Another weekend - Five Star

'Another weekend' was a comeback of sorts for Five Star. It was the first single from their fourth album 'Rock the world'. Due to declining record sales, the group were intent on changing their clean-cut image. They opted for a new, raunchier leather-clad look, whilst the track demonstrated a slightly harder edged dance sound. Vocals sounded a bit like the Michael Jackson style of singing, with lots of exclamations.

The single was released as a limited edition in the UK, featuring a gatefold sleeve and five 7" square stickers, each featuring one band member. The single reached number 18 in the UK singles chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 3192
Found: Record fair, Amsterdam, September 16, 2000
Cost: 5 guilders
Tracks: 'Another weekend' / 'The mews'

Love take over - Five Star

I don't think anyone remembers the band The Limit. They had a hit in 1985 with the track 'Say yeah'. (And no, I don't have it either.) The Limit consisted of Rob van Schaik and Bernard Oates, and they also wrote 'Love take over' for Five Star.

'Love take over' was released as the fifth single from Five Star's debut album 'Luxury of life'. It reached number 25 in the UK singles chart and number 27 in the Dutch Top 40.

My collection: 7" single no. 2409
Found: Record fair, 1994
Cost: 1 guilder
Tracks: 'Love take over' / 'Keep in touch'

Let me be the one - Five Star

'Let Me Be the One' was the fourth single taken from Five Star's debut album 'Luxury of life', released in the summer of 1985.

It became the group's second UK Top 20 single of the year, peaking at number 18. It also reached number 11 in the Dutch Top 40 that autumn.

My collection: 7" single no. 1723
Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, October 3, 1992
Cost: 1 guilder
Tracks: 'Let me be the one' / 'Beat 47'

RSVP - Five Star

'R.S.V.P.' was the sixth single release from Five Star's debut album 'Luxury of life'. A limited edition poster bag was released to boost sales, featuring not only two photographs of the band but also a fact file on all five members. Apparently a cassette with dub mixes was included in the package, but I didn't get that when I bought my second hand copy years after the release.

The single peaked at number 45 in the UK singles chart, but failed to chart in other territories.

My collection: 7" single no. 3102
Found: London, May 13, 1999
Cost: 1 pound
Tracks: 'R.S.V.P.' / 'Say goodbye'

Hot love - Five Star

'Hot love' is the second single from Five Star's self-titled 1990 album. The single was, like the album, recorded in their new studio built in the grounds of their family home in Ascot, Berkshire. When the single only reached number 68 in the UK singles chart, the press were quick to declare Five Star's bankruptcy, although the band refuted those claims, saying that they were in fact very happy and wealthy, after all the fortunes their previous hits had brought them.

Still, bad times were ahead as the album was shelved by the record company after the disappointing result of the single. The album was released in the USA, and only available as an import in the UK. The band subsequently left Epic and pursued a career in the United States.

My collection: 7" single no. 4445
Found: Kringloop, Sassenheim, January 23, 2010
Cost: 0,12 euro
Tracks: 'Hot love' / 'Act one'

If I say yes - Five Star

'If I say yes' was released in 1986 as the fourth single from Five Star's second album 'Silk and steel'. The single reached number 15 in the UK singles chart, but failed to chart in other territories.

The sleeve of this single featured a few photographs taken during the filming of the accompanying music video. Although Five Star never reached the kind of popularity they found in the UK, it was through music videos that I still got to know most of their singles, as music stations were all broadcasting from the UK.

My collection: 7" single no. 2174
Found: House of Rhythm, London, September 27, 1994
Cost: 1 pound
Tracks: 'If I say yes' / 'Let me down easy'

System addict - Five Star

'System Addict' was released in early 1986 as the seventh and last single from Five Star's debut album 'Luxury of life' (1985). It was becoming a very successful year for the band, as they won a BPI award for 'best group' and this single became their first top 10 hit, peaking at number 3. They would release four more singles in 1986, with all but one reaching the top 10.

'System addict' was remixed and re-released in 2005, but this version did not chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 1759
Found: House of Rhythm, London, October 20, 1992
Cost: 40p
Tracks: 'System addict' / 'Pure energy'

Let me be the one - Five Star

'Let me be the one' was released in the summer of 1985 as the fourth single from the group's 'Luxury of life' album.

This 12" single features two remixes of the track, of which the 'Philadelphia remix' features famous saxophonist Grover Washington, Jr. As an extra treat, there's a dub mix of one of their early hits, 'All fall down' and of course the instrumental B-side 'Beat 47'.

My collection: 12" single no. 463
Found: Record fair, Utrecht, 2008
Cost: 2 euro
Tracks: 'Let me be the one (Philadelphia remix)', 'Let me be the one (Dance mix by Hardrock) / 'All fall down (M&M dub mix)', 'Beat 47'

System addict - Five Star

'System addict' was released in January 1986 as the seventh and last single from Five Star's debut album 'Luxury of life'. It was their first top 10 hit in the UK, peaking at number 3. The 12" single features two remixes of the track, plus an extended version of the album track 'Winning'.

