Heartache avenue - The Maisonettes

The Maisonettes were an English band formed by Lol Mason and Mark Tibenham. Their debut single, 'Heartache avenue', reached number 7 on the UK Singles Chart in 1983. It was also a big hit in the rest of Europe - I heard the song so often back in 1983 that it really bored me in the end.

I finally bought this single now because it was so cheap and because the feeling of boredom has finally worn off after almost two decades. And now it turns out the B-side of the single, 'The last one to know', is actually quite brilliant.

My collection: 7" single no. 5091
Found: Kringloop, Den Haag, April 19, 2011
Cost: 0,5 euro
Tracks: 'Heartache avenue' / 'The last one to know'

This affair - Maisonettes

Lol Mason formed the Maisonettes in the early Eighties with Mark Tibenham and Nick Parry. They recorded a demo of the song 'Heartache Avenue', which was discovered by David Virr in a pile of demo tapes in his office. He decided to release it on his own label, entitled Ready, steady, go!. To fill out the band, two teenage models, Denise Ward and Elaine Williams were recruited as backing vocalists.

'Heartache Avenue' became a big hit in several countries, but irritated the hell out of me. I was more impressed by the later single release, 'This affair'. A beautiful ballad, which appeared regularly on a local radio station. It was not a hit, the band would never even have a hit again.

My collection: 7" single no. 869

Found: All that music, Leiden, June 2, 1989

Cost: 2 guilders

Tracks: 'This affair' / 'Say it again'