Q Hello Cheryl,
My question is that I remember reading a story in the papers and you and Mike also
mentioned it once on TVAM, that you and Mike had a really bad argument once while about to
perform on Top of the Pops. It took place in front of the studio audience and camera crew
and you really shouted at each other. I don't want to know what it was about! I just
wondered if you knew what record you were promoting at the time (lol). I know you always
say you never remember things so I guess its a long shot? Out of all the performances I
have of Bucks Fizz on Top of the Pops, the only one I can see where you all are not
seemingly enjoying your performance as much as you could be is actually one of your
appearances for 'The Land of Make Believe'. Jay is wearing a wedding dress and you are a
pixie I think in that one. You did another similar performance to this one a year later on
the 'Pops' Xmas special where you were wearing a fairy outfit and ended up in mid air on
wires! Now that one you are all having a fantastic time (its actually my favourite BFizz
moment on TV!). So I don't think it would be that one judging by all your smiles. But the
the earlier one you all seem to be on edge? The next week you performed it again and you
are all enjoying the performance so I think it might be that one?.
(Submitted By Stuart 18/05/05)
A Hi Stuart,
Yes, I remember the
argument and what it was about. The doorman at the Top of the Pops studio wouldn’t
let our manager, Jill Shirley in. What Jill would do during TV rehearsals was watch camera
angles, close-ups etc. and report back to us. This particular time with the stroppy
doorman, I challenged him and said that Jill always watched from the studio floor (by that
time we had done loads of performances on TOTP and Jill had always been allowed in) but he
wasn’t having any of it. The reason Mike and I had a row was because Mike, trying to
still the waters, said something funny to the bloke that was sort-of derisory of me. He
didn’t mean it, but I copped the hump. I told him that, whether I was right or wrong,
he should have sided with me because we were in the same band. It was a moment I regret
– I was in the wrong. The bloke was just doing his job and Mike, bless him, was just
trying to shut me up! I said something really dumb to the doorman; "Heads will
roll". Ha! Silly cow, as Mike would say! And yes, I think it possibly was Land of
Make Believe!
As for the TOTP LOMB
Christmas performance when I was on wires a’la ‘Peter Pan’, that was my
favourite TV performance ever. Loved it! Especially the ridiculous outfit that Bobby wore.
I was so impressed that he was happy to wear a Carmen Miranda outfit with fruit on his
head. I mean, this was tea-drinking man’s man, Bobby Gee!
Q ............I came to see you perform on the Hear and Now last
year in Manchester (flew over specially!) as well as when you all came to the Isle of Man
(where I live) in 1986 and performed for Prince Edward at a large club, you also filmed a
segment at that time for the TV show 'No Limits' where you and Shelley got a tram up to
the top of a mountain here while Mike and Bobby 'apparently' climbed it after missing the
tram (I bet they didn't really!), the whole clip had 'I Hear Talk' playing over it. Do you
remember any of your time here. I know you actually came back to promote the 10th
anniversary and did a show/shows, but I wasn't on the island then.
(Submitted By Stuart 18/05/05)
A ............Yes, I
remember working on the Isle of Man. I was really impressed with this young girl who
co-presented it. She was a natural and I believed would go far. Actually, she didn’t
go as far as I’d expected but she’s still lovely and I have bumped into her a
few times since. She was the stunningly beautiful …..oh blimey, can’t remember
her name! Ah well, one of you will remind me.
And the gig
we did in front of Prince Edward! He must have liked us because he asked us to do a
private gig for him at the Henley Regatta. The thing I remember about him on the Isle of
Man is that he wore ear-plugs during the concert! However, when we did the Henley Regatta
party, he was on the dance floor in front of us, joining in with the arm-movements to New
Beginning. Can you believe that?! A prince of the realm dancing to Bucks Fizz!
Cheryl xx
- Q Hi ya Cheryl,
When u went on tour how did u decide what songs were done in the show & in what order?
Also, when u heard the new CD's what did u really think, was it horror or delight?
(Submitted By Martin 23/05/05)
A As far as I remember, we would sit with Jill and Nichola and decide. It was
very democratic. In the latter days, we made the decision on our own. The running order
was fairly simple. Most live gigs have a bigg-ish start, a couple of ballads thrown in, a
lull in the middle and an explosive end.
