Guest Appearances
Strawberry Switchblade did vocals on two releases by other artists – two tracks by the Pastels and a concept album by David Bedford.
The Pastels – I Wonder Why
The Pastels
I Wonder Why
Creation Artifact
LYN 12903
April 1983
7 inch single-sided flexidisc.
The other track is Wouldn’t You? by Laughing Apple.
Given away with issue 1 of Communication Blur fanzine. Also reportedly given away with early copies of the first single on Creation Records, ’73 in ’83 by The Legend! (April 1983, CRE001).
The Pastels
I Wonder Why
B side: Supposed to Understand
Rough Trade records
RT137
October 1983
7 inch vinyl.
Strawberry Switchblade contribute vocals to both tracks.
The Pastels
Album – Suck On The Pastels : Retrogressive 1983-1985
Track – I Wonder Why
Creation
CRELP031/ CRECD031
1988
The two 7″ releases are expensive collector’s items now, I Wonder Why is most easily found on this compilation album.
David Bedford – Rigel 9
David Bedford
Album – Rigel 9
Track – The Funeral Procession
LP and cassette
Charisma
RIGEL 9/ CRIGEL9
1985
This is a really strange one. It’s an Ursula Le Guin short story about astronauts on an alien planet, set to 1980s proggy synth music by David Bedford, who’d done the orchestral arrangements on the Strawberry Switchblade album. Strawberry Switchblade, backed by Barnet Schools Choir, do the voices for the alien funeral procession.
Reissured on CD, Virgin CDOVD484, 1997.
In an interview in 1989 for Airborne magazine, Bedford was asked about Rose and Jill’s involvement.
Q – Why did you use Strawberry Switchblade on your LP Rigel 9?
DB – Because I did string arrangements for them on their album, because the producer had heard string arrangements of mine for Madness and Elvis Costello. I liked their voices very much because they didn’t wobble around like opera singers. When I did the project for Charisma Records I wanted a strange alien sound and asked them if they would do it.