The Reynolds Girls

Linda Reynolds (18) and her sister Aisling (16) burst into the charts from the SAW stable in 1989 with "I'd Rather Jack", a novelty song rather ironically about how modern music was better than old stuff.

They first got signed by badgering Pete Waterman to hear their demo tape, and they were soon "meeting Rick Astley and Mandy Smith and everyone". The girls featured on the Hitman and Her roadshow, alongside Big Fun, Halo James and Shooting Party.

"I'd Rather Jack" made number 8, accompanied by a hideous video in which the girls wore stripy legins, had big hair and completely failed to persuade the British Public to adopt the (frankly amazing) 'jack' dance as a national phenomenon in the same way acts like Whigfield and Steps would with their own moves some years later. In this sense at least, the Reynolds Girls were ahead of their time. Other members of the Reynolds family, including dad Walter, appeared in the video as extras.

Like Yell!, the Reynolds Girls were one hit wonders of the very best kind. There was literally only one hit before they parted company with Uncle Pete and Co, allegedly for getting "too big for their boots". Pete Waterman commented at the time: "It didn't work out... I don't believe that anybody should consider themselves bigger than the public that buys their records. We had a lot of run-ins with the girls... we are one big happy family and they didn't fit in". Aisling responded, "Nobody will get rid of the Reynolds Girls that easily", the fool.

A follow up song "Get Real" was recorded and released on the girls own label, Renotone, though didn't chart. An album was once mentioned, so who knows what rarities lie untouched in Walter's garage.

There are plenty of copies of "I'd Rather Jack" left to go round. "Get Real", understandably, has all but vanished. Perhaps they are all stacked up in Walter's loft.

Nobody knows. A journalist for Channel 4 tried to contact the girls in 2001 for a documentary, but never tracked them down. He reported hearing that Linda Reynolds had died in childbirth some years before.