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1984

At the beginning of 1984 Bucks Fizz promoted their new single "Rules of the Game". They started new recording sessions for a forthcoming album and made several performances in January at Baileys, Watford, Herts.

Jay's solo release

At the beginning of 1984 Jay released her own album in the series "Shape up and dance". The album contained exercise programmes with several pop hits in the background. The exercises were led by Jay herself and the album featured three Bucks Fizz hits in remixed versions. The songs were: "I Do It All For You", "Piece of the Action" and "If You Can't Stand The Heat".

The photo sessions

Jay on TV

Jay made some TV promotion for her solo exercise "album" in 1984.

Jay Aston - spring 1984

Jay Aston gave an interview for the music newspaper "No 1" in the spring together with a new British pop star Nick Kershaw.

Talking In Your Sleep - the single

The first single promoting the forthcoming album was "Talking In Your Sleep" backed with "Don't think You're Fooling Me" - the latter was written and produced by Bobby. "Talking In Your Sleep" was a cover of the song originally recorded by The Romantics. The single became successful in Great Britain where it reached Top 20 on the single chart. "Talking in Your Sleep" entered the chart on August 25, 1984 and climbed up to #15.

The single was released with the usual RCA black label and with an alternative silver one.

Talking In Your Sleep - limited edition

A very nice surprise for all Bucks Fizz fans was released later the same autumn - a limited edition EP containing two extra tracks: "20th Century Hero" and "Don't Pay the Ferryman" recorded live during the 1983 tour.

Talking In Your Sleep - the maxi single

Even an extended version of "Talking in Your Sleep" was available on the special 12" edition of the single released simultaneously with the 7". The B-side of the maxi single featured the song "Don't think You're Fooling Me".

The Talking In Your Sleep photo sessions

Several different photo sessions were taken before the release of  "Talking in Your Sleep".

At the beginning of September Bucks Fizz were featured in the British music weekly "No 1". In connection to the single release they gave an interview about their "sleep" habits and more (read the interview below). Even exclusive pictures were published.

the interview

The video

The video to "Talking In Your Sleep" featured Bobby, Mike, Cheryl and Jay... going in their sleep. A small story line fit though the song lyrics quite well.

Miss UK - Brighton

The group appeared in the Miss UK beauty contest in Brighton. They performed "Talking in Your Sleep" with choreography that had been thoroughly prepared which made the performance to a little show on its own rights.

Other TV shows

Bucks Fizz promoted their new single in several TV shows in Great Britain during September 1984.

Golden Days - the single

At the beginning of October 1984 the group released a new single featuring one of their most beautiful ballads "Golden Days". The single was released in 3 versions: as 7", maxi 12" and as picture disc. The B-side of the 7" contained "Where Do I Go Now" written by Cheryl. The B-side of the maxi single contained the same song and a bonus track "One Touch too Much". The single entered the British hit chart on October 27th, 1984 and stayed there for 4 weeks reaching #42.

The picture disc version of the single featured a live medley of 6 songs: "Eye of the Tiger", "Hot Legs", "Since you've been Gone", "Heartbreaker", "Dead Ringer for Love" and "Whatever you Want".

Photo session

This rare photo session was taken in the early autumn of 1984.

TV promotion

Even the "Golden Days" single was intensively promoted in various British TV shows

Golden Days - the video

The video had a little storyline about an actress who remembers her golden days as a star.

I Hear Talk - the album

The album "I Hear Talk" entered the British album chart on November 24, 1984. It is probably the best Bucks Fizz album ever recorded with great songs written by well-known composers, great vocals by all four members and great arrangements. This album can be in many ways compared to ABBA's "The Visitors" - no longer easy pop tunes even if most of the songs are very catchy anyway. The album did not achieved any commercial success staying on the chart for 2 weeks and reaching #66.

