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At the beginning of 1984 Bucks Fizz promoted their new single "Rules of the Game". They started new recording sessions for a forthcoming album. The group 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".
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The photo sessions
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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.
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Talking In Your Sleep - the single
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The first single promoting the forthcoming album was "Talking In Your Sleep" backed by "Don't think You're Fooling Me" which 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.
Talking In Your Sleep - the limited edition
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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 photo sessions
Several different photo sessions were taken before the release of "Talking in Your Sleep".
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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
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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.
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Miss UK - Brighton
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The group appeared in the Miss UK beauty contest in Brighton. They performed their new single hit "Talking in Your Sleep". The choreography was thoroughly prepared and the performance of "Talking In Your Sleep" was a little show on its own rights.
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Other TV shows
Bucks Fizz promoted their new single in several TV shows in Great Britain during September 1984.
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At the beginning of October the group released a new single featuring one of their most beautiful ballads "Golden Days". The single was released in 3 versions: the usual 7" version, maxi 12" version and as a picture disc. The B-side of the 7" contained "Where Do I Go Now" written by Cheryl. 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 contained 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".
TV promotion
Even the "Golden Days" single was intensively promoted in various British TV shows
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Golden Days - the video
The video had a little storyline about an actress who remembers her golden days as a star.
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The album "I Hear Talk" was released in November and it 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 the song "Thief in the Night". Bobby sung lead vocals in two great compositions: "She cries" (composed by Nik Kershaw) and "Cold War". Even Mike could show his vocal talents in "January's Gone". This album sounds still great today, more than 20 years later.
I Hear Talk - the photo session
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I Hear Talk - the single
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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 a poster cover and as a 12". The song on the B-side was a no-album track "Pulling Me Under" written by Bobby. The maxi single contained even a bonus track "Invisible". "I Hear Talk" entered the British chart on December 29 and stayed there for 8 weeks reaching #34.
I Hear Talk - the video
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TV promotion
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Photo sessions 1984
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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.
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Big Deal - Bobby's solo project
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"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".
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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 and Cheryl. Even a short interview with Cheryl and her mother was aired.
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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 then it did not happen anything 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.
In June Bucks Fizz went on a short tour which would be the last one with Jay Aston.
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You And Your Heart So Blue - the single
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"You And Your Heart So Blue" with "Now Those Days Are Gone" (a kind of tribute to Mike) was released as a new single at the beginning of June 1985. It was the last single with Jay who appeared for the last time with the group in the TV show "Razzamatazz". The single entered the British chart on June 22nd where it stayed for 4 weeks reaching #43.
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You and Your Heart So Blue - the EP
The last release with Jay on the cover picture 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 .
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The last photo sessions with Jay
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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.
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You And Your Heart So Blue - the video
The official video to their latest single featured only Cheryl, Mike and Bobby while the management prepared auditions in order to find a replacement for Jay. Even a photo session with only three members of the group was arranged.
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Shelley replaces Jay
Shelley Preston (born on June 14, 1964) was chosen off over 1.000 auditioning girls as Jay's replacement in July 1985.
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Bucks Fizz with Shelley - the first TV appearance
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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".
Magical - the single
The first single with the new member Shelley Preston "Magical" was released on September 14th, 1985. The 7" version with "Oh Suzanne" on the side B (originally released on the 1983 LP "Greatest Hits") and the 12" version with the bonus track "You And Your Heart So Blue" in the previously unreleased remixed version.
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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.
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The Tour
The band started their tour on September 2nd, 1985 in Lincoln. The last concert was held on October 5th in Blackpool.
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The Land of Make Believe - the LP
A new 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.
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New Beginning - the single
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"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
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The maxi versions
The first 12" 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 second 12" featured two different remixes of "New Beginning" created by Ian Levine.
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The New Beginning photo sessions
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New Beginning - the video
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Love the one you're with - the single
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The second single release from the LP "Writing on the Wall" was "Love the one you're with" backed by a non-album track "Too Hard". The single entered the British hit chart on August 30th, 1986 where it stayed for 3 weeks reaching #47. The single was released as a 7" and 12". The maxi single contained an extended version of "Love the one you're with" (7.52) on the A-side and two tracks on the other side: "Too Hard" and an extended version of "I Hear Talk" - the title track from their 1984 album.
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Love the one you're with - the maxi singles
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A new video was filmed and the group promoted the new single in several TV shows.
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The photo session
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Keep Each Other Warm - the single
A ballad "Keep Each Other Warm" was released at the beginning of November 1986 and it entered the UK chart on November 15. 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".
