Bucks Fizz burst onto the pop scene in 1981, winning the Eurovision Pop Contest for Great Britain with "Making Your Mind Up."  The well, fizzy, infectious track had more than a slight ABBA flavor to it, with the group paying homage to their fellow Eurovision winners.  Between 1981 and 1986, five English-language albums were released by Bucks Fizz, the first four of which featured the original quartet of Bobby G, Jay Aston, Cheryl Baker and Mike Nolan.  Following the 2014 release of the Remixes and Rarities anthology, Cherry Pop has just reissued Bucks Fizz's original four RCA albums in 2-CD Definitive Editions, each containing a disc of rare bonus material.

Formed by the husband-and-wife songwriting team of Andy Hill and Nichola Martin, Bucks Fizz was brought together specifically for Eurovision in the mold of other two-guy, two-gal quartets like ABBA and Brotherhood of Man.  The two female singers had Eurovision ties.  Cheryl Baker had been a member of Co-Co, the group which finished in eleventh place in 1978.  Jay Aston's brother Lance appeared with Prima Donna in 1980's contest.  Mike Nolan hailed from a band called Brooks, and Bobby G (a.k.a. Robert Gubby), former plumber and builder, won a place in the group after responding to an advertisement in The Stage.  Upon winning Eurovision, "Making Your Mind Up" went to No. 1 not just in the U.K., but in other European countries including Ireland, Austria and the Netherlands.  It went Top 10 in Sweden, Germany, Switzerland and elsewhere.  Such is the song's popularity that, in 2013, it was voted by listeners of BBC Radio 2 to be the U.K.'s best-ever Eurovision entry!  The group followed up their debut hit with another bubbly, uptempo confection, "Piece of the Action."  This song avoided the typical sophomore curse, spending five weeks in the U.K. Top 20.

Both "Making My Mind Up" and "Piece of the Action" were included on the group's debut album Bucks Fizz, released in July 1981.  Produced by Andy Hill (who also played on the album) and featuring Nichola Martin on background vocals, Bucks Fizz was in the melodic and bright ABBA mold, filled with highlights like the sleek "Midnight Reservation," lush ballad "It's Got to Be Love," the gleaming "One of Those Nights" (another Top 20 single), and pulsating "It's Got to Be Love."  The album went to No. 14 in the U.K. and did even better in Austria and France.  Cherry Pop has added ten bonus tracks to the original album on Disc One including demos, B-sides and remixes.  The second disc premieres on CD the complete 1982 Spanish-language album El Mundo de Ilusion which didn't just add Spanish vocals to existing backing tracks; the entire album was newly-recorded by Bucks Fizz.  All but three of the bonus tracks featured on the 2004 reissue are included here; the three exceptions are "I Used to Love the Radio," "Love in a World Gone Mad" and the 12-inch mix of "Heart of Stone."

April 1982 brought Bucks Fizz's second album.  It was titled Are You Ready and the answer from British record buyers was a categorical "Yes!"  It was preceded by the Christmas 1981 release of "The Land of Make Believe" and the March 1982 release of "My Camera Never Lies."  Both singles reached No. 1 on the U.K. chart.  Publications like the NME compared the latter once again to ABBA, but perhaps that wasn't a bad thing as ABBA had released its final album, The Visitors, in 1981.  Bucks Fizz, briefly, was able to fill the void for listeners looking for well-crafted, upbeat and modern harmony- and electro-pop.  The album itself, with spotlight turns for the four vocalists, made the U.K. Top 10.  The third single, the pretty, nearly a cappella ballad "Now Those Days are Gone" by Andy Hill and Nichola Martin, went Top 10 on the singles chart, too.  Are You Ready remains Bucks Fizz's most successful LP.  Its definitive edition has four bonus tracks on its first disc including three B-sides and the group's first 12-inch mix, an extended "My Camera Never Lies."  The second disc has thirteen rarities, primarily remixes drawn from the Lost Masters CD series (some created as recently as 2014, however).  Bonus tracks here differ considerably from the 2000 and 2004 reissues, so fans should hold onto those discs.  (One omission is the Bucks Fizz version of Tina Turner's hit "What's Love Got to Do with It," included on the 2000 CD reissue of Are You Ready.)

