'Revival' was written by Eurythmics members Annie Lennox and David A. Stewart together with guest keyboardist Pat Seymour. The lyric is a call for renewal and encouragement. Lennox sings the song to a subject who is facing hardships and feeling low, or perhaps is feeling bitter after much struggle in life.
The single was not released in the USA, and was only a minor hit in the UK, peaking at number 26. In the Dutch Top 40, it fared marginally better, peaking at number 25.
My collection: 7" single no. 4812 Found: Record fair, Utrecht, April 10, 2010 Cost: 0,5 euro Tracks: 'Revival' / 'Precious'
Gigliola Cinquetti won the 1964 Eurovision Song Contest with 'Non ho l'eta per amarti'. The song was released as a single and became a hit all over Europe. As a result, Cinquetti recorded the song in several other languages besides Italina. The English got 'This is my prayer', the French were promised 'Je suis à toi' and there waseven a Japanese version, 'Yumemiro omoi'.
This Spanish EP features four Spanish recordings from Cinquetti, including the Spanish version of her Eurovision hit, 'No tiene edad'. It is a charming version of a timeless classic.
My collection: 7" single no. 4822 Found: Record fair, Utrecht, April 10, 2010 Cost: 3 euro Tracks: 'No tiene edad', 'Eres un buen muchacho' / 'Cuando veo que todos se quieren', 'Pienso en las cosas perdidas'
'Vision of you' was the fifth single taken from Belinda Carlisle's album 'Runaway horses' (1990). Like most of her work during that time, the song was written by Rick Nowels and Ellen Shipley and produced by Rick Nowels. The single featured a remixed version of the album version, giving it a more uptempo sound.
The song was the lowest charting single from the album. In the UK, it only managed to reach number 41. The single was re-released a year later after the success of '(We want) the same thing' and 'Summer rain', but it charted lower at number 71.
My collection: 7" single no. 4810 Found: Record fair, Utrecht, April 10, 2010 Cost: 1 euro Tracks: 'Vision of you' / 'Leave a light on (Kamikazee mix)'
'Somewhere somebody' was released while the band was touring. Hence, live photographs were used on the sleeve. The merchandise sellers were in full swing, too: the back of the sleeve advertises a video and a book.
Released in the summer of 1987, the single was the third taken from Five Star's third album, 'Between the lines'. 'Somewhere somebody' was written by Dean Chamberlain and Martin Briley. Peaking at number 23 in the UK singles chart, it became the group's lowest charting single since 'Love take over' in 1985.
My collection: 7" single no. 4816 Found: Record fair, Utrecht, April 10, 2010 Cost: 1 euro Tracks: 'Somewhere somebody' / 'Have a good time'
The Norwegian band Fra Lippo Lippi has never known any enduring success in the UK and Europe, but their popularity is still quite extraordinary in Asia. 12" singles like this one would probably be sold for collectors prices over there, especially with exclusive live tracks on the B-side of this disc. As it is, I could buy this 12" single for next to nothing.
'Some people' is an excellent track from the band's 1987 album 'Light and shade' and is backed with two live versions of tracks of their previous and most accomplished album 'Songs' (1985). Fra Lippo Lippi is always worth a listen.
My collection: 12" single no. 152 Found: Plaatboef, Rotterdam, 1992 Cost: 2 guilders Tracks: 'Some people' / 'Even tall trees bend (live)', 'Come summer (live)'
Taken from their album 'Spirits having flown', the single 'Love you inside out' was another hit single for the Bee Gees in the summer of 1979. Like many of their hits in the Seventies, it features the band's trademark falsetto vocal style.
It reached number 1 in the US Billboard Hot 100 chart, their ninth and final number 1 hit in that territory. In the UK, the single reached number 13 and in the Dutch Top 40 it only got to number 35.