The title track which would be released as the third single from the album was definitely one of the best songs here. Cheryl performed with a certain dramatic the beautiful ballad "Tears on the Ballroom Floor" and Jay was absolutely stunning in "Thief in the Night". Bobby sung lead vocals in two great compositions: "She cries" (composed by Nik Kershaw - see below) and "Cold War". Even Mike could show his vocal talents in "January's Gone".

I Hear Talk - the photo session

She cries

The wonderful composition "She Cries" included by Bucks Fizz on the album "I Hear Talk" saw even its single release in Nik Kershaw's performance on B-side of his single "Dancing Girls" in April 1984.

I Hear Talk - the single

The third selection for a single release was "I Hear Talk". This single was released as a 7" in two versions - with an usual cover and with the poster cover. Even a maxi single was available. The song on the B-side was a non-album track "Pulling Me Under" written by Bobby. The maxi single contained even a bonus track "Invisible" on the B-side. "I Hear Talk" entered the British chart on 29 December and stayed there for 8 weeks reaching #34.

I Hear Talk - the video

TV promotion

Photo session 1984

The tour and the crash

Bucks Fizz went on tour at the beginning of December 84. After the show in Newcastle the tour bus crashed in icy conditions. The group and entourage suffered various degrees of injury, most notably Mike Nolan who was taken to the hospital in a comatose state believed to be brain-damaged. BBC reported about Mike and the others in the group on December 13, 1984. The tour bus was totally destroyed.

Big Deal - Bobby's solo project

"Big Deal" was the BBC television series which started to be aired at the end of 1984. Bobby wrote the theme for the track which he even performed. The single with the song was released in November 84 and it entered the British chart for the first time on December 1, 1984. On the B-side there was a song "It's all for Jan". The maxi version of the single contained a bonus track entitled "Alibi".

Bobby and Cheryl appeared in several TV shows shortly after the bus crash. Mike and Jay were still recovering. Bobby was guest in "Good Morning Britain" where he was talking about "Big Deal" and about the Bucks Fizz. Even the video for "Big Deal" was shown. Even Cheryl appeared in "Good Morning Britain" where she was talking about Mike. Even a short interview with Cheryl and her mother was aired.

1985

Mike

The year 1985 was probably the worst year in the group's history. After the bus crash and Mike's serious injuries it was not sure that the group would continue. The single "I Hear Talk" released two weeks after the crash made UK #34 but nothing more happened until June. In the early summer the group appeared on TV again performing their 1982 hit "Now those days are gone" with Mike singing lead vocal. It was Bucks Fizz' comeback with focus on Mike who seemed to have recovered after the accident. The group was back in business.

The tour

In June Bucks Fizz went on a short tour which would be the last one in the 1980s with Jay Aston.

You And Your Heart So Blue - the single

The new single "You And Your Heart So Blue" with "Now Those Days Are Gone" on the B-side (a kind of tribute to Mike) was released at the beginning of June 1985. It was the last single with Jay who even appeared for the last time with the group in the TV show "Razzamatazz". The single entered the British chart on 22 June where it stayed for 4 weeks reaching #43.

You and Your Heart So Blue - the EP

The last release with Jay on the cover was the limited edition EP containing 4 tracks: You and Your Heart So Blue and One Touch (Don't Mean Devotion) b/w Now Those Days Are Gone and Censored. The both bonus tracks had never appeared on any other Bucks Fizz release by that time and this EP became one of the biggest collector rarities among fans. The cover picture had been taken shortly after Mike's recovery after the accident in December 1984 and shortly before Jay left the group .

The last photo sessions with Jay

Jay leaves the group

A big chock for all Bucks Fizz fans came at the beginning of July when it was announced that Jay Aston had left the group. According to the press she had sold the story of her alleged affair with the producer Andy Hill to a national newspaper.

You And Your Heart So Blue - the video

The official video for "You and Your Heart so Blue" featured only Cheryl, Mike and Bobby while the management prepared auditions in order to find a replacement for Jay. Even a new photo session with Bucks Fizz as a trio was arranged.

Shelley replaces Jay

Shelley Preston (born on 14 June 1964) was chosen off over 1.000 auditioning girls as Jay's replacement in July 1985.

