Guesch Patti had a number 1 hit in France with her single 'Etienne' (1987). Despite the French language, which can be quite difficult for non-francophones, the song had a strong enough melody to also give her a top 10 hit in Austria, Germany, Italy and Switzerland.
The single was subsequently also released in the UK. This version of the single included an exclusive English-language version of the track. Despite this, the single failed to chart in the UK.
My collection: 7" single no. 5087 Found: Record fair, Utrecht, April 9, 2011 Cost: 1 euro Tracks: 'Etienne' / 'Un espoir', 'Etienne (English version)'
'Takin' a chance on you' was the second single from Dollar's second album 'The Paris collection'. Contrary to its predecessor 'The girls are out to get ya' and the follow-up 'You take my breath away', this single did make the UK singles chart, but only reached number 62.
This copy is a limited edition picture disc.
My collection: 7" single no. 5086 Found: Record fair, Utrecht, April 9, 2011 Cost: 1 euro Tracks: 'Takin' a chance on you' / 'No mans land'
Cicero released his debut single 'Heaven must have sent you back to me' on 12 August 1991 on the Spaghetti Records label, owned by the Pet Shop Boys. Despite promotion from the artist and Pet Shop Boys, the single failed to chart. The two singles that followed, 'Love is everywhere' and 'That loving feeling' were co-produced by Pet Shop Boys and were minor hits in the UK.
His debut album, 'Future boy', was released in June 1992. Pet Shop Boys remixed 'Heaven must have sent you back to me' for the album. It was released as the fourth single and charted at number 70 in the UK. The music video for the single was directed by Chris Lowe.
My collection: 7" single no. 5088 Found: Record fair, Utrecht, April 9, 2011 Cost: 1 euro Tracks: 'Heaven must have sent you back to me (remix)' / 'Jungilism'
One of Israel's most famous singers Ofra Haza competed in the 1983 edition of the Eurovision Song Contest with 'Hi'. Although the song title means 'Alive' in Hebrew, it was translated into English as 'High' and into German as 'Frei'.
This German version was released on the Jupiter Records label, owned by Ralph Siegel, who has written loads of songs for the Contest. The label has released many Eurovision-related singles through the years.
My collection: 7" single no. 5085 Found: Record fair, Utrecht, April 9, 2011 Cost: 1 euro Tracks: 'Frei' / 'High'
In 1986, after Dollar reformed for the first time, they released the single 'Haven't we said goodbye before' on Arista records. The lack of success of this single and its predecessor 'We walked in love' had them looking for another record contract the next year.
The song, however, is nice enough. The B-side of this single, however, is a contender for the title 'worst B-side ever'.
My collection: 7" single no. 5083 Found: Record fair, Utrecht, April 9, 2011 Cost: 1 euro Tracks: 'Haven't we said goodbye before' / 'Platinum rap'
'Passengers' was released in 1984 as the second single from Elton John's album 'Breaking hearts'. It reached number 5 in the UK singles chart and number 9 in Australia.
The song was written not only by Elton John and Bernie Taupin, who write most of John's material, but in collaboration with Davey Johnstone and Phineas McHize.
My collection: 7" single no. 5082 Found: Record fair, Utrecht, April 9, 2011 Cost: 1 euro Tracks: 'Passengers' / 'Lonely boy'
On his album 'New light through old windows' (1988) Chris Rea re-recorded the tracks that made him famous in the Eighties. They were not always better versions, but I guess the man felt the need to do these songs once again.
The album spawned three singles, of which 'I can hear your heartbeat' was the last one. It was the least successful one, too: it only reached number 74 in the UK singles chart.
My collection: 7" single no. 5081 Found: Record fair, Utrecht, April 9, 2011 Cost: 1 euro Tracks: 'I can hear your heartbeat' / 'Loving you again (live version)'
When I visited the record fair in Utrecht a year ago, I saw the single 'Never turn away' and thought I already owned it. I was very dismayed upon my arrival home to find that I didn't. So a year later, back at the record fair, I found that same single with a different dealer... and snapped it up.