My collection: 7" single no. 4792 Found: Record fair, Utrecht, April 10, 2010 Cost: 0,5 euro Tracks: 'Love you inside out' / 'I'm satisfied'
Eddie Money was born as Edward Joseph Mahoney on March 21, 1949 in New York City. After becoming a police officer like his father, he became interested in music and finally landed a recording contract circa 1970. He was successful throughout the Seventies in the USA, but in the Eighties his career began to fail him after several unsuccessful releases, accompanied by his struggles with drug addiction.
In 1986, he made a comeback with the album 'Can't hold back' and the hit single 'Take me home tonight'. The track features Ronnie Spector, who sings the chorus from the Ronettes' hit 'Be my baby' in this song. Released in the autumn of 1986, 'Take me home tonight' reached number 4 in the US Billboard Hot 100 chart.
My collection: 7" single no. 527 Found: Free Record Shop, Den Haag, 1987 Cost: 3 guilders Tracks: 'Take me home tonight' / 'Calm before the storm'
Massimo Ranieri was born as Giovanni Calone on May 3, 1951 in Naples, Italy. He started singing at the tender age of ten, starting his recording career three years later. After many hits near the end of the Sixties, he started to venture into acting. His screen debut, 'Metello', received rave reviews by critics, and he even won an award for portraying the title character.
In 1971, he was asked to represent Italy in the Eurovision Song Contest. He performed the song 'L'amore e' un attimo' and finished fifth in a field of in Dublin, Ireland, where he placed 5th with the song, 'L'Amore E' Un Attimo'. This single features the French version of that song.
My collection: 7" single no. 4769 Found: Record fair, Utrecht, April 10, 2010 Cost: 2 euro Tracks: 'Pour un instant d'amour' / 'Vingt ans'
Spain has always been friendly towards Black, ever since he had his biggest hit 'Wonderful life'. By the time Black's second album 'Comedy' was released in 1988, Spain even had an exclusive single release: the album track 'I can laugh about it now' was released as a single in Spain only. The B-side was a live version of 'All we need is the money', recorded - and released - in Japan in 1987.
I have no chart information about this single, all I know is that another exclusive Black single was released in 1993, the elusive 'Swingtime'. If you can sell that one to me, please contact me...
My collection: 7" single no. 3313 Found: Spanish website, received March 14, 2001 Cost: ? Tracks: 'I can laugh about it now' / 'All we need is the money (live)'
'Are you man enough', asks Sheena Easton with a bare shoulder on the sleeve of this single. It almost sounds like an indecent proposal. The song was written by G. Lyle and B. Livsey, and so at least the proposal doesn't really come from Easton herself.
The song was released in 1982 as the second single from her third album 'Madness, money and music', and failed to chart in all territories.
My collection: 7" single no. 4787 Found: Record fair, Utrecht, April 10, 2010 Cost: 1 euro Tracks: 'Are you man enough' / 'Loner'
The song 'Domino' describes the end of a relationship with a girl called Domino. She tells the singer he'll forget him, but he still remembers 'She was called Domino or something'.
Released as the second single from their second album, 'Domino' reached number 4 in the Belgian singles chart and number 10 in the Dutch Top 40.
My collection: 7" single no. 1356 Found: Free Record Shop, Den Haag, November 24, 1990 Cost: 6,5 guilders Tracks: 'Domino' / 'Als je lacht'
I bought this single with an information sheet from the German record company which released this single on November 9, 1987. According to this, Mike Oldfield employed the Norwegian ex-child star Anita Hegerland on lead vocals for 'The time has come'. 'Voll geschmeidiger Kraft interpretiert sie das spannungsreiche, melodische 'The time has come', fur dessen Sphärensound auch Michael Cretu as co-produzent verantwortlich zeichnet.'
Or, as Google Translate tells us: 'Full supple strength she interprets the tension-filled, melodic 'The time has come' records, for the spheres sound even as co-producer Michael Cretu responsible.' You've got to love automatic translators.
