Strawberry Switchblade recorded five sessions for BBC Radio 1.
It’s amazing that the last two – one in September 1984, just ahead of the release of Since Yesterday, and the other in February 1985, just before the album came out – weren’t used to promote the imminent releases but instead record batches of brand new songs. Creativity won out over marketing!
Credited personnel:
Rose McDowall
Jill Bryson
Alex Fergusson
Babs Out
Uncredited personnel:
James Kirk (bass)
Shahid Sarwar (drums)
Recorded at BBC Maida Vale 4
Produced by Dale Griffin
Engineered by Harry Parker
First broadcast 7 October 1982
Dance [early version of Since Yesterday]
Another Day
By The Sea
Linda [later renamed Let Her Go]
YouTube playlist of BBC David Jensen session, 3 October 1982
YouTube playlist of all 5 BBC sessions
Personnel:
Rose McDowall – guitar, vocals
Jill Bryson – guitar, backing vocals
James Kirk – bass
Shahid Sarwar (credited as Shahid Starwars) – drums
Alex Fergusson – piano, guitar
Babs Shores – backing vocals on Trees and Flowers
Recorded at BBC Maida Vale 4
Produced by Tony Wilson
Engineered by Dave Dale
First broadcast 5 October 1982
10 James Orr Street
Little River
Secrets
Trees and Flowers
YouTube playlist of BBC John Peel session, 4 October 1982
YouTube playlist of all 5 BBC sessions
Personnel not documented.
Recorded at the Playhouse Theatre, Hulme, Manchester
Produced by Phil Ward-Large
First broadcast 11 February 1984
Who Knows What Love Is?
Poor Hearts
Deep Water
YouTube playlist of BBC Janice Long session, 23 January 1984
YouTube playlist of all 5 BBC sessions
Personnel:
Rose McDowall – guitar, vocals
Jill Bryson – guitar, backing vocals
David Balfe – synthesiser
Gunter Lemon – drum machine
Recorded at BBC Maida Vale 5
Produced by Martyn Hales
First broadcast 24 October 1984
Beautiful End
Michael Who Walks By Night
Black Taxi
Jolene
Beautiful End, Michael Who Walks By Night and Black Taxi were swiftly licensed for commercial release – these are the versions we know from the various releases, and are the only recorded versions of these songs.
YouTube playlist of BBC Janice Long session, 27 September 1984
YouTube playlist of all 5 BBC sessions
Personnel:
Rose McDowall – guitar, vocals
Jill Bryson – guitar, backing vocals
David Balfe – synthesiser
Recorded at BBC Maida Vale 5
Produced by Mark Radcliffe
First broadcast 15 April 1985
Cut With The Cake Knife
60 Cowboys
Nothing Changes
Life’s Full of Wonders
YouTube playlist of BBC John Peel session, 5 February 1985
YouTube playlist of all 5 BBC sessions