Oh, absolute
delight! I’m thrilled that Dean, Kevin, Ian and anyone else involved (sorry if I
haven’t named you!) have put so much time and effort into these CDs/DVD/website that
help us relive those times – most of which were very happy! Plus some of the tracks
on the Lost Masters CD I had completely forgotten, so it was great to be reminded of them.
Cheryl xx
- Q Hi Cheryl,
This is very generous of you
to answer fans questions so thank you very much....it is appreciated and very interesting
reading your answers.
1/ You seem to blame Jay for everything that happened but it takes two to tango. Why were
you not willing to work with her but was happy to continue working with Andy Hill who
should also shoulder half the blame (and should also have known better being the elder)?
2/ Have you ever met
any of the members of ABBA?
3/ Do you know what
tracks are due to appear on the 'Comforts Place' CD?
4/ Are there any songs you recorded that were never released, and maybe due to
appear on this CD, that you wish had been either a single or at least an album track back
in the 80's?
(Submitted By Robbie 01/08/05)
A 1/
Hey ho. Here we go again. Let me take you back 20-plus years ago. Jay had an affair
with Andy Hill. I had absolutely no idea. I didn’t know until a bouquet of flowers
that Jay had sent to Nichola whilst we were doing a photo shoot or video or something, was
returned broken and scrunched up. That was when someone – can’t remember who
– told me they had been having an affair and that Nichola had found out. The flowers
from Jay were apparently a peace offering. As a matter of interest, what would you do if
someone who had been shagging your recently-married partner sent you flowers?
As for work, can I
remind you that Jay left Bucks Fizz. It was she who was not willing to work with us, not
the other way around. I could work with Jay, no problem. We had nothing in common and
never socialised together, in fact, it was quite difficult to have a conversation with Jay
(and I’m sure she felt the same about me) but on stage we were fine, and that’s
what mattered.
As for Andy, the
reason I was happy to continue working with him was that he wrote/produced almost
everything that Fizz ever did. I had no option but to continue working with him if I
wanted to stay in the band, and I did!
2/ Abba –
no, never met any of ‘em.
3/
Comfort’s Place CD ? Well, as this reply is so very, very late, you know the track
list!
4/ In
retrospect, I believe the powers that be (was it Nichola, Andy, the record company, I
dunno) chose the wrong route for BF to go down. We released songs that were probably
favourites of there’s, but were not really suitable for the band and it’s
fan-base. So yes, there are tracks on The Lost Masters that I think would have been better
choices of singles but, in the words of a certain No. 8 hit, Now Those Days Are Gone.
Cheryl xx
Q Hi
Cheryl,
I was just intrigued as to
what your feeling were about adopting a stage name, it always seems like a strange concept
to me to be known by a name other than your own!
Just wondered how did you choose the name Cheryl Baker?
At first was it (or is it still) strange to be called Cheryl?
Do your friends or family call you Cheryl or Rita?
(Submitted By Qwerty 02/08/05)
A The first band I joined back in 1975, ‘Mother’s Pride’,
laughed at me when I told them my name was Rita Crudgington! They said it wasn’t
stagy enough (they had a point!) and asked me to change it. It’s really hard to
choose a name you’d like to be known as. Try it!
Just wondered how did you
choose the name Cheryl Baker?
My first choice of stage name was Bonny Silver. They called me that for two weeks, then
decided it was too stagy! So we sat in the living room of the house we were renting
(Mother’s Pride were in summer season in Blackpool) and chose Cheryl Baker. And do
you know, I honestly can’t remember who chose the names. I think Baker was chosen
because it’s easy to pronounce and spell (well, anything’s easy after
Crudgington!) but Cheryl, I just don’t remember. Could have been me, but it may well
have been one of the others. It doesn’t matter anyway. I hang ‘Cheryl
Baker’ up in the wardrobe when I get home.
At first was it (or is it
still) strange to be called Cheryl?
You kind of get used to it fairly quickly. In fact, I took to Cheryl better than I took to
Bonny. Can you see me as a Bonny? Nah, didn’t think so.