'Never turn away' was released as the fourth and final single from the band's 1984 album 'Junk culture', the one that spawned better known hits 'Locomotion', 'Talking loud and clear' and 'Tesla girls'. This single only reached number 70 in the UK singles chart and number 29 in Ireland.
My collection: 7" single no. 5080 Found: Record fair, Utrecht, April 9, 2011 Cost: 1 euro Tracks: 'Never turn away' / 'Wrappup'
'Shine' was released in 1986 as a single by Mike Oldfield, featuring Jon Anderson on vocals. It barely scraped the UK singles chart, reaching number 100, but peaked at number 31 in the German singles chart.
The music video for 'Shine' features use of computer graphics, such as a computer generated game of chess. Oldfield plays a Gibson SG guitar in the video.
My collection: 7" single no. 5079 Found: Record fair, Utrecht, April 9, 2011 Cost: 0,5 euro Tracks: 'Shine' / 'The path'
'California blue' was written by Roy Orbison, Jeff Lynne and Tom Petty. The latter two worked with Orbison on what was to become his last album, 'Mystery girl'. The album was released briefly after he died in December 1988, since the lead single 'You got it' had already become a hit while he was still alive.
The song was released as the third single from the album in the spring of 1989. It wasn't a hit, stalling at number 77 in the UK singles chart and sinking without a trace in most European countries.
My collection: 7" single no. 5078 Found: Record fair, Utrecht, April 9, 2011 Cost: 0,5 euro Tracks: 'California blue' / 'Blue Bayou (live)'
Phil Collins' debut solo single 'In the air tonight' was re-released in 1988 as a remix. The remix was made by Phil Collins and Hugh Padgham, although a more accomplished remix by Ben Liebrand existed (and was included on 12" and cd-single versions of this single).
The re-release could not give the song a higher chart placing than the original release from 1981, but still it did well: peaking at number 4 in the UK singles chart and at number 3 in the German singles chart.
My collection: 7" single no. 5077 Found: Record fair, Utrecht, April 9, 2011 Cost: 0,5 euro Tracks: 'In the air tonight ('88 remix)' / 'I missed again'
'Sisters are doin' it for themselves' was written by Eurythmics members Annie Lennox and Dave Stewart. It was intended as a feminist anthem. They recorded the track together with American soul/R&B musician Aretha Franklin and released as a single by RCA Records in October 1985. It was featured on both Eurythmics' 'Be yourself tonight' and Franklin's 'Who's zoomin' who?' albums.
The single reached number 18 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 singles chart and number 9 in the UK Singles Chart.
My collection: 7" single no. 5076 Found: Record fair, Utrecht, April 9, 2011 Cost: 0,5 euro Tracks: 'Sisters are doin' it for themselves' / 'I love you like a ball and chain'
Back in 1992, they were presented as a modern day Abba, the Swedish quartet Ace of base. And they certainly started out promising: 'All that she wants' quickly became a number one hit in Denmark, the UK and Australia. The single was certified Platinum in the United States, where it peaked at number 2. It is one of the highest-selling #2 songs of all time in the States: it stayed in the top three songs on Billboard Hot 100 list for three months, but never actually reached the peak position.
Although the band still exists, both female members have left the group a few years ago and have been replaced. Their albums were all less successful than its predecessor: debut album 'Happy nation' selling 21 million copies worldwide, while the 2002 album 'Da capo' only sold half a million copies.
My collection: 7" single no. 5075 Found: Record fair, Utrecht, April 9, 2011 Cost: 0,5 euro Tracks: 'All that she wants (radio edit)' / 'All that she wants (Banghra version)'
'Love so right' is a R&B/pop ballad released by the Bee Gees in 1976. The single hit number 3 on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart. It peaked at number 2 in Canada, but was less successful in Europe: in the UK the single only reached number 41, and in Germany it reached number 38.
It was the second single from their 1976 album 'Children of the world'. A year later they would be much more successful with the original soundtrack of the movie 'Saturday night fever'.
