Blueboy (band)
Encyclopedia
Blueboy were an indie pop
band formed in Reading, Berkshire
who were signed to Sarah Records
and later Shinkansen Recordings. Core members Keith Girdler and Paul Stewart also recorded as Arabesque and Beaumont.
, releasing the home-recorded single
"Clearer" in 1991, and took on more members, including singer/cellist
Gemma Townlet and second guitarist Harvey Williams
(of The Field Mice
/Another Sunny Day
). "Clearer" was followed by several singles and two album
s on Sarah, If Wishes Were Horses and Unisex. In October 1994, Blueboy recorded a session for John Peel
's BBC Radio 1
show. Their final release, The Bank of England, was released in 1998 on Sarah head Matt Haynes' new label, Shinkansen Recordings. By then, Girdler and Stewart were the only original members of the band. Girdler and Stewart were also involved in two other bands, Arabesque and Beaumont, and Girdler also recorded with Lovejoy. Townlet later joined Trembling Blue Stars
, as did Williams.
On May 15, 2007, Keith Girdler died after being diagnosed with cancer
in 2004. Prior to his death, he was working as volunteer manager for Age Concern
, in Eastbourne
.
In 2008, Siesta Records issued a compilation album
called Country Music (Songs for Keith Girdler). The compilation was put together by Richard Preece (of Lovejoy) to raise money for the Martletts Hospice in Hove
who cared for Girdler.
Indie pop
Indie pop is a genre of alternative rock music that originated in the United Kingdom in the mid 1980s, with its roots in the Scottish post-punk bands on the Postcard Records label in the early '80s, such as Orange Juice, Josef K and Aztec Camera, and the dominant UK independent band of the mid...
band formed in Reading, Berkshire
Reading, Berkshire
Reading is a large town and unitary authority area in England. It is located in the Thames Valley at the confluence of the River Thames and River Kennet, and on both the Great Western Main Line railway and the M4 motorway, some west of London....
who were signed to Sarah Records
Sarah Records
Sarah Records was a UK independent record label active between 1987 and 1995, best known for its recordings of indie pop.The label was formed in Bristol in 1987 by Clare Wadd and Matt Haynes, and grew out of the fanzine scene at the time, Haynes having previously edited Are You Scared To Get...
and later Shinkansen Recordings. Core members Keith Girdler and Paul Stewart also recorded as Arabesque and Beaumont.
History
Blueboy formed around 1989 and initially consisted of Keith Girdler (on vocals) and Paul Stewart (on guitars), formerly of little-known band Feverfew. They soon signed to Sarah RecordsSarah Records
Sarah Records was a UK independent record label active between 1987 and 1995, best known for its recordings of indie pop.The label was formed in Bristol in 1987 by Clare Wadd and Matt Haynes, and grew out of the fanzine scene at the time, Haynes having previously edited Are You Scared To Get...
, releasing the home-recorded single
Single (music)
In music, a single or record single is a type of release, typically a recording of fewer tracks than an LP or a CD. This can be released for sale to the public in a variety of different formats. In most cases, the single is a song that is released separately from an album, but it can still appear...
"Clearer" in 1991, and took on more members, including singer/cellist
Cello
The cello is a bowed string instrument with four strings tuned in perfect fifths. It is a member of the violin family of musical instruments, which also includes the violin, viola, and double bass. Old forms of the instrument in the Baroque era are baryton and viol .A person who plays a cello is...
Gemma Townlet and second guitarist Harvey Williams
Harvey Williams (musician)
Harvey Williams is a singer, songwriter and guitarist based in London , who was active in several Sarah Records bands in the 1990s. He recorded as Another Sunny Day, and also played instruments in The Field Mice, The Hit Parade and Blueboy...
(of The Field Mice
The Field Mice
The Field Mice were an indie pop band on the indie label Sarah Records. Initially a duo from South London suburb of Mitcham comprising Robert Wratten and Michael Hiscock, their first EP, Emma's House, was released in November 1988, and reached number 20 in the UK Independent Chart...
/Another Sunny Day
Another Sunny Day
Another Sunny Day were a London-based indie pop band on Sarah Records, best known for the somewhat Smiths-esque single "You Should All Be Murdered" and for the single whose title perhaps best epitomises the Sarah Records output "I'm in Love with a Girl Who Doesn't Know I Exist".-History:The band...
