Red hot! - Princess

I've bought quite a few 12" singles by Princess recently, and this one was still missing in my collection. It's her last hit single, called 'Red hot!'. The 7" single was pressed on red vinyl, but unfortunately the 12" single was not. The extended mix on this disc is actually a bit dull, as it is just a slightly extended version of the single mix. Things get slightly better on the B-side, as there's a dub mix on there.  

When I bought this disc it was quite filthy, but fortunately after cleaning it the record was still playable. I think I rescued this disc from the skip!

My collection: 12" single [unnumbered]
Found: Vinylparadijs, Geesteren, 12 August 2026
Tracks: 'Red hot! (extended mix)' / 'Red hot! (Dub mix)', 'Programmed to love you'

Once bitten twice shy - Vesta Williams

Mary Vesta Williams (1 December 1957 – 22 September 2011) was an American singer-songwriter. Originally credited as Vesta Williams, she was simply known as Vesta beginning in the 1990s. 

Although Williams never had any albums certified gold nor any top 40 hits on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart, she became internationally known for the song 'Once bitten twice shy', released in 1986. It reached number 14 in the UK singles chart and number 11 in the Dutch Top 40.

My collection: 7" single no. 8410
Found: Walk-in, Zutphen, 15 August 2026
Tracks: 'Once bitten twice shy' / 'My heart is yours' 

Ravel's Bolero - Thijs van Leer

The movie 10, featuring Bo Derek, was quite sensational in 1979. On the tones of Ravel's Bolero, sensual scenes create a minor controversy in cinemas and the press. 

Another controversy ensued when Dutch musician Thijs van Leer recorded a version of the composition. The choir is from the world-famous Academy of St. Martin-in-the-Fields. The track was recorded at the 10CC Strawberry studio in Manchester. Producer Eddy Ouwens turned it into a disco version and before they knew it, they had a Dutch Top 40 hit on their hands. The single reached number 29, but then the heirs of Ravel protested and the single was quickly pulled from the market. 

My collection: 7" single no. 8409
Found: Walk-in, Zutphen, 15 August 2026
Tracks: 'Ravel's Bolero (Disco version)' / 'Ravel's Bolero (Classical version)'

High under the moon - Tambourine

Tambourine was a short-lived, 1960s revival, Dutch pop band formed in 1987. The main bandmembers were: Jac Bico (guitar), Bart van Poppel (bass) and Saskia van Oerle (vocals). I never noticed them myself, until Puck pointed them out to me some time around the turn of the century. 

'High under the moon' was their biggest hit, reaching number 21 in the Dutch Top 40. Tambourine disbanded in 1992.

My collection: 7" single no. 8408
Found: Walk-in, Zutphen, 15 August 2026
Tracks: 'High under the moon' / 'Cherry baby' 

Stay the night - LaToya Jackson

Between appearances in Playboy magazine, strange comments about her brother Michael and several other controversial career moves, LaToya Jackson never managed to become the worldwide superstar her sister Janet and her brother Michael were.

'Stay the night' is a track from her second album My Special Love, released in 1981. The song was originally written and recorded by Billy Ocean in 1980. The lyrics were slightly re-written to reflect the gender change from Ocean's version. The B-side, 'Camp Kuchi Kaiai' was written by LaToya with her sister Janet.

My collection: 7" single no. 8407
Found: Walk-in, Zutphen, 15 August 2026
Tracks: 'Stay the night' / 'Camp Kuchi Kaiai' 

Taste of bitter love - Gladys Knight & the Pips

Gladys Knight is at the center of a controversy at the moment, and it's all because the 82-year-old singer appeared on stage looking a bit confused. There are worries that she is being 'forced' to perform live. Nothing surprises me anymore after having watched a very frail Frankie Valli on stage recently.

Rolling back to 1980, that's when Gladys Knight and the Pips released 'Taste of bitter love', a catchy song that I heard on the radio recently and I was lucky enough to find a copy for one euro in a second hand shop. The single reached number 35 in the UK singles chart, but narrowly missed out on the Dutch Top 40.

My collection: 7" single no. 8405
Found: Walk-in, Zutphen, 15 August 2026
Tracks: 'Taste of bitter love' / 'Add it up' 

Those first impressions - Associates

Back in 1984, when I was addicted to Sky Channel and Music Box, the video for 'Those first impressions' was on high rotation. So much so, that I became bored with the song and the video. This lasted for decades, but finally I decided to buy this single recently, and it ain't half bad.