My collection: 7" single no. 4806 Found: Record fair, Utrecht, April 10, 2010 Cost: 0,5 euro Tracks: 'The time has come' / 'North point'
Circa 1987, Frank Boeijen had a much-publicized relationship with English television presenter Amanda Redington. 'Winter in Hamburg' could easily have been a description of a trip the two enjoyed together, but in interviews, Boeijen never spoke much about his personal life, so it's anyone's guess.
The photograph on the sleeve of this single was taken during one of the band's concerts. In 1987, the band embarked on a tour in theatres everywhere in the Netherlands, moving away from the club circuit. It was obvious that their music was better suited for this new environment.
My collection: 7" single no. 571 Found: Free Record Shop, Den Haag, 1987 Cost: 6 guilders Tracks: 'Winter in Hamburg' / 'Welkom in Utopia 1 (acoustic)'
Another single from their 1981 album 'Class', 'I'm losing you' is one of those many infectious Hot Chocolate tunes.
The track was written by Russ Ballard, writer of many hit singles throughout the Eighties. However, this particular single failed to reach the charts in any territory.
My collection: 7" single no. 4776 Found: Record fair, Utrecht, April 10, 2010 Cost: 0,5 euro Tracks: 'I'm losing you' / 'Children of spacemen'
Kim Wilde seemingly finished the Eighties in a winning mood: she'd toured with Michael Jackson, her album 'Close' had been a phenomenal success, and superstardom was looming. But meanwhile, she wasn't quite that happy. She'd witnessed the intense loneliness stardom could bring while she was watching Michael Jackson and it wasn't that easy to come up with an equally successful album after 'Close'.
The first single from Kim's 1990 album 'Love moves' was the optimistic 'It's here'. When this single stalled at number 42 in the UK singles chart and was unsuccessful in several other territories, it was a first sign that the Nineties could be a bit troublesome for the British singer.
My collection: 7" single no. 1200 Found: Melody Maker, Den Haag, March 30, 1990 Cost: 6,5 guilders Tracks: 'It's here' / 'Virtual world'
A single sleeve like this one wouldn't be acceptable anymore nowadays: a man with a fag in his hand, well, it's a disgrace! It's interesting to see how much has changed in three decades.
Jean Claude Pascal represented Luxembourg for the second time in 1981. His first effort for the same country in 1961 was a big success: his song 'Nous les amoureux' won the Contest. In 1981, he was considerably less successful: 'C'est peut-être pas l'Amérique' finished eleventh in a field of 20 competitors. Maybe the fag had something to do with it after all...
My collection: 7" single no. 4768 Found: Record fair, Utrecht, April 10, 2010 Cost: 2 euro Tracks: 'C'est peut-être pas l'Amérique' / 'Car tu es la musique'
Martin Gore wrote 'In your room', a tense and atmospheric track on Depeche Mode's 1993 album 'Songs of faith and devotion'. It was released as the fourth and final single from that album in a remixed version. The 'Zephyr mix', as it was called, includes music completely redone by Butch Vig of Nirvana fame.
The single reached number 8 in the UK singles chart and number 40 in Australia. It achieved its biggest success in Sweden, where the single peaked at number 2. 'In your room' was the last Depeche Mode single to be released on 7" vinyl, until the format was re-used in the Noughties.
My collection: 7" single no. 2404 Found: Wreckastow, Rotterdam, 1994 Cost: 6 guilders Tracks: 'In your room (Zephyr mix)' / 'Higher love (Adrenaline mix)'
'Rules of the game' was written by Warren Harry. The lyric centres on a woman who becomes famous and turns her back on her old friends, but when the fame ends, she finds herself desperately lonely. Cheryl Baker, who performs lead vocals on this song, has since said of her dislike for this song, stating that she finds the lyrics depressing and was unhappy with the affected way she was asked to sing.
Released in November 1983, the single proved to be one of the group's least successful singles, peaking at number 57 in the UK singles chart. The single was released to promote Bucks Fizz's first Greatest Hits album.
