If you think you know how to love me - Smokie

As a listener of Kim Wilde's weekly radio show 'Secret Songs' (on Magic 104.5 FM in the UK), I always listen to her own special choice of the week with some extra attention. Loads of choices are from the Seventies, an era that I like but I don't know very much about.

In March this year she chose the song 'If you think you know how to love me' by Smokie. It's a beautiful song, and a bit more tasteful than the stuff they did towards the end of the Seventies. The song was taken from their second album 'Changing all the time' and was their first hit, reaching number 3 in the UK singles chart in August 1975.

My collection: 7" single no. 5266
Found: Record fair, Utrecht, November 19, 2011
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'If you think you know how to love me' / ''Tis me'

Living next door to Alice - Smokie

'Living next door to Alice' was released as a single by Smokie in 1976. It gave them a number one hit in the Netherlands in early 1977, and it reached number 5 in the UK singles chart. The song is about a young man's long-standing crush on Alice, the girl next door and neighbour of 24 years, which is left unrequited after she moves away. The protagonist had seen a limousine parked at Alice's home and begins to reflect on childhood memories and his friendship with Alice, and becomes heartbroken as he sees Alice get inside the limousine. As he watches the car drive out of sight, the protagonist is sad about Alice leaving without explanation and that he did not use any opportunity to express his feelings for her.

In 1995, the song famously spawned a parody version by the Dutch band Gompie, in which some bystanders scream 'Alice, who the fuck is Alice' during the chorus. Thereby crushing any depth of feeling in the original song.

My collection: 7" single no. 15

Found: London, 1979

Cost: 10p

Tracks: 'Living next door to Alice' / 'Run to you'

Download: Album 'The best of Smokie', including both tracks (part 1 / part 2)

Mexican girl - Smokie

Smokie was formed in 1965 by Chris Norman, Terry Uttley, Alan Silson and Ron Kelly. After releasing their debut album 'Pass it around' in 1975, they developed a softer signature sound, comprising string arrangement, acoustic guitars and close harmony vocals. Their biggest hit, 'Living next door to Alice' has become a classic, but in the second half of the Seventies they released several singles, sounding a lot like that one.

I bought 'Mexican girl' in London as part of a set of 10 singles for a pound, and - as you can see - afterwards I pulled out the center of the disc. This kind of vandalism is unthinkable these days, but at the time the small hole in the middle was incompatible with my other - mostly European - singles. Children can be silly.

My collection: 7" single no. 9

Found: London, 1979

Cost: 10p

Tracks: 'Mexican girl' / 'You took me by surprise'

Download: Album 'The Montreux album', including both tracks