The Bluebells

A song that took nine years to become a number one: that is the odd story of The Bluebells, the Scottish indie new wave group whose jangly, guitar-led pop sat comfortably alongside that of fellow Scots Aztec Camera and Orange Juice. Founder and guitarist Bobby Bluebell, born Robert Hodgens, wrote or co-wrote all three of their UK top 40 hits, with Ken McCluskey on vocals and harmonica and his brother David on drums. They were active from 1981 to 1986, leaving behind one EP and one album, Sisters.

The biggest of those hits, Young at Heart, was co-written with Siobhan Fahey of Bananarama and violinist Bobby Valentino, and reached number 8 in 1984. I'm Falling and Cath were the other two. Bassist Lawrence Donegan left before the chart success, joining Lloyd Cole and the Commotions and later becoming a journalist. In 1993 a Volkswagen advert revived Young at Heart, which spent four weeks at number one and sent the band to Top of the Pops; the compilation The Singles Collection reached number 27. Reunions followed, including a 2009 Glasgow show supporting Edwyn Collins, a 2019 Still Game appearance, and a new album, In the 21st Century, in 2023.