Just what I always wanted - Mari Wilson

Mari Wilson appeared on the scene in the early eighties with her skyscraper beehive hairdo, a strange sense of (retro-inspired) fashion and a fully choreographed twelve piece band. Her live shows were very entertaining and this is how she claimed her fame. In 1982, she had her biggest hit with this single, 'Just what I always wanted', which peaked at number eight in the UK singles chart.

I vaguely remembered Mari Wilson, so I took a gamble when I bought this single. But the gamble paid off: it is a great pop song. I wonder why I didn't remember this one...

My collection: 7" single no. 3539

Found: Empire Records, Den Haag, January 9, 2009

Cost: 0,5 euro

Tracks: 'Just what I always wanted' / 'Woe, woe, woe'

Download: here

Snobbery and decay - Act

Act were a synthpop group in the late eighties, consisting of Thomas Leer and ex-Propaganda singer Claudia Brücken. Lyrically their songs tended to be concerned with decadence and the moral bankruptcy of the world as they saw it, as summed up in the title of their debut single 'Snobbery and decay'. On the cover you see Quentin Crisp and Liberace.

The band dissolved shortly after the release of their debut album, 'Laughter, tears and rage'. This album was reissued in 2003 as a three cd set, including bonus tracks, remixes, alternative versions and previously unreleased material. The single is a great piece of dramatic and melodic synthpop.

My collection: 7" single no. 2992
Found: Record fair, May 27, 1998
Cost: 5 guilders
Tracks: 'Snobbery & decay' / 'Poison'
Download: here

The clapping song - Belle Stars

'The clapping song' is a song originally recorded by Shirley Ellis in 1965. The lyrics of 'The clapping song' are reminiscent of a nursery rhyme or jump-rope rhyme, and also feature instructions for a clapping game.

The Belle Stars covered the song in 1982 and it provided them with their first top 20 hit. This picture disc was a great item, one I couldn't resist buying even though I wasn't really impressed with the song.

My collection: 7" single no. 2715

Found: June 20, 1996

Cost: 3,5 guilders

Tracks: 'The clapping song' / 'Blame'

Download: here

Souvenir - Orchestral Manoeuvres in the dark

'Souvenir' was released as the first single from Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark's 1981 album 'Architecture & Morality'. A tape consisting of slowed-down loops of a choir tuning up had been the initial inspiration for the song. Although very displeased with the original version, they decided it had some merit after all, after having re-recorded it previously.

The tune has a very strong synthesised melody, with a rare lead vocal by Paul Humphreys. Although he is not the band's main singer, he was satisfied with his attempts, and would do lead vocals for some of OMD's other well-known releases. An extended version of the song (with an additional verse) was released as a 10" single.

My collection: 10" single [unnumbered]
Found: House of Rhythm, London
Cost: 2 pounds
Tracks: 'Souvenir (extended)' / 'Motion and heart (Amazon version)', 'Sacred heart'
Download: here

Me no pop I - Coati Mundi

Coati Mundi is the stage name of Andy Hernandez. He was member of Kid Creole and the Coconuts, playing the vibraphone. He scored a solo hit in the UK singles chart with 'Me no pop I' in 1981. Coati Mundi appeared as an actor in the film 'Who's that girl', starring Madonna. He wrote and performed a song for the soundtrack album called: 'El Coco Loco'.

I bought the single in Denmark, remembering the song after more than two decades of not hearing it. Amazingly, the hit version is on the b-side of this single.

My collection: 7" single no. 3425

Found: Esbjerg (Denmark), June 17, 2006

Cost: 10 Danish crowns

Tracks: 'Me no pop I' / 'Que pasa/Me no pop I'

Download: here

Always something there to remind me - Naked eyes

'Always Something There to Remind Me' is a song written in the 1960s by Burt Bacharach and Hal David. Originally a minor hit for American singer Lou Johnson, it was then recorded by Sandie Shaw. It became her breakthrough hit in the UK in 1964, reaching number one in the UK singles chart.

Naked Eyes recorded a cover version of this song in 1982. This 12" version was remixed by John 'Jellybean' Benitez.

My collection: 12" single no. 147

Found: Record Palace, Amsterdam, 199X

Cost: 2,5 guilders

Tracks: 'Always something there to remind me (remixed version)' / 'Voices in my head'

Download: here

Say when - Lene Lovich

Lili-Marlene Premilovich was born on March 30, 1949 in Detroit, Michigan. At the age of 13 her family moved to Hull, England. She met guitarist/songwriter Les Chappell during her teens, and he became her longtime collaborator and life partner.

Taking on the name Lene Lovich, she released her debut album 'Stateless' in 1978. This album contained her two biggest hits: 'Lucky number' (a top three hit in the UK) and this single, 'Say when'. It reached number 19 in the UK and the Netherlands. I bought the single in that same year, even though the sleeve was written on and quite damaged. I bought a replacement copy two decades later in the same shop for the same price...

