Strawberry Switchblade Related Tracks
Odds and ends including guest appearances, samples and a namecheck.
Strawberry Switchblade radio interview, KROQ
Despite not having any music released in the USA, Strawberry Switchblade were interviewed for Los Angeles’ KROQ by avowed Britophile Rodney Bingenheimer for his Rodney On The ROQ show in February 1985.
The interview has an awkwardness to it, like well-meaning strangers at a wedding trying to make conversation. This may be to do with the pauses caused by pre-digital international phone lines, culture/accent clash, and/or the weirdness of someone in LA at 11pm talking to people who’ve just got up at 6am in London.
Play on YouTube:
The Pastels – I Wonder Why and Supposed To Understand
Strawberry Switchblade sang backing vocals on both sides of this 1983 single by fellow Glaswegian indie band The Pastels.
David Bedford – The Funeral Procession
The other Strawberry Switchblade guest appearance as vocalists. Bedford did the string and woodwind arrangements on the Strawberry Switchblade album. Soon after, he recorded Rigel 9, an Ursula K Le Guin short story about astronauts on an alien planet set to 1980s proggy synth music by David Bedford. He hired Strawberry Switchblade, backed by Barnet Schools Choir, to do the voices for the alien funeral procession.
Play on YouTube:
Sibelius – Fifth Symphony, Third Movement
The place where David Motion nicked the fanfare riff for Since Yesterday, in context it is set against another motif that is similar to the opening ‘Just close your eyes and then remember’ bit. The same riff was used on 1974 single Beach Baby by First Class, also on I Don’t Believe In Miracles by Sinitta in 1988, and additionally by Justin Timberlake on his 2013 single Mirrors.
Play on YouTube:
Love Rock – Strawberry Rush
A pounding 1990s hard house track that prominently uses the fanfare from the Since Yesterday intro.
Play on YouTube:
North London Chemical Zone Troopers – Bob Carolgees
The North London Chemical Zone Troopers were a bunch of surreal early 1990s drug dustbins. This track has no real connection with Strawberry Switchblade apart from the fact that the lyrics mention Rose McDowall. And indeed Genesis P-Orridge too, who Rose sang with on Psychic TV’s Godstar.
Play on YouTube: