Jo Bartlett Playlist
I’ve been releasing records since I was a teenager and was part of the early indie C86 movement, up until the present day. Here’s a playlist – featuring Bluetrain, It’s Jo & Danny, The Yellow Moon Band, solo and more:
In alphabetic order:
Jo Bartlett
Solo releases –
Years active: 2010 – present
I released a few one off singles from September 2024 to September 2025, including, ‘Before The Police Car‘.
‘Ghost Tapes 1 to 9‘ album April 2024.
From ‘Ghost Tapes….’ ‘Drawing A Line‘
‘The Cut Up’ September 2022
‘It’s great! So inventive.’ Andy Bell (Oasis / Ride) Andy included ‘Greener’ from the album in his 20 best tracks of 2022 for Brooklyn Vegan.
‘It’s mad and inspired in equal doses. Very cool collection of sounds and memories all in one fascinating melting pot.’ Simon Raymonde (Cocteau Twins)
‘What an honour!’ Huw Stephens featured on ‘Hwyl’ (BBC 6 / Radio Wales)
‘..it’s really super with plenty of wonky melodies pushed to the fore.’ The Crack Magazine
‘9 x 7’ September 2014
Recorded at Bark Studio and at home in 2013, released in 2014 on Strikeback Records.
Nine songs by seven musicians.
‘Her second solo album leans towards her folkier side – but fills out the sound with bewitching electronic percussion and lovely guitar leads.’ The Sunday Times / Essential New Releases.
‘The album we hoped Beth Gibbons might’ve made if she’d ever followed up her Rustin Man project – which is high praise indeed’ Uncut
‘Bartlett’s voice has the pitch and crystal clarity of The Sundays Harriet Wheeler’ Q
‘Bartlett ploughs a narrow furrow, but she does it with compelling conviction’ Mojo
‘Fans of Beth Orton and Nick Drake should investigate’ The Daily Express
‘Upheaval’ 2010
Just me and my acoustic guitar – no over dubs, recorded live over an after noon at Bark Studio in East London.
‘….has that autumnal , easy feeling that early ’70’s songwriters Carole King and Carly Simon captured so well.’ **** Mojo
Jo Bartlett on…
Jo Bartlett and Neil Haydock
Acoustic project, I was Neil’s press officer in the ’90s when he was in Submarine and I worked at Ultimate Records.
‘The River or the Road’ e.p. released 19 September 2025.
The Brilliant Corners
‘Brian Rix’ 1987 (Backing vocals by ‘Jo Bluetrain’)
Bluetrain
Years active: 1986 – 1988
Bluetrain released one 12″ on Dan Treacy’s Dreamworld Records in 1987. They were part of the early London indie and C86 scene. Several compilation albums have been released over the years on various labels. There have also been a couple of limited edition vinyl and cd releases, including ‘Some Greater Love’ which came out on Berlin’s Firestation Records in 2020 and Peru’s Plastilina Records in 2010.
‘Some Greater Love’ vinyl and cd (Firestation Records 2020).
‘Under The Hammer‘ early demoes released on vinyl by (Firestation Records 2023).
Bluetrain ‘Land of Gold‘ originally released as a 12″ single, on Dreamworld in 1987
Bluetrain played the Glastonbury Festival in 1987, they played live in France, toured Scotland, supported The Mighty Lemon Drops, The Pastels, The Vaselines, The Television Personalities and The Bodines, then relocated to California for 6 months in 1988. Bluetrain reformed in 1990 to play a short tour of Singapore and again in 2025 to play two final gigs – the return of the Buzz Club and The Wake.
Christine X
Years active: 2003
I released an electronica instrumental album called ‘Eurocentric’ in 2003 under the name Christine X. ‘Eurocentric’ was recorded at Bark in East London and got some nice reviews in the alternative / d.j. music press.
