Showing posts with label Howard Jones. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Howard Jones. Show all posts

Wednesday 16 December 2009

What is love - Howard Jones

'What is love?' was Howard Jones' second single, released in November 1983. It reached number 2 in the UK singles chart. What's more, the single was his international breakthrough. It became a hit in various European countries and peaked at number 33 in the US Billboard Hot 100 chart during the summer of 1984.

I got to know Howard Jones thanks to the single 'What is love?' and I bought it within days of hearing it - which I didn't do very often in 1983 because of lack of money. Since then, I've bought every Howard Jones single and album.

My collection: 7" single no. 220
Found: LP Top 100, 1983
Cost: 6 guilders
Tracks: 'What is love?' / 'It just doesn't matter'

Saturday 12 December 2009

New song - Howard Jones

Last year, Howard Jones celebrated his 25 years in the pop business. It all started in September 1983 with this single: 'New song'. The track was taken from Howard's debut album 'Human's lib', and was, like most of his singles, written and composed by Howard Jones himself.

the single reached number 3 in the UK singles chart, and also reached number 27 in the US Billboard Hot 100 chart when it was released in America six months later.

My collection: 7" single no. 365
Found: Brussels, 1985
Cost: 100 Belgian Francs
Tracks: 'New song' / 'Change the man'

Sunday 18 October 2009

Hide and seek - Howard Jones

'Hide and seek' was the third single from Howard Jones' debut album 'Human's lib'. The ballad had an almost biblical lyric and intriguing synthesizer sounds. It reached number 12 in the UK singles chart and number 28 in the Dutch Top 40.

This 10" single features both the A- and B-sides of the 7" single, but also an exclusive 'concert version', recorded live in concert at High Wycombe Concert Hall in 1984.

My collection: 10" single [unnubered]
Found: Record Exchange, London, 1990
Cost: 2 pounds
Tracks: 'Hide & seek (Concert version)' / 'Hide & seek', 'Tao te Ching'

Saturday 6 June 2009

Look mama (live) - Howard Jones

This third and - as far as I know - last single released by the Howard Jones fanclub featured two more live tracks. This time, they were recorded at Red Rocks, Denver, Colorado on June 12, 1985.

'Look mama' and 'Life in one day' were both released as singles from Howard Jones' second album 'Dream into action'. My criticism on this particular single is that it doesn't really have a rich, lush sound that is often part of a live recording. It sounds rather metallic. The lengthy version of 'Life in one day' is quite delicious, however.

My collection: 7" single no. 2793
Found: Howard Jones fanclub, received November 28, 1996
Cost: 3 pounds
Tracks: 'Look mama (live)' / 'Life in one day (live)'

Wednesday 3 June 2009

Pearl in the shell (live) - Howard Jones

The Howard Jones fanclub released three different live singles in the course of a few years. This second single was recorded by Radio Clyde, but a date and venue are not mentioned on the label.

The live tracks are 'Pearl in the shell' (originally released on Howard Jones' debut album 'Human's lib') and 'Things can only get better' (originally released on Howard Jones' second album 'Dream into action').

My collection: 7" single no. 2792
Found: Howard Jones fanclub, received November 28, 1996
Cost: 3 pounds
Tracks: 'Pearl in the shell (live)' / 'Things can only get better (live)'

Friday 29 May 2009

New song (live) - Howard Jones

Howard Jones was not unlike other popular artists in the Eighties, in that he had a fanclub. The difference to many other artists was that the fanclub was run by his parents. In the pre-internet age, fans had to be informed with newsletters and fanclub magazines that were usually released a few times a year.

The fun thing about the Howard Jones fanclub was that they also released a few exclusive singles. Although I was never a fanclub member, I did get a chance to order these singles at some point. I had internet access for about two years when I ordered these three exclusive singles from the fanclub in one go. This is single number one, with live versions from 'New song' and 'Don't always look at the rain', recorded live at High Wycombe Town Hall on December 22, 1983.

My collection: 7" single no. 2791
Found: Howard Jones fanclub, received November 28, 1996
Cost: 3 pounds
Tracks: 'New song (live)' / 'Don't always look at the rain (live)'

Saturday 9 May 2009

Things can only get better - Howard Jones

Pictured here is the pink version of the sleeve. I actually own three versions of this single: in pink, in white and in yellow. There's supposed to be an orange version as well, but I haven't been able to find that one yet.

'Things can only get better' was the first single taken from Howard Jones's second album 'Dream into action'. A typically upbeat Jones composition, it was one of two songs from the album to feature all-female singing group Afrodiziak on backing vocals. The single peaked at number 6 in the UK singles chart, making this his penultimate top 10 hit.

My collection: 7" single no. 3226
Found: London, December 2003
Cost: 1 pound
Tracks: 'Things can only get better' / 'Why look for the key'

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