Hand Cut arrived in March 1983 and continued Bucks Fizz's winning streak with two more hit singles.  "If You Can't Stand the Heat" (U.K. No. 10) and "Run for Your Life" (No. 14) both bolstered the album's success, and Hand Cut cracked the Top 20 at No. 17.  Though no further singles were pulled in the U.K. at the time of the album's release, Hand Cut is packed with fan favorite tracks including the driving "I'd Like to Say I Love You" and the understated, orchestrated mid-tempo ballad "You Love, Love," plucked for single release in 1989.  Seven bonuses have been added to the first CD here including alternate mixes (including Dean Murphy's previously unreleased remix of "Run for Your Life") and live versions circa 1983 of "Twentieth Century Hero" and "Don't Pay the Ferryman," both of which were included on the 2004 reissue of Are You Ready.  The second disc, entitled Post-Hand Cut Material, has a full 15 songs including a covers medley originally issued as a promotional flexidisc, multiple remixes, the unique tracks originally released on the group's Greatest Hits, and more.  The "Cheryl vs. Jay" mix of "Oh Suzanne" is reprised from Remixes and Rarities.

Bucks Fizz's final album for RCA, I Hear Talk, also marked Jay Aston's final album with the group.  Andy Hill tried to honor the trademark Bucks Fizz sound for the November 1984 release while developing it further.  Hence, a harder-edged sound was applied to a cover of new wave rockers The Romantics' "Talking in Your Sleep" which made the Top 20 on the U.K. singles chart.  It was followed by a cover of "Golden Days," introduced by Cliff Richard, which only reached No. 42.  The brassy track "I Hear Talk" by Hill and Pete Sinfield (writers of "The Land of Make Believe") was selected as the next single and made the Top 40, but its December 1984 release will sadly always be associated with a tour bus accident experienced by the members of the group earlier in the week.  All four members were badly injured, with Mike Nolan suffering the worst injuries and even becoming comatose.  Though effects of the crash remain with him today, Nolan survived and returned to performing.  A third cover on I Hear Talk, Nik Kershaw's "She Cries," featured Nolan's lead vocals.  Eight additional tracks appear on the first disc of this reissue, with another twelve on the second CD including many remixes appearing on CD for the first time.

All of these Cherry Pop Definitive Editions have copious liner notes penned by Jason Greenwood although discographical annotation is oddly absent.  It's indicated that Nick Watson and reissue co-producer Kevin Newell have remastered each album from the original tapes.  Post-I Hear Talk, Bucks Fizz regrouped with Shelley Preston replacing Jay Aston.  The group signed to Polydor for one more album.  The Writing on the Wall introduced Hill and Sinfield's "Keep Each Other Warm," later recorded by Barry Manilow, and included renditions of Stephen Stills' "Love the One You're With" and Meat Loaf and John Parr's "Magical."  Bucks Fizz returned to RCA in 1988 for the single "Heart of Stone."  Today, Bobby G leads one version of the band, while Cheryl, Mike, Shelley and the returned Jay tour as Formerly of Bucks Fizz.  All four albums in this series are available now at the links below!

Bucks Fizz, Bucks Fizz: The Definitive Edition (Cherry Pop CDPOPD163, 2015) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K.)

CD 1: Bucks Fizz (RCA U.K. 5050, 1981) and Bonus Tracks

1. Piece of the Action
2. Midnight Reservation
3. It's Got to Be Love
4. Took It to the Limit
5. One of Those Nights
6. Making Your Mind Up
7. Lady of the Night
8. Getting Kinda Lonely
9. Shine on
10. The Right Situation
11. Don't Stop
12. Always Thinking of You
13. One of Those Nights (Demo)
14. One of Those Nights (2012 Extended Version)
15. Piece of the Action (Demo)
16. Piece of the Action (Stephen Vaudin Dedication Mix)
17. The Right Situation (Early Version)
18. Making Your Mind Up (Original Fat Dog Remix)
19. 1Making Your Mind Up (2011 Anniversary Remix)
20. Making Your Mind Up (Matt Pop's Bending the Rules Mix)

CD 2: El Mundo de Ilusion (RCA AVI-5032, 1982)

1. Otra Noche (Another Night)
2. Hoy Siento Soledades (Getting Kinda Lonely)
3. Via Libre (One Way Love)
4. Brillar (Shine on)
5. Toda Ha Terminado (Now You're Gone)
6. El Mundo de Ilusion (Land of Make Believe)
7. Yo Se Que Es Amor (It's Got to Be Love)
8. Robos y Asaltos (Breaking and Entering)
9. Eso Fue Ayer (Now Those Days Are Gone)
10. Noches Sin Tin (One of Those Nights)

Bucks Fizz, Are You Ready: The Definitive Edition (Cherry Pop CRPOPD164, 2015) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K.)

