STRAWBERRY SWITCHBLADE Kid Jensen 3rd October 1982

[@VanielDeeform]

All these comments complaining about the debut being made with more synthesisers and saying that it’s terrible, are missing it’s beauty; especially since they’d already recorded most of the songs in this jangle pop, post-punk style anyway. Which is all available to hear. So we have both multiple versions and the group tried new things. We all wished they’d stayed together longer, but it’s better to have gratitude that we have what they did.

[@Blotto105]

Well said. I will admit I love this style of their tracks more than the versions that made the album. But even then its still one of my all time favorite albums not to mention the album is what introduced me to the group in the first place!

[@eothdl]

it speaks to the quality of the songwriting that the songs sound great recorded in more than one style

[@mkyriacopolous]

You'll sure never hear that from me, their official releases are some of the best pop music productions in the history of song.

[@kiIIcams]

well worded, cope

[@karllux-d6g]

Guitar-oriented SS material is a diamond perk over a golden path. The successful operation with Bill&Dave was , imho, a clever strategic statement - they NEVER sold out after all! Of course, a quartet has more hands than a duo, and one can hear ''the dialogue'' of instruments so clearly, here. Either solo, or with SS, Spell, all the ''England's Hidden Reverse'' collaborations, and then again with Sorrow, there must not be a chance for haters to dismiss her impressive and long-staying vocal and visual presence.

[@mkyriacopolous]

Its amazing to hear that Jill's vocals really are that ethereal, somehow all these years I thought it was all in the production.

[@MokkaMatti]

As a Yank teen in the 80s, I was somewhat aware of Strawberry Switchblade, but they always seemed to be in the distant periphery, as far as what was getting airplay on the radio or TV - especially in the then distant "remote outposts" of the Pacific Northwest. It's funny how now that I'm not all that many years away from the half-century mark, I'm coming back to them and appreciating them now, even more than many here did at that time. We really were spoiled with an abundance of variety and quality back then, even if we weren't necessarily cognizant of it.

[@apophist33]

I'm way younger then you but I appreciate the music and they made

[@stephencook754]

I'm also in the Pac NW, and only heard of them in the later '80s through a friend with nearly perfect taste. If not for him, I may not have ever known about them. I'm so thankful I do - they almost make me weep.

[@LeeePowers]

I'm a 90s teen,from the West Coast Bay Area,and only know about them because "Being Cold" was on an early 2000s soundtrack from a Japanese Fantasy movie called Soundtrack.

[@craigharrison1274]

A lot of these recordings sound like Beat Happening just copy and pasted their act.

[@merboyontiveros5297]

Love them till this very day

[@laobok]

Now this sound makes more sense with their image. Their synth sounds were still great, but just think what we could've had.

[@urbanumbra6170]

The synth pop fits the aesthetic better IMO but this sound is what Rose and Jill wanted. The ambivalent image with the soft vocals and bright outfits contrast well with the lyrics and instrumentals. I’m a fan of both sounds but I would’ve really liked it better if there was something in between, like this but some minimal synth work so it doesn’t take away from the guitars.

[@urbanumbra6170]

Good example of what I mean is their unreleased song Dark 7

[@robertomartinez4787]

0:00: Dance 2:07: Another Day 5:03: By The Sea 9:00: Let Her Go

[@bizyizziaz4831]

wow what is all this anime shit everywhere now and why is it styled like our cultures

[@thebasedgodmax1163]

@@bizyizziaz4831 ?

[@varmintt]

@@bizyizziaz4831 mad about nothing lol

[@paleskinnybones]

@@bizyizziaz4831Buzy Iz iaauh Cartttooooon cartttooon

[@alexanderbrettdoane1537]

I love the album, and I love this. I love strawberry switchblade! But I will say, this is cosmic. By The Sea is just…melancholy bliss. I will enjoy Strawberry Switchblade in all their sounds. ♥️🍓🔪

[@paulagamarra2660]

i love how they sound on this session, so twee

[@stevepafford5501]

hey @t

[@rava-b4z]

Прекрасная музыка, прекрасные девочки!

[@OpticalSoundsToronto]

another day on this session is incredible

[@saxfreak01]

Agreed. If only the album version had sounded like that.

[@lorut]

Goosebumps...

[@peterfitton4529]

Couldn't agree more. Possibly the best of all their great songs. What a crying shame that the guy who produced their album ruined it, and all their other songs. I can't even listen to that ulcer of a record.

[@denisecorona4519]

My go to music, all the way!

[@David888B]

Amazing, love this less synthy sound. And the vocals are more like The Shangri-Las, which is a good thing.

[@lorut]

Best look...EVER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@anttitheinternetguy3213]

Im 110% attracted to their look

[@user-tk4gr9zo7t]

I KNOWWWWW 😩💅🏼💅🏼💖💕

[@soup_is_good_food5743]

Yeah, Jill cradling her guitar is unstoppable. It's funny, I was 19 when this recorded and I would have thought they were ridiculous if I had seen a picture, but now I think it's awesome. Reminds me more than a little of Roxy Music's early stage act, decked out in thrift store glam. Anyway their look is awesome, and their music is even more so. Just wonderful.

[@saintless]

Right? My profile pic is a polka dot skirt, inspired by this band decades ago.. I doubt I'll ever change it.