Do your friends or family
call you Cheryl or Rita?
RITA! In fact, when I first changed
my name my mum asked what she should call me. I was dumbfounded! My friends from school,
who I still see regularly, also asked whether they should call me Cheryl. Absolutely not!
I was still Rita!
You see, Cheryl
performs on stage and does tele and stuff like that. But it’s Rita who goes home on
the train, who takes the children to the pictures, who drives them to school. I am Rita
Stroud to everyone other than people in the entertainment industry and the general public.
My family, my friends, my neighbours and anyone I meet outside of my profession know me as
Rita. Even this year on holiday in Greece, I introduced myself to people we met as Rita.
They knew I was also known as ‘Cheryl’, but understood that that was my
‘work’ name. Certain celebrities who have become friends call me Rita. Most of
the cast of Footloose call me Rita. I don’t ask them to. They choose to. Even Steve,
my gorgeous husband, called me ‘Cheryl’ for 12 years before we were an item,
then started calling me Rita. Once again, I didn’t ask him to. I guess it just feels
like they are part of my personal life, rather than just the professional.
However……Mike,
Bobby and Shelley (and presumably Jay) have never called me Rita. They only think of me as
Cheryl. Mike, although we are really close, says he just can’t call me Rita,
I’ll always be Cheryl to him.
Cheryl xx
- Q Hi
Cheryl,
I hope that you and the family are well! And thanks for taking the time to read and answer
these questions from your loyal subjects!
Bucks Fizz performed
a few cover versions during the years, however, a number of your songs have also been
performed by other artists since then. So, I was just wondering what you thought of the
songs that have been covered? Worse/Better than Bucks Fizz's version, etc.?
(Submitted By Richie Jay 05/08/05)
Here's the few that I can
think of at the moment:-
A
Allstars -
Land Of Make Believe
Our’s was definitely better!
Cher - Heart Of Stone
Our’s was definitely better!
Barry Manilow - Keep Each Other Warm
Never heard it.
Cliff Richard - Golden Days
Never heard it.
Tina Turner - What's Love Got To Do With It?
Her’s was definitely better! However, when we
recorded it the producer (not Andy Hill) didn’t even try Shelley or me on lead as he
said that it was obviously a boy’s song!
Will Young - Love The One You're With (Okay not
originally a Bucks Fizz song, but would like to hear you opinion of Will Young's version!)
Haven’t heard Will’s version. I love the original
Steve Stills one though, as I was a huge Crosby, Still, Nash & Young fan.
Plus any others that you'd like to comment on (or
inform us about)!
I don’t know of any others that have been
covered.
Thanks again! And thanks for reforming with Mike
& Shelley - you have allowed me to re-live my youth (and also to get out my
sweatshirts and scarves again, which I thought would just end up in boxes for the rest of
my life - I liked the expression on your face when you saw me at Wembley dressed like a 37
year old teenager in my sweatshirt and scarf!!!)
I remember that !
(PS The OBE/MBE or Damehood is well overdue!!!)
Write and tell them!
Cheryl xx
- Q Cheryl,
Is it true that in your
first year as bucks fizz that you were each given a mini metro? Was it a record company
present and can you remember getting any other fantastic free gifts for being a pop star?
(Submitted By Stuart 05/08/05)
A No, we weren’t ‘given’ one, we were ‘lent’ one for
six months. We managed to hold on to them for a bit longer though. They kept asking for
them back but we were rarely in the country so we had them for almost a year in the end!
Cheryl xx
Q Hello again Cheryl!
I was the one who called you 'Sex on Legs' last time and freaked your daughter out! Sorry!
Hope I didn't freak you out too?! I'm harmless, honest! Anyway I'll behave myself this
time!
My questions are:
Can you remember why neither Bobby or Shelley were guests when you were the subject on
'This is Your Life'?
A I’m ‘feet off ground’ with
this one. Obviously, I wasn’t party to who was invited, otherwise I’d have known
about it and if the producers of the programme thought the subject was aware, they pulled
the plug. I would assume they didn’t invite Bobby because he and Mike were having a
bit of a barney at the time and my allegiance was always with Mike. Don’t know why
they didn’t ask Shelley. Maybe she was on tour, maybe they just didn’t think to
ask.