My collection: 7" single no. 4785 Found: Record fair, Utrecht, April 10, 2010 Cost: 1 euro Tracks: 'Rules of the game' / 'When we were at war'
Two weeks after the death of lead singer Freddie Mercury, this double A-side single by Queen was released on December 9, 1991. It brought together the band's seminal track 'Bohemian rhapsody' from 1975 and a track from their most recent album, 'Innuendo', 'These are the days of our lives'. The song had very poignant lyrics that seemed almost too appropriate for the occasion.
The single reached number 1 in the UK singles chart immediately after release, and number 2 in the Dutch Top 40 a month later.
My collection: 7" single no. 1613 Found: Melody Maker, Den Haag, March 28, 1992 Cost: 6,5 guilders Tracks: 'Bohemian rhapsody' / 'These are the days of our lives'
These days, you have the Junior Eurovision Song Contest for children who want to be a performer watched by millions of viewers who get excited at watching young persons do their thing. It always makes me think of pedophiles, but that's a different story.
In 1969, Jean-Jacques was just 12 years old when he participated in the 'real' Eurovision Song Contest. Singing 'Maman', he represented Monaco and finished sixth in a field of 16 contestants. He subsequently recorded the track in French, Spanish and Italian. This EP brings together four French songs, sold as a souvenir of the youngster's Eurovision appearance.
My collection: 7" single no. 4824 Found: Record fair, Utrecht, April 10, 2010 Cost: 2 euro Tracks: 'Maman', 'Paris m'a dit je t'aime' / 'Les beaux dimanches', 'Il est vrai'
For a little while in 1984, Jermaine Jackson was just about as successful as his brother Michael. It seemed the world just couldn't get enough of Michael Jackson and so any record released by a sibling became a chart hit as well.
Jermaine released the album 'Dynamite' in February 1984, and all the singles taken from that album became hits. 'Sweetest sweetest', the first single from the album, reached number 52 in the UK singles chart and number 16 in the Dutch Top 40.
My collection: 7" single no. 4777 Found: Record fair, Utrecht, April 10, 2010 Cost: 0,5 euro Tracks: 'Sweetest sweetest' / 'Come to me (One way or another)'
In 1987, the Frank Boeijen Groep released their seventh album 'Welkom in Utopia' ('Welcome in Utopia'). The album featured two title tracks: both titled 'Welkom in Utopia', the two tracks were very different from one another. Number one was the album's opening track, an uptempo track about social circumstances leading to desperate actions.
'Welkom in Utopia 2', the closing track of the album and released as a single ahead of the album, was a midtempo track with a more personal lyric. It was a hit for the band, reaching number 18 in the Dutch Top 40.
My collection: 7" single no. 563 Found: Free Record Shop, Den Haag, 1987 Cost: 6 guilders Tracks: 'Welkom in Utopia 2' / 'De tijden'
'Love don't live here' was released last Monday as the most recent Bananarama single. Taken from their current album 'Viva', the track was written by Sara Dallin, Keren Woodward and their producer Ian Masterson.
This 12" single features an extended remix of the track, as well as a remix of the album track 'The runner', a cover of the Three Degrees hit from the Seventies. So will this be a hit? I surely hope so, as this is among the girls' best work.
My collection: 12" single no. 536 Found: What records, received April 14, 2010 Cost: 2 pounds Tracks: 'Love don't live here (Ian Masterson's extended mix)' / 'The runner (Buzz Junkies 12" mix)'
'Raspberry beret' tells the story of a teenager and his first sexual experience with a girl who wears the titular hat. The video for the song was Prince's first since his short-lived 'ban' on music videos. The song quickly became a fan favorite, and a staple in nearly every Prince tour.
The single reached number 2 in the US Billboard Hot 100 chart. This UK pressing, featuring a different B-side when compared to the American pressing, only reached number 25 on the UK singles chart.