The first TV appearance with Shelley

The very first presentation of Shelley as a new member of the group took place in the TV show "Wogan" in July. The group performed "You and Your Heart so Blue".

Less Bucks More Fizz photo sessions

Bucks Fizz promoted products of Sharp during the year 1985.

Magical - the single

The first single with Shelley Preston "Magical" was released on 14 September 1985. The 7" version featured "Oh Suzanne" on the side B (originally released on the 1983 LP "Greatest Hits") and the 12" version had even a bonus track "You And Your Heart So Blue" in previously unreleased remixed version.

The group embarked on the "Magical" tour in the autumn and even promoted the latest single on TV. Mike stood still in focus during all interviews being asked about his health condition after the accident in 1984. Even Jay was still interesting for the press and media. Both Bobby and Cheryl tried to skip all the questions regarding Jay and answered that Jay had left but Shelley came and it was the most important thing for the group's future.

The promotion of "Magical"

The group appeared in several popular TV shows.

The tour

The band started their tour entitled "Magical" on 2 September 1985 in Lincoln. See the tour itinerary below.

1986

The Land of Make Believe - the LP

A low-budget compilation featuring Bucks Fizz with Jay Aston was released by EMI in the series "Music for pleasure" in 1986. The album contained 10 tracks - mostly no hit singles as Thief in The Night, I Do It All For You, Breaking Me Up and more.

The Land of Make Believe - the 1986 SP

"The Land of Make Believe" b/w "Making Your Mind Up" were re-released on the 1986 single in the series "Old Gold"

Recording sessions

In the spring and summer 1986 the group recorded their new album in the Surrey countryside where their manager Nicola Martin had her home and recording studio.

New Beginning - the single

"New Beginning" b/w "In Your Eyes" was the most successful single during the "Shelley period". It entered the British chart on June 7th, 1986 and stayed there for 10 weeks reaching #8. The single was promoted by the video and several TV performances in important shows as "Wogan" and "Top of the Pops". "New Beginning" was released as 7", a picture disc and 12" (two versions).

New Beginning - the gallery

The picture disc

The maxi versions

Two different 12" singles were released. The first version contained the maxi version of "New Beginning" on the side A and "In Your Eyes" and "I Need Your Love" on the B side. The alternative 12" featured two different remixes of "New Beginning" created by Ian Levine.

The New Beginning photo sessions

New Beginning - the video

Love the one you're with - the single

The second single release from the LP "Writing on the Wall" was "Love the one you're with" backed with a non-album track "Too Hard". The single entered the British hit chart on 30 August 1986 where it stayed for 3 weeks reaching #47. The single was released as a 7" and 12".

Love the one you're with - the maxi singles

The maxi single edition featured an extended version of "Love The One You're With" (7.52) backed with "Too Hard" and a club remix of "I Hear Talk".

A new video was filmed and the group promoted the new single in several TV shows.

The photo session

Keep Each Other Warm - the single

A ballad "Keep Each Other Warm" was released as a single at the beginning of November 1986 and it entered the UK chart on 15 November. The single reached #45 and stayed on the chart for 4 weeks. "Give a Little Love" performed by Cheryl was on the B-side. The single was released in three different versions: 7", a limited edition with bonus single containing "The Writing On the Wall Medley Part 1 & 2". It was even released as a 12" (picture disc) with long version of "Keep Each Other Warm" and a remixed version of "Give a Little Love".

Writing On The Wall - the album

The album "Writing on the Wall" featured 10 songs including the smash hit "New Beginning" and two other 85/86 singles "You And Your Heart So Blue" and "Magical". The song "Love in the World Gone Mad" sung by Cheryl would be covered one year later by Agnetha Fältskog on her solo album "I Stand Alone". Cheryl sang lead even on "Give a Little Love", Mike on "The Company You Keep" and Bobby on the other 7 tracks. The new vocalist Shelley Preston did not get any lead vocal on the album.