Q Were there any occasions where a
decision was made to release a track as a single that the group weren't expecting, like
'London Town' replacing 'Invisible', and particularly when a single was pulled (Like 'Love
in a World Gone Mad'?) If this was the case how did you feel at the time?
A I don’t remember being aware that
‘Invisible’ was going to be a single. It would have been a good one, though.
Shelley would remember whether LIAWGM was going to be a single. Once again, it would have
been good and a nice change from a Bobby lead. The one time when I was really p’d off
and thought seriously of leaving the group was when another girl was used to do backing
vocals on Keep Each Other Warm. I was furious. We were a 4-piece harmony band, for
Christ’s sake! If none of us could have done the wailing at the end, then it
shouldn’t have been there! I love that song, but have to turn it off when it gets to
that bit. I think Dean found a few tracks with vocals on other than BF and Andy Hill. Ask
him.
Cheers Cheryl. Hope you are well and
happy, cos ya bloomin well deserve to be!
(Submitted By David 05/09/05)
I am well and happy and
thanks for your good wishes.
Cheryl xx
Q Cheryl
I loved your Jazz show, I was lucky enough to have a great seat at the front. You asked me
about my first record (Kate Bush and you sang a brief snatch of Wuthering Heights). You
looked like you had real fun, we certainly did.
Just wondered if you have
any plans for some more shows? (hope so!)
(Submitted By Robert 24/10/05)
A Oh yes, I really enjoyed Maidstone. I’ll
certainly do more of those, but because of Footloose it’s been impossible for me to
do other stuff. Glad you enjoyed it! I’ll certainly be looking at doing some more
gigs, both as CB and with Shelley and Mike, in the new year.
Cheryl xx
Q Hi Cheryl,
Saw you and the gang at The
Nightingale in Birmingham. I was basically on stage with you I was standing on your right
and you did a little pose for me I have recorded it all on my mobile but can only watch it
on mute as I sang throu the whole thing and I sound awful, just hope you didnt hear me as
I would have really put you off, sorry.Also saw you in Footloose in Brum, fab and looked
like you were having a really good time esp at the end.
Anyho my questions are
(Submitted By Gary Pettitt 02/11/05)
1, Did you get a feel for a song, can
you remember thinking ,'this song is going to be a hit for us, ie My Camera Never Lies
Lies or God this song is poo,
A When I heard MYMU for the first time (the
demo sung by Andy, Nichola and Mike) I didn’t like it all – not my kind of music
– but I did think it stood a very good chance as a Eurovision song. Mike thought LOMB
was a bad choice and said it would bomb as a single!
Q 2, Do you have a fav picture of the group,there are hundreds to choose
from. I love the early ones,I remember staring for ages at the covers of 'One of those
Nights' and 'Piece of the Action' covers, thou there wasnt much to see! My favs are'New
Begining' and the one where you are all in Grey tracksuits its a very together and happy
pic
A Yes, my fave pic is the one where we are all
in khaki outfits during the making of Piece of the Action video. We are standing side-on
with our arms extended. My hair is tied up in a sprout with chopsticks through it.
Cheryl xx
Q Hi Cheryl,
I'm just wondering if you ever heard Agnetha Faltskog of Abba's version of Love in a world
gone mad. She released it in 1988 on her 'I stand alone' album. If you heard it, did you
like it? It had quite a different feel from the Bucks Fizz version.
(Submitted By BenWiganUK
06/11/05)
A No, never heard it. Was it good? Was
our’s better?
Cheryl xx
Q Hi Cheryl,
I have always wondered whether the clothes that you wore on programmes such as
"Saturday Superstore"etc belonged to you personally or did you and the group
have a stylist who dictated who wore what when you appeared in public together.
(Submitted By Tinkerbelle 11/11/05)
A Yes, those clothes were my own. We had
stylists for video shoots and TV performances, but when we were interviewed or did things
on our own the clothes were our own choice.
Thank you Merry Christmas to
you and your family,
And a merry
Christmas (2006) to you too!
