Friends - Shalamar

Jody Watley was one of the members of Shalamar, and she would go on to have solo success. One of her solo singles was called 'Friends', just like this single by Shalamar. As you might expect, they are two different songs.

Shalamar released 'Friends' in November 1982, and it peaked in at number 12 in the UK singles chart. Like much of their material, it's a very groovy, danceable song.

My collection: 7" single no. 3625

Found: Record fair, Utrecht, April 18, 2009

Cost: 1 euro

Tracks: 'Friends' / 'I just stopped by because I had to'

Love to stay - Altered Images

'Love to stay' was the third single from Altered Images' 1983 album 'Bite' and also their penultimate single. It was their first single since 1981's 'A day's wait' that didn't reach the UK top 40, halting at number 46. It is one of their more polished-sounding singles, thanks to Mike Chapman, who produced the track.

It has become my wish to collect all of Altered Images' singles. Six down, only four to go now...

My collection: 7" single no. 3659

Found: Record fair, Utrecht, April 18, 2009

Cost: 0,5 euro

Tracks: 'Love to stay' / 'Another lost look (recorded live)'

Shouldn't do that - Kaja

After all the international success as Kajagoogoo, first together with singer Limahl and then without him, the band found themselves reduced to a trio when Jez Strode left the band in 1985. The band was relaunched as Kaja in 1985.

The first single released by Kaja was 'Shouldn't do that', as a taster from the album 'Crazy people's right to speak'. It also featured on the soundtrack for 'Santa Claus: The Movie'. Still, this single peaked only at number 63 in the UK, and it signalled the end for the band in this line-up. Kajagoogoo has recently reformed and they are touring Europe and the UK again.

My collection: 7" single no. 3644

Found: Record fair, Utrecht, April 18, 2009

Cost: 0,8 euro

Tracks: 'Shouldn't do that' / 'Charm of a gun'

Words of love - Sanci Bell

Corinne Hermes won the 1983 Eurovision Song Contest with 'Si la vie est cadeau'. That same year, the singer Sanci Bell recorded an English version of that song entitled 'Words of love'. It's hard to find any information on Sanci Bell, she didn't release much more than this one single, I have to assume.

And even this cover isn't a very pretty version. One has to wonder why a French singer has to record an English version of a French song anyway...

My collection: 7" single no. 3675

Found: Record fair, Utrecht, April 18, 2009

Cost: 6 euro

Tracks: 'Words of love' / 'Si la vie est cadeau (Version Orchestrale)'

King Kong - Bobby Pickett and Peter Ferrara

At the height of the disco rage, novelty songs were all around. I described one of them on this blog: Rick Dees and his 'Disco Duck'. And this is another one: 'King Kong', a song about the movie gorilla of the same name.

Bobby Pickett had a hit in 1962 with another novelty song, 'Monster Mash', a number one hit in America. Pickett proceeded to make further novelty songs, such as 'Star Drek' (about the television series 'Star Trek') and this one. Based firmly on the story of the movie 'King Kong', Pickett and Ferrara perform the various voices on this track. The single was released in 1976, but didn't become a hit.

My collection: 7" single no. 3658
Found: Record fair, Utrecht, April 18, 2009
Cost: 0,5 euro
Tracks: 'King Kong' / 'Disco Kong'

Waiting for a star to fall - Boy meets girl

I heard this song for the first time last year, twenty years after its release. It appeared regularly on the show 'Secret songs', which is presented by Kim Wilde on Magic FM in the UK. Magic FM actually doesn't broadcast abroad, but a kind friend from the UK has been sending me a recording of every show for months now.

Boys Meets Girl consists of George Merrill and Shannon Rubicam. 'Waiting for a star to fall' was their most successful single, taken from their second album 'Reel life'. It peaked at number 9 in the UK and number 5 in the USA. The song was originally written by the duo for Whitney Houston, but she rejected it. Belinda Carlisle did record a demo of the song while she was recording her 'Heaven on earth' album, but it didn't make the album.

My collection: 7" single no. 3632
Found: Record fair, Utrecht, April 18, 2009
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Waiting for a star to fall' / 'No apologies'

Popcorn - Rod Hunter

I have no idea how many versions of Gershon and Kingsley's composition 'Popcorn' exist. Everytime I think I have found everything, a new single I've never heard of pops up. Check out yesterday's new find: it's Rod Hunter's version of 'Popcorn', released on the Decca label in 1972. I have no further information on it, just that it's another nice version of that old classic.

And it's great to add it to my collection, of course!

My collection: 7" single no. 3622

Found: Record fair, Utrecht, April 18, 2009

Cost: 2 euro

Tracks: 'Popcorn' / 'Snoopy'

Juliet - Robin Gibb

Robin Gibb was not content just to be part of the Bee Gees, one of the most successful bands of all time. In 1983, he released a solo album. It was actually his second solo album, since 1970's 'Robin's Reign' was an early attempt at making it on his own. The 1983 album 'How old are you?' was a more successful attempt, since it yielded several hit singles.

