The harder I try - Brother beyond

The sound of the producers Stock, Aitken & Waterman is instantly recognisable. In the second half of the Eighties, they defined chart pop. The group Brother Beyond formed in 1987 but released four singles before they ended up with the producers trio. But when they did, it was an instant success: whereas previous singles didn't make the UK top 40 (but ended up somewhere between number 50 and 75), 'The harder I try', released in 1988, peaked at number 2, held off the top spot by Phil Collins' 'A groovy kind of love'.

The single even was their only release to make the Dutch Top 40, peaking at number 18. It was the biggest success for the band, which consisted of Eg White, Nathan Moore, David Ben White, Carl Fysh and Steve Alexander.

My collection: 7" single no. 3728
Found: Record fair, Den Haag, May 23, 2009

Cost: 0,5 euro

Tracks: 'The harder I try' / 'Remember me'

't Is genoeg - Conny van den Bos

Conny Vandenbos was born as Jacoba Adriana Hollestelle on January 16, 1937 in The Hague, the Netherlands. After a performance in the 1961 Knokke festival in Belgium she won a recording contract.

In 1965, she represented the Netherlands during the Eurovision Song Contest with ''t Is genoeg' ('It's enough'). She ended up in 11th place. The single did not make the charts in the Netherlands, but a series of hits started the next year. On April 7, 2002 Conny died of lung cancer in Amsterdam.

My collection: 7" single no. 3719

Found: Record fair, Den Haag, May 23, 2009

Cost: 3 euro

Tracks: ''t Is genoeg' / 'Van de week'

Pinky blue - Altered Images

Taken from Altered Images' second album of the same name, 'Pinky blue' was the first single not to hit the top 10 after a hattrick of three singles that did. Released in May 1982, the track was not so different from previous Altered Images singles - but that may have been the problem of course.

The girlish voice of Clare Grogan never fails to make me feel optimistic and happy again. I'm just sorry that I missed her on the Here and Now tour this month, but I couldn't get to the UK this time around. Hopefully she'll appear live one more time not too far from now.

My collection: 7" single no. 3748

Found: Record fair, Den Haag, May 23, 2009

Cost: 1 euro

Tracks: 'Pinky blue' / 'Think that it might (dance mix)'

Solo tu - Matia Bazar

This sleeve claims that 'Solo tu' was a number one hit in Italy, and although I can't check this fact, I'm sure it is true. For more than three decades now, the band from Genoa has been very popular in their home country.

'Solo tu' was also the first single to be noticed in the Netherlands, although it didn't reach the Dutch Top 40: it stalled in the 'bubbling under chart' the Tipparade.

My collection: 7" single no. 3721

Found: Record fair, Den Haag, May 23, 2009

Cost: 0,5 euro

Tracks: 'Solo tu' / 'Per un minuto e poi...'

Der Kommissar - Matthew Gonder

Written by Robert Ponger and Falco, 'Der Kommissar' was originally a hit for Falco in 1982. Other acts were quick to follow and record cover versions of this song. I already wrote about the version by After the Fire, released in the summer of 1982.

This version was recorded by Matthew Gonder also in 1982. Apparently, besides this English translation of the track he's also recorded a French version. Ironically, I bought this single (in English) from a French dealer.

My collection: 7" single no. 3732

Found: Record fair, Den Haag, May 23, 2009
Cost: 0,5 euro

Tracks: 'Der Kommissar' / 'A part of me'

Love isn't love - Carola

This is the English version of 'Främling', the song with which Carola represented Sweden during the 1983 Eurovision Song Contest. Presumably she tried to conquer the UK with this single, but it was an unsuccessful attempt. The single was also widely available in the Netherlands, but I'm not sure whether it helped in achieving number 7 in the Dutch Top 40.

While Carola didn't win Eurovision in 1983, she returned in 1991 to win the Contest with 'Fangad av en stormvind'.

My collection: 7" single no. 3718

Found: Record fair, Den Haag, May 23, 2009

Cost: 3 euro

Tracks: 'Love isn't love' / 'Life'

On islands - New Musik

When I started collecting New Musik singles, I didn't know that the three albums they made brought forth so many different singles. I'm a lot wiser now than I was in the days before the Internet. I was aware of this French release for some time, but never thought I would actually find it - and so cheaply, too!

'On islands' is a track from New Musik's debut album 'From A to B'. The B-side 'Straight lines' was actually released as a single in the UK and was their first (minor) hit there. Now all I have to do is find the group's last single, 'The planet doesn't mind'...

