The original line-up:
Cheryl Baker (born Rita Crudgington on March 8th, 1954)
Jay Aston (born on May 4th, 1961),
Bobby G. (born Robert Gubby on August 23, 1953)
Mike Nolan (born on December 7th, 1954).
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Before Bucks Fizz
Cheryl Baker in CoCo - Bad Old Days
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The future Bucks Fizz star Cheryl Baker started as a singer many years before Bucks Fizz started in 1981. She was both talented and experienced studio singer and she worked a lot with other artists. The first little breakthrough came in 1978 when Cheryl participated for the first time in the Eurovision Song Contest with the group Co-Co. They performed the song "The Bad Old Days" which ended as number 11 but surprisingly the Co-Co were noticed by Eurovision fans in Great Britain and West Germany. The single "Bad Old Days" entered the British chart on April 22, 1978 where it stayed for 7 weeks reaching #13. "Bad Old Days" was released in many countries all over the world and it was followed by an album with the same title.
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Bad Old Days - the album
The album entitled "Bad Old Days" was released worldwide during the year 1978. It contained 12 songs sung by all the members of the group. Cheryl sung lead vocals as well as she played percussion on the track "Money Song".
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THE EUROVISION SONG CONTEST 1981
MAKING YOUR MIND UP - THE FIRST SINGLE
Eurovision Song Contest 81
Bucks Fizz was created especially for the Eurovision Song Contest in Dublin in 1981 by husband/wife music producers and composers Nicola Martin & Andy Hill. The group won the Eurovision Song Contest on April 4, 1981. After the victory in Dublin the group continued working together and it became the most successful pop acts in Europe in the 1980s.
Dublin April 4, 1981
The group performed "Making Your Mind Up" and from the very beginning of the show they were tipped as the Top 5 artists in the Eurovision Song Contest 81.
Making Your Mind Up - the ESC performance
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The victory
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Photo sessions in the Eurovision outfits (various spots).
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Making Your Mind Up - the first single
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The first single contained the Eurovision winner "Making Your Mind Up" and a non-album track "Don't Stop" on the side B. The single entered the British chart on March 28th, 1981 where it stayed for 12 weeks reaching #1 on April 18 (for 3 weeks).
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Making Your Mind Up - more photo sessions
The yellow-Jay session
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The group worked hard with the promotion of "Making Your Mind Up" in whole Europe. They appeared in several TV shows in Great Britain, Germany and other countries.
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TV performances
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Piece of the Action - the second single
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"Piece of the Action" backed by "Took it to the Limit" (exceptionally an album track on B-side) were chosen for the group's second single released at the end of May 1981. It entered the British hit chart on June 6th, 1981. "Piece of the Action" became quite big hit in Great Britain with 9 weeks' chart life with #12 as the peak position. The single was promoted by a brand new video as well as several TV appearances.
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Piece of the Action - the photo sessions
Several photo sessions were taken in the spring. The pictures were to be used for the cover of the forthcoming debut album.
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Not quite nude session
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Golden record
In May 1981 the single "Making Your Mind Up" sold 500.000 in Great Britain and the group received their first Golden Record which they proudly presented in London.
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The happy colours session
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The debut album was released at the beginning of August 1981 and it featured 10 songs. Bobby sang most of the lead vocals on the album. Jay sang the beautiful ballad "Getting Kinda Lonely" and Mike & Cheryl performed "It's Got To Be Love". The album contained three single hits: "Making Your Mind Up", "Piece of the Action" and "One of Those Nights".
The album entered the British LP chart on August 8th, 1981 and it stayed there for 28 weeks peaking at number 14.
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The lyrics
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The photo sessions
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In Norway
Bucks Fizz gained a lot of popularity in Norway. Just before their visit in the Norwegian show "Momarkedet" in late summer 1981 the newspaper "Norsk Ukeblad" sent the group's fan Anne Lise to London for an interview and a photo session. In the interview Mike said that all group members were huge fans of ABBA and they hoped to meet their idols on Momarkedet. Cheryl's favorite song was "Chiquitita".
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Momarkedet - Norway
Bucks Fizz paid a visit in Norway at the end of August 1981 where they participated in the TV show "Momarkedet". Mike Nolan gave interview for Norwegian weekly "Norsk ukeblad" where he said that he hoped to meet ABBA there. (Thanks to Norway)
The Spanish single
The international promotion of the group started in Spain where Bucks Fizz released their first single in Spanish language. The single featured two songs from the first album: It's Got to Be Love (Yo se que es amor) b/w Shine On (Brillar). Both compositions would re-appear on the Spanish language LP in 1982. The cover featured a photo taken during recording of the video to "Piece of the Action".
