The Bluebells

The Bluebells

The Bluebells are a Scottish rock group from Scotland, United Kingdom. They are associated with new wave, pop and indie pop, and are known for a jangly guitar style that places them close to other Scottish bands of the period such as Aztec Camera and Orange Juice.

Career

The group forms in the 1980s and releases two albums, The Bluebells and Sisters. Their best-known singles are “I’m Falling”, “Cath” and “Young At Heart”, all written by guitarist and founding member Bobby Bluebell, the alias of Robert Hodgens. “I’m Falling” features Ken McCluskey, while “Young At Heart” is co-written with Siobhan Fahey. “Young At Heart” reaches No. 8 in the UK singles chart on its original release in 1984.

The Bluebells split in the mid-1980s, then return briefly in 1993 after “Young At Heart” is used in a Volkswagen television advert. Reissued as a single, it reaches No. 1 for four weeks and leads to a temporary reunion for a performance on Top of the Pops. A singles compilation follows.

Members and later activity

The group includes Robert Hodgens and Kenneth McCluskey. Lawrence Donegan is another member who later trains as a journalist and works as golf correspondent for The Guardian. After the split, David McCluskey and Ken McCluskey form a folk duo, Robert Hodgens forms Up, and Craig Gannon later plays with The Smiths and The Adult Net.

Earlier work

Before the 1980s pop group, The Bluebells also exist as a reggae act recording with Lee “Scratch” Perry during his Black Ark period in the mid to late 1970s. Their best-known song from that period is “Come Along”.