[@urbanumbra6170]

@@saintless What happened lol

[@marsch8276]

Wow! Another Day... Very funny indeed! What was going on these days..? I will alway love their music! Indeed ;-)

[@Batsinthebelltower]

6:13 that section remindsm e of phantom of the opera only made super light pop

[@luke-dq7jo]

in a better parallel world, strawberry switchblade were signed to rough trade, who let them record their debut record just like this (or in another dream world they release on postcard). this being what might have been one of the greatest indie records, up there with JAMC, Smiths etc. what a shame that the dragon of the major label burnt them with the actual debut, and the naff synthwork on it. i wonder if we could start a campaign to get them to re-record it?

[@Vampire_Nightshade]

I actually like their synthy songs, but yeah, I wish we got more of their indie stuff

[@peterfitton4529]

Couldn't agree more. Loved Strawberry Switchblade ever since I heard their first Peel session when it was first broadcast. Followed them from then on. Then Since Yesterday was a big disappointment with its terrible production (albeit a good song) but nothing could prepare me for how terrible the album was. All those fantastic songs ruined with synths and sequencers etc. Crushing. Just listening to this version of Another Day as I'm writing - what a fantastic song!

[@pflynn581]

It was a big hit so the record company would say they were right i guess.

[@DmitryChmelyov]

This actually sounds more like girl-bands from the 50s, than the later synth-pop version.

[@mairedaly4548]

A sound very like Blondie. Lighter vocals, but it has that melodic punk think going on....

[@peterfitton4529]

Pop-folk-punk with a strong Velvets influence. Great music. Pity that idiot producer ruined their album.

[@robertomartinez4787]

Jangle Pop*

[@Astavyastataa]

I only ever discovered Rose McD. And SS some time in my late teens/early twenties, a few years ago, but goodness do I love their music. Miss Rose is still a beautiful flower as well.

[@stevepafford5501]

She sure is! www.stevepafford.com/sswitchblade/

[@andrasv7905]

God never heard this before, this is wonderful! Thank you Phil Sutton!

[@western-oud1898]

I tapped this off Peel at the time,great memories

[@martinjones8216]

Beautiful girls with talent

[@kevinkershaw1209]

I don’t know what is going on with this mix, but I love it.

[@simoom37]

October 2nd was my 5th b-day.. can't believe this... I first heard STr Sw in 93 !!

[@MrDLOC11]

What an outstanding sound, beyond brilliant 💞 What talent in the polka dots🎵🎶🎉🎊 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥

[@zedata57]

This is really good.

[@luxf4t4l]

las amo muxo

[@justinopolimeni7251]

Love 🌷💕🌟

[@baylessnow]

First song sounds very much like their other song 'Since Yesterday'.

[@western-oud1898]

"Dance" was the original track that later became "since yesterday"

[@markofsaltburn]

It also sounds like "Passionate Friend" by Teardrop Explodes.

[@belloalterno4695]

💙

[@jesselopes5196]

They sounded this great this early?

[@urbanumbra6170]

The producers are responsible for changing their sound to a more synth pop based sound, not that it’s bad but I theorize that it was probably done to appeal to and capitalize on the Japanese market since they showed more success there

[@silencioderadio5645]

is there any chance that somehow you can share their sessions in mp3 to listen to them without the KZbin compression? i've been obsessed with these versions for years... thank you so much

[@zedata57]

the last song is 'Let her go" and not Sunday Morning.

[@grimaboppin]

makes me feel good that i was the 666th person to like this

[@Albrecht777]

Fantastic. What a shame the producer of their LP squandered their potential. Still, Rose had some brilliant collaborations with Into a Circle, Death in June, Boyd Rice and others. Her project Sorrow was good, too.

[@stevepafford5501]

she sure is @t

[@E.C.2]

Sorrow needed a good producer to tighten up and focus the songs. I was let down by that LP given it cost $18 in 1996.

[@Albrecht777]

@@E.C.2 Perhaps. Despite my comment above, I always felt that Sorrow were lacking something "visceral", even live. I'm not sure whether a producer could have imbued the songs with that feeling. Nevertheless, they were still enjoyable and interesting.

[@E.C.2]

@@Albrecht777 A good producer can take 9 songs and given a few weeks, sharpen them to something good memorable etc That 1 Sorrow record cover and packaging was very cool. (She was wearing a female cassock and wreath on her head )

[@Albrecht777]

@@E.C.2 You are correct (I have recorded enough in studios myself, and have an immediate family member who is a producer and engineer). However, my point was about a "visceral" feeling, not quality or the memorable nature of the material. At the time, I suspected that element was lacking due to the missing "male" or "virile" ideal - perhaps the lack of "Apollonian" traits, if one wishes to put it that way. I am not sure whether I was correct regarding this, but that was my take back then.

[@Pilsbury96]

I never knew this existed...BTW I saw them LIVE back in 82, still got the 7 inch flexidisc they were giving out... or was it 83?

[@FruitierThanThou]

1982... I saw the couple times this period as tour support to ORANGE JUICE....

[@christophermoore4961]

......... wait, ....... you saw them once and still have the seven inch .......... wait, I may not have read that right ......

[@kevinkershaw1209]

NEED!

[@ginamariec]

Any way to get a track list ? Sound around 6 mins in particularly

[@FruitierThanThou]

Tracklisting is on the video... Dance / Another Day / By The Sea / Sunday Morning...

[@E.C.2]

Is Rose still into black magic & witchcraft?

[@zumizm1]

Isn't dance - since yesterday???

[@mkyriacopolous]

It became Since Yesterday, yes.