CD 1: Are You Ready (RCA U.K. 8000, 1982) and Bonus Tracks

1. My Camera Never Lies
2. Easy Love
3. Love Dies Hard
4. One Way Love
5. Are You Ready
6. Breaking and Entering
7. Now Those Days Are Gone
8. 20th Century Hero (Album Version)
9. Another Night
10. Land of Make Believe
11. Now You're Gone
12. What Am I Gonna Do
13. My Camera Never Lies (1982 Extended Version)
14. Taking Me Higher

CD 2: Rarities

1. Another Night (Alternative Version)
2. Another Night (Yamaha Song Contest Live Version)
3. Land of Make Believe (1991 Chris Paul Remix)
4. Land of Make Believe (1991 Dance Funk Remix)
5. Land of Make Believe (2008 Extended Version)
6. My Camera Never Lies (Dead Ending Mix)
7. My Camera Never Lies (2006 'Good Eyes' Remix)
8. My Camera Never Lies (2014 7 Inch Remix)
9. My Camera Never Lies (2014 Extended Version) My Camera Never Lies
10. (2014 Ross Alexander Radio Edit)
11. Now Those Days Are Gone (2006 Remix)
12. Easy Love (European Remix)
13. Easy Love (2014 Extended Version)

Bucks Fizz, Hand Cut: The Definitive Edition (Cherry Pop CRPOPD165, 2015) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K.)

CD 1: Hand Cut (RCA U.K. 6100, 1983) and Bonus Tracks

1. Run for Your Life
2. 9.8.7.6.5.4
3. I Do It All for You
4. Where the Ending Starts
5. Surrender Your Heart
6. If You Can't Stand the Heat
7. I'd Like to Say I Love You
8. You Love, Love
9. Shot Me Through the Heart
10. Running Out of Time
11. Stepping Out
12. If You Can't Stand the Heat (Extended Version)
13. If You Can't Stand the Heat (Early Mix)
14. Run for Your Life (Extended Version)
15. Running Out of Time (Extended Version)
16. 20th Century Hero (Live at Glasgow Apollo)
17. Don't Pay the Ferryman (Live at Glasgow Apollo)

CD 2: Post-Hand Cut Material

1. Flexipop Rock Medley
2. When We Were Young (7 Inch Mix)
3. When We Were Young (Extended Club Mix)
4. When the Love Has Gone
5. London Town (7 Inch Mix)
6. London Town (Extended Version)
7. Identity
8. Rules of the Game (7 Inch Mix)
9. Rules of the Game (Extended Version)
10. When We Were at War
11. When We Were at War (2012 Remix)
12. Oh Suzanne (Original Version)
13. Oh Suzanne (Jay Aston 7 Inch Mix)
14. Oh Suzanne (Jay Aston Extended Version)
15. Oh Suzanne (Cheryl Vs. Jay)

Bucks Fizz, I Hear Talk: The Definitive Edition (Cherry Pop CRPOPD166, 2015) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K.)

CD 1: I Hear Talk (RCA U.K. PL 70397, 1984) and Bonus Tracks

1. I Hear Talk
2. Indebted to You
3. Tears on the Ballroom Floor
4. Cold War
5. Golden Days
6. Talking in Your Sleep
7. Breaking Me Up
8. January's Gone
9. She Cries
10. Thief in the Night
11. Don't Think Your Fooling Me
12. Where Do I Go Now
13. One Touch Too Much
14. Pulling Me Under
15. Invisible
16. Evil Man
17. I Hear Talk (7 Inch Mix)
18. I Hear Talk (Disconet Mix)

CD 2: Extended Mixes and Rarities

1. I Hear Talk (1984 Extended Version)
2. Talking in Your Sleep (Extended Version)
3. Golden Days (Extended Version)
4. Thief in the Night (Extended Version)
5. Cold War (Extended Version)
6. Invisible (Extended Version)
7. Breaking Me Up (Extended Version)
8. She Cries (Original Version)
9. Indebted to You (Jay Aston Lead Vocal)
10. Rock Medley (Live)
11. One Touch (Don't Mean Devotion)
12. Censored