'Those first impressions' was released as the first single from the third studio album of the band, called Perhaps. The single reached number 43 in the UK singles chart, signalling a decline in popularity for the band. Later singles never improved on this chart position.

My collection: 7" single no. 8404
Found: Vinylparadijs, Geesteren, 12 Augustus 2026
Tracks: 'Those first impressions' / 'Thirteen feelings' 

I do what I do - John Taylor

John Taylor is best known as a member of Duran Duran, but through the years he has also released some solo work. His first solo release was for the soundtrack of the movie 9½ weeks in January 1986. 

The song was written by Jonathan Elias, Michael Des Barres and John Taylor, after Des Barres was approached about writing a song for the movie's soundtrack. It was originally intended to be sung by Lisa Dalbello, but she bowed out at the last minute and John decided he could do the song instead. Still Dalbello does backing vocals.

My collection: 7" single no. 8403
Found: Vinylparadijs, Geesteren, 12 August 2026
Tracks: 'I do what I do' / 'Jazz' 

F.L.M. - Mel & Kim

Although I have a few editions of Mel & Kim's third single 'F.L.M.', somehow this 12" single eluded me until now. It's the 'Two Grooves Under One Nation' remix of the track, which features elements of 'Le freak' by Chic.

It's an interesting remix, but the disc itself is perhaps even better, pressed on splattered brown/grey vinyl.

My collection: 12" single [unnumbered]
Found: Vinylparadijs, Geesteren, 12 August 2026
Tracks: 'F.L.M. (Two grooves under one nation remix)' / 'F.L.M. (Two grooves under one nation dub mix)'

Louise (We get it right) - Jona Lewie

There's a certain amount of repetition in this blog when I buy singles in different formats. I bought the 7" single of Jona Lewie's 'Louise (We get it right)' in 2009, but I was lucky enough last week to find the 10" version. On this disc an extended version of the song appears.

On the runout groove the name 'J. Lewie' appears in die-cut. I wonder if this happened with all the 10" singles, or if someone has just had a creative moment with this disc. Who knows...

My collection: 10" single [unnumbered] 
Found: Vinylparadijs, Geesteren, 12 August 2026
Tracks: 'Louise (We get it right) (extended version)' / 'It never will go wrong' 

Dreiklangs dimensionen - Rheingold

Second hand shops hold their own mysteries, and this item presents one of them. Just how did a Spanish 12" single of Rheingold's 'Dreiklangs dimensionen' end up in a rural area of the Netherlands? It's fascinating.

This 12" single presents an extended version of this techno pop classic, and I was lucky to find this copy, even if the sleeve was falling apart. 

My collection: 12" single [unnumbered]
Found: Vinylparadijs, Geesteren, 12 August 2026
Tracks: 'Dreiklangs dimensionen [extended]' / 'Fluss' 

Obscene phone caller - Rockwell

Three decades ago I bought the single 'Obscene phone caller' by Rockwell. It is one of those songs that you would enjoy if you heard it but forget about almost as quickly. Still, when I saw this 12" single it made me buy it instantly.  

The extended version of the song is just a minute longer, and doesn't really add much. But the instrumental version on the B-side of this 12" single is even longer than the extended version, curiously enough. I bet someone could make a really good extended version with just a few smart edits.

My collection: 12" single [unnumbered]
Found: Vinylparadijs, Geesteren, 12 August 2026
Tracks: 'Obscene phone caller (extended club version)' / 'Obscene phone caller (instrumental)'

Papa Pingouin - Sophie & Magaly

The Eurovision Song Contest certainly divides opinions. Some feel it's the best event of the year, whereas others criticize it for its naffness and the opinion that music comes second to shows and effects.

One song that was always an example for the latter category was Sophie & Magaly's 'Papa Pingouin'. During their performance a man in a penguin suit danced across the stage. It looked quite ridiculous, but to be fair, the song was catchy and stayed in your head once you heard it. It's a televised event, after all, so I would say it's just these kind of gimmicks that entertain.  

My collection: 7" single no. 8395
Found: Variaworld, Utrecht, 12 August 2026
Tracks: 'Papa Pingouin' / 'Tous les enfants du monde' 

Mega hit mix - Fun Fun

After they had a couple of hits in the first half of the Eighties, Fun Fun seemed to have disappeared altogether. And yet, in 1987 they returned with this 'Mega Hit Mix' - a medley of exactly those hits. 