The LP was released in two different versions: the UK and the European. Polydor in the UK removed the track "Give a Little Love" and put in an extended version of "I Hear Talk" instead. The UK version of the album contained even the long version of "Keep Each Other Warm". Track listings were different on the both versions.

The Writings On The Wall

"Writing on the Wall" entered the British chart on 13 December 1986 where it stayed for only 1 week reaching #89. The cassette edition contained slightly different track listing. On the side A there were 9 tracks in the same order as on the LP. "Give a Little Love" was omitted on this release as well. The B-side contained extended versions of "New Beginning", "I Hear Talk" and "Love The One You're With" as well as the long version of "Keep Each Other Warm".

The CD

The CD era was starting at that time and "Writing on the Wall" was released by Polydor even on CD in quite limited edition which made this CD to an extremely-hard-to-find Bucks Fizz release. The CD contained 10 new studio songs (including: Give a Little Love) and two bonus tracks: Love the One You're With (extended version 7.51) and New Beginning (extended version 7.31).

The Tour

The December Tour was called "Not quite Christmas".

1987

On stage

In June Bucks Fizz performed on the paper "Woman" 50th Birthday Gala Concert at the London Palladium in the presence of Princess Diana.

Cheryl goes solo

The year 1986 did not bring any new recordings from the band. Due to the lack of activities in the group Cheryl Baker decided to do some music on her own. The original idea was to make a whole album but because of some different reasons the project was abandoned after a while. Cheryl recorded several new songs but only two of them were released on the single "If Paradise is Half as Nice" b/w "This Fragile Heart" - the latter written by the Bucks Fizz composer Andy Hill. Both tracks were produced by Hill but even if the songs were great pop pieces the single did not enter the British single chart. Both 7" and 12" singles were released. The 12" featured an extended version of "If Paradise is Half so Nice".

The photo session

1988

After the silent year 1987 Bucks Fizz got together again for a successful summer tour in Great Britain. At the same time they re-signed with their original record company, RCA. Their first single release was called "Heart of Stone" and it promoted the compilation album "The Story so Far".

Heart of Stone - the single 

The song "Heart of Stone" had an extremely strong melody and it is still unbelievable that it reached only #50 on the UK chart. The single was released on 24 October 1988 and it entered the UK chart on 5 November 1988 where it stayed for 3 weeks. The B-side of the single featured one more great composition "Here's Looking At You".

The single was even released as 12" but it contained exactly the same versions as on the 7". The only difference was a bonus track on the B-side, their no 1 from 1982 "My Camera Never Lies" (the LP version).

Recording "Heart of Stone"

The single was recorded at the famous Abbey Road Studios in London. It was promoted in several TV shows.

Making of the video

The Story so Far - the album

The compilation album including featuring their new single "Heart of Stone" was released at the end of 1988 as LP, MC and CD. It contained 18 tracks including the live version of "20th Century Hero". Even the song "You Love Love" from 1983 was added on this compilation. "You love love" would be released as a single at the beginning of 1989.

The photo sessions

One of the last "real" photo sessions featuring all four members of Bucks Fizz was taken for the cover of the "The Story So Far" album. The funny thing was that the cover picture became laterally reversed. See the right version of the cover photo below.

The tour 1988

The group toured in Great Britain in autumn 1988.

1989

You Love Love - the single

As a part of the promotion of "The Story So Far" album RCA released a new single containing the song "You Love Love" originally recorded for the album "Hand Cut" in 1983 and performed by Cheryl. On the B-side there was a live version of  "20th Century Hero" - a track from the "Are You Ready" album. Bucks Fizz promoted the single in some TV shows but the single did not make the British chart.

Bucks Fizz embarked on their 1989 tour on 6 April 1989. Cheryl Baker worked more and more on TV even if she was still very much part of Bucks Fizz. From 15 April 1989 she hosted her own Saturday night show on ITV called My Secret Desire, a sort of adult Jim'll Fix It.

