(c’86-’88) Jo Bartlett (vocals / guitar), Rudy Carroll (guitar / vocals / sax), Danny Hagan (bass), and Kevin Morey (drums).

Formed from the ashes of Go! Service in 1986, Frimley / Camberley band Bluetrain were signed by TV Personalities Dan Treacy’s Dreamworld Records, along with The Mighty Lemon Drops, 1,000 Violins and the TV Personalities. They played regularly at The Room at the Top and The Buzz Club (which were organized by Bartlett and Hagan).

Shortly after forming Bluetrain, along with West One, supported Ministry of Sound on 15 August ’86 at Princes Hall, Aldershot. On 28 October ’86 the band supported 1000 Violins, along with Tallulah Gosh, at Bay 63, London.

The front cover of 1987’s 12″ EP ‘Land of Gold’ [DREAM007T].

The Brilliant Corners were booked by Bartlett to perform at The Buzz Club, held at the West End Centre, Aldershot on 10 January ’87; and Bluetrain and local band Second Balcony Jump were the support. A few months later Bluetrain, along with Rain, supported The Chesterfields at The Buzz Club on 4 April ’87, while Rodney Allen played in the bar at The West End Centre, Aldershot. The band supported 1000 Violins again on 9 May ’87 at the University of Surrey, Guildford. Their signing to Dreamworld Records resulted in 1987’s four-track (“Wheels Go Round”, Land of Gold”, “Parade”, and “Because Of The Dollars”) 12″ EP ‘Land of Gold’ [DREAM007T]. They also appeared in the Cinema Tent at Glastonbury Festival in ’87; and toured Scotland with The Pastels and supported The Soup Dragons. When Carroll left he was replaced by Mark Nemetz, who was subsequently replaced by Richard Handyside in ’87.

The band’s “Parade” was included on the Abigail’s Birthday Party fanzine cassette (1987)

The band’s “Parade”, which featured Jon “Bandit” Hunter of The June Brides on trumpet, was included on the Abigail’s Birthday Party fanzine cassette. Also in ’87, “Some Greater Love” appeared on an Uncle Arthurs Pop Parlour fanzine cassette – a C-46 in a clear plastic bag with a 20 page fanzine on the bands. Around the time they were interviewed and performed on the “Time Out” TV show, the band may have been talking to German label Pastell about an album release.

The band were back at The Buzz Club on 5 March ’88 and again on the 18 June ’88; this time with Sugar Mountain, The Jeremiahs, Crimplene Explosion, The Aubisons, THe Mulberry Ceilings, and The Splendids.

A Dreamworld compilation, “Whaam! Bam! Thank You Dan!” on Vinyl Japan was released in ’95 and included a couple of songs by Bluetrain. In 2008 a posthumous Bluetrain best of CD – which included 3 Go Service tracks – titled “Some Greater Love” was released on Peruvian indie label Plastilina Records [PLAST011] and in Japan on Morgan [MC01]. There was also a Bluetrain tribute act doing the rounds in Japan. Plastilina followed up by including “Wheels Go Around” on 2009’s “Has My Heart Gone to Sleep” CD compilation. Then in June 2017 Bluetrain’s “Land of Gold” was included on Cherry Red’s excellent C88 [CRCDBOX36] 3 CD box set.

Carroll went on to be in The Yellow Moon Band with Bartlett and Hagan who also formed It’s Jo and Danny. Moorey would later join ex-The Ha Ha Men‘s Jason Applin in Bennet. Bartlett also has a solo career and the Christine X, Kodiak Island, and Plaza projects.

Gallery:

The band’s “Parade” was included on the Abigail’s Birthday Party fanzine cassette (1987)
Bluetrain’s “Some Greater Love” appeared on an Uncle Arthurs Pop Parlour fanzine cassette.
15 August 1986: Bluetrain along with West One supported Ministry of Sound at Princes Hall, Aldershot. Source: West One
28 October 1986: Blue Train supported 1000 Violins, along with Tallulah Gosh at Bay 63, London. Ad from NME, 25 Oct 1986. Picture courtesy of Pete Cole
The back cover of 1987’s four-track (“Wheels Go Round”, Land of Gold”, “Parade”, and “Because Of The Dollars”) 12″ EP “Land of Gold” [DREAM007T].
4 April 1987: Bluetrain supported The Chesterfields at The Buzz Club along with The Rain, while Rodney Allen played in the bar at The West End Centre, Aldershot.
In 2008 a posthumous Bluetrain best of CD – which included 3 Go Service tracks – titled “Some Greater Love” was released on Peruvian indie label Plastilina Records [PLAST011] and in Japan on Morgan [MC01].
Plastilina included Bluetrain’s “Wheels Go Around” on 2009’s “Has My Heart Gone to Sleep” CD compilation
10 January ’87
9 May 1987: Local gig listing for Saturday from that weeks The News.
18 June ’88
18 June 1988: Framed Buzz Club Poster. Source: Dave Driscoll