My collection: 7" single no. 3096 Found: Record Exchange, London, May 13, 1999 Cost: 50p Tracks: 'Raspberry beret' / 'Hello'
'You sexy thing' was originally a hit for Hot Chocolate in 1975. Dutch DJ Ben Liebrand, who already made a career for himself remixing tracks for Dutch radio and also for record releases, took on the task of remixing the track for a 1987 single release. His effort didn't go by unnoticed: the single reached number 10 in the UK singles chart.
When the original version of 'You sexy thing' was re-released in 1997 and reached number 6 in the UK singles chart, the track became the only Hot Chocolate track to become a top 10 hit in the Seventies, the Eighties and the Nineties. It's almost a shame the song didn't achieve this once again in the Noughties.
My collection: 7" single no. 4797 Found: Record fair, Utrecht, April 10, 2010 Cost: 0,5 euro Tracks: 'You sexy thing (Ben Liebrand remix)' / 'Every 1's a winner'
Frankly, I was very surprised when I played this single for the first time after buying it. Everyone knows Hot Chocolate's 'You sexy thing', with the near-falsetto lead vocals by Errol Brown. But this version of the song sounds very different. So what happened? You tell me, I couldn't find any information about it on the web.
'You sexy thing' was released in the autumn of 1975 and reached number 5 in the Dutch Top 40 and number 2 in the UK singles chart.
My collection: 7" single no. 4773 Found: Record fair, Utrecht, April 10, 2010 Cost: 0,5 euro Tracks: 'You sexy thing' / 'A warm smile'
It's a familiar story: a band signs with a record company, has some success, leaves the record company and signs with another one, and the previous record company tries to milk the success to the very last drop. It's no different with Clouseau: when they left HKM music to sign with EMI, HKM released a live album to try and get some extra money in.
To promote the live album - which reached number 10 in the Dutch albums chart - a single was also released: a live version of 'Oh ja' ('Oh yes'), which failed to reach the chart.
My collection: 7" single no. 2234 Found: Record fair, January 21, 1995 Cost: 2 guilders Tracks: 'Oh ja (live)' / 'Ik wil vannacht bij je slapen (live)'
Well, at least they don't beat around the bush. 'Ik wil vannacht bij je slapen' ('I want to sleep with you tonight') was released in February 1991 as the third single from Clouseau's second album, a title that leaves nothing to the imagination.
The appreciation for this single was almost identical in Belgium and the Netherlands, where the single peaked at number 27 and 28 respectively.
My collection: 7" single no. 1402 Found: Free Record Shop, Den Haag, March 16, 1991 Cost: 6 guilders Tracks: 'Ik wil vannacht bij je slapen' / 'Oh ja'
Joan Manuel Serrat was born on December 27, 1943. He started his career in music in the early Sixties, first as a member of a pop band in school, and after 1965 as a solo artist.
In 1968, Spain chose Serrat to represent the country in the Eurovision Song Contest. He would sing the song 'La, la, la'. After he asked to sing it in Catalan, the Spanish authorities didn't agree. At the time, the dictator Francisco Franco was repressing the Catalan language. Defiantly, Serrat refused to sing the Spanish-language version, and was hurriedly replaced by Massiel, who went on to win the contest with her Spanish-language interpretation. A recording of Serrat's version of 'La, la, la' still exists on this single, a souvenir of a Eurovision performance that never came to be.
My collection: 7" single no. 4821 Found: Record fair, Utrecht, April 10, 2010 Cost: 5 euro Tracks: 'La, la, la' / 'Mis gaviotas'
Kate Bush wrote the song 'Cloudbusting' after she read the book 'A book of dreams', published in 1973. The book was written by Peter Reich, son of psychologist Wilhelm Reich, about his father's arrest and imprisonment through the eyes of himself as a young boy. Wilhelm Reich is the inventor of the 'cloudbuster', a rain machine that looks very much like the machine that is pictured on the cover of this single. It's an extraordinary book, which was re-released as a result of the success of this song. I bought it, and I still recommend it to everyone who loves this song.