Bucks Fizz on TV

1991

Live in Croydon - the album

Bucks Fizz recorded their live album as a trio (Cheryl, Bobby & Mike) at the end of 1990 during their concert in Croydon outside London. The live album confirmed that the singers were vocally very strong even if they performed as a trio. The album did not enter the British chart but it became one of the fan favorites anyway. The first edition of the album contained 13 songs including all Bucks Fizz classics as: The Land Of Make Believe, New Beginning, My Camera Never Lies,  I Hear Talk and of course Making Your Mind Up. As a non-active studio group they did not perform any new own material but several covers of well-known hits as: You're the Voice, A Groovy Kind of Love, and I Knew You Were Waiting. Surprisingly the later editions of the album entitled "The Best and The Rest" did not include A Groovy Kind of Love (sung by Cheryl). The album was released in 1991 as LP, CD and MC.

"The first ten years" - the celebration

In 1991 Bucks Fizz celebrated the 10 years anniversary as a group. They got together for a gig in Great Britain as a trio (Shelley had left the group in 1989).

Bucks Fizz in concert 1990/1991

Bucks Fizz 1991

1992

Cheryl and Mike

In 1992 Mike and Cheryl appeared in a British talk show where they were remembering the bus crash in 1984 and Mike's long recovery after his damages. They did not talk about Bucks Fizz.

Telethon

Bucks Fizz as a group did not exist any more but Cheryl, Mike and Bobby performed occasionally. One of the rare performances was in the TV show "Telethon" where they performed "The Land Of Make Believe" live.

Sensuality - Cheryl solo

Cheryl released her second solo single in 1992. The single contained two quite rocky songs: "Sensuality" b/w "Love To Love". The single was released as 7", 12" and CDS.

Cheryl Baker - TV personality

At the beginning of 1990s Cheryl became more and more TV personality than a Bucks Fizz singer. She hosted several shows on BBC like "Record Breakers" and "Egg's'n'Baker". In each show she performed one song, usually cover of a well-known world hit.

1993

On GMTV

On 1 August 1993 Cheryl, Mike and Bobby appeared live on GMTV where they performed "We Built This City". It was one of their last appearance together in the 1990s.

Bobby & Mike 1995-2000

Cheryl left the group definitely in 1995 and Bobby and Mike decided to go on as a duet still called Bucks Fizz. But it was impossible to achieve any success without the girls and Bucks Fizz was more and more forgotten as a group. Mike and Bobby were seeking desperately for a new image and they even employed two new girls who pretended to be Jay and Cheryl until the final break up when Mike and Bobby went separate ways in the second part of 1990s. The most horrible period of time was when both Mike and Bobby formed their own "Bucks Fizz" groups...

2002

Bobby G

The both Bucks Fizz groups existing during the period 1999-2002 wanted to have rights to the name. It was Bobby's Bucks Fizz that won the full right to the name after the court judge in August 2002. Mike left his "Bucks Fizz" group and it finally ceased later in 2002.

2003

The greatest hits

The compilation "The Greatest Hits" was released in 2003 contained all single hits released by RCA between March 1981 and September 1985. "Talking In Your Sleep" and "I Hear Talk" appeared in maxi versions.

Jay Aston - comeback

The Bucks Fizz diva Jay Aston made comeback in 2003. Her first solo album since she left Bucks Fizz in 1985 was entitled "Alive and well" and contained 13 tracks which had been mostly written by Jay herself. The album's sound was quite different to the Fizz style from the beginning of 1980s and it featured both rocky songs and some beautiful ballads as "Stay with me" and "Waiting for the Day". The album was a big surprise for all Bucks Fizz fans.

Alive and well photo sessions

2004

Cheryl's diet

Cheryl Baker was featured in the UK celebrity magazine "Now" talking about her healthy diet in March 2004.

All original studio albums on CD

The year 2004 was absolutely fantastic for all Bucks Fizz fans. All original studio albums were released on CD with lots of bonus tracks including even several previously unreleased songs. The group did got together again (Bobby, Mike, Cheryl and Shelley) and participated in the winter tour of 1980s stars with several concerts in Great Britain.

