Music News

THE BLUEBELLS TO REISSUE CLASSIC 1984 ALBUM: ‘SISTERS’

clairestones 23 June 2025

5,704 5 minutes read

OUT 4 JULY, VIA LONDON RECORDS

FULLY REMASTERED AND AVAILABLE FOR THE FIRST TIME ON

DOUBLE LP + 3CD/DVD & LIMITED ‘SEEDS’ EDITION CONTAINING

ORGANIC SCOTTISH BLUEBELL SEEDS

INCLUDES NON-ALBUM TRACKS, BBC SESSIONS, LIVE VERSIONS, RESTORED MUSIC VIDEOS & BBC PERFORMANCES

PRE-ORDER HERE

“Young at Heart may define The Bluebells forever, but they were much

more than one song.”

★★★★ Mojo

“…a richer, more substantial portrait of a soulful, sincere band that deserved to be heralded for more than just that hit.”

★★★★ Classic Pop

“For anyone with an interest in the band it’s essential, but even those with a passing interest might enjoy a dip more than they imagined.”

The Arts Desk

London Records will reissue ‘Sisters’, the 1984 debut album by The Bluebells (pre-order here) on Friday 4 July 2024.

The album is now available for the first time as a double LP on black or limited-edition purple vinyl (D2C/Townsend Music Exclusive), and as a deluxe triple CD/DVD box set. A special ‘Seeds’ edition, limited to 100 copies, will also be offered via the official store, featuring a 20-track digital version and a packet of 800 organic Scottish Bluebell seeds.

Part of the first wave of early ’80s Scottish indie bands, The Bluebells centered around the core trio of guitarist Robert Hodgens (aka Bobby Bluebell) and brothers David and Ken McCluskey (drums and vocals/harmonica, respectively), the lineup rounded out by bassists and drummers Lawrence Donegan, Russell Irvine, and later Neil Baldwin and Craig Gannon.

With an approach (writes Hodginkinson) “rooted in classic song craft, exuding cheerfulness even when dealing with loneliness, heartbreak, and other lachrymose staples” the band defined the 80s indie’s jangly, guitar-led aesthetic while staying grounded in working-class sensibilities.

The band quickly attracted media and label attention, with their first Radio 1 session for Kid Jensen recorded in 1981 – before they had even signed a deal – and becoming the first unsigned act filmed for BBC’s Old Grey Whistle Test. While peers like Orange Juice and Aztec Camera had sporadic success, The Bluebells notched several bona fide hits: ‘I’m Falling’, ‘Cath’, and ‘Young at Heart’ all reaching the UK Top 40 and defining the sound of the summer of 1984.

Though ‘Sisters’ was marketed as upbeat pop, its sunny melodies carried deeper messages. Set against the backdrop of the Miners’ Strike, high unemployment, and Thatcher-era austerity, The Bluebells often embedded political commentary in their songs. In an era defined by ‘Thriller’, Duran Duran, and Frankie Goes to Hollywood, The Bluebells offered a true alternative grounded in community and optimism.

Despite their success, ‘Sisters’ remained the only Bluebells studio album from their original 1980s run. The band disbanded a few years later, but in 1993, the core trio reformed following the surprise chart-topping reissue of “Young at Heart,” revived by a Volkswagen ad. They’ve continued to perform and record intermittently since, most recently releasing ‘The Bluebells: In The 21st Century’ in 2023.

THE BLUEBELLS LIVE:

June 27 Telford, Albert’s Shed Southwater

June 28 Glastonbury Music Festival

July 2 Glasgow, Assai Records – Tickets

Sept 21 Twickenham, The Exchange (in conversation with Gary Crowley)

Sept 25 Carlisle, Old Fire Station

Oct 3 The Hotel, Strathaven

Oct 4 The Hotel, Strathaven

*****

The Bluebells ‘Sisters’ 2025 Reissue, Track Listings

2LP:

Side A

01 Everybody’s Somebody’s Fool (Alternative Version)
02 Young At Heart
03 I’m Falling
04 Will She Always Be Waiting
05 Some Sweet Day
06 Cath
07 H.O.L.L.A.N.D.