My collection: 7" single no. 105

Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, 1981

Cost: 1 guilder

Tracks: 'Say when' / 'One lonely heart'

Download: here

Si la vie est cadeau - Corinne Hermes

The 1983 Eurovision Song Contest was won with the song 'Si la vie est cadeau', performed by Corinne Hermes. She was born on November 16, 1961 and is a French singer. She represented Luxembourg on this occasion and finished just six points ahead of Israel's Ofra Haza with 'Hi'. The song received zero points from two of the twenty participating countries, but also received the maximum twelve points from five - mostly Mediterranean - countries.

Personally, I was not pleased with this winner. I preferred more eclectic tracks like Norway's 'Do re mi' by Jahn Teigen, Sweden's Carola with 'Främling' or even Spain's Remedios Amaya with 'Quien maneja mi barca?'. It took me 25 years to buy this single, and only because of my recent decision to want to buy all the Eurovision winners on single.

My collection: 7" single no. 3507

Found: Record Mania, Amsterdam, December 27, 2008

Cost: 1 euro

Tracks: 'Si la vie est cadeau' / 'Pour un jour de toi'

Download: here

Baby's in the mountains - Peter Godwin

It's never clear to me why some singles are not a bigger success. Peter Godwin's 'Baby's in the mountains' is a good example. It's a catchy song, it's got most of the electronic sounds that were popular in 1983, and yet, it didn't sell.

Peter Godwin has recently been writing lyrics for Steve Winwood. These tracks appear on his 2008 album, 'Nine lives'.

My collection: 7" single no. 1452

Found: All that music, Leiden, June 18, 1991

Cost: 2 guilders

Tracks: 'Baby's in the mountains' / 'Soul of love'

Download: here

Echo beach - Martha and the Muffins

This single is one of the big mysteries of my life. I bought it in 1980, not long after it came out. Then, some months later, it simply disappeared. I know I had it, but it was gone. To this day I suspect my brother, who nicked singles whenever and wherever he could when we lived at our parents's house. The single never reappeared. I bought this copy in 1994. In a way, I was satisfied: it was an English pressing after all. But the mystery was never resolved.

'Echo beach' is one of the best tracks of that year, 1980. Recorded by the Canadian band Martha and the Muffins, it was elected the 35th greatest Canadian song of all time in 2005 by CBC Radio One. Although Mark Gane was not aware of a real Echo Beach when he wrote the song in 1978, several people wrote to him asking if it was about a beach in their local area. However, Echo Beach, as mentioned in the song, does not refer to a real beach but is rather a symbolic notion of somewhere the narrator would rather be, somewhere 'far away in time'. The song was covered later by Dimestars, the band of Kim Wilde's sister Roxanne, and by Toyah.

My collection: 7" single no. 2178

Found: House of Rhythm, London, September 27, 1994

Cost: 1,2 pounds

Tracks: 'Echo beach' / 'Teddy the dink'

Download: here

Hide and seek - Five Star

I got to know 'Hide and seek' by Five Star thanks to this box set, which I'd bought in London in 1987. I was a bit surprised when I found this 12" single, not realising that the track had actually been a single. It was actually their debut single, if you don't count their unsuccessful real debut 'Problematic' (1983).

'Hide and seek' was the first single from their millionselling debut album 'Luxury of life'. It was written by Gary Bell and Anne Dudley. The track was later covered by New Edition as part of their 1984 album 'New Edition'.

My collection: 12" single no. 401

Found: Record fair, Rotterdam, 1999

Cost: 2 guilders

Tracks: 'Hide and seek (extended dance mix)' / 'Hide and seek (dub)', 'I'm gonna make this a night you will never forget'

Download: here

Ten American girls - Bolland

'Ten American girls' was Bolland's last single to make the Dutch bubbling under chart. The two brothers Rob and Ferdi Bolland didn't stop recording albums, but they were released as 'Bolland Project' or similar other names. The video of this single was on Dutch television regularly, and that is how I got to know it. When you see it now, it is typical eighties fare, but at the time it was a nice and humorous departure from the more serious videos back then.

I bought the single for discount price some time after it was out. Normally I'm not big on Dutch acts, but sometimes even I make an exception.

My collection: 7" single no. 451

Found: Free Record Shop, Den Haag, 1985

Cost: 1,95 guilders

Tracks: 'Ten American girls' / 'Night of the shooting stars'

Download: here

Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! - Abba

'Gimme! Gimme! Gimme!' was written by Benny Andersson and Bjorn Ulvaeus as a new track for the compilation album 'Greatest Hits vol. 2'. It was also released as a single to promote this new compilation. The release coincided with Abba's live tour of North America and Europe.

Originally, Abba had recorded another song, 'Rubber Ball Man', which was planned as a single. However, they felt that 'Gimme! Gimme! Gimme!', with its disco sound, would be a better choice, and thus 'Rubber Ball Man' remained nothing more than a demo. 'Gimme! Gimme! Gimme!' was a number one hit in Belgium, Finland, France, Ireland and Switzerland, and became a top 10 hit almost everywhere else.

