Amelia Fletcher Discusses Girls at Our Best!, Pleasure

Send us Fan MailOn this episode, singer/songwriter/guitarist/economist Amelia Fletcher (Heavenly, Swansea Sound, Catenary Wires, Talulah Gosh) introduces Al to Girls at Our Best’s 1981 album Pleasure. Amelia revisits her teenage fandom of Girls at Our Best!, and she explains why they were—and continue to be—one of her favorite bands. She also talks about how their songwriting style has influenced her approach to writing songs and how that is reflected in Heavenly’s work. Amelia discusses several of the songs on Heavenly’s new album, Highway to Heavenly, and talks about how the recent virality of their 1993 song “P.U.N.K. Girl” contributed to the band’s reuniting. Finally, Amelia explains how balancing her careers as a musician and economist can sometimes be challenging.You can keep up with Amelia, Heavenly and her Skep Wax label in the following places:Instagram @ameliafletcher56, @heavenlyindie, @skepwaxFacebook @amelia.fletcher.980, @HeavenlyGroupOfficialTiktok @heavenlyindiehttps://www.skepwax.com/Be sure to sign up for the YMAAA Newsletter at youmealbum.ghost.io. To keep up with You, Me and An Album, please give the show a follow on Instagram at @youmealbum.1:25 Amelia’s introduction2:30 Amelia explains why she chose Pleasure for this episode3:57 Amelia recalls how she first got into Girls at Our Best!8:12 Amelia was not fooled by the band’s name9:02 Amelia singles out the aspects of the band’s music that initially appealed to her12:26 Amelia and Al share their observations about the album’s lyrics17:26 Girls at Our Best! were influential to the sound of Heavenly18:16 What ever happened to Girls at Our Best!?23:00 Amelia likes other bands from the Leeds scene25:29 Amelia and Al talk about their favorite tracks from Pleasure30:48 Al noticed the connection between the songwriting style on Pleasure and on Highway to Heavenly32:03 Is “Portland Town” based on Amelia’s experience?34:20 Amelia talks about the real-life events she wrote about in “The Last Day”38:11 The songs on Highway to Heavenly cover a wide range of moods40:18 Amelia discusses Heavenly’s tour plans41:30 Amelia explains why Heavenly decided to return to touring and recording45:10 Amelia talks about her dual careers in music and economicsOutro music is from “Deflicted” by Heavenly.Support the show