If I've timed this post right, then the bluebells will be coming into bloom as you read this... so here are some appropriate bands to listen to.
THE BLUE BELLES #1
We start today in 1953 with a foolish female vocal quintet on Atlantic...
THE BLUEBELLS #2
Top notch brass-infused rock 'n' roll from Canada in 1957...
THE BLUEBELLS #3
From the very early 60s, here are some Bluebells supporting Harry Simeone's Orchestra, from the soundtrack of the movie Snow White & The Three Stooges. Golden Age of Hollywood, folks! These Bluebells also recorded a kids album with famous Bond villain, Hugo Montenegro.
THE BLUE BELLS #4
1961 laidback surf instrumental - with added watery sfx which distract from the music, if you ask me - produced by Kim Fowley, who by all accounts was as mad as a box of frogs on a lorry.
THE BLUEBELLS #5
Beginning life in 1962 as The Ordettes, before changing their name to The Bluebelles, and eventually to Patti LaBelle And The Bluebells, this Philly girl group debuted with a US Top 20 hit but never managed to climb so high again. Cyndi Birdsong left to replace Florence Ballard in The Supremes and eventually the remaining Bluebells morphed into LaBelle, hitting the top spot with Lady Marmalade in 1974. Patti LaBelle went on to even greater success as a solo artist in the 80s.
THE BLUE BELLES #6
From Manchester... Georgia... some time in the 60s... comes some Country Blue Belles featuring one Prissy Sue. You can read more about her below...
As you'll see, "Sue has everything to qualify her for a place along with the other top artist". Answers on a postcard as to who "the other top artist" might be. Sheena Easton?
Not being able to find the A-side, Bingo Fool, made me very sad. We'll have to make do with the B-side...
THE BLUE BELLES #7
Top notch Nashville country tune from 1970, with the Blue Belles supplying backing vocals to Mr. Lance Hill.
THE BLUEBELLS #8
A reggae take on the controversial Cancel Culture Club hit Girls by Moments & Whatnauts... produced in the UK by Eddy Grant in 1975. Whatnauts to love?
THE BLUEBELLS #9
More reggae, from 1976, though this comes straight from Lee "Scratch" Perry's Black Ark Studios at his home in Jamaica.
THE BLUEBELLS #10
Ah, yes, the Glaswegian Bluebells, the ones everyone knows. Originally forming in 1981, they enjoyed a smattering of chart success before splitting up in 1986. Then in 1993, the Bluebells version of Young At Heart (a song co-written by Siobhan Fahey of Bananarama - and originally featured on their album Deep Sky Diving) was used in a VW commercial and re-issued, getting all the way to the top of the charts. Since then, the band have reformed sporadically for tours, and even produced a new album in 2023. We'll go with the obvious tune, I guess...
LES BLUE BELLES #11
Atrocious Eurodisco bobbins from the 90s - they appear to have been inexplicably active for most of that decade, in which time they slaughtered various classic tunes including Sugar Baby Love, SOS and ELO's Shine A Little Love. This must surely be their absolute nadir though...
THE BLUE BELLES #12
These guys came from San Francisco in 2011, and the song below featured in the soundtrack to a Reece Witherspoon movie. I'm guessing Mr. Lonesome just plays guitar and leaves the singing to the ladies.
THE BLUE BELLES #13
Bluegrass Blue Belles from Seattle in 2016, with their version of the old Jackson C. Frank song...
BLUEBELLE #14
BLUBELL #15
And finally, a smoky jazz Blubell from Brazil who's been doing her thing since 2006... but here she is in 2022.
Which are the Bluebells of the Ball... and which ones just leave you blue?
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