'Juliet' was the first single taken from the album. It was a number one hit in Germany, Switzerland and Italy, peaking at number 2 in Austria and, by way of contrast, number 94 in the UK. Robin performed this song last December during the Night of the Proms concerts in Germany, and I took to the song instantly. I simply had to buy the single. I didn't know it was such an old song, though!

My collection: 7" single no. 3620
Found: Record fair, Utrecht, April 18, 2009
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Juliet' / 'Hearts on fire'

Take me don't break me - Arabesque

Arabesque was a German disco music group, founded in 1977. The trio consisted of Sandra Cretu, Jasmin Vetter and Michaela Rose. In 1984, Cretu would leave the group to pursue a solo career as Sandra, produced by Michael Cretu. This single is their fifth release, 'Take me don't break me' (1980). It barely made the German top 40 at the time.

I bought this single because I became interested in Sandra's pre-solo activities. I supposed she always made lightweight pop. This single delivers as promised.

My collection: 7" single no. 3664

Found: Record fair, Utrecht, April 18, 2009

Cost: 0,5 euro

Tracks: 'Take me don't break me' / 'Parties in a penthouse'

19 (German version) - Paul Hardcastle

In 1985, synth wizard Paul Hardcastle had a big hit with the sample-heavy '19'. The track contains stuttering samples of television narrator Peter Thomas speaking about Vietnam war veterans suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

It is a little-known fact that Hardcastle also made French and German versions of the track. This is the German version of '19', narrated by Werner Veigel. Just like in many other countries, '19' topped the chart in Germany, partly thanks to this version.

My collection: 7" single no. 3657

Found: Record fair, Utrecht, April 18, 2009

Cost: 0,5 euro

Tracks: '19 (German version)' / 'Eat your heart out'

Beat the clock - Sparks

'This town ain't big enough for the both of us' was my favourite childhood song, but it was also the last hit by the Sparks as far as I knew. The chart book tells me they had another hit in 1974 with 'Amateur hour' and one in 1975 with 'Something for the girl with everything', but in 1979 the Sparks returned with 'Beat the clock'. It peaked at number 15. In the UK, it was the Sparks' first top 10 hit since 'Amateur hour'.

Listening to 'Beat the clock' you can tell that the band took on a very different sound at the end of the Seventies. The disco-influenced track with operatic vocals is, like much of the band's work, a one-off.

My collection: 7" single no. 3666

Found: Record fair, Utrecht, April 18, 2009

Cost: 0,5 euro

Tracks: 'Beat the clock' / 'Beat the clock (Alternative mix)'

Eres tu - Mocedades

In 1973, the Spanish group Mocedades ('Youth') represented Spain during the Eurovision Song Contest with this song, 'Eres tu'. They ended up in second place behind winning country Luxemburg, represented by Anne-Marie David with 'Tu te reconnaitras'. The difference between the two was only four points.

'Eres Tú' became a huge international hit. It also remains one of the only Spanish language songs to reach the top 10 in the United States, peaking at number 9 in the Billboard Hot 100 chart. In 2005, Eres Tú was nominated for the 50th anniversary Eurovision concert 'Congratulations' after being selected as one of the 14 most popular songs in Eurovision history, and finished eleventh. In the Netherlands, it was voted the most popular Eurovision song of all times that year. (That should have been 'Rapsodia' by Mia Martini, of course.)

I bought my copy of the single in a custom Polydor sleeve. Since the single was released on the Omega International label, that sleeve certainly was wrong. And so, no picture of the sleeve with this entry...

My collection: 7" single no. 3293

Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, February 24, 2001

Cost: 1 guilder

Tracks: 'Eres tu' / 'Dime senor'

Songbird - Kenny G

This is the kind of music you hear in elevators, supermarkets and bad restaurants. Kenny G is probably one of the most uncool artists on the planet. Yet his 'Songbird' is one of the most recognizable instrumentals around. It wasn't a very big hit in Europe, peaking at number 22 in the UK and number 25 in the Netherlands, but in America the single got to number 4 in the Billboard Hot 100 chart.

'Songbird' comes from Kenny G's multi-platinum album 'Duotones' (1986) and was featured prominently in the 1990 movie 'Pretty woman' and in the 2005 animation movie 'Robots'.

My collection: 7" single no. 1631

Found: Record fair, April 18, 1992

Cost: 2 guilders

Tracks: 'Songbird' / 'Midnight motion'

One better day - Madness

'One better day' was not a hit in the Netherlands, but the video was shown regularly on music channels broadcasting from the UK, where the single peaked at number 17 in the summer of 1984. I thought the video was incredibly funny for reasons I could not exactly explain.

I searched for the single for many years, and I don't know exactly why it was so hard to find it. When I finally did find it, the single was made in Holland. I wonder why it wasn't available anywhere, then...