My collection: 7" single no. 31

Found: Wouters, Den Haag, 1979

Cost: 6 guilders

Tracks: 'Gimme! Gimme! Gimme!' / 'The king has lost his crown'

Download: Album 'Voulez-vous', including both tracks

Rough boy - ZZ Top

At the beginning of 1985, ZZ Top visited the Dutch top 40 with three singles: 'Legs', 'Gimme all your lovin'' and 'Sharp dressed man'. I thought all three singles, plus the accompanying videos, were all extremely irritating. It was interesting, therefore, to find out that they released a ballad on their new album 'Afterburner' that year. The single came with a rather futuristic video that was a departure from the 'leggy women with hot cars' videos that irritated the hell out of me. Unlike the other singles, this one was very hard to find, and so I only bought my copy in 1991.

My collection: 7" single no. 1542

Found: Record fair, Den Haag, October 27, 1991

Cost: 4 guilders

Tracks: 'Rough boy' / 'Delirious'

Download: Album 'Afterburner', including both tracks

A sorta fairytale - Tori Amos

As far as I know, 'A sorta fairytale' was the last single by Tori Amos to be released on 7" vinyl. It was taken from her first album for Epic records, 'A scarlet walk', and played the same track on both sides.

Having collected Tori Amos singles ever since she rose to prominence with 'Silent all these years', I bought this single as soon as I saw it. Even if her albums got increasingly patchy, her singles have always been strong tracks.

My collection: 7" single no. 3366
Found: Record fair, Utrecht, October 2002
Cost: 5 euro
Tracks: 'A sorta fairytale (single version)' / 'A sorta fairytale (single version)'
Download: here

Part-time lover - Stevie Wonder

'Part-time lover' was released as a single in 1985 and was taken from Stevie Wonder's album 'In square circle'. The song reached number one in America, number three in the UK and number 11 in the Netherlands. The song featured R&B singer Luther Vandross humming at the end of Stevie's verses.

I bought the 12" single mostly out of curiosity how the eight minute extended version would sound. The single was infectious enough, but the 12" single is a decent effort.

My collection: 12" single no. 482

Found: Record fair, Utrecht, 2002

Cost: 1 euro

Tracks: 'Part-time lover [extended]' / 'Part-time lover (instrumental)'

Download: here (password: Flash in Flash)

Eleven faces - Rupert Hine

I don't know what caused my sister to buy this single, but it was through her that I got to know the phenomenon that is Rupert Hine. He is famous as a producer of artists like Howard Jones, Tina Turner, The Fixx and Noa, but as a solo artist, he's never been able to make the charts.

The single 'Eleven faces' was a double a-side in my opinion: the title track was an exciting uptempo track, whereas the b-side, 'Dark windows' was a slower song with creepy sounds of a thunderstorm.

My collection: 7" single no. 2104

Found: Record fair, Leiden, May 28, 1994

Cost: 1 guilder

Tracks: 'Eleven faces' / 'Dark windows'

Download: here

No doubt about it - Hot Chocolate

For a while in the eighties, dance remixes of old classics were selling very well. In 1987, Hot Chocolate, the band that folded in 1984, had chart hits with remixes of 'You sexy thing' and 'Every 1's a winner', songs that were originally a hit a decade earlier. This remix 12" of 'No doubt about it' should have followed in their footsteps, but instead it did nothing. As far as I know, it was only released in Germany. The 'Tequila-mix' of 'No doubt about it' was made by Frank Mono, not a very big name in DJ-land. The sleeve also suggest that an album would be forthcoming: 'Greatest hits (The dance remixes)'. This album never surfaced.

My collection: 12" single no. 481

Found: Record fair, Utrecht, 2002

Cost: 1 euro

Tracks: 'No doubt about it (Tequila-mix)' / 'No doubt about it (Little Tequila-mix)', 'I gave you my heart (Didn't I)'

Download: here

Island of lost souls - Blondie

'Island of lost souls' was Blondie's last hit single before they broke up. After having performed punkrock, new wave and even rap tracks, this reggae-oriented single was yet another change in direction for the American band. It was the first single from their album 'Hunter' (1982), which was unable to revive the success of its predecessor, 'Autoamerican' (1980). Chris Stein then fell ill and Debbie Harry took time out to take care of him. The band split up, only to be reunited more than a decade later.

My collection: 7" single no. 3506

Found: Record Mania, Amsterdam, December 27, 2008

Cost: 1 euro

Tracks: 'Island of lost souls' / 'Dragonfly'

Download: Album 'Hunter', including both tracks (password: babakazoo.blogspot.com)

Ti amo - Umberto Tozzi

In 1977, Italian singer Umberto Tozzi released one of his most famous songs, 'Ti amo'. It stayed at number one on the Italian charts for seven months, outselling every other record, and went on to become an international success throughout continental Europe. It also made some inroads in the Americas and Australia, primarily in discotheques.

My collection: 7" single no. 3469

Found: Empire Records, December 11, 2008

Cost: 0,5 euro

Tracks: 'Ti amo' / 'Dimentica, dimentica'
Download: here