My collection: 7" single no. 5074 Found: Record fair, Utrecht, April 9, 2011 Cost: 0,5 euro Tracks: 'Love so right' / 'You stepped into my life'
'It's my life' was the first collaboration between Mark Hollis and Tim Friese-Greene, members of Talk Talk. It was released as the band's first single from the album of the same name in January 1984. It reached number 46 in the UK charts, but did better in other countries: number 31 in the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 chart, number 30 in Canada and Netherlands, number 33 in Germany, number 32 in New Zealand, number 25 in France and number 7 in Italy.
I didn't have this original single before, so it was interesting to finally buy it. This version features the album track 'Does Caroline know?' on the B-side, whereas the Brazilian single I bought in 1990 features the extended version of 'It's my life'.
My collection: 7" single no. 5073 Found: Record fair, Utrecht, April 9, 2011 Cost: 0,5 euro Tracks: 'It's my life' / 'Does Caroline know?'
I've seen the Belle Stars, or at least, three of them, during those Here & Now tours at the beginning of this century in the UK, and one of the staples in their set was their version of 'Iko iko'. I never found the single of that track, but here it is... a reissue of the song because, apparently, it was used in the movie 'Rain man'.
Originally, the track was released six years earlier, in 1982. It reached number 35 in the UK singles chart. This re-release gave them a number 14 peak position in the US Billboard Hot 100 chart and a number 7 peak position in Australia. The single also re-charted in the UK... peaking at number 98.
My collection: 7" single no. 5072 Found: Record fair, Utrecht, April 9, 2011 Cost: 0,5 euro Tracks: 'Iko iko' (Belle Stars) / 'Leaving Wallbrook / On the road' (Hans Zimmer)
Puck recently informed me that all Carpenters tracks are in fact very depressing. Given this knowledge, it's hard to reconcile that with an upbeat track like 'Sweet, sweet smile', in which the protagonist says that she wants to always see someone's sweet smile.
The track was composed by Otha Young and Juice Newton. The track features drummer Ronnie Tutt who regularly backed Elvis Presley. Released as the third single from the album 'Passage', the single reached number 44 in the US Billboard Hot 100 chart and number 40 in the UK singles chart.
My collection: 7" single no. 5071 Found: Record fair, Utrecht, April 9, 2011 Cost: 0,5 euro Tracks: 'Sweet sweet smile' / 'I have you'
Donna Summer's 1987 album 'All systems go' spawned the hit single 'Dinner with Gershwin', but the other singles from the album were less successful. 'Only the fool survives', a duet with Mickey Thomas, only reached number 40 in Canada, and this single, the title track from the album, only charted in the UK, peaking at number 54.
'All systems go' - the song - is a repetitive affair, particularly at the end where it seems the lyricist simply ran out of ideas. Donna Summer repeats the title of the track ad nauseum.
My collection: 7" single no. 5070 Found: Record fair, Utrecht, April 9, 2011 Cost: 1 euro Tracks: 'All systems go' / 'Bad reputation'
Buying records can be a bit like hunting in the wild. (Not that I ever did the latter, but anyway.) You see a prey, it escapes, you wait for it... and wait for it... and when you see it again, you snap it up. It's a bit like this with this single. My sister bought this limited edition with a poster bag way back in 1987 during a holiday in London. I didn't buy it at the time for lack of money, and then of course this edition never showed up again...
...until now. The good thing is, because of a little damage on the front it wasn't sold for a fortune, and so I could actually get it for very little money. The benefits of waiting 24 years, I guess.
My collection: 7" single no. 5067 Found: Record fair, Utrecht, April 9, 2011 Cost: 1 euro Tracks: 'If I was your girlfriend' / 'Shockadelica'
Commenting on the track in interview, Stevie Nicks says that 'Sara' is about her best friend Sara Recor Fleetwood, the wife of Mick Fleetwood. Nicks had an affair with Mick Fleetwood in early 1978 while he was married to Jenny Boyd. Then her best friend, model Sara Recor, fell for Fleetwood and began an affair with him whilst Nicks and Fleetwood were still together. The pair ultimately moved in together, and were subsequently married. Nicks felt very betrayed, but Recor and Fleetwood were undeniably in love. Sara claims that Nicks was never upset with her, only with Fleetwood.