). "Clearer" was followed by several singles and two album
Album
An album is a collection of recordings, released as a single package on gramophone record, cassette, compact disc, or via digital distribution. The word derives from the Latin word for list .Vinyl LP records have two sides, each comprising one half of the album...
s on Sarah, If Wishes Were Horses and Unisex. In October 1994, Blueboy recorded a session for John Peel
John Peel
John Robert Parker Ravenscroft, OBE , known professionally as John Peel, was an English disc jockey, radio presenter, record producer and journalist. He was the longest-serving of the original BBC Radio 1 DJs, broadcasting regularly from 1967 until his death in 2004...
's BBC Radio 1
BBC Radio 1
BBC Radio 1 is a British national radio station operated by the British Broadcasting Corporation which also broadcasts internationally, specialising in current popular music and chart hits throughout the day. Radio 1 provides alternative genres after 7:00pm including electronic dance, hip hop, rock...
show. Their final release, The Bank of England, was released in 1998 on Sarah head Matt Haynes' new label, Shinkansen Recordings. By then, Girdler and Stewart were the only original members of the band. Girdler and Stewart were also involved in two other bands, Arabesque and Beaumont, and Girdler also recorded with Lovejoy. Townlet later joined Trembling Blue Stars
Trembling Blue Stars
Trembling Blue Stars is a London-based band that currently includes members Robert Wratten and Beth Arzy . Begun as a side project of Wratten's previous band Northern Picture Library, Trembling Blue Stars became Wratten's main band when Northern Picture Library broke up in 1995...
, as did Williams.
On May 15, 2007, Keith Girdler died after being diagnosed with cancer
Cancer
Cancer , known medically as a malignant neoplasm, is a large group of different diseases, all involving unregulated cell growth. In cancer, cells divide and grow uncontrollably, forming malignant tumors, and invade nearby parts of the body. The cancer may also spread to more distant parts of the...
in 2004. Prior to his death, he was working as volunteer manager for Age Concern
Age Concern
Age Concern was the banner title used by a number of charitable organisations specifically concerned with the needs and interests of all older people based chiefly in the four countries of the United Kingdom....
, in Eastbourne
Eastbourne
Eastbourne is a large town and borough in East Sussex, on the south coast of England between Brighton and Hastings. The town is situated at the eastern end of the chalk South Downs alongside the high cliff at Beachy Head...
.
In 2008, Siesta Records issued a compilation album
Compilation album
A compilation album is an album featuring tracks from one or more performers, often culled from a variety of sources The tracks are usually collected according to a common characteristic, such as popularity, genre, source or subject matter...
called Country Music (Songs for Keith Girdler). The compilation was put together by Richard Preece (of Lovejoy) to raise money for the Martletts Hospice in Hove
Hove
Hove is a town on the south coast of England, immediately to the west of its larger neighbour Brighton, with which it forms the unitary authority Brighton and Hove. It forms a single conurbation together with Brighton and some smaller towns and villages running along the coast...
who cared for Girdler.
Albums
| Year | Album | Label |
|---|---|---|
| 1992 | If Wishes Were Horses | Sarah Records |
| 1993 | Speedboat | Quattro Records |
| 1994 | Unisex | Sarah Records |
| 1998 | The Bank of England | Shinkansen Recordings |
Singles
- "Clearer" (1991), Sarah
- "Popkiss" (1992), Sarah
- "Cloud Babies" (1993), Sarah - flexi-disc
- "Meet Johnny Rave" (1993), Sarah
- Some Gorgeous Accident EP (1993), Sarah
- "River" (1994), Sarah
- Bikini EP (1995), Aquavinyle
- "Dirty Mags" (1995), Sarah
- "Love Yourself" (1996), Shinkansen
- 1.6.98 EP (1998), Shinkansen
Arabesque
- Introducing the Summer Sounds of... EP (1995), Siesta
- The Grroming Gambit EP (1997), Siesta
Compilation album appearances
- Grimsby Fishmarket 4 Norrkoeping 0, featured "Chelsea Guitar"
- In This Place Called Nowhere (1992) Quattro, featured "Clearer"
- Sound of Music - An Anti-Racist Benefit (1993) Bring on Bull, featured "My Favourite Things"
- La Rue du Chat Qui Pêche (1993) Sarah/Quattro, featured "Elle" and "Air France"
- Gaol Ferry Bridge (1994) Sarah, featured "Try Happiness" and "Air France"
- Engine Common (1995) Sarah, featured "Clearer" and "Popkiss"
- Battery Point (1995) Sarah, featured "Dirty Mags", "River", and "Toulouse"
- There and Back Again Lane (1995) Sarah, featured "The Joy of Living"
- PREGO! The Menu of Trattoria (1995) Trattoria, featured "My Favourite Things"
- Country Music: Songs for Keith Girdler (2008) Siesta, featured "80's Diaries"