Heaven can wait - Paul Young

Having had his biggest successes in the Eighties, Paul Young soldiered on in the Nineties with his album 'Other voices' (1990). One of the singles from that album was the opening track 'Heaven can wait', written by Paul Rutter. The single was a failure, peaking only at number 71 in the UK singles chart.

It would take a duet with Italian singer Zucchero to revive his career a year later, his last top 10 hit 'Senza una donna'. Later albums could not equal the worldwide success he had with his first three solo albums.

My collection: 7" single no. 6002
Found: Discogs.com, received March 1, 2019
Cost: 1,5 pound
Tracks: 'Heaven can wait' / 'Back where I started'

Here it comes again - Black

So this is an odd one. I ordered this promotional 7" single because it only had one side - the B-side was reportedly empty. And indeed, although it looks like this side can be played, the only sound on side B is the sound of silence.

On the A-side this single features 'Here it comes again', the second single from Black's 1991 album. But while the commercially available 7" contains the album version of that track, this promotional 7" single features a remix! I knew this remix from a promotional cd-single released in the USA at the time - but this single was made in England! How very confusing. Why would the record company promote a remixed version of a track when it isn't available commercially? Answers on a postcard please...

My collection: 7" single no. 5986
Found: Ebay, received January 29, 2019
Cost: 3 pounds
Tracks: 'Here it comes again [remix]'

Dancing queen - Abba

The compilation album 'Abba Gold' may be one of the most successful compilation albums of all time. Released in 1992, it was the catalyst of a reappreciation of Sweden's most successful export product. Before 1992, the band was snubbed by all 'serious' music lovers, but ten years after the band's unofficial breakup, it had become clear that their pop music stood the test of time and perhaps sounded as modern as anything that was in the charts during the Nineties.

'Dancing queen' was released as the first single from 'Abba Gold', and again became a hit. I didn't buy this single back then, because I already owned a copy of the original 'Dancing queen', but over time I started to regret that decision. These days it's not easy to get hold of those 'Abba Gold' single, but I finally found a copy yesterday... and of course I leapt at the chance.

My collection: 7" single no. 5974
Found: Top 2000 café, Circus, Den Haag
Cost: 2 euro
Tracks: 'Dancing queen' / 'Lay all your love on me'

Sea of love - Phil Phillips & the Twilights / Marty Wilde

Phil Phillips' most famous song, "Sea of Love", peaked at the top of the US Billboard R&B chart and number 2 in the Billboard Hot 100 in 1959.The song was soon covered by Marty Wilde in the UK, and he had a top 10 hit with the song over there too.

In 1989, the movie 'Sea of Love', starring Al Pacino, Ellen Barkin and John Goodman was released. The soundtrack album featured both versions of the song - and they were eventually released as a single too. This is the UK pressing of that single, released in 1991.

My collection: 7" single no. 5748
Found: Discogs.com, received 10 November 2018
Cost: 2 euro
Tracks: 'Sea of love' (Phil Phillips & the Twilights) / 'Sea of love' (Marty Wilde)

Who needs love like that - Erasure

'Who needs love like that' was originally Erasure's debut single in 1985. While the original 1985 release enjoyed only minor success, this later 'Hamburg mix' version (issued in 1992 to promote the 'Pop!' compilation) reached the top 10 in both the UK and Ireland.

The lyrics are a cast-off to a destructive love relationship, in which the protagonist asks "who needs love like that?" This single features both the original version of the song and the 'Hamburg mix'.

My collection: 7" single no. 5936
Found: Record fair, Den Haag, September 1, 2018
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Who needs love like that (Hamburg mix)' / 'Who needs love like that'

Everlasting love - Worlds Apart

Just like Could it be I'm falling in love, 'Everlasting love' is a cover version - originally recorded by Love Affair - and was produced by Ricky Wilde. It also sports a poster sleeve, which is always a nice incentive for me to buy a single. 'Everlasting love' was of course also covered by German singer Sandra a few years earlier.