The music video, in which Kate plays Peter and Donald Sutherland plays Wilhelm, retells the story in short and made quite an impression at the time. The single fared pretty well as a result: it reached number 20 in the UK singles chart and number 11 in the Dutch Top 40. The American single, released in 1986 in conjunction with the greatest hits compilation 'The whole story', has a different B-side. I bought it four years after its release.
My collection: 7" single no. 370 / no. 1344 Found: LP Top 100, Den Haag, 1985 / London, October 18, 1990 Cost: 6 guilders / 2 pounds Tracks (no. 370): 'Cloudbusting' / 'Burning bridge' Tracks (no. 1344): 'Cloudbusting' / 'The man with the child in his eyes'
I don't have a lot of Garbage singles, and that's partly because most of their singles were not released on 7" vinyl. And when they were, they are often exceedingly expensive. But I got lucky: I found this 2007 single at a bargain price.
'Tell me where it hurts' was released on white vinyl in 2007. It was a new track on the compilation album 'Absolute Garbage', released while the band were on hiatus. This song was recorded after the band hadn't worked together for eighteen months. It was written around a string arrangement by the band coupled with newly written lyrics and a title that vocalist Manson had come up with a few years prior. Released as a single, it reached number 50 in the UK singles chart.
My collection: 7" single no. 4820 Found: Record fair, Utrecht, April 10, 2010 Cost: 1 euro Tracks: 'Tell me where it hurts' / 'Bad boyfriend (Sting like a bee remix)'
'I wish u heaven' was released as the third single from Prince's 1988 album 'Lovesexy'. It reached number 19 in the Dutch Top 40 and number 24 in the UK singles chart.
The B-side, 'Scarlet pussy' is a sexually charged track, using metaphors of cats and dogs for sexual organs. The track is credited to Camille, a feminine alter ego of Prince.
My collection: 7" single no. 1754 Found: Record Exchange, London, October 19, 1992 Cost: 50p Tracks: 'I wish u heaven' / 'Scarlet pussy (edit)'
The third single from Chris Rea's 1984 album 'Wired to the moon' was 'Touché d'amour'. Somewhat surprisingly, it was a reggae-oriented track.
The single reached number 86 in the UK singles chart and number 46 in Germany. In other territories, this single did not chart.
My collection: 7" single no. 4798 Found: Record fair, Utrecht, April 10, 2010 Cost: 0,5 euro Tracks: 'Touché d'amour (special remix)' / 'Touché d'amour (instrumental)'
'Heel alleen' ('Lonely') was the first single from Clouseau's second album, 'Of zo' ('Or something'). It featured a slightly rougher sound, something that would also be true for the album.
The fans were undeterred: the single was again a big hit for the band. In Belgium, the single reached number 3 and in the Dutch Top 40 it reached number 13.
My collection: 7" single no. 1358 Found: Den Haag, December 5, 1990 Cost: - (present) Tracks: 'Heel alleen' / 'Verlangen'
Alan Sorrenti was born in Naples, Italy on December 9, 1950. His mother was Welsh, and he was raised in Aberystwyth, Wales for much of his childhood. He started his singing career in the early Seventies. His work consisted mainly of progressive rock and experimental music.
In 1980, he represented Italy during the Eurovision Song Contest with 'Non so che darei' ('I don't know what I would give'). The song finished sixth in a field of 19 competitors. This single features both an Italian and English version of the song.
My collection: 7" single no. 4802 Found: Record fair, Utrecht, April 10, 2010 Cost: 0,5 euro Tracks: 'No so che darei' / 'If you need me now'
'Two people' was released as the second single from Tina Turner's 1986 album 'Break every rule'. Contrary to most of her singles, this was a midtempo ballad, which for the most part she performed pretty well. Turner's voice can become pretty grating, especially in the higher registers, but on this single she starts off low enough - and that actually sounds good.
