Hit me with your rhythm stick (Paul Hardcastle remix) - Ian Dury

During the Seventies I was already watching Toppop, thanks to my older brother and sister. They had their own interpretations on what the 'rhythm stick' that was mentioned in this song was, and as an impressionable youngster I immediately got the joke myself. The song has remained a fun 'double entendre' ever since.

Paul Hardcastle remixed the track in 1984, giving the song a well-deserved second outing. The remixed version peaked at number 55 in the UK singles chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 6088
Found: Chelsea Records, Antwerpen, May 24, 2019
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Hit me with your rhythm stick (Paul Hardcastle remix)' / 'Sex & drugs & Rock & Roll (Paul Hardcastle remix)'

Brown girl in the ring (remix '93) - Boney M

Having grown up with Boney M it's hard to withstand the German lipsynch band produced by the infamous Frank Farian. After Bobby Farrell left the band they never recovered, and even without personnel Farian tried to earn more money from the Boney M reputation. In short: there is a bit of controversy surrounding those later releases.

'Brown girl in the ring' was originally released in 1978. It was based on a traditional Jamaican children's song and ring game. The 1993 remix is uncredited but is thought to have been created by Frank Farian. It featured new lead vocals by Liz Mitchell and reached number 6 in Denmark and 38 in the UK, while failing to chart in Germany.

My collection: 7" single no. 6086
Found: Chelsea Records, Antwerpen, May 24, 2019
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Brown girl in the ring (radio version)' / 'Brown girl in the ring (radio rap version)'

The best things in life are free - Luther Vandross & Janet Jackson

The movie 'Mo' Money' featured this track by Luther Vandross and Janet Jackson, 'The best things in life are free'. The 12" version presents six versions of that track. It can become a bit of a monotonous affair to listen to these remixes one after another, despite the fact that two different remixers have done their thing.

The first two tracks on the B-side were created by David Morales and Frankie Knuckles, whereas the three other remixes were made by CJ Mackintosh. The whole thing was produced by Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, who were also responsible for Janet Jackson's other output at the time.

My collection: 12" single [unnumbered]
Found: Discogs.com, received March 2, 2019
Cost: 2 pounds
Tracks: 'The best things in life are free (LP version)', 'The best things in life are free (CJ's UK 12" with rap)', 'The best things in life are free (CJ's Mackapella)' / 'The best things in life are free (Classic 12" with rap)', 'The best things in life are free (Def version)', 'The best things in life are free (CJ's UK dub 1)'

Love is - Vikki

I have very few 12" singles of Eurovision entries. Not that many have been made, an some of the ones that have been made are overly expensive. But every once in a while I come across one for a reasonable price - and then of course I have to have it. Especially since the remixes on such 12" singles are very rare, because they have rarely been released on CD in later years.

A good example is my most recent acquisition: Vikki represented the UK with 'Love is' in 1985. The 12" single features a special remix. Clocking in at 4 minutes and 23 seconds, it's not very much longer than the original verison but still a different take on this slightly cheesy song.

My collection: 12" single [unnumbered]
Found: Discogs.com, received January 29, 2019
Cost: 2 pounds
Tracks: 'Love is (special remix)' / 'Lead me through the darkness'

We'll be dancing - Time Bandits

The 12" single of 'We'll be dancing' treats the listener to three versions of the song. All three remixes were made by Rutger Kroese, which causes the 12" single to become a bit repetitive.

Having posted a lot of Time Bandits 12" singles on this blog recently, I can't help but being surprised that none of these have ever appeared on CD or even on those streaming services that seem so popular these days. It just goes to prove that nothing beats a good record collection: you get to own the music you like instead of relying on incomplete online collections.

My collection: 12" single [unnumbered]
Found: Discogs.com, received 16 August 2017
Cost: 2 euro
Tracks: 'We'll be dancing (club remix)' / 'We'll be dancing (dub remix)', 'We'll be dancing (reprise)'

Only a fool - Time Bandits

There have been some Time Bandits 12" singles on this blog recently, but it appears I forgot to post a few. So here goes: I bought 'Only a fool' last year as part of a stack of Time Bandits 12" singles. I bought the 7" single in 2010, despite not knowing the song too well.

This 12" single contains an extended remix with a beautiful instrumental intro. It is an improvement on the single version, I think.

My collection: 12" single [unnumbered]
Found: Velvet Vinyl Outlet, Leiden, July 14, 2017
Cost: 2,5 euro
Tracks: 'Only a fool (extended remix)' / '1 2 3'

Go for it! - Risqué

Risqué's 1984 single 'Go for it' was produced by Sander Bos and Ben Liebrand. I bought the 7" single in 2009, and almost a decade later I found a cheap copy of the 12" single.

It features two remixes of the track: the long version and the dance version. There are many similarities between the two, but then they were presumably both created by the same remixer. The track times on the sleeve are incorrect: the remixes clock in at 7 minutes and 6 minutes and 50 seconds respectively.

My collection: 12" single [unnumbered]
Found: Discogs.com, received December 22, 2018
Cost: 3 euro
Tracks: 'Go for it! (Long version)' / 'Go for it! (Dance version)'

Send me an angel 88 version - Real Life

The Australian band Real Life became one of the shooting stars of the year 1984 when they released 'Send me an angel'. In Germany they reached number 1 in the singles charts, and stayed there for four weeks.

In 1988, the band released a remixed version of the track. The single appeared on translucent red vinyl, making it more interesting for the record buying public. Still, this single didn't chart in Germany. The remix did fairly well in Australia and the USA, reaching number 51 and 26 respectively.