The first 4 albums recorded by the group between 1981 and 1984 were released on CD on 21 June 2004 in Great Britain. Each disc contained bonus tracks, previously unreleased songs and alternative mixes of well-known hits. Bucks Fizz had recorded a lot of songs which only appeared on B-sides of their singles and maxi singles in 1980s. The group released a Spanish album in late 1982 but this album remainedl unavailable and only some songs were added as bonus tracks on the CD containing the first album "Bucks Fizz" from 1981.

Cheryl 2004

Writing on the Wall - the remaster

The fifth studio album "Writing on the Wall" (with Shelley Preston) came out on CD on 15 November 2004. The CD edition was though quite different to the original LP version from 1986. Due to the license problems two songs: "You And Your Heart So Blue" and "Magical" which originally had been released on "Writing on the Wall" did not appear on this CD. Instead there were 3 different mixes of "New Beginning", dance edit of "Love the one you're with" and two previously unreleased versions of "Love in the World gone Mad" on this CD issue.

Bucks Fizz on Wembley - 16 December 2004

Bucks Fizz reunited for the "Here and now" tour in the UK at the end of 2004. They performed as the third act on Wembley on Thursday 16 December. Their performance confirmed their status as one of the biggest pop groups in 1980s in Europe and one of the most underestimate groups in the pop history. They started with "New Beginning" at 7.55 p.m. and continued with all great hits until 8.30 p.m. The "queen" Cheryl Baker was in great form joking and having fun on stage. Shelley Preston was singing and dancing as well as Mike who had become a little bit "rounder" but still has his old sense of humor and beautiful voice. Bobby was as usual a great singer even this evening.

The songs performed during the Wembley show: New Beginning, Piece of the Action, My Camera Never Lies, If You Can't Stand the Heat, Run for Your Life, Land of Make Believe, Making Your Mind Up

2005

Cheryl, Shelley and Bobby started collaborations as "the former Bucks Fizz members" with several shows in the UK at the beginning of 2005.

The Box

The box "Legends" was released in Great Britain on 7 February 2005 and it featured 3 CDs with 14 songs on each of them. Among the songs there were some rarities as the 12" version of Heart of Stone or rare B-side "Censored".

The Ultimate Anthology

"The Ultimate Anthology"  was released on July 16th, 2005 in Great Britain. This double CD contains all 20 Bucks Fizz singles on CD 1 (most of them are alternative mixes) and rarities on CD 2 including some previously unreleased tracks. Even two Cheryl Baker solo tracks have been added on the second CD. Several rare pictures can be found in the booklet (see below). Covers of all SPs, LPs and CDs ever released by the group can be seen in the middle of the booklet.

50 years of the Eurovision Song Contest

On 22 October 2005 the three former members of the group performed "Making Your Mind Up" on the gala show in Copenhagen in connection to the 50th anniversary of Eurovision Song Contest. Cheryl and Mike gave a short interview for the German TV channel "WDR". The interview was recorded in London.

2006

The Lost Masters

The 2 CDs - The Lost Remasters - contained over 30 previously unreleased songs - a mix of completely unknown compositions and alternate mixes of known hits. Andy Hill found a lot of interesting stuff in his studio Comforts Place. Some of the songs planned for this compilation had never been finished when the group was active in the 1980s. The former members Cheryl Baker and Shelley Preston were in the studio so late as in November 2005 and recorded new vocals for several songs.

Jay Aston - the box

In 2006 Jay Aston released a box entitled "Lamb or Lizard" with 3 CD containing her songs composed between 1979 and 2001. In the booklet Jay is telling small stories about every song. Two first songs were composed and recorded in 1979. One of them "There's No Other Place" was used by Aston on her audition for Bucks Fizz! The beautiful ballad "Lovin You" was recorded in 1985 shortly after Jay left the group.

Totally there are 46 songs included on this release.