Cheryl xx
Q Cheryl,
How are the girls getting on
at High School, now that you are back in the limelight a bit, I hope they are not getting
too much stick from the other kids. I saw the pictures of the jazz evening & I could
see the resemblance to their mum straight away! Any problems, tell them that the all of
the Early Years members will be right behind them all the way!
(Submitted By Katharine 14/11/05)
A We fought tooth and nail (whatever that
means) to get them into the school that I we believed was right for them. It has proved to
be absolute the right choice and they are really thriving there. They’ve made good
friends and joined after-school clubs. I’m really happy with their school.
P.s. - Any chance of coming
to Croydon soon???
There’s always
a possibility!
Cheryl xx
Q Cheryl,
I always wondered after what
happened in December 1984, whether you thought that someone was looking over you.
I hope you don't mind me asking this question.
(Submitted By Jane 15/11/05)
A I’m not a religious person so I
don’t think it was some greater being giving me a second chance. I actually think I
was just damned lucky not to have been in the position that Mike was in. I injured my head
as well (well you do when you go through a windscreen!) but it was Mike that went into a
coma, not I. Then again, if I hadn’t been at the front of the coach I wouldn’t
have gone through the windscreen at all. Come to that, neither would Mike. I believe it
was just very bad luck. Mind you, if there is a greater being, sorry if I’ve offended
you! I’ll apologise in person when the time comes!
Cheryl xx
Q Hi Cheryl,
I'm a big fan & have
been since '81, I was wondering what you thought of the fantastic remastered CDs & in
particular what you thought about the releasing of unreleased tracks. I have a
Fizz-related memory for you: When I was about 9 I went to a wedding party & when the
DJ played If You Can't Stand The Heat I started doing the routine! When I'd finished a
lady came up to me & asked if she could take my photo, saying that it was just like
the TV! haha Anyway thanks for your time & Best wishes to you & your family.
(Submitted By Lee 19/01/06)
A Glad to see you’ve stuck with us all
this time, Lee.
As I’ve
mentioned in an earlier answer, I am absolutely thrilled with the re-mastered CDs,
especially The Lost Masters as it includes tracks I don’t even remember recording!
They are all in my CD player in the car. Funny thing is, in the ‘glory’ days of
BF I never played our stuff. Yet 20-25 years on, I can’t get enough of it! I’m
really looking forward to the DVD.
Cheryl xx
Q hi,
Went to see you in concert
in basildon in 83 or 84 at the festival hall which I really enjoyed as it was my first
ever concert. have you got any favourite concerts either your own or someone else's that
are your favourites. hope you are keeping well.
(submitted By Ellen 16/02/06)
A Well Ellen, funnily enough Basildon was
always a favourite of mine as my parents lived there and were always in the audience.
Other than that, I loved playing The Victoria Apollo for a fortnight one Christmas
(can’t remember which Christmas – and was it just a week?) and I also loved
playing The Cornwall Coliseum for a fortnight one summer. Another big favourite was The
Dominion in London. And, strangely enough, Newcastle City Hall. (‘Strangely’
because that’s where we had our coach crash.)
Cheryl xx
Q Cheryl,
I recently purchased ANOTHER
video off eBay of BF TV bits and I wondered if you still had the black leather costume
that you wore in the LOMB video? When you consider all the fuss Madonna had with her
conical bras in the early nineties, those costumes with the conical bras were really ahead
of their times bearing in mind it was Xmas 1981.
..........and thanks for continuing to chat to us!!
(Submitted By Stu 27/03/06)
A I know! I thought that as well, all the fuss
with Madonna and we did it first! I’ve kept some of my outfits but all the good ones,
like the LOMB one and the rip-off skirt went years ago. I had a replica auctioned off for
charity about 3 years ago and Daniel Galvin (the famous hairdresser) bought it for
£2,000!
Cheryl xx
Q Cheryl,
Unfortunately over here in
Austria we never had the chance to see you live on stage. The only "motion
pictures" we have got from BF were the videos and TV-appearances, oh, and also one
interview on TV! Far far away in 86 you performed "New beginning" and "Keep
each other warm" without Bobby on any TV-show in Hungary which was also broadcasted
in some other countries.