The single reached number 1 in Spain, number 22 in the Dutch Top 40, number 30 in the US Billboard Hot 100 chart and number 10 in Germany, Italy and Switzerland.
My collection: 7" single no. 484 Found: Free Record Shop, Den Haag, 1987 Cost: 3 guilders Tracks: 'Two people' / 'Havin' a party'
'Who were you with in the moonlight' was the second single by the duo Dollar, releasedin April 1979 and produced by Christopher Neil.
Their debut single 'Shooting star' had been a big hit in several European countries, but this single did less well in comparison: it only charted in the UK, Ireland and Australia, peaking at number 14, 17 and 39 respectively.
My collection: 7" single no. 4805 Found: Record fair, Utrecht, April 10, 2010 Cost: 0,5 euro Tracks: 'Who were you with in the moonlight' / 'Star control'
The track 'Innuendo' was pieced together 'like a jigsaw puzzle'. The recurring theme started off as a jam session between Brian May, John Deacon and Roger Taylor. Freddie Mercury then added the melody and some of the lyrics, which were then completed by Taylor. At six and a half minutes, it is one of Queen's longest songs, and their longest ever released as a single, exceeding 'Bohemian Rhapsody' by 35 seconds.
Like 'Bohemian Rhapsody', it was released as the first single from its parent album, despite its length and complexity, going straight to number 1 in the UK singles chart. In the Dutch Top 40, the single reached number 4.
My collection: 7" single no. 1379 Found: Melody Maker, Den Haag, February 9, 1991 Cost: 6,5 guilders Tracks: 'Innuendo' / 'Bijou'
Yet another addition to my collection of Future World Orchestra singles. 'Don't go' was released in 1985, just before Robert Pot and Gerto Heupink decided to break up after differences of opinion about the musical direction they were heading.
Future World Orchestra still exists, with Pot as the sole original member.
My collection: 7" single no. 4819 Found: Record fair, Utrecht, April 10, 2010 Cost: 0,5 euro Tracks: 'Don't go (part 1)' / 'Don't go (part 2)'
'Fighting for our queen' was Maarten Peters' last solo single to be released on 7" vinyl - and his last solo single overall (not counting a track in Dutch he recorded over a decade later). His solo career came to a sudden halt after this single failed to chart. He released no further albums, but focused on songwriting instead, and worked as a musician with his partner Margriet Eshuys.
As a song, 'Fighting for our queen' is not his best effort. It plays on the imagery of fairy tales but the lyric is not very accomplished.
My collection: 7" single no. 1443 Found: Melody Maker, Den Haag, May 24, 1991 Cost: 6,5 guilders Tracks: 'Fighting for our queen' / 'Surrender'
Last year I bought two copies of 'Ole ole!', and I thought that would pretty much complete my collection of Izhar Cohen singles. But I was wrong. While this single features the English version of the track and this single features the original Hebrew version, I found another single that features a third version of the track.
Izhar Cohen also recorded 'Ole ole!' in French, as proved on this version of the single, a German pressing released by Teldec. So do I have all the versions now? Who knows...
My collection: 7" single no. 4781 Found: Record fair, Utrecht, April 10, 2010 Cost: 1 euro Tracks: 'Ole ole (English version)' / 'Ole ole (French version)'
'Walking in my shoes' was the second single taken from Depeche Mode's 1993 album 'Songs of faith and devotion'. The single version of the song was a remixed version of the album version. The sound has been made more noisy and dirty, especially the drums in the verse, and the intro has been shortened.
The single reached number 14 in the UK singles chart and number 69 in the US Billboard Hot 100 chart. This pressing of the single was made in Germany. 'Walking in my shoes' was the first Depeche Mode single not to have a commercial 7" release in the UK.