The song originally had many more verses and ran for 16 minutes in demo form, according to Nicks, and referenced all Fleetwood Mac band members. The song was a commentary on all the tangled relationships and love affairs that were occurring in 1977-1978, but the final recorded version omitted most of this and focused on the triangle between Nicks, Fleetwood and Recor. The song remains one of the standout track of the band's 1979 album 'Tusk' and although I didn't have this single until now, I've always wanted to have it!
My collection: 7" single no. 5066 Found: Record fair, Utrecht, April 9, 2011 Cost: 1 euro Tracks: 'Sara' / 'That's enough for me'
Released as a single from their 1987 album 'E.S.P.', 'Angela' was not the Bee Gees' most inspired song, nor was it very successful: released exclusively on mainland Europe, it only reached number 52 in the German singles chart.
However, if this song didn't turn you on - which I have to admit, it did me - the single was worth getting for the B-side: an extended version of the album's standout track 'You win again'. This remix was previously released on the 12" single of 'You win again' (which was released as the first single from 'E.S.P.') but obviously a 7" single was a lot cheaper... and it certainly was now.
My collection: 7" single no. 5065 Found: Record fair, Utrecht, April 9, 2011 Cost: 1 euro Tracks: 'Angela' / 'You win again (extended version)'
There is no information on this single about the year of release, but several internet sources put this single in the year 1977. It makes sense: at the height of the disco era, pretty young girls were coupled to cheesy disco anthems or disco covers of wellknown songs. In this case, it's the latter: a version of a song originally recorded by Abba.
'Nina pretty ballerina' was written by Benny Andersson and Bjorn Ulvaeus and recorded by the Swedish pop group in 1973. Released as a single in France and Austria only, it reached number 8 in Austria. This cover version was less successful: as far as I could find out, it didn't chart. However, the girls did make an appearance in the German music show Musikladen...
My collection: 7" single no. 5064 Found: Record fair, Utrecht, April 9, 2011 Cost: 1 euro Tracks: 'Nina, pretty ballerina' / 'Sweet night of love'
'Love to hate you' was released as the second single from Erasure's 1991 album 'Chorus'. It is one of Erasure's most successful singles on the UK singles chart, peaking at number 4. It also reached number 19 in the German singles cra tand number 4 in Sweden.
It is one of those singles that has been missing from my collection for inexplicable reasons. At the time, I bought the cd-single, and in subsequent years I never realised I never bought the 7" vinyl version. It's always nice to make good on such an omission.
My collection: 7" single no. 5063 Found: Record fair, Utrecht, April 9, 2011 Cost: 1 euro Tracks: 'Love to hate you' / 'Vitamin C'
The Flying Pickets came up with the then novel concept of transferring the art of a cappella to the pop music scene. The members of the group were internationally renowned for their flamboyant appearance: Hibbard's huge sideburns, Stripe's thick eye-liner, and four others showing off gaudy suits and large hats.
'Only you', their debut single, was a cover of the track by Yazoo and became the UK Christmas number one in 1983, spending a total of five weeks at the top, and also doing well around Europe and in Canada.
My collection: 7" single no. 5062 Found: Record fair, Utrecht, April 9, 2011 Cost: 1 euro Tracks: 'Only you' / 'Disco down'
Collecting Boney M singles has become a very amusing pastime for me. The original singles from the Seventies are all in my collection, but in the second half of the Eighties an endless stream of remixes was apparently released on single. I have already found a couple of these (and you can see them on this blog here), but yet another one turned up.
This one is the 'Lambada remix' of 'Malaika'. It was not a very commercial song to begin with, and this remix doesn't help matters much. There isn't a lot of Lambada in this remix and the added beats don't get one on their dancing feet. Well, at least the B-side is more interesting: a Nineties remix of that song that started it all, 'Baby do you wanna bump'.