My collection: 7" single no. 5953
Found: Discogs.com, received November 14, 2018
Cost: 2 euro
Tracks: 'Send me an angel 88 version' / 'Send me an angel (Cloud nine mix)'

Sister paradise - Time Bandits

'Sister paradise' was the Time Bandits' second single, but it wasn't as successful as their debut single, 'Live it up'. The 12" single, shown here, featured the full length version of the track, which was also found on their debut album, released some time after this single. It does sound a lot like an extended remix, with the instrumental part in the second half of the track.

My collection: 12" single [unnumbered]
Found: Discogs.com, received August 11, 2018
Cost: 3 euro
Tracks: 'Sister paradise' / 'Cues part 2'

Burn it up (Mr. DJ) - Risqué

Valapucci (real name: Mike Wilkinson) was the head of programming and president of 'Disconet', which was a remix service for DJ's in America. He created the remix of 'Burn it up (Mr. DJ)' that was released on this 12" single. The remix was originally found on Disconet volume 6 program 2, but apparently Polydor (Risqué's record company) was so impressed with it, they released it as a 12" single in its own right.

Next to the original extended version of 7 minutes, this 12" single also features a vocal and dub version, also created by Valapucci. And it has to be said: this remix improves on the original track quite a bit.

My collection: 12" single [unnumbered]
Found: Discogs.com, received August 11, 2018
Cost: 3 euro
Tracks: 'Burn it up (Mr. DJ) (Club mix)' / 'Burn it up (Mr. DJ) (Vocal)', 'Burn it up (Mr. DJ) (dub)'

Wildfire - Time Bandits

Here's another American 12" single from the Time Bandits. You can't say that the record company didn't try: this release is from 1988, when the band was all but finished in the Netherlands. 'Wildfire' didn't make the Dutch Top 40 when it was released in 1987, and no further singles made it into the charts.

'Wildfire' was produced by Dan Hartman, and the remixes on this disc were made by John Potoker. Perhaps this is why Columbia felt that this single would be successful in the USA - but it wasn't. Still, I quite like these remixes.

My collection: 12" single [unnumbered]
Found: Discogs.com, received August 16, 2017
Cost: $4
Tracks: 'Wildfire (extended)' / 'Wildfire (dub)', 'Wildfire (instrumental)'

Dancing on a string - Time Bandits

Not one, but two different extended remixes exist of Time Bandits' 1986 single 'Dancing on a string'. The 12" single I featured last year had a remix by Ben Liebrand, a big name in the remix world, but this one, created for the American market and released by Columbia in the USA, features a slightly shorter extended remix by Michael Brauer.

One has to wonder whether it is the same Michael Brauer who got so much acclaim recently for his work with Coldplay - but this remix, being 30 years old, could be from a namesake. Fact is, I just don't know.

My collection: 12" single [unnumbered]
Found: Discogs.com, received 16 August 2017
Cost: $4
Tracks: 'Dancing on a string (extended version)' / 'Dancing on a string (single version)', 'Dancing on a string (dub version)'

Wildfire - Time Bandits

As mentioned before, Wildfire was the original Time Bandits' last single, released in 1987. This 12" single represents the original European 12" release - a very different 12" single was released in the United States (more about that later on this blog...). The remix on this 12" single was created by Rutger Kroese.

I bought this record as part of a bigger collection of Time Bandits 12" singles. There's a couple more to follow, so if you're a fan, stay tuned...

My collection: 12" single [unnumbered]
Found: Velvet Vinyl Outlet, Leiden, July 14, 2017
Cost: 2,5 euro
Tracks: 'Wildfire (Special Meltdown remix)' / 'Wildfire (instrumental dance mix)', 'Wildfire'

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)'

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)'

Popcorn '88 - T.I.C.

It's been a while since I last wrote about the Gershon Kingsley composition 'Popcorn', and that's while I am still collection versions of that tune. Fortunately, every once in a while I stumble on another release. This time it's a 12" single from 1988.

T.I.C.'s version is notable for its use of (sampled?) guitar on the track, something you don't hear very often. There are also a few vocal samples in this track. The 12" single features two versions of the track. And there were only ever two versions by T.I.C., so that is a comforting thought.

It's interesting to see how much has changed in 30 years, by the way: if you'd release this sleeve right now, it would be outright controversial. #metoo. 

My collection: 12" single [unnumbered]
Found: Discogs.com, received October 25, 2017
Cost: 2 euro
Tracks: 'Popcorn '88 remix' / 'Popcorn '88 (The Woodstock mix)', 'Talk about love'

For America - Red Box

One of the best CD releases of recent years is undoubtedly Red Box's 'Plenty'. Red Box are better known, of course, from their Eighties hit 'For America'. This blog already featured the 7" single and the rare 10" single, so obviously the 12" single has to appear here too.

I've already had it for a couple of years, so it's one of those collection pieces that simply never made it to these pages yet. Perhaps because it features a rather strange 12" version. The 'Bazooka mix' - as it's called - was made by Red Box with Phil Harding.

My collection: 12" single [unnumbered]
Found: 2014
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'For America (Bazooka mix)' / 'Ain't got no... I got life', 'R 'n A'

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)'

Endless road - Time Bandits

The list of Time Bandits 12" singles continues with this remix of 'Endless road', released in 1985. This remix was created by Ben Liebrand, just like the prevous single Reach out. You will find that this remix is different from the one on the other 12" single of 'Endless road'.

On the B-side, the remix of 'I'm only shooting love' by Steve Thompson reappeared.


My collection: 12" single [unnumbered]
Found: Velvet Vinyl Outlet, Leiden, July 14, 2017
Cost: 2,5 euro
Tracks: 'Endless road (High Energy Dance Mix by Ben Liebrand)' / 'I'm only shooting love (USA Re-mix by Steve Thompson)'

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)'