My collection: 7" single no. 2272

Found: Record fair, April 23, 1995

Cost: 5 guilders

Tracks: 'One better day' / 'Guns'

What comes naturally - Sheena Easton

After the album 'The lover in me', Sheena Easton seemed to want to pursue her career as a sex symbol in America even further. Her clothing became even flimsier and her music became less attractive as well. 'What comes naturally', the first single from the album of the same name, hovers dangerously towards the hiphop genre, but stays decent - but only just.

The UK audience had lost their interest in Easton, but the single did chart in the Netherlands, and even peaked at number 12 in the Dutch Top 40. In America it was her last hit single, peaking at number 19.

My collection: 7" single no. 1445
Found: Melody Maker, Den Haag, 1991
Cost: 6,5 guilders
Tracks: 'What comes naturally (7" single edit with rap)' / 'What comes naturally (7" single edit without rap)'

I'm falling - The Babys

I guess I've always liked fullblown popsongs with orchestral backings. 'I'm falling' is a good example of this: a strong popsong with beautiful music performed by a fullblown orchestra. The Babys didn't have a lot of success with this song, though: it didn't chart in the Netherlands.

I was too young to buy it in 1978 - not getting enough pocket money to buy all the good music that was around back then. Fortunately, in 1987 I did find it - and at a good price, too.

My collection: 7" single no. 567

Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, 1987

Cost: 1 guilder

Tracks: 'I'm falling' / 'I believe in love'

Pourvu qu'elles soient douces - Mylene Farmer

Anyone who watched music video channels regularly in the eighties would get to know Mylene Farmer at some point. Her epic music videos were shown, usually in late night programmes, because of their regular inclusion of violence and nudity. The video for 'Pourvu qu'elles soient douces' was one of them.

Once I'd bought 'Désenchantée', I slowly started to collect more Mylene Farmer singles. I found 'Douces', the Dutch release of the mentioned song quite quickly, because it was re-released after the success of 'Désenchantée'. It didn't reach the Dutch Top 40, though.

Not so much later, I saw the original French single. I had to admit this sleeve was a bit more daring, and since I liked the sleeve and the song, I decided to buy it on the spot. The two singles have the exact same tracklisting. The B-side is a beautiful ballad, which has quite moving lyrics. Or so I think, because my French is not so good.

My collection: 7" single no. 1888 / no. 1922
Found: Record fair, Den Haag, May 2, 1993 / Record fair, Amsterdam, June 5, 1993

Cost: 3 guilders / 8 guilders

Tracks: 'Pourvu qu'elles soient douces' / 'Puisque...'

I won't let you go - Agnetha Fältskog

After the virtual demise of Abba in 1982, Agnetha Fältskog enjoyed a lot of success with her solo album 'Wrap your arms around me' (1983). She followed this up with 'Eyes of a woman', released in 1985 and produced by Eric Stewart from 10CC. The album sold well in parts of Europe, but failed to match the success of its predecessor.

The first single from the album was 'I won't let you go', composed by Fältskog herself. It peaked at number 18 in the Netherlands, but did not chart in the UK. It would be 2003 before she returned in the singles chart in that country with 'If I thought you'd ever change your mind'.

My collection: 7" single no. 1134

Found: All that music, Leiden, December 28, 1989

Cost: 2 guilders

Tracks: 'I won't let you go' / 'You're there'

Oh l'amour - Dollar

During a promotional trip to Japan in February 1983, relations between the two members of Dollar, Tereza Bazar and David van Day, had become increasingly strained and Van Day quit the band. Both tried a solo career, but without one another, they weren't very successful. In 1986 they reformed and released two less successful singles, 'We walked in love' and 'Haven't we said goodbye before'. New success came when they recorded a cover version of Erasure's 'Oh l'amour' in 1987. It became one of their biggest hits and peaked at number 7 in the UK. In late 1988, after one more unsuccessful single, Dollar disbanded again.

This single has become an important one in my collection more or less by accident: it's the last single I ever bought in Disco Market. It's where I bought my first single, and literally hundreds of singles since then. The shop has closed down a couple of years ago, sadly. The last time I visited it, a year ago, I had to embarrass myself during a bachelor party. It had turned into a regular apartment.

My collection: 7" single no. 3373

Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, January 11, 2003

Cost: 0,5 euro

Tracks: 'Oh l'amour' / 'B-beat'

Why can't we live together - Mike Anthony

Jamaican DJ Mike Anthony recorded a version of Timmy Thomas's 'Why can't we live together' in 1982. The version caused some controversy when it became apparent that Anthony had used the original recording by Thomas. The single was retracted and re-released with new recordings of the music.

This 12" single was pressed as a limited edition on white vinyl. The extended version on this disc is based on the original controversial version. The disc plays the same track on both sides.

My collection: 12" single no. 454

Found: Record fair, Utrecht, November 19, 2008

Cost: 2 euro

Tracks: 'Why can't we live together (Super Dancing Discomix)' / 'Why can't we live together (Super Dancing Discomix)'