Unusually, this 7" single also features the 12" club remix on the B-side. It was one of the signs that record companies were becoming a bit confused by their own formats.

My collection: 7" single no. 5935
Found: Record fair, Den Haag, September 1, 2018
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Everlasting love' / 'Everlasting love (The Everlasting 12" club remix)'

Crystal wave - Beloved

A 8'54 version of 'Crystal wave' appears on the Beloved's 1996 album 'X', but this 12" single, released that same year, features a longer version. Adding a further three minutes or so, it resembles the album version but adds more beats and sounds. It is a rather anonymous dance track with no vocals or lyrics. Despite this 'hard' sound, I do like the track but I could understand if anyone didn't. After all, this is the kind of stuff that is played (loudly) in clubs and usually combined with a heavy dose of pills or other weird drugs. Usually I'm not into this kind of stuff, but I just can't resist any Beloved track.

The other side of this 12" is empty. So you only get one track, but at least it's a long one.

My collection: 12" single [unnumbered]
Found: Discogs.com, received August 2016
Cost: 2 pounds
Tracks: 'Crystal wave'

Like a wind - Edin-Ådahl

Edin-Ådahl's 'Like a wind' was released as a single all over Europe in a time when Eurovision entries would be released as a single even if they didn't win. (These days you can't even buy the winning song anymore on a vinyl- or cd-single).

I already owned 'Som en vind', the Swedish single of this 1990 Eurovision entry for Sweden, but this European counterpart ditches the Swedish version for an instrumental version that is unavailable anywhere else. According to some, this version is the best because it doesn't contain any lyrics.

My collection: 7" single no. 5910
Found: Discogs.com, received July 18, 2018
Cost: 3 euro
Tracks: 'Like a wind' / 'Like a wind (instrumental)'

Ooh aah... Just a little bit - Gina G

Last year I bought a copy of Ooh aah... Just a little bit on vinyl. It was the jukebox copy presumably from the UK. When I found out about that version, I also found out about this American pressing. Normally I wouldn't collect just any old artist's different pressings of the same single, but this single actually contains a different track. The 'Eurovision Song Contest version' appears on the B-side instead of the 'Motiv8 extended vocal mix'.

Of course, this is also a Eurovision single and Eurovision singles have a special place in my collection.

My collection: 7" single no. 5907
Found: Discogs.com, received July 4, 2018
Cost: 3 euro
Tracks: 'Ooh aah… Just a little bit (Motiv8 radio edit)' / 'Ooh aah… Just a little bit (Eurovision Song Contest version)'

Jesus he knows me - Genesis

Genesis had a good run of hit singles after the release of 'We can't dance', their last album with Phil Collins. The album was a far cry from their experimental-folkrock-psych beginnings, sounding more poppier than they ever had.

'Jesus he knows me' was the fourth single from the album, a satire of televangelism as performed by people like Jimmy Swaggart, Robert Tilton and Jim Bakker. It was a hit in most countries where it was released, peaking at number 20 in the UK, number 23 in the USA and number 11 in the Dutch Top 40.

My collection: 7" single no. 5900
Found: Record fair, Utrecht, April 14, 2018
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Jesus he knows me' / 'Hearts on fire'

Fall at your feet - Crowded House

Crowded House have consistently released great singles throughout their career. I never became interested in their albums, but those singles stand the test of time. A recent discovery was 'Fall at your feet', a song which I ignored when it was released, but when I heard it on Kim Wilde's radio show recently it struck me as a beautiful song with a beautiful melody.

The song was taken from the band's 1991 album 'Woodface'. It peaked at number 17 in the UK. The B-side of this single is the earlier hit 'Don't dream it's over'. 'Fall at your feet' has been covered by James Blunt, English pop punk band Busted, and flamenco guitarist Jesse Cook with singer Danny Wilde.

