Hailing from the same early 80s Glasgow scene that gave us Orange Juice and Aztec Camera, Strawberry Switchblade were a female duo. Since Yesterday was their only hit and is a perfect slice of “one hit wonder” pop.
They were looked after by Bill Drummond during his A&R days at WEA.
Categories: 1983 · girl pop
Tagged: Bill Drummond, One Hit Wonder, Since Yesterday, Strawberry Switchblade
The first gig I ever went to was Aztec Camera at Birmingham Odeon on 10 October 1983. That was when they still had gigs at the Odeon. I was thirteen at the time and being allowed to go all the way to Birmingham for an evening with a friend to see a band was a big deal and one of those life changing experiences. I’d looked forward to it for ages and when I got home after couldn’t sleep for the excitement of it all.
I’m still able to sing the whole of the album this comes from, High Land, Hard Rain, all the way through, word for word, with all the songs in the right order. Let’s see the download generation try that.
At the time I didn’t really know who Joe Strummer was but the line “faces of Strummer that fell from the wall, and nothing was left where they hung” just sounded like a really important statement. It did prompt me to find out, which led me to the record section of Walsall Library to borrow Clash albums.
The sound on this clip from Pebble Mill at One is a little quiet so you’ll have to turn it up a bit. I wanted a jacket like Roddy Frame’s at the time.
Aztec Camera were my first band, although it was The Wonder Stuff who ended up as my favourite band. I was very excited then, to hear that the Stuffies’, Miles Hunt has invited Roddy Frame to join him at the Shared event he’s curating at the Town Hall in January.
Categories: 1983
Tagged: Aztec Camera, Roddy Frame, Walk Out to Winter
Today I am mostly listening to…. (last.fm stream)
