Mention The Bluebells and there’s one song that immediately springs to mind. ‘Young at Heart’ is undoubtedly the band’s biggest success having spent time in the top ten of the Official UK Singles Chart in both 1984 and 1993. When it was first released, it peaked at number eight but, thanks to Volkswagen using the song for what was, at the time, considered a rather audacious TV commercial, it climbed to number one nine years later.
It’s fair to say that the song remains a fan favourite, but what does founder member, Ken McCluskey, think about it?
“It’s good to play live because it gets the crowd up. Some people only know us for ‘Young at Heart’ and if you’ve got a big hit like that you should really play it, because that’s why most people come and see us.
We do different versions all the time. Sometimes we don’t have a fiddle, sometimes we play the harmonica, sometimes we do it on the guitar… it’s always a wee bit different.”
Ken’s favourite Bluebells’ song is the band’s second-biggest hit, ‘I’m Falling’.
“It’s not just because I wrote it!” he laughs. “Actually, I wrote it with Robert (Bobby Bluebell). It got to number nine in 1984. I think it’s more interesting and has a bit more depth.”
Both songs appear on their debut album, the critically acclaimed Sisters. But I’m curious to know why they only recorded one album back in the 80s when the band was at the height of its fame.
“A major company was very interested in releasing everything that we had, like a compendium… the B-sides, the third tracks, and the 12-inchers. It’s a collector’s item.”
“We were a band between 1981 and 1985. We only did one album which was the original Sisters in 1984. We went away and toured the world on the back of that album and had success with the singles. But when we came back after a year, our record company had all changed… and nobody knew who we were! They weren’t really interested in working with us.”
Now, though, Sisters has been remastered, expanded and re-released as a limited-edition album.
“A major company was very interested in releasing everything that we had, like a compendium… the B-sides, the third tracks, and the 12-inchers. It’s a collector’s item”
It also includes the band’s performances on Top of the Pops and The Old Grey Whistle Test. Basically, everything they’ve ever done in one compilation.
“It looks great,” Kens says, unabashed about blowing his own trumpet. Although, the trumpet, I suspect, is one of the few instruments he hasn’t managed to master.
“My mum taught me the harmonica. I also play the whistle, guitar and mandolin.”
He refers to his parents as ‘folkies’ who would regularly host folk evenings at the family home.
“If you could play a song, you were allowed to stay up an hour later at the parties. Me and David learned to stay up later than our older siblings, and they hated us for it! But that’s where we got the bug, because people used to give us two bob.”
I think that’s about 77 pence in today’s money!
“If you could play a song, you were allowed to stay up an hour later at the parties. Me and David learned to stay up later than our older siblings, and they hated us for it! But that’s where we got the bug, because people used to give us two bob.”
During the band’s hiatus, Ken and his brother, David, performed as The McCluskey Brothers, a folk duo that was lucky enough to grace the Glastonbury stage on two occasions in the 90s. This year, they were be there again as part of The Bluebells. But Glastonbury was just one of a number of gigs lined up for 2025.
Having headlined Doonfest in Dalrymple in June, they have other Scottish gigs to look forward to, including two nights in Strathaven in October, an appearance at The Harbour Arts Centre in Irvine on 5th December, and an evening at Paisley Town Hall on 19th December.
So, what can the audience expect?
“It’s a 60’s band. There’s the original three members – myself, David and Robert – plus Campbell Owens who plays the bass, he was in Aztec Camera, Douglas MacIntrye, he was in Love and Money, he’s on guitar, and Mick Slaven who was in Deacon Blue, he’s our lead guitar. So, we’re a six-piece band, all very seasoned musicians and all very complementary. We’ve had the same band for about five years now.”
All six members have been involved in writing songs for a brand-new, as yet untitled album which will be released in April next year. Gigs will also include songs from their 2023 album, 21st Century.
“We recorded that album for a label in Glasgow… a fantastic label to work with. We released that and we’ve been touring ever since! Three Bluebells did the writing for that – three grey cells – myself, David and Robert. We did four songs each for that album.”
He admits the lyrics are more mature than those in Sisters, which is unsurprising considering the time that elapsed between the two.
“We’re 39 years older so there’s definitely more maturity about the writing. I wouldn’t say the musicianship is any better. It’s maybe more adventurous… and it came out to critical acclaim.”
Despite the band’s success, Ken often goes unrecognised and is sometimes asked where he’s been for the past 40 years. The answer is simple: “We’ve been having families. It’s quite hard to be a full-time musician and have a family because you’re away from the house all the time. It’s a bit like Jack and the Beanstalk. You go away and come back with some magic beans. They’re no use. You’ve got to keep a roof over your head.”
In Ken’s case, he turned to teaching and became a lecturer at Glasgow Kelvin College (formerly Stow College), a career he enjoyed for 25 years.
“It’s only now I’m retired that I’ve got time to go on tour. We’re quite enjoying playing again. We all get on well, we’re all more or less the same age. We’re a good team.”
As for not being recognised, that all changed after the band’s appearance in a certain TV sitcom in 2019.
“We were on Still Game… it was Winston’s wedding. I could walk about for years and years and nobody recognised me, but as soon as we were on Still Game, everybody wants your autograph!”
Well, what did he expect? Still Game has a huge following in Scotland and remains a firm favourite six years after the very last episode was aired. On the subject of favourites, Ken promises that ‘Young at Heart’ will continue to appear on the Bluebells’ setlist, along with ‘I’m Falling’ and ‘Cath’.
“You’ll hear a whole bunch of new songs as well as your favourites. We try and do a blend of old and new.”
Before our Zoom call ends, I have one final question for Ken, which he answers instantly: “Yes, I do still feel young at heart!”
Of course he does!
You can purchase Sisters (2025)
as a double black or purple vinyl LP
or triple CD and DVD box set at
www.thebluebells.tmstor.es