Bucks Fizz - together again

All 5 members of Bucks Fizz: Cheryl Baker, JAY ASTON, Shelley Preston, Bobby G and Mike Nolan got together on 24 November 2006 for a video filming together with the British comedian Peter Kay.

2007

The Very Best of Bucks Fizz - CD + DVD

The compilation "The Very Best of Bucks Fizz" featuring CD and the first official DVD was released in Great Britain on 14 May 2007. The CD contained all 18 chart hits from "Making Your Mind Up" to "Heart of Stone" and the DVD features 17 official videos for the same songs as on CD excluding "One of Those Nights" as video for this single had never been made. Cheryl Baker wrote short comments to each track in the booklet which with its lay-out and happy colours reminds of the very first period in the group's career. The four members featured on this compilation are Cheryl, Jay, Mike and Bobby even if Shelley appears on four videos on the DVD.

Cheryl

Pictures of Cheryl in the British press.

Bucks Fizz on the British chart!!

The compilation CD (with bonus DVD) "The Very Best of Bucks Fizz" entered the British album chart on #40 on 21 May 2007. It was the best position for a Bucks Fizz album since "Greatest Hits" in 1983 which entered the British chart on 3 December 1983 and peaked at #25. The next two studio albums "I Hear Talk" from 1984 reached only #66 in 1984 and "Writing on the Wall" in 1986 peaked on #89 on 13 December 1986.

The promotion

The new compilation of Bucks Fizz' greatest hits was promoted officially by three former member of the group: Cheryl Baker, Mike Nolan and Shelley Preston during whole year 2007. Even official photo sessions were taken for this purpose.

2008

The Lost Masters 2

The new double CD 'Lost Masters 2 - The Final Cut' featuring rare tracks of BUCKS FIZZ was released on 19 May 2008 in Great Britain. The collection contained 28 tracks according to the track listing and several hidden surprises.

The first track on the CD 1 is the full-length version of the 1984 hit "Talking in Your Sleep" followed by edited versions of "Breaking me up" and "Rules of the Game" (the TV version with dead ending). The demo version of "Piece of the Action" sounds quite different to the well-known LP/SP one. The remix of "My Camera Never Lies" contains several differences and additional vocal overdubs. The demo of "Don't Think You're Foolin' me" sounds quite... Scottish. The rock mix of "Magical" is in many ways unique as it features an intro sung by Jay Aston who by the time of this recording session was leaving the group in spring-early summer 1985. "Golden Days" has been newly remixed and it sounds completely different but it features the same vocals as the original recording with some more focus on Cheryl and Jay. The early mix of "If You Can't Stand the Heat" is slightly different to the final version of the song and "You and Your Heart So Blue" performed by Cheryl is one more different version to the ones included on the "Lost Masters 1".

The early mix of "The Right Situation" is dominated by the guys' voices and the contribution from Jay and Cheryl is minimal, the arrangement reminds much more of "Making Your Mind Up". One of the highlights from the album "I Hear Talk" the song "Tears on the Ballroom Floor" sung by Cheryl had richer arrangement from the beginning as we can hear on this early demo. The original album version became more rough and synthesizer-based according to the musical trends in the early 1980s.

The previously unreleased "Every dream has broken" appears on this compilation in an alternate version but it is quite different to hear any bigger difference between this mix and the one from the Lost Masters 1. The first hidden track on the CD1 is a delete vocal part of "Now You're Gone". The two others are themes from two TV shows - none of the hidden tracks last more than appr 30 seconds.

The opening track on CD2 is an alternate version of "Another Night" - the song which was hit in Japan in 1981 in connection to Bucks Fizz appearance on the Yamaha World Popular Song Festival. This version was recorded for promo purposes in Japan and it features partly different text. The mix of "Easy Love" is called for "European version" and it was recorded for TV promotion of the single which was released in West Germany. An absolutely unknown track written by Bobby entitled "Putting the heat on" is probably from the "Big Deal" period as it sounds in this way and seems not to feature the other Bucks Fizz members as background singers. The extended remix of "Run for your Life" sounds good but it was done in 2008 without any participation of the group.

