'Hand on your heart' was released as the first single from Kylie Minogue's second album, 'Enjoy yourself'. It was another track written and produced by Stock, Aitken & Waterman, so nothing really had changed: Kylie was still making radiofriendly commercial pop without pretences.
The single became her third number 1 hit in the UK, while it reached number 4 in Australia and number 19 in the Dutch Top 40.
My collection: 7" single no. 3324 Found: Record fair, Utrecht, March 24, 2001 Cost: 1 guilder Tracks: 'Hand on your heart' / 'Just wanna love you'
'Je ne sais pas pourquoi' was supposed to be released as a double A-side with 'Made in heaven', but it performed so well on its own that the plans to release it as a double A-side single were changed (Although this particular single does list it as the AA-side).
The song was released as Kylie's fourth single in the winter of 1988 and reached number 2 in the UK singles chart. In the Netherlands, the single did not chart.
My collection: 7" single no. 3329 Found: Record fair, Utrecht, March 24, 2001 Cost: 1 guilder Tracks: 'Je ne sais pas pourquoi' / 'Made in heaven'
'Got to be certain' was another single by Kylie Minogue, written and produced by Stock, Aitken & Waterman. It was taken from Kylie's debut album 'Kylie' (1988). The production sounded decidedly thin this time around, with clunky keyboards and a rather simple melody.
Still, the single was a number 1 hit in Australia, Belgium, Finland and Israel and reached number 2 in the UK. The bubbly music video might have helped. However, in the Netherlands, the single did not chart.
My collection: 7" single no. 3334 Found: Record fair, Utrecht, March 24, 2001 Cost: 1 guilder Tracks: 'Got to be certain' / 'Got to be certain (instrumental)'
I never shy away from a good debate, especially when it takes place on this blog. So when Jos asked me why in God's name I bought singles by Risqué, I can't help but reply (while of course respecting the fact that there is no accounting for tastes, indeed). Within my collection there are certainly some artistic highs and lows. I love the good, the bad and the ugly. But most of all, I like pop. And it's true, a lot of pop music is not sung by the ones on the sleeve (and when it is, it is usually 'polished' in the studio), the music comes from session musicians - but it is always produced well. Does it matter that the guys from Milli Vanilli or Boney M didn't sing their stuff themselves? I think not; 'Daddy cool' and 'Ma Baker' are still pop classics.
All this to conceal that I bought a lot of Kylie Minogue singles - after she became 'cool' when she started working with Manic Street Preachers in 1995. So did she sing this debut single herself? I think so - it sounds irritating enough. But look here: two decades on, she's a star. And she's already performed this very song in about ten different arrangements - including a ballad and a variety showband version. Creativity knows no boundaries.
My collection: 7" single no. 3316 Found: Record fair, Utrecht, March 24, 2001 Cost: 1 guilder Tracks: 'I should be so lucky' / 'I should be so lucky (instrumental)'
'Shocked' was written and produced by Stock, Aitken & Waterman for Kylie Minogue’s third album 'Rhythm of love' (1990). The song was never intended for single release but when remixed by DNA and featured a rap penned and performed by Pauline Bennett a.k.a Jazzi P the commercial potential was big enough to warrant a release. (Obviously I prefer the B-side version which isn't tainted by the inane rantings of a madwoman.)
The single peaked at number 6 in the UK singles chart and at number 2 in Ireland.
My collection: 7" single no. 3323 Found: Record fair, Utrecht, March 24, 2001 Cost: 1 guilder Tracks: 'Shocked (DNA mix)' / 'Shocked (Harding/Curnow mix)'
I was really surprised when I saw this single in the racks of the Music & Video Exchange in London. I wasn't aware this single was even released on 7" vinyl, and it was an even more pleasant surprise when I saw that it was pressed on pink vinyl. Obviously, this one was a keeper.
'In my arms' was a single from Kylie's latest album 'X', released in February 2008. It reached number 15 in the UK singles chart and number 20 in the Dutch Top 40.
My collection: 7" single no. 3969 Found: Record Exchange, London, August 5, 2009 Cost: 2 pounds Tracks: 'In my arms' / 'Can't get you out of my head (Greg Kurstin remix)'
'Where the wild roses grow' was written by Australian singer-songwriter Nick Cave. He was inspired to write it after listening to the traditional song 'Down in the willow garden', a tale of a man courting a woman and killing her while they are out together. The song featured guest vocals by Australian pop-singer Kylie Minogue and was released as the first single from the ninth album by Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, 'Murder ballads' (1996).
It became the band's most successful single worldwide, reaching number 1 in Israel and Croatia, number 11 in the UK singles chart and number 9 in the Dutch Top 40. 'Where the wild roses grow' was also certified Gold in Australia where it sold 50,000 copies.
My collection: 7" single no. 2516 Found: Virgin Megastore, London, October 31, 1995 Cost: 2,3 pounds Tracks: 'Where the wild roses grow' / 'The ballad of Robert Moore and Betty Coltrane'
The release of 'Better The Devil You Know' marked a milestone in Kylie Minogue's career. While still being produced by Stock Aitken and Waterman like she had been throughout her musical career up to that point, she took creative control over her image. She recorded a video for the single which broke with the 'girl-next-door' image she'd had for several years.
The single became Kylie's fifth number 2 single in the UK, having also had four number 1 hitsingles. The Dutch audience was less impressed: the single peaked at number 22 only. I only discovered the song years later, after Kylie had made some more serious music. I had to admit some of her previous work was pretty nice too.
My collection: 7" single no. 3332
Found: Record fair, Utrecht, March 24, 2001
Cost: 1 guilder
Tracks: 'better the devil you know' / 'I'm over dreaming (over you)'
'Hand on your heart' was released as the first single from Kylie Minogue's second album, 'Enjoy yourself'. It was another track written and produced by Stock, Aitken & Waterman, so nothing really had changed: Kylie was still making radiofriendly commercial pop without pretences.