My collection: 7" single no. 5061 Found: Record fair, Utrecht, April 9, 2011 Cost: 1 euro Tracks: 'Malaika (Lambada remix)' / 'Baby do you wanna bump (Remix for the 90's)'
The duo David van Day and Thereza Bazar had a rather stormy career in the first half of the Eighties, then broke up after relations between the two became increasingly strained. In 1986 they reformed and had a big hit with a cover of the Erasure track 'Oh l'amour'.
The group then hit a stumbling block in deciding on a follow-up and past ill-feeling between the pair was rising again. Six months later they finally released another single, 'It's nature's way', but it was to be their last release as the single flopped and work on a possible album had been long delayed. In late 1988, Dollar disbanded again.
My collection: 7" single no. 5060 Found: Record fair, Utrecht, April 9, 2011 Cost: 1 euro Tracks: 'It's nature's way (No problem)' / 'Dia y noche'
I'm not ashamed to admit that photography is one of the reasons I like Belinda Carlisle's singles so much. She's always managed to find the right photographer to put her on the cover of her singles - and this one is a good example of that.
That's not to say that 'World without you' is a bad song: it's very pleasant pop, written by one of America's most famous writers, Diane Warren. Okay, it's a bit formulaic, but most of Carlisle's songs have that quality to them: formulaic pop, delivered with that strange voice that is a mix between a sheep and a nasal whistle-tone. The single reached number 34 in the UK singles chart.
My collection: 7" single no. 5059 Found: Record fair, Utrecht, April 9, 2011 Cost: 1 euro Tracks: 'World without you' / 'Nobody owns me'
Limahl is forever associated to his band Kajagoogoo and his dodgy haircut. But people tend to forget that he's also had a solo career with considerable success, mostly in central Europe. And he's made some very nice pop tunes too.
'Inside to outside' was released in 1986 as the follow-up to 'Love in your eyes', a track from his second solo album 'Colour all my days'. The single reached number 57 in the German singles chart - and actually his last chart hit in that country until now.
My collection: 7" single no. 5058 Found: Record fair, Utrecht, April 9, 2011 Cost: 1 euro Tracks: 'Inside to outside' / 'Shock'
Every now and then I play an old cd that's been orphaned in my collection. A few weeks ago I took out the greatest hits collection of the Fine Young Cannibals, and the standout track on that, I felt, was their version of 'Suspicious minds'. I never liked this track much in the past, but things change. The hysterical backing vocals by Jimmy Somerville add a certain something to this track. I decided I had to buy the single after all these years.
'Suspicious minds' was a hit in the UK, peaking at number 8. The track was also used in the cult films 'Dangerously close' and 'Down twisted'.
My collection: 7" single no. 5057 Found: Record fair, Utrecht, April 9, 2011 Cost: 1 euro Tracks: 'Suspicious minds' / 'Prick up your ears'
'Heavenly Action' was released in November 1985 as Erasure's second single. Released after 'Who needs love like that', it was another commercial failure for the duo. In the UK it is still their lowest charting single, peaking as it did at number 100.
The song was later included on the duo's debut album Wonderland, released in June 1986. This German pressing is a limited edition on red vinyl.
My collection: 7" single no. 5056 Found: Record fair, Utrecht, April 9, 2011 Cost: 1 euro Tracks: 'Heavenly action' / 'Don't say no'
When Siobhan Fahey left Bananarama some might have thought she would disappear into nothingness, but nothing was further from the truth: within months she set up Shakespear's sister together with Marcella Detroit and the duo released a couple of very successful and artistically interestig albums.
Their debut single, released in 1988, was 'Break my heart', a track that would also appear on their debut album in 1989. Siobhan Fahey wanted 'Heroine' to be the group's debut single, but her label was not convinced it was a strong enough single, and instead opted for 'Break my heart'. It didn't matter much: the single flopped anyway. Thankfully, later singles would be more successful.