’….wistful, mellow, unhurried and gorgeous.’ 4 stars D.J. Magazine
’…unfathomably beautiful music.’ Careless Talk Costs Lives
Christine X on
Go! Service
Years active: 1985 -1986
My first ever release. Go! Service 12″ ‘It Makes Me Realise’ this was recorded when I was 18 in 1985 and released in 1986. This song is included on the ‘Make More Noise! Women In Independent Music UK 1977 – 1987’ Cherry Red Records cd book compilation released in 2020.
Go! Service played regularly at Dan Treacy’s legendary Room at the Top club above The Enterprise pub in Chalk Farm, North London. We also toured Europe, supporting Dan’s band, The Television Personalities.
The song ‘Real Life’ was released as part of the 3 cd set C-86 released by Cherry Red in 2013.
Go! Service / Bluetrain on…
Hardway Bros. presents the Summerisle Six
‘This Is Something’
I did the vocals on this dance track put together by Sean Johnston and featuring, among others, Andy Bell (Oasis / Ride) on guitar. It was number one in the Balearic Chart, May 2022
‘This Is Something’ various mixes
It’s Jo and Danny
Years active: 1999 – 2005
‘Lank Haired Girl To Bearded Boy’
Our debut album, originally released on our own Double Snazzy label. After Jo Whiley played a track three days in a row on her daytime Radio 1 show, we signed to R.C.A. and the album got re released. I will always love everything about this record. A very happy time.
‘Spellbinding’ The Times 4 stars
‘Heartfelt vocals and swathes of Vini Reilly-style guitar.’ **** Mojo
‘Ferocious joie de verve’ **** Q
‘a carefree fusion of Ancient and modern’ Uncut
‘Spritualized fronted by Carol King’ The Face
‘Loaded with sprit’ The Observer
‘Folk to feed your soul’ i.D. Magazine
‘Beautiful’ The Daily Telegraph
‘A defining record’ NME 8/10
Including ‘Love Expression’ directed by James Le Bon
It’s Jo & Danny released four albums, click on the links to take you to their Spotify pages and click here to read more about them.
Lank Haired Girl To Bearded Boy
Thugs Lounge (not available on Spotify, the album we recorded for R.C.A.)
The Sunday Times Essential Album of the Week 4 stars
4 stars in The Times
It’s Jo & Danny Spotify
Kodiak Island
Years active: 2015 – 2024
‘The Play To You Strengths‘ e.p. was released in March 2022 on 10″ vinyl and c.d. on i40 Records and then digitally on Cherry Red Records in May 2022
Kodiak Island on….
The Yellow Moon Band
Years active: 2005 – 2010
This was my prog rock, psychedelic, instrumental adventure. We released a few vinyl singles on Static Caravan and then followed them up with this great album. This is another record I’m very proud of.
‘The spirit of classic West Coast psychedelia is alive and well and living in The Yellow Moon Band.’ **** The Independent
‘..moments of glory abound on this bright, funky outstandingly groovy album.’ **** Mojo
‘..groovy throwback prog-band….astral rocking…..Eastern flavours’ **** The Scotsman
‘A beautifully, bewitching listen.’ N.M.E.
‘1970s cosmic metal riffs……..delirious guitars.’ Metro
‘I’m looking forward to seeing this record at the top of writer’s End of the Year lists.’ Shindig!
With over 100,000 views, I guess my biggest ‘hit’ is ‘Chimney’ by The Yellow Moon Band, which is included on the Ubisoft computer game, Rocksmith.
‘Barhed‘. Video directed by Ewan Jones Morris
Copies of ‘Travels Into Several Remote Nations of the World’ are now selling on eBay for £100.
We released these all on Static Caravan.
Green Vinyl 12: Polaris Richard Norris Remix.
Maybach (7″ single)
Entangled (7″ single)
We also had tracks featured on ‘A Monstrous Psychedelic Bubble‘ compilation album along with Miles Davis, Can, Pentangle, Hawkwind and Donovan.
and Fred Deakin (Lemon Jelly) ‘Nu Balearica‘ compilation.
The Yellow Moon Band on….
Indie Through The Looking Glass 