As far as I remember, the group only had two live-appearances in Austrian TV back in 81
and 82/83, both in the show "tritsch-tratsch". 81 you performed MYMU, 82/83 you
performed IYCSTH. What details do you still remember about your visits in Austria - any
deep impressions left? And what about the Hungarian show?
(Submitted By fizz68 06/04/06)
A Do you know, our very first TV appearance
after winning the Eurovision Song Contest was in Austria! We won the contest on Saturday 4th
April, and on Tuesday 7th we flew off to Austria for the TV show. My friends
and family were envious, saying how lucky I was to be going to Austria. Of course, all we
actually saw was the airport, the plane, the car to the studio and the studio itself.
Hardly a sight-seeing trip!
As for Hungary, yes,
I remember that too. Budapest is a beautiful city. It was sunny and warm when we were
there, and I remember the record company rep taking us to an al-fresco restaurant where we
were offered "goose, cooked in it’s own fat"! Maybe it’s a delicacy,
but I thought it was a funny way to entice you to choose it on the menu!
Cheryl xx
Q Hello My Lovely,
We all know that your real name is Rita, but when and where do you use the name? I presume
that your family call you Rita, but say you are introduced to new non-celeb friends(who for some unknown reason doesn't know
you from Adam, or have been living on Mars), do you say 'My name is Rita' or Cheryl? Or
say you got friendly with a TV celebrity who knows you as Cheryl Baker, would you ask
them, after a time, to call you Rita? Do the Mum's at school call you Mrs. Baker?
(Submitted By Terry (handcut) 24/04/06)
A Hi Terry.
I’ve repeated
an answer from an earlier question:
When I first changed
my name my mum asked what she should call me. I was dumbfounded! My friends from school,
who I still see regularly, also asked whether they should call me Cheryl. Absolutely not!
I was still Rita!
You see, Cheryl
performs on stage and does tele and stuff like that. But it’s Rita who goes home on
the train, who takes the children to the pictures, who drives them to school. I am Rita
Stroud to everyone other than people in the entertainment industry and the general public.
My family, my friends, my neighbours and anyone I meet outside of my profession know me as
Rita. Even this year on holiday in Greece, I introduced myself to people we met as Rita.
They knew I was also known as ‘Cheryl’, but understood that that was my
‘work’ name. Certain celebrities who have become friends call me Rita. Most of
the cast of Footloose call me Rita. I don’t ask them to. They choose to. Even Steve,
my gorgeous husband, called me ‘Cheryl’ for 12 years before we were an item,
then started calling me Rita. Once again, I didn’t ask him to. I guess it just feels
like they are part of my personal life, rather than just the professional.
However……Mike, Bobby and Shelley (and presumably Jay) have never called me Rita.
They only think of me as Cheryl. Mike, although we are really close, says he just
can’t call me Rita, I’ll always be Cheryl to him.
And in addition,
just for you Terry, I am never called Mrs. Baker. If someone calls me it I ask them not to
and to call me Cheryl instead. I hate being called Mrs. anything really, ‘cause
it’s so impersonal. If I have to be called ‘Mrs.’ then it’s always
Mrs. Stroud.
Cheryl xx
Q Hi,
I was reading some of the replies to previous questions and was interested to see that
Cheryl featured in every one of the BBC's "A Song For Europe" competitions
between 1976 and 1981 (even if in 1979 it was only on a demo - boy would I kill to hear
her sing "Harry My Honolulu Lover"). I was curious to know though if Cheryl can
remember who she sang backing vocals for in 1977, as the contest was blacked out by a
strike that year so I only know the main performers.
(Submitted By Thomas 23/05/06)
A Was that the year that The Nolans sang
‘Harry my Honolulu Lover’? Let me go through the years; 1976 came second in SFE
with ‘Wake Up’, 1977……not sure, 1978 won SFE and came 11th
in Eurovision with ‘The Bad Old Days’, 79…not sure again., 1980 came last
in SFE with The Main Event and a song called ‘Gonna do my best’ and, of course,
1981 with BF. Do you know, I can’t remember! Were the Nolans in 77 or 79? Maybe I
missed a year out. I’d have to ask one of the members of Coco and I’m not in
touch with any of them any more.