'System addict' was remixed and re-released in July 2005, after Five Star had participated in a Here and Now tour in December 2004. This version did not chart in the UK.

My collection: 12" single no. 500
Found: Record fair, Utrecht, 2007
Cost: 2 euro
Tracks: 'System addict (M&M remix)', 'System addict (dub remix)' / 'Pure energy', 'Winning (extended version)'

If I say yes - Five Star

'If I say yes' was the fourth single taken from Five Star's 1986 album 'Silk and steel'. The single reached number 15 in the UK singles chart, but didn't chart in the Netherlands.

The 12" single features remixes of 'If I say yes' (by Phil Harding) and the previous single 'Can't wait another minute' (by John Morales and Sergio Munzibair (a.k.a. M&M)). The instrumental B-side 'Let me down easy' completes this set.

My collection: 12" single no. 345

Found: Plaatboef, Rotterdam, 1998

Cost: 2,5 guilders

Tracks: 'If I say yes (extended mix)' / 'Let me down easy', 'Can't wait another minute (M&M New York remix)'

Download: here

All fall down - Five Star

'All fall down' was Five Star's first hit in the Netherlands in the summer of 1985. They were described as the UK's new supergroup. I don't know, to me the five youngsters didn't seem that remarkable. The song was not so good either. It was only later, when I started liking their singles, that I thought I might as well buy their earlier pop songs. Most Five Star tracks follow a formula: it's a catchy rhythm, a nice melody and unremarkable lyrics. But that's pleasant every once in a while.

My collection: 12" single no. 461

Found: Record fair, Utrecht, 2004

Cost: 2 euro

Tracks: 'All fall down [extended]' / 'All fall down (instrumental)', 'First Avenue'

Download: here

Hide and seek - Five Star

I got to know 'Hide and seek' by Five Star thanks to this box set, which I'd bought in London in 1987. I was a bit surprised when I found this 12" single, not realising that the track had actually been a single. It was actually their debut single, if you don't count their unsuccessful real debut 'Problematic' (1983).

'Hide and seek' was the first single from their millionselling debut album 'Luxury of life'. It was written by Gary Bell and Anne Dudley. The track was later covered by New Edition as part of their 1984 album 'New Edition'.

My collection: 12" single no. 401

Found: Record fair, Rotterdam, 1999

Cost: 2 guilders

Tracks: 'Hide and seek (extended dance mix)' / 'Hide and seek (dub)', 'I'm gonna make this a night you will never forget'

Download: here

Another weekend - Five star

Five Star returned in 1988 with a raunchier image for their fourth album, 'Rock the world'. They'd had big success with their three previous albums, but they felt that they'd gone as far as they could with the sound they'd had ever since their debut. 'Another weekend' reached number 18 in the UK singles chart, but it also signalled the end of their three year reign of the charts: further singles couldn't equal their previous successes.

Since I have most of Five Star's 12" singles, I was happy to find this one. It almost completes my collection - but I will obviously write about the other ones on this blog later.

My collection: 12" single no. 479

Found: La La Land, Den Haag, January 3, 2009

Cost: 2 euro

Tracks: 'Another weekend (Friday Night mix)' / 'Another weekend (Friday Night Dub mix)', 'The mews'

Download: here

The Slightest Touch - Five Star

In 1987, the family holiday destination was London. As soon as the opportunity presented itself, my sister and I were off to the nearest record shop, which on the first day was Tower Records in Kensington High Street. I couldn't believe my eyes when I stepped into that store: it was much bigger than any record shop in Holland. The amount of 7" singles on display at the back of the store seemed endless. The first single I picked out of that collection was Black's 'Sweetest smile', and this was the second one: a box set from Five Star, including a free second single, which carried two older tracks 'Hide and seek' and 'Crazy'. I didn't know at the time they had been released as a single before. Adding to the two singles, the box set also contained five colour photographs of the band members. A collectable box set indeed!

My collection: 7" single no. 545

Found: Tower Records Kensington, London, 1987

Cost: 2 pounds

Tracks: 'The Slightest touch' / 'Stone court' // 'Hide and seek' / 'Crazy'

Download: here

Love take over - Five Star

Five Star is one of those pop groups that churn out happy tunes like there's no tomorrow, sell millions of records and then disappear into anonymity. Well, almost, because part of the group is still performing live from time to time.

I always liked Five Star, so it's no wonder that at some point I started collecting their 12" singles. Back in 1985, there was still a good chance that a 12" single would include an extended version of a song, instead of a remixed, remodelled and re-done track. 'Love take over' was remixed by Paul Hardcastle, who was one of the big names of that time. A nice find, although I can't remember exactly how I got my hands on this one...

My collection: 12" single no. 342
Found: ?
Cost: ?
Tracks: 'Love take over (remix by Paul Hardcastle)' / 'Keep in touch', 'Let me be the one (instrumental version featuring Grover Washington jr.)'
Download: here