My collection: 7" single no. 5898
Found: Record fair, Utrecht, June 14, 2018
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Fall at your feet' / 'Don't dream it's over'

Falling - One-eyed Jacks

I am currently re-watching Twin Peaks, after having been consumed by the third season of this epic series last year. The story is bewildering, the music is enchanting. With Julee Cruise on vocals, 'Falling' became the soundtracks of the time, but several other acts had a go at this song and being the collector that I am, I wanted to get them as well.

So far, this single eluded me. I did find a cd-single some time ago, but to have it on vinyl is of course best. This version of 'Falling' includes a George Michael-style loop, and substandard vocals. But anyway, this is a 'nice to have'.

My collection: 7" single no. 5895
Found: Record fair, Utrecht, April 14, 2018
Cost: 0,5 euro
Tracks: 'Falling (Log Lady mix - short version)' / 'Falling (The Ronette Pulaski mix)'

Ease the pressure - Beloved

The double 12" package of 'Ease the pressure' should have contained all the remixes of that track, you would think, but no... there were even more remixes than that. It is evidenced by this 12" single, which I bought some time ago.

This promotional only 12" single was worthwhile because it contains two remixes exceeding the 10 minute mark. But are they any good? Well, there is a hint of repetitiveness in both of them, but as with most Beloved tracks, these mixes are quite uplifting. Enjoyable club fodder, I'd say.

My collection: 12" single [unnumbered]
Found: Discogs.com, August 2016
Cost: 2,5 pounds
Tracks: 'Ease the pressure (Red Nail Enhanced Club mix)' / 'Ease the pressure (Guitarapella Bonus Freaks Bass Dub)'

I'm only foolin' myself - Paul Young

According to the German press blurb included in my copy of this single, 'I'm only foolin' myself' was released on January 13, 1992. It was written by Dan Hartman and Charlie Midnight. The song was remixed by Michael Brauer, who previously worked with the Rolling Stones.

The single was taken from Paul's 'greatest hits' album 'From Time To Time' (1991), which was a triple platinum album in the UK. Released as that album's fourth single, it didn't get into the charts.

My collection: 7" single no. 5978
Found: Record fair, Utrecht, November 11, 2017
Cost: 0,5 euro
Tracks: 'I'm only foolin' myself'' / 'Thinking about'

Your love takes me higher - Beloved

 'Your love takes me higher' by the Beloved has been released and re-released, and all these releases came with different 12" singles. One was on this blog recently, and another one appeared six years ago. Since then, I have bought three more 12" singles, and since the mixes on these are sometimes the same, I am presenting them all in today's great big post.

Magic Juan (who?) created two mixes, the 'Sex mix' and the 'Rise up mix', which ended up on a promotional 12" single. 

The former also appeared on a commercially released 12" single, together with two other remixes - and those three also appeared on a double 12" package from the USA which I didn't have yet.

Listening to all the remixes, you can't help but notice that it's all rather uplifting and joyful. So here goes...


#1: 'Your love takes me higher (Sex mix)' / 'Your love takes me higher (Rise up mix)'
#2: 'Your love takes me higher (The pod went pop mix)' / 'Your love takes me higher (Magic Juan's sex mix)', 'Your love takes me higher (Burning with DJ Desire mix)'
#3: 'Your love takes me higher (Deep joy)', 'Your love takes me higher (New beats for old)' / 'Your love takes me higher (Simply divine)', 'Your love takes me higher (Divinely simple)' // 'Your love takes me higher (The pod went pop mix)' / 'Your love takes me higher (Magic Juan's sex mix)', 'Your love takes me higher (Burning with DJ Desire mix)'

It's alright now - Beloved

The 7" single of  'It's alright now' was already in my possession for 20 years when I started hunting for the CD-single and 12" single. Having decided to hunt down remixes of the Beloved, there were a few surprises along the way. For instance: the CD-single of this track features the 'Back to basics instrumental' remix, whereas this 12" single features the 'Back to basics' version - i.e. with vocals. Both versions are very attractive.