My collection: 7" single no. 5055 Found: Record fair, Utrecht, April 9, 2011 Cost: 1 euro Tracks: 'Break my heart' / 'Heroine'
In August 1981, Bowie had begun rehearsals to appear in the BBC version of Bertolt Brecht's play 'Baal'. The lyrics to the songs were all translated by Ralph Manheim and John Willett. Dominic Muldowney provided all new musical settings, except for 'The drowned girl', which was a setting by Kurt Weill done originally for Das Berliner Requiem. In September 1981, Bowie and Tony Visconti returned to the Hansa studios in Berlin to re-record the five songs Baal performed in the play.
'Baal’s Hymn' is a combination of the vignettes spread throughout the play, and establishes Baal’s amoral character. 'Remembering Marie A' concerns Baal’s reminiscences of a past conquest, where he can remember a cloud drifting overhead, but not the face of the girl he was with. 'Ballad of the Adventurers' is Baal’s aggressive lament to the death of his mother. 'The Drowned Girl' relates the suicide of one of Baal’s conquests. 'The Dirty Song' is a short number, with Baal humiliating his lover Sophie.
Bowie's performance as Baal was broadcast on February 2, 1982, and RCA issued the EP to coincide with this. Both the play and EP were well received, with the latter reaching number 29 in the UK chart, which was a high placing considering the unconventional tracks. The 7" single comes packaged in a double gatefold sleeve containing extensive notes pertaining to the musical content and a short biography of Bertolt Brecht. This EP was Bowie’s final new release for RCA Records. Bowie's next release was issued by EMI. The EP was re-released as a digital download in 2007.
My collection: 7" single no. 5054 Found: Record fair, Utrecht, April 9, 2011 Cost: 1 euro Tracks: 'Baal's hymn', 'Remembering Marie A.' / 'Ballad of the adventurers', 'The drowned girl', 'The dirty song'
Giorgio Moroder made a restoration and new edit of 'Metropolis', the 1927 movie by Fritz Lang. Moroder’s version of the film introduced a new contemporary pop music soundtrack for the film. Although it restored a number of previously missing scenes and plot details from the original release (in particular, Moroder's version restores the character of Hel, who was omitted from the original release version of the film), his version of the film runs to only 80 minutes in length, compared to the original 153 minute version.
The lead single for the soundtrack was Freddie Mercury's 'Love kills', a Moroder-produced track that sounded very similar to Queen tracks that were released around the same time. The single reached number 10 in the UK singles chart and number 4 in Ireland. It also reached the charts around Europe, but peaking at lower positions.
My collection: 7" single no. 5053 Found: Record fair, Utrecht, April 9, 2011 Cost: 1 euro Tracks: 'Love kills' / 'Rotwang's party (Robot dance)' (Giorgio Moroder)
In 1992, Erasure released the Abba-esque EP, featuring four covers of Abba songs. All formats were released with four tracks on them, so one would think no other formats would exist.
But here it is: a Spanish promotional one-track single, featuring the track 'Take a chance on me'. Probably worth something to a Erasure fan, but I just happened to stumble across this copy while browsing the racks.
My collection: 7" single no. 5052 Found: Record fair, Utrecht, April 9, 2011 Cost: 1 euro Tracks: 'Take a chance on me'
Freda Charcilia Payne was born on September 19, 1945. She's an American singer and actress best known for her million selling, 1970 hit single, 'Band of Gold'. The song, written by the famous writing team Holland-Dozier-Holland, tells a story of a recently married woman whose husband is incapable of loving her (even though he tried), resulting in the couple sleeping in separate rooms on their honeymoon, to her dismay. It would appear that the marriage ended in the husband's abandoning his bride, leaving her with no more than the titular 'band of gold'.
The single reached number 1 in the UK singles chart and remains a wellknown classic to this day.
My collection: 7" single no. 5051 Found: Record fair, Utrecht, April 9, 2011 Cost: 1 euro Tracks: 'Band of gold' / 'The easiest way to fall'
'We'll live it all again' (Italian title: 'Noi lo rivivremo di nuovo') was the Italian entry in the Eurovision Song Contest 1976, performed in Italian and English by Al Bano & Romina Power. So far, this the country's only ever entry not to be sung entirely in Italian (although this year's entry will also be in English, I understand).