Q I would also like to say how much I have enjoyed all the CD releases in
recent years. Some of the CoCo material is also long overdue for release (yes I still
listen to it, and think some of it stands up extremely well). Are you aware that the demo
for CoCo's "Wake Up" from 1976 has appeared on CD by the Arrows and was actually
written by the same people who wrote Joan Jett's "I Love Rock And Roll"?
(Submitted By Thomas 23/05/06)
A You’re kidding?! No, I had no idea. Love
to hear it though.
Cheryl xx
Q &
A (Questions Submitted By Richie 05/07/06)
I know you are very busy at
the moment (what with Footloose - which I still have to come and see yet!), but I hope you
are well and happy (and if you're reading this - how do you find the time???!?!??!?!!?)
Simple. I add six
hours to every day, so where the rest of the world lives in a 24-hour world, I live in a
30-hour one!
I just wanted to ask what
you thought about the release of The Lost Masters?
I think it’s
superb. It’s really nostalgic to look back on those recording days. We seemed to
spend forever in the studio but, until now, I hadn’t realised how many tracks we had
recorded.
I should imagine you have
heard it all by now (most of us fans have listened to it around 3 times at least today!!!)
I just wondered which of the tracks were YOUR favourites and whether you have thought
about performing any of the "new" (to us anyway) tracks with Mike & Shelley?
I personally absolutely love Every Dream Has Broken and think that your lead vocals on You
And Your Heart So Blue are beautiful (especially on the Acapella Version, which made me
cry! I'm 38! What am I like?!?!?)
I like most of them.
Invisible, What’s One Lonely Woman, If You’re Right, Young Hearts, Move Over
I’m Driving….etc.etc.
I think I can speak for all
your fans when I say that we are delighted with the release of this CD and hope that you
are too! (Have you spoken to the rest of the group about it?)
Actually no, not
yet. Glad you like it though.
I loved seeing you again at
G.A.Y. (wasn't that nice that the cast of Footloose showed their support?) and very much
look forward to seeing you (either Solo, with Mike & Shelley or as a
"Foursome") at some stage soon!
The Footloose cast
are like a second family to me. I was really chuffed that they came to see CMS at G-A-Y,
especially as only one of them is actually gay! (Surprising for a theatre company!)
Cheryl xx
Q Cheryl,
Come on then - spill the
beans - who's idea was it to scrap Every Dream Has Broken? lol
What an utterly joyous, KILLER of a track. I think most of us (fans) agree that it's
unbelievable that such a classic Fizz track could have been consigned to the scrap heap
for 22 years. Without doubt it would have put you back in the top 10 (at the very least)
if it had been finished and released as a single.
Can you remember recording
it, and / or why it wasn't completed? And also, what do you think of it now?
(Submitted By Waldo 20/07/06)
Before The Lost
Masters, if you had asked me to list everything BF had ever recorded, EDHB wouldn’t
have been on the list! I can’t remember recording it and I’ve no idea why it
wasn’t finished or considered as a single. I agree with you, it’s a really good
track.
Q Also, You And Your Heart So Blue has been my
favourite Fizz track since the day I first heard it, but I have to say that
"your" version is like a breath of fresh air! The harmonies are utterly
wonderful, and I'm not ashamed to admit that it brought a tear to my eye hearing you all
sing like that again after all this time!
Again, what to you think of "your" version?
(Submitted By Waldo 20/07/06)
Another one I
can’t remember recording! Useless, aren’t I? Thanks for the compliment and I
like this version also. Just don’t remember doing it!
Cheryl xx
Q &
A (Questions Submitted By Mark (Splash) 23/07/06)
Hiya Cheryl,
congratulations of the fantastic footloose, seen it three times so far, it's such a great
show.
would you like to carry on doing the west shows, if so what other show would you like to
be part of?
I’ve loved
doing Footloose and yes, I’d do another show in the West End. I’d like to have a
rest after Footloose though, although I have already been asked if I’d be interested
in other shows. I’d be interested in Mama Morten in Chicago. We’ll have to wait
and see………
would you like more to sing?