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Australia
Bucks Fizz got their success in Europe. Many European groups suffered poor sales in Australia, due to insignificant air-play. When taking into consideration their huge success in Europe, Bucks Fizz played a Big presence on the Australian top 20 Charts. They had moderate success on the Australian Music Report top 100, with their biggest hit "Making your mind up". (#6 in June 1981).
Their debut album "Bucks Fizz" was promoted in Australia by a free single containing a mix of 4 songs from the album.
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The group paid a visit in Australia at the end of 1981 promoting the album on TV (very hard to find stuff on video).
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Piece of the Action in Australia
A 4 week radio promotion of the single "Piece of the Action" involving several companies was started by the time when the group was in Australia. Thousands of dollars worth of prizes could be won as well as Bucks Fizz' first LP. A promo single was sent out to all radio stations in the country.
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One of Those Nights - the third single
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The third single release contained "One of Those Nights" backed by "Always Thinking of You" - a non-album track with Cheryl's lead vocal. The single entered the British chart on August 15th, 1981 and stayed there for 10 weeks reaching #20.
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The group appeared on Top of the Pops, Jim'll Fix It and Summer Special where they sang "One of Those Nights".
Japan
In November 1981 Bucks Fizz participated in the World Popular Song Festival in Tokyo where they won The Best Song Award for "Another Night".
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In private
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Another Night - the single
The single "Another Night"/"Took it to the Limit" was released in Japan at the same time. The single promoted the upcoming release of the group's first album in Japan.
Bucks Fizz - the album in Japan
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The Land of Make Believe - the single
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A new single was entitled "The Land Of Make Believe" and it was released on November 28th, 1981. This catchy and a bit unusual pop piece would become the most important and biggest hits the group ever had. It topped the British chart on January 16th, 1982 where it stayed for 2 weeks. Totally "The Land of Make Believe" spent 16 weeks on the British single chart. The single was thought as a Christmas hit and it contained a song in a Christmas mood performed by Cheryl "Now You're Gone" on the side B.
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The Christmas edition | |
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Even a special Christmas edition of the single was released. The original single had a silver background and the Christmas special had a grey one and it was laid in a new package featuring all four members in winter clothes and wishing a happy Christmas.
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The Land of Make Believe - 12"
"The Land of Make Believe" was released as 12" in West Germany and it contained the LP edit of the song and two tracks on the side 2: "Midnight Reservation" and "Now You're Gone", the latter available only on the single.
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The Video
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The Land of Make Believe - the outfits & the sessions
Two different outfits were prepared for the promotion of "The Land of Make Believe". The first set was used in the official video for the song and the other one in the TV shows.
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The kimono sessions
The group performed in "Mike Yarwood Show" and "Top of the Pops" in the Asia inspired clothes with Japanese signs and Chinese dragoons.
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ARE YOU READY - THE SECOND ALBUM
NOW THOSE DAYS ARE GONE - THE SUMMER HIT
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The group promoted their new single "The Land of Make Believe" by appearing in various TV shows both in Great Britain and other European countries as West Germany where they performed in the show "Tiswas". Mike Nolan explained why the group was called just Bucks Fizz. Bucks Fizz was a favorite drink of their manager Nicola Martin and when the group was put together for the Eurovison Song Contest in 1981 she decided to call them like that.
Shakin' your pies up...
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A "new version" of their Eurovision hit was re-recorded with partly different lyrics. It was entitled "Shakin' your pies up" and in one of the TV shows the group performed the song throwing pies on each other.
In the studio - Feb-Mar 82
At the end of February and beginning of March the group was in the studio working on two projects at the same time. While the last touches were put on the tracks for the new album which eventually would be entitled "Are You Ready", the group re-recorded several songs in Spanish precisely like ABBA did two years before and with the same Spanish teacher. Bobby wasn't too keen on the Spanish recording: "I dislike doing it. It's not too hard if you've already done the song in English first so you have some idea of what it's like."
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The "drink" session - Spring 1982
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Swap Shop - TV special
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The group appeared on the Swap Shop where they answered fans' questions by phone.
The "my camera" photo session
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This photo session was taken in early summer 1982. In the same outfits the group promoted their latest single "My Camera Never Lies" in several TV shows in Great Britain.
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