Bano and Power also recorded the song in French, entitled 'T'aimer encore une fois'. This single contains the original English/Italian version and the French version. At the close of voting, the duo's song had received 69 points, placing 7th in a field of 18 contenders.
My collection: 7" single no. 5050 Found: Record fair, Utrecht, April 9, 2011 Cost: 1 euro Tracks: 'T'aimer encore une fois' / 'We'll live it all again'
In 1974, France did not participate in the Eurovision Song Contest. Still, here it is: a single of the 1974 entry by Dani. How come?
France had been going to enter the contest with the song 'La vie à vingt-cinq ans' by Dani, but they withdrew after the French President, Georges Pompidou, died during the week before the contest. Since his funeral was held the day of the contest, it was deemed inappropriate for the French to take part. Dani was seen by viewers in the audience at the point the French song should have been performed, after the Irish and before the German entry.
My collection: 7" single no. 5049 Found: Record fair, Utrecht, April 9, 2011 Cost: 1 euro Tracks: 'La vie a 25 ans' / 'Pour que ça dure'
'Tubular bells' is Mike Oldfield's signature theme and he has released several versions around the theme of the thunderpipes, as well as several singles. The original album was released in 1973 and at the time it came with a single in the UK and a different single in the US.
The American single was released when Mike Oldfield's music was used in the motion picture for 'The Exorcist', and this single features an extract from the album that differs from the UK single. I never knew this, of course, and so when I found out, I had to have this single. It's a bit of a shame it's not in better shape.
My collection: 7" single no. 5044 Found: eBay.com, received March 23, 2011 Cost: 4 euro Tracks: 'Tubular bells (Now the original theme from 'The Exorcist')' / 'Tubular bells'
'To love somebody' was originally recorded and released by the Bee Gees in 1967, back when they were still a quintet. The song was written on a boat in Monte Carlo the day the Beatles manager, Brian Epstein was found dead (August 1967) after manager Robert Stigwood encouraged Barry Gibb to write a soul song for Otis Redding. Redding, however, died in an airplane crash before he could record the song.
In 1990, Jimmy Somerville released a reggaefied cover version of the track. Released as a single in November of that year, it reached number 8 in the UK singles chart, his last top 10 hit until now.
My collection: 7" single no. 5043 Found: Kringloop, Haarlem, March 11, 2011 Cost: 0,25 euro Tracks: 'To love somebody' / 'Rain'
'Son of a Preacher Man' was recorded by Dusty Springfield in September 1968 as a track on her legendary album 'Dusty in Memphis'. Written by John Hurley and Ronnie Wilkins, the song was originally offered to Aretha Franklin, but she turned it down. Only after she'd heard Springfield's version she recorded the song herself. By that time, however, Springfield's version had already become a hit; thus, Franklin's version, included on her 1970 album, 'This girl's in love with you', ended up as a B-side of the single 'Call me' only.
Although the album 'Dusty in Memphis' was released in stereo, the singles off the album were remixed and released in mono. This single reached number 10 in the US Billboard Hot 100 chart and number 9 in the UK singles chart.
My collection: 7" single no. 5042 Found: Kringloop, Haarlem, March 11, 2011 Cost: 0,25 euro Tracks: 'Son of a preacher man' / 'Just a little lovin' (Early in the mornin')'
Janet Jackson's album 'Control' was a big success, and the way the album was 'milked' for singles was equal to her brother Michael's 'Thriller' a few years before. After six singles released internationally, 'Funny how time flies (when you're having fun)' was released as single number seven in the UK and Australia.
This limited edition version from the UK featured a giant poster with two pictures of Janet in black and white. The single performed poorly in the UK singles chart despite this: it only reached number 59. Janet performed the song live for the first time in 2008, during her Rock Witchu Tour.