The demo version of "One of those nights" is a very interesting example of how a song can develop. The early version of "Invisible" sounds as strong as the final one and it's a pity that it did not appeared on the album. The TV version of the ballad "You love love" is featured in the show promoting "Hand Cut" and it's nice to have it on CD. The 7" version of "Cold War" must have been thought as a possible single release in 1984 but the idea was abandoned. The Jay Aston classic from 1981 "Getting Kinda Lonely" appears here in a long version which sounds even better than the album version. One more Bobby production from the "Big Deal" era is entitled "Because of Susan".

"Indebted to you" from 1984 with Jay Aston singing lead vocals is absolutely interesting and it once again shows that it was extremely difficult to find a good vocal balance for this song. Maybe Cheryl would make it even better.  The 2008 mix of "The Land of Make Believe" sounds really great - absolutely useful for a disco night. One more completely unknown track performed by Cheryl "Let's Get Wet" appears for the first time on this CD. Being a huge admirer of Cheryl I don't find this song as the most excited she's ever done but nice to hear it anyway. One more remix of "Every Dream has Broken" appears as the last track on CD2. The hidden track is "Now Those Days Are Gone" in demo version performed by Andy Hill.

On TV on 8 October

The former members of Bucks Fizz - Cheryl Baker, Jay Aston, Mike Nolan and Shelley Preston appeared on Living TV on Wednesday October 8th (see the show info below).

Photo sessions 2008

Cheryl

Cheryl in the British press about the make-over project.

The 2008 reunion without Bobby?

from "Daily Mail"

Bucks Fizz reunite ahead of bizarre cosmetic surgery comeback show
Eurovision song contest winners Bucks Fizz have reunited at the birthday celebration for cable channel Living TV. Fittingly, as the group are set to film new reality show for which they will go under the knife and stage a comeback concert. Three original members Cheryl Baker, 54, and Jay Aston, 47, Mike Nolan, 54, posed with Shelly Preston, who later took Aston's place in the popular group.  But clearly, the years have not been kind to everyone.

Leggy blondes Jay and Shelly showed off their toned bodies in mini dresses and high heels. Cheryl, who has fought a public battle with her weight looked rather matronly in head to toe black. And Mike Nolan's shiny shirt hid what looked like a substantial mid-life paunch, but despite his greying hair he has retained his boyish looks.

He hit the headlines in 1984 when the group's tour bus crashed, leaving him in a coma. Hopefully the bandmates will benefit from the group's latest venture.

In 'Pop Goes The Band', they, along with other long-forgotten groups, including Bananarama, have reformed for a TV special in which they'll all have plastic surgery. The show promises they will be 'restored to their former glory through strenuous fitness regimes, painful cosmetic and in some cases, major plastic surgery'.

2009

Jay is back!

Jay's comeback after 24 years

The Original Bucks Fizz featuring: Cheryl Baker, Jay Aston and Mike Nolan appeared at Heaven Nightclub in London on 16.5.2009 as part of G-A-Y's annual Eurovison Party night. This was the first official public performance by Jay Aston, Cheryl Baker and Mike Nolan since 1985 when Jay left the group and it was even the first performance since the announcement of Jay's return to the 'Original Bucks Fizz' line up. The band performed among others the 1983 smash hit with Jay's lead vocal "When We Were Young".

Eurovision 2009

The Bucks Fizz members: Cheryl, Jay and Mike were special guests in the BBC News in May commenting the Eurovision Song Contest 2009.

Thanet Pride

At the end of July 2009 Cheryl, Mike and Jay performed on "Thanet Pride" Festival.

The Splash Tour 2009 feat: Cheryl, Jay & Mike

The Original Bucks Fizz embarked on their UK tour on 6 October 2009.

Special thanks for the photos to Sara Russel

The Box

A new box set "The Platinum Collection" including 4 CDs was released in the UK on 16 November 2009. It contains totally 73 tracks featuring both greatest hits, rare remixes and previously unreleased tracks.