I sing quite a bit
in Footloose – all the big songs when you don’t see me on stage, I’m in the
wings giving it all! I s’pose you mean lead songs. Not really. One solo and a trio is
enough for me.
I also think with the right
story and right person to write the show, Bucks Fizz the musical would be a huge hit, if
it got the chance and past the west end snobby critics, just think of all the great songs
it would feature. oh! I wonder what the storyline would be.
I totally agree. B F
the musical would be an excellent idea. I’d like it to be a ‘happy ending’
story with The Land of Make Believe as the big finale number.
with the new tracks turning up on the
lost masters, such as if you're right, skin on skin & what's one lonely woman, is
there anymore tracks you recorded that we might like to know about? and have you ever
thought of putting a CD out, even if it is through the web etc like Shelley and Jay Have?
if so what sort of music would you like to do?
No good asking me if
there are any more tracks! I didn’t remember making those ones! As for a CD of my
own, yes I’ve given it some thought. There’s a good possibility. One day….
Cheryl xx
Q Cheryl,
I know it was a long time
ago, but can you remember what role Alan carvell played in the production of Making Your
mind Up? According to a EM Records in Japan who have recently released a double CD of
Alan's vocals going back to the 1970's, he was responsible for the harmonies and sang
backing.
(Submitted By Steve 14/08/06)
A When you do Eurovision you’re allowed up
to six singers, so to make the sound bigger, we had two backing singers standing
off-stage; one was Nichola Martin, the other was Alan Carvell. As far as I’m aware,
that’s the only time he ever worked for us.
Cheryl xx
Q &
A (Questions Submitted By ajh2ajh 15/08/06)
Cheryl,
How's that autobiography
coming on?
Ha ha! Every now and
again I add a line or two. I’m up to page 4 now. Not bad eh?!
Any chance of some more recordings
from you or CMS?
I doubt it, as new
recordings cost money and although we have a loyal fan-base, I don’t think you could
all buy enough to cover the expense!
What aside from winning Eurovision is
your most memorable experience of BF?
Going to No. 1 with
all three singles and doing the Christmas TOTP.
Cheryl xx
Q Cheryl,
Cast your mind back and please tell us a bit more about the Bucks Fizz
penned and produced songs. Was this something you all agreed to do together? Were the
record company encouraging you to wrote songs together? Who decided who sang what? I have
a cosy image of you all sitting around, having fun and enjoying it, but I fear it wasn't
really like that! Of the Fizz penned songs which was your fav? I loved them all, but
Takin' me Higher and When We Were At War!
(Submitted By SouthamptonPete 08/09/06)
A As you know, Andy Hill wrote practically
everything we recorded, especially in the early days.
If I remember rightly, it was Andy himself who suggested we write the
B-sides. He certainly asked us to join him
writing ….erm….what was it now….was it The Right Situation? Fink so. Anyway…… Despite what many of you may think, we actually
did sit around, having fun and enjoying it as you put it.
It was like that! It was a very
democratic decision as to who sang what and we tried to be as generous with each other as
possible.
Takin’
me Higher started life as a sort-of Country & Western song that I wrote. I put the song to the others and we changed it
from a mediocre shindig to, what I believe to be, a respectable B-side. If I recall rightly, When We Were at War was
written in Jay’s house when she lived near Wimbledon.
Let’s
be honest; our songs deserved to be on the B-sides. I
have had the pleasure to have met and worked with prolific song writers in my career
(including Andy) and they have a gift that none of BF (at the time) had. One guy, Nat Kipner, would be given a piece of
music and he would come up with superb lyrics immediately.
Incidentally, he wrote the lyrics to most of Co-Co’s album tracks. He also wrote ‘Too much, too little too late’ amongst others, and his son, Steve
Kipner, wrote loads of stuff for Olivia Newton-John.
Watch out though! There are
two up-and-coming songwriters that no-one has heard of yet but will be huge one day. There names are Kyla and Natalie Stroud!
Cheryl xx
Talk to you again soon
Love Cheryl
XX
|