My collection: 7" single no. 5041 Found: Ebay.co.uk, received February 28, 2011 Cost: 2 pounds Tracks: 'Funny how time flies (when you're having fun)' / 'When I think of you'
I always get a kick out of buying really old singles, and this one is almost 50 years old. Marty Wilde released 'Tomorrow's clown' in October 1961, and reached number 33 in the UK singles charts with it.
The B-side is called 'The Hellions' and that's also the title of the movie he starred in. The western movie has never been released officially on DVD, but I got a recording of it last year and it's really interesting to see how the rocker proves himself as a credible actor.
My collection: 7" single no. 5040 Found: Ebay.co.uk, received February 21, 2011 Cost: 2 pounds Tracks: 'Tomorrow's clown' / 'The Hellions'.
'Some kind of lover' was the fourth single taken from Jody Watley's self-titled debut solo album. It was a relative failure, reaching number 81 in the UK singles chart, but it is one of the nicest funky tracks on the album.
These remixes were made by Louil Silas, jr., who mostly adds a lot of 'bounce' to the track. The 12" single features three versions of the tracks which are quite similar to one another. Still, good stuff.
My collection: 12" single no. 217 Found: Record Exchange, London, 1994 Cost: 1,5 pounds Tracks: 'Some kind of lover (extended version)' / 'Some kind of lover (instrumental)', 'Some kind of lover (dub)'
'If it happens again' is one of my favourite tunes by UB40, and a lot of that has to do with the last few minutes of the track. So I was hoping that the 12" version would offer more of that. Well it doesn't, but that's okay because this dub mix is quite interesting too.
It was the seventh top 10 hit in the UK for UB40. It peaked at number 9 in the UK singles chart, but did even better in the Netherlands, where it peaked at number 7 in the Dutch Top 40.
My collection: 12" single no. 375 Found: Plaatboef, Rotterdam, 1999 Cost: 2 guilders Tracks: 'If it happens again (12" version)' / 'Nkomo a gogo'
'We were so turned on: A tribute to David Bowie' was released worldwide on September 6, 2010 as a charity for War Child UK. It is the only tribute album that has been approved by David Bowie and his management.
This single was released from the album, featuring the tracks by Duran Duran and Carla Bruni. It is the first Duran Duran 7" vinyl single since 1995's 'Perfect day'. Upon first listen, I have to say I like the cover by French president Nicolas Sarkozy's wife Carla Bruni better: she has turned the wonderfully rich original into an intimate piano-and-vocal song - and that works very well. This single is a limited edition and was pressed on clear vinyl.
My collection: 7" single no. 5039 Found: HMV, London, received February 16, 2011 Cost: 4 pounds Tracks: 'Boys keep swinging' (Duran Duran)' / 'Absolute beginners' (Carla Bruni)
Released in 1972, Ricky Wilde (yep, Kim's brother) was just eleven years old when he sang 'I am an astronaut'. The single was not a hit all over Europe, but the single was released in several countries.
Attentive readers of this blog will have seen the previous entry about 'I am an astronaut' from two years ago, but this single is a recent acquisition: a Belgian pressing featuring a beautiful photo sleeve of a young Ricky. And so it merits a repost.
My collection: 7" single no. 5038 Found: Marktplaats.nl, received February 9, 2011 Cost: 5 euro Tracks: 'I am an astronaut' / 'The Hertfordshire rock'
'Verlieben verlieren' can be translated as 'loving and losing', which qualifies this song as a story everyone has gone through at one point or another. It's a pleasant popsong and the B-side is a nice bonus, as it holds a remix of the A-side track.
It's another single from Münchener Freiheit's 1989 album 'Purpurmond', and this wasn't a hit either.
My collection: 7" single no. 5028 Found: Record fair, Amsterdam, January 29, 2011 Cost: 0,5 euro Tracks: 'Verlieben verlieren' / 'Verlieben verlieren (Rhythm mix)'
Guesch Patti had a number 1 hit in France with her single 'Etienne' (1987). Despite the French language, which can be quite difficult for non-francophones, the song had a strong enough melody to also give her a top 10 hit in Austria, Germany, Italy and Switzerland.