Side B

01 Red Guitars
02 Syracuse University
03 Learn To Love
04 The Patriot Game
05 South Atlantic Way (Full)
06 Aim In Life

Side C

01 Forevermore
02 Cath (Extended Version)
03 All I Ever Said
04 Fall From Grace
05 Sugar Bridge
06 Happy Birthday (Turn Gold)
07 Everybody’s Somebody’s Fool (Original Album Version)

Side D

01 Young At Heart (Extended Version)
02 Tender Mercy
03 All I Am (Is Loving You)
04 The Ballad of Joe Hill
05 Goodbye And Good Luck (BBC Session, 29th Nov ’81)
06 Young At Heart (Club Remix)

*****

3 CD/DVD:

CD One – The Album, Plus Bonus Tracks

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 H.O.L.L.A.N.D.
8 Red Guitars
9 Syracuse University
10 Learn To Love
11 The Patriot Game
12 South Atlantic Way (Full)
13 Aim In Life
14 Forevermore (7” Version)
15 Sugar Bridge (7” Version)
16 All I Am (Is Loving You) (12” Version)
17 The Ballad Of Joe Hill
18 Forever Yours, Forever Mine (Dub Version)
19 Cath (US Remix)

CD Two – B-Sides And Single Mixes

1 Forevermore
2 Everybody’s Somebody’s Fool (Original Album Version)
3 Cath (12” Version)
4 All I Ever Said
5 Fall From Grace
6 Sugar Bridge (Extended Version)
7 Happy Birthday (Turn Gold)
8 I’m Falling (US Edit)
9 Young At Heart (Extended Version)
10 Tender Mercy
11 Wishful Thinking (Will She Always Be Waiting)
12 Smalltown Martyr
13 All I Am (Is Loving You) (7” Version)
14 Everybody’s Somebody’s Fool (Original April ‘82 Version)
15 Happy Birthday (Turn Gold) (Alternate Version)
16 All I Am (Is Loving You) (Robert’s Edit)
17 Everybody’s Somebody’s Fool (No Strings Version)
18 Young At Heart (Club Remix)

CD Three

1 Goodbye And Good Luck (Kid Jensen Session, 1981)
2 Happy Birthday (Kid Jensen Session, 1981)
3 Oh Dear (Kid Jensen Session, 1981)
4 You’re Gonna Miss Me (Kid Jensen Session, 1981)
5 Everybody’s Somebody’s Fool (Kid Jensen Session, 1982)
6 Some Sweet Day (Kid Jensen Session, 1982)
7 Sugar Bridge (Kid Jensen Session, 1982)
8 Wishful Thinking (Kid Jensen Session, 1982)
9 Learn To Love (Kid Jensen Session, 1983)
10 Red Guitars (Kid Jensen Session, 1983)
11 Smalltown Martyr To Love (Kid Jensen Session, 1983)
12 Young At Heart (Kid Jensen Session, 1983)
13 Sugar Bridge (Early Version, 1982)
14 East Green (Early Version, 1981)
15 Lifeboat (Live At Camden Palace, 1985)
16 Honest John (Live At Camden Palace, 1985)
17 Forevermore (Early Version, 1981)
18 Cath (Live At Camden Palace, 1985)
19 I’m Falling (Live At Camden Palace, 1985)
20 All I Am (Is Loving You) (Live At Camden Palace, 1985)
21 Sugar Bridge (Live At Camden Palace, 1985)
22 Young At Heart (Live At Camden Palace, 1985)

DVD Four – Promotional Videos And BBC TV Appearances

Music Videos:

1 Cath
2 I’m Falling
3 Young At Heart
4 Cath (Remix)
5 All I Am (Is Loving You)

The Old Grey Whistle Test:

6 Forevermore
7 Everybody’s Somebody’s Fool
8 Red Guitars

Top Of The Pops:

9 I’m Falling
10 Young At Heart

*****

Seeds Edition

A very special, one-off edition of 100, containing a 20-track download version of the album, and a packet of approximately 800 organic Scottish Bluebell seeds.