tune.  I first heard it when MTV was still in its infancy (and still playing music full time) in 1983, and it's one of those gems that make me miss MTV as it once was, when one could find a small gem that otherwise would be lost amidst the thousands of songs released each year. 

The Bluebells originated in Scotland in 1981 (and until I did my half-assed research this week I had no idea they were Scottish--always thought they were an American band) and stayed together until 1986.  In that time they released an EP and one full length album, and had a modicum of commercial success in their native UK (though none here in the States).  Their debut LP hit #22 on the UK charts, and they had five singles hit the top 100 in the UK.  Their biggest hit was "Young at Heart" which hit #8 in 1984, and thanks to a Volkswagen commercial, became an even bigger hit in 1993, hitting #1 and staying there for four weeks.  The band has reunited a time or two--1993 thanks to Volkswagen, and briefly in 2008-2009 and 2011.  Most of its members have stayed in the music business in one form or another, though one does make a living now writing about golf.  I've always thought they were like the Ramones, if the Ramones had been a pop band instead of a punk band, but this could also be because one of their members (watch the video below) bears a passing resemblance to Joey
Ramone....

"Cath" was originally released in 1983 on their debut EP entitled, appropriately enough, The Bluebells, and was also included on their debut LP, Sisters, in 1984.  It was also released twice as a single, reaching #62 (with a bullet!) on the UK charts in 1983, and #38 (most assuredly with a bullet!) on the same charts in 1984.

Fun Fact:  Though the Bluebells only released one EP and one LP (though they did have a Japan only release, as well), they still managed to release a greatest hits package in 1993.  Oh, the wonders of a hit single....

If the gods of music got together and said to themselves, "What we really need to do is create a pop single that emaycee really loves..." (as if) they would have been hard pressed to make one that has more of my faves than "Cath."  From the ever present harmonica, to the catchy chorus, to the "woa, woa"s, to the crescendo ending, to the guitar leading into the crescendo (shamelessly stolen from Rod Stewart's "Maggie May"), this one pretty much nails it.  It's a pop fan's pop tune, a one off single that shows the glory of the pop single.  It's the kind of song that I started Friday Night Jukebox for--I am music fan, hear me roar, this one you cannot ignore...and it's  fine addition to the genre that is known as Scottish pop.
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Lyric Sheet:  "I'm shaking with fright/And nothing's going right/You've spoilt my day for the rest of the night..."

Enjoy:

Fuck Donald Trump,
emaycee