The Reynolds Girls

The Reynolds Girls were a British dance-pop duo made up of sisters Linda (born 1970) and Aisling Reynolds (born 1972). Their only major hit was the 1989 single "I'd Rather Jack," a Stock Aitken Waterman production that reached the top ten in several European countries.

The sisters grew up in Litherland, a suburb of Sefton, Liverpool, and were of Irish descent. Their younger sister, Debbie, is not the actress who played Katie Rogers on *Brookside*; that role was played by Debbie Reynolds (no relation) from 1982 to 1989.

The duo signed to PWL Records after handing Pete Waterman a demo tape. The song "I'd Rather Jack" was written as a response to music critics who ignored younger pop acts in the UK at the time, and to radio DJs who played older bands instead of Stock Aitken Waterman songs. Contrary to some claims, it was not directly inspired by a Brit Awards snub involving Enya and Steve Winwood; the lyrics instead target 'old fogies' and critics in general.

The single peaked at number 8 on the UK Singles Chart in April 1989 and spent 12 weeks on the chart overall (not at number 8). It reached number 6 in Ireland, number 6 in Finland, number 8 in the Netherlands, number 7 in the Flanders region of Belgium, and number 43 in Australia. It also hit number 24 on the Eurochart Hot 100.

In a 2003 Channel 4 public poll, "I'd Rather Jack" was voted number 91 on the list of the 100 Worst Pop Records of All Time, and has been called "the beginning of the end for Stock Aitken Waterman." In 2014, Matt Dunn of WhatCulture ranked it number 15 in his list of unforgettable SAW singles, calling it "silly old dross" with a "wispy little arrangement" that cashed in on the Chicago house sound. In 2021, *Classic Pop* ranked it number 38 in their top 40 SAW songs, describing it as "pure-pop apes Chicago house" aimed at the teen market. In 2023, Alexis Petridis of *The Guardian* listed it at number 20 in his ranking of SAW's greatest songs, calling it "not a great record" but "unbeatable" as a mad act of provocation.

After the single's success, the sisters had a public falling-out with Pete Waterman, who accused them of being difficult. They left PWL, saying they wanted to direct their own careers, and self-released a second single, "Get Real." The duo have not made any real media appearance since.