It brings together 'Happy Station', 'Colour my love', 'Baila bolero' and 'Give me your love' in a snazzy megamix fashion that lasts for almost six minutes. It brought them back into the Dutch Top 40 in the first weeks of 1988, peaking at number 5. Of course, this was also their last hit.

My collection: 7" single no. 8390
Found: Variaworld, Utrecht, 12 August 2026
Tracks: 'Mega hit mix' / 'Gimme some lovin''

Goin' home - Tower

I wrote about Tower a long time ago, during the first few months of this blog, when I wrote about their biggest hit, 'See you tonight'. All these years later I've bought their second biggest hit, the single 'Goin' home'. 

When you compare the two songs you notice that 'Goin' home' is almost a carbon copy of 'See you tonight': the same sounds, the same simple chorus and even a few lines of 'ooooh'. It's not a bad song, it's just not too original.

My collection: 7" single no. 8389
Found: Variaworld, Utrecht, 12 August 2026
Tracks: 'Goin' home' / 'Spaceman' 

Flirting and showing - Fox the fox

Until now, I've only bought various versions of Fox the fox's only hit single, 'Precious little diamond' (7", 12" and remix version). But they did release a few more singles, and one of them was 'Flirting and showing', a single that ended up just outside of the Dutch Top 40, at number 2 of the Tipparade.

I wasn't that familiar with the song but I took a chance on this single and I'm glad I did. It's a great track with an infectious chorus.

My collection: 7" single no. 8387
Found: Variaworld, Utrecht, 12 August 2026
Tracks: 'Flirting and showing' / 'Stretching out'

Heart and soul - Exile

A very early favourite song of mine is Exile's 'Heart and soul'. The group scored a huge hit with 'Kiss you all over' before it, but the power pop approach of this song appealed to me more.

It was therefore exhilirating that I discovered there was a 12" single of this song. Quite why I never investigated this before will always remain a mystery, but once I found out I ordered a copy right away. This extended version is excellent and does a lot to make the song even more of an anthem.

My collection: 12" single [unnumbered]
Found: Discogs.com, received 7 August 2026
Tracks: 'Heart and soul [extended]' / 'Your love is everything' 

Say I'm your no. 1 - Princess

I was lucky enough to buy some 12" singles by Princess recently, but her debut single 'Say I'm your no. 1' was still missing. It was only a matter of time before I would find a copy - and a cheap copy at that. 

This 12" single features three versions of the song, including a 'short version' which isn't really that short at all. Whoever created these versions remains unknown, as only the producers - Stock, Aitken & Waterman - are credited on the sleeve. 

My collection: 12" single [unnumbered] 
Found: Parkstad Record Shop, Kerkrade, 29 July 2026
Tracks: 'Say I'm your no. 1 [extended]' / 'Say I'm your no. 1 (short version)', 'Say I'm your no. 1 (senza voce)'

Tomorrow - The Communards

The Communards released several very good 12" singles and when I found this copy of 'Tomorrow' I thought it would be another great extended version of this great song. I wasn't disappointed. The 12" stretches the single version to almost twice its original length. There are also three tracks on the B-side: 'I just want to let you know' (which is also the B-side of the 7" single) plus a solo track by Richard Coles (an instrumental piece) and a solo track by Jimmy Somerville (a vocal track). It's a good package which should have helped the single to a top position.

My collection: 12" single [unnumbered]
Found: Parkstad Record Shop, Kerkrade, 29 July 2026
Tracks: 'Tomorrow [extended version]' / 'I just want to let you know', 'Romanze for violin, piano and hedgehog', 'Scat' 

I just can't wait - Mandy Smith

After going through hundreds of 7" singles at Parkstad Record Shop in two hours, I only had ten minutes or so left until closing time to go through the 12" singles. Fortunately there wasn't much there - I managed to get three titles that were mildly interesting. The first one was this one by Mandy Smith.

Mandy Smith's debut single 'I just can't wait' was produced by Stock, Aitken & Waterman, so it was only logical that 12" singles would appear, as the trio was quite prolific at the time. The 'cool and breezy jazz version' was mixed by 'The Extra Beat Boys With The Funky Sisters'. One can only guess who they were. It's not so much jazz as it is a relaxed piece of pop.

My collection: 12" single [unnumbered]
Found: Parkstad Record Shop, Kerkrade, 29 July 2026
Tracks: 'I just can't wait (The cool and breezy jazz version)' / 'I just can't wait (instrumental)', 'You're never alone'