My collection: 7" single no. 1932 Found: Vienna, July 6, 1993 Cost: 55 Schilling Tracks: 'Walking in my shoes' / 'My joy'
'Don't walk away' was released in 1980 as the fourth single from the soundtrack of the movie 'Xanadu'. Electric Light Orchestra may have been the only party to really profit from this movie, as it was not a commercial success, but the singles did fare reasonably well in the charts.
At least, the previous singles 'I'm alive', 'Xanadu' and 'All over the world' were top 10 hits in varying countries. 'Don't walk away' only reached number 7 in Ireland, reaching a more modest number 21 in the UK singles chart.
My collection: 7" single no. 4808 Found: Record fair, Utrecht, April 10, 2010 Cost: 0,5 euro Tracks: 'Don't walk away' / 'Across the border'
'You're a big girl now' was released as the second single from Black's 1988 album 'Comedy'. This limited edition version features a gatefold sleeve and a booklet with photographs and the song lyric in innovative typography.
The single did not reach the chart in any territory, a first sign that the commercial success of Black might not last forever - although the album was still a millionseller.
My collection: 7" single no. 689 Found: Record Exchange, October 1989 Cost: 1 pound Tracks: 'You're a big girl now' / 'Enough is enough'
In 1987, Dutch DJ Ben Liebrand remixed Marshall Hain's 1978 hit 'Dancing in the city'. It wasn't just a straightforward remix, as singer Kit Hain contributed new vocals to the track, adding a new verse. Gerbrand Westveen played the saxophone on this new version.
The single was released in the summer of 1987, but failed to chart.
My collection: 7" single no. 4800 Found: Record fair, Utrecht, April 10, 2010 Cost: 0,5 euro Tracks: 'Dancing in the city (Summer city '87)' / 'Dancing in the alley'
Most of the albums of the Frank Boeijen Groep yielded three singles, but the 1986 album 'In natura' brought forth a fourth single. 'Goudzoekers' was released as the fourth single from the album in April 1987 in a special single remix. Adding backing vocals and new lead vocals, the single version was very different from the album version.
The single release was prompted by the chart success of previous single 'De verzoening', but this single failed to reach the Dutch Top 40.
My collection: 7" single no. 517 Found: Free Record Shop, Den Haag, April 1987 Cost: 6 guilders Tracks: 'Goudzoekers (remix)' / 'Mantel der liefde'
In 1987, Rick Astley recorded his debut single, a duet with Lisa Carter called 'When you gonna'. Produced by Phil Harding and Ian Curnow, the single sunk without a trace. However, shortly after that, Astley recorded 'Never gonna give you up', the song that propelled him to international stardom.
When 'Never gonna give you up' became a big hit, the record company decided to re-release 'When you gonna'. And despite the fact that it sounded quite different from his Stock/Aitken/Waterman-produced hit, it still managed to become a hit in some countries. In the Dutch Top 40, 'When you gonna' reached number 17.
My collection: 7" single no. 4782 Found: Record fair, Utrecht, April 10, 2010 Cost: 1 euro Tracks: 'When you gonna' / 'When you gonna (dub mix)'
In 1991, the Eurythmics decided to take a break from working together to concentrate on solo efforts. Annie Lennox recorded the awardwinning album 'Diva', David A. Stewart formed the Spiritual Cowboys, releasing two albums with the group.
The record company took the opportunity to release a greatest hits album. In order to promote the album, a remix of 'Sweet dream (are made of this)' was made and released as a single. The remix didn't really change much from the original song, but simply added some sounds and beats to what was already a pretty perfect popsong. It reached number 48 in the UK singles chart.
My collection: 7" single no. 2201 Found: Record fair, Rotterdam, October 8, 1994 Cost: 3 guilders Tracks: 'Sweet dreams (are made of this) '91' / 'The king & queen of America'
'Revival' was written by Eurythmics members Annie Lennox and David A. Stewart together with guest keyboardist Pat Seymour. The lyric is a call for renewal and encouragement. Lennox sings the song to a subject who is facing hardships and feeling low, or perhaps is feeling bitter after much struggle in life.