This 12" single features three versions of the song, with only the first one also appearing on the CD-single. Worth owning this one, then!

My collection: 12" single [unnumbered]
Found: Discogs.com, received May 6, 2017
Cost: 2 euro
Tracks: 'It's alright now (Rattling good time)' / 'It's alright now (Back to basics)', 'It's alright now (Feeling fine)'

Your love takes me higher - Beloved

There are several 12" singles of the Beloved's 'Your love takes me higher' and this one must be one of the more interesting ones. It features two lengthy remixes of the track. Of these two, the 'Chillum Willum' version contains the most elements of the original songs, while the 'Calyx of Isis' version is an improvisation on a continuous beat, clocking in at almost 11 minutes.

I bought this 12" single online and it was filthy. I cleaned up the disc and it sounded a lot better - although the B-side is still a bit damaged at the end, unfortunately.

My collection: 12" single [unnumbered]
Found: Discogs.com, received October 2016.
Cost: 2 euro
Tracks: 'Your love takes me higher (Chillum Willum)' / 'Your love takes me higher (Calyx of Isis)'

Runaway / When I think of you - Janet Jackson

It's not the first time that I described Janet Jackson's 'Runaway' on this blog. I already have the 7" single, a promotional double 12" package and a double 12" single of 'Runaway' and 'When I think of you' remixes.

But still the double 12" package I found while shopping online a few months ago contained other remixes of 'Runaway' and 'When I think of you'. Do we really need that many versions of two songs? I'm not sure. I do quite like some of these remixes. At the same time I wonder why they were never released on cd....

My collection: 12" single [unnumbered]
Found: Discogs.com, received 16 August 2017
Cost: $4
Tracks: 'Runaway (Junior's Factory mix)', 'Runaway (Junior's Tribal dub mix)' / 'Runaway (Steve's "Silk" House mix)', 'Runaway (Torin's radio edit)' // 'Runaway (Junior's Factory dub)', 'Runaway (Junior's Factory Mix w/ vocal sample)' / 'When I think of you (Deep Dish Chocolate City mix)', 'When I think of you (Deep Dish Quite Storm dub)'

Ease the pressure - Beloved

The Beloved's third album 'X' was not a commercial success. Perhaps the audience was no longer interested in their brand of emotionally charged lyrics on pumping beats. I must admit that I had a hard time liking the album myself - it was only a few years ago when I made another attempt to like the package. But when I did, I really did.

Obviously I became interested in the remixes as well. And there were remixes aplenty. 'Ease the pressure', for instance, comes in a double 12" single package with no less than six remixes. It takes a bit of stamina to actually like them all, but there's something for everyone in this stack of tracks.

My collection: 12" single [unnumbered]
Found: Discogs.com, August 2016
Cost: 2,5 pounds
Tracks: 'Ease the pressure (Club Vocal mix)' / 'Ease the pressure (Suction mix)', 'Ease the pressure (Motion sickness mix)' // 'Ease the pressure (Surge mix)', 'Ease the pressure (Backroom vocal mix)' / 'Ease the pressure (Switchback mix)'

Sweet release - Trouser Enthusiasts

Along with the other 12" I bought last year, this one arrived. It's a second disc of remixes of the only track released by the Trouser Enthusiasts on their own, 'Sweet release'. There are many versions of this track, which shouldn't be surprising for an act that has always been deeply into dance remixes.

For some time, I have collected and compiled Trouser Enthusiasts remixes and I think it's a shame they don't make new remixes anymore. This 12" was a nice addition to my collection. The CD-single of this track is, unfortunately, much too expensive.

My collection: 12" single [unnumbered]
Found: Discogs.com, received March 2015.
Cost: 2 pounds
Tracks: 'Sweet release (Friday Night Posse mix)' / 'Sweet release (Harry Hard mix)'