My collection: 7" single no. 3730

Found: Record fair, Den Haag, May 23, 2009

Cost: 0,5 euro

Tracks: 'On islands' / 'Straight lines'

Show you the way to go - The Jacksons

'Show you the way to go' was the second single by the Jacksons (They were named the Jackson 5 before that). It was their first hit in the Netherlands, where it peaked at number 12 in the summer of 1977. In the UK, it did even better: it reached number one.

The song was written and produced by Kenneth Gamble and Leon Huff, who were responsible for the majority of the Jacksons' work after they moved from the Motown label to Epic Records. In 1978, when they released 'Destiny', the Jacksons finally took over creative control.

My collection: 7" single no. 3738

Found: Record fair, Den Haag, May 23, 2009

Cost: 1 euro

Tracks: 'Show you the way to go' / 'Blues away'

Treat me good - Frizzle Sizzle

Time for some bubblegum pop, written by Jochem Fluitsma and Ed van Tijn, the songwriting duo that was responsible for a lot of bubblegum pop hits from the Eighties onwards. Although this song was no different from a lot of their other stuff - or perhaps because of that! - this single didn't become a hit. It signalled the beginning of the end for Frizzle Sizzle: after a few more unsuccessful singles they broke up.

My collection: 7" single no. 3740

Found: Record fair, Den Haag, May 23, 2009

Cost: 1 euro

Tracks: 'Treat me good' / 'Stand in your way'

Stand and deliver - Adam and the Ants

Released in spring 1981, 'Stand and deliver' was Adam and the Ants' biggest hit. Originally a track from their album 'Prince charming', it entered the UK singles chart at number one and stayed on that position for five weeks.

'Stand and deliver / Your money or your life' was a phrase commonly used by highwaymen in 18th century England during robberies. The music video featured Adam Ant dressed as a 'dandy highwayman'.

My collection: 7" single no. 3723

Found: Record fair, Den Haag, May 23, 2009

Cost: 0,5 euro

Tracks: 'Stand and deliver' / 'Beat my guest'

Parles-vous Français? - Baccara

Spanish flamenco artists Mayte Mateos and Maria Mondola formed Baccara in 1977. They achieved international success almost immediately with 'Yes sir I can boogie', a disco hit that went number one in various European countries.

Luxembourg was quick to recognise their success and invited them to represent the country during the 1978 Eurovision Song Contest. They performed the song 'Parlez-vous Français?', which became seventh in the Contest.

My collection: 7" single no. 3724

Found: Record fair, Den Haag, May 23, 2009

Cost: 0,5 euro

Tracks: 'Parlez-vous Français' / 'Amoureux'

Disco really made it - Gruppo Sportivo

Attentive readers of this blog know that I had some bad luck with Gruppo Sportivo nine years ago, when I bought the EP 'More mistakes'. The track billed as 'Disco really made it' was actually 'Real teeth are out', and so I still didn't have that track. Well, I knew it would only be a question of time until I would get 'Disco really made it' as a single, and so it finally happened yesterday.

Released in early 1979, this single was Gruppo Sportivo's last and biggest hit, peaking at number 11 in the Dutch Top 40. The sleeve says 'Limited edition black vinyl', and I guess that's true - although I doubt it was actually a 'limited' edition.

My collection: 7" single no. 3741
Found: Record fair, Den Haag, May 23, 2009
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Disco really made it' / 'I don't know'

Il jouait du piano debout - France Gall

France Gall was born on October 9, 1947 in Paris, France. She started her career in music in 1963. Two years later she was asked to represent Luxembourg during the Eurovision Song Contest. It meant that she would become wellknown in the whole of Europe after winning with 'Poupée de cire, poupée de son'.

In the Seventies she became inactive for a few years after marrying with French artist Michel Berger and giving birth to two children. She returned to the fore with the 1980 album 'Paris France' and the single 'Il jouait du piano debout', a hit in many European countries including the Netherlands, where it peaked at number 22.

Searching for a translation of the title, I came up with 'He played the piano standing up'. But it might as well mean 'He played the upright piano'. Language can be a barrier sometimes.

My collection: 7" single no. 3734
Found: Record fair, Den Haag, May 23, 2009
Cost: 0,5 euro
Tracks: 'Il jouait du piano debout' / 'La chanteuse qui a tout donné'

Crazy horses - The Osmonds

The Osmonds originally consisted of brothers Alan, Wayne, Merrill and Jay Osmond. They were later joined by younger siblings Donny, Marie and Jimmy Osmond. After their early bubblegum pop phase, they started writing and performing their own music, and their sound moved towards rock and roll. 'Crazy horses' was one of the first fruits of that labour. The song was a number one hit in the Netherlands in 1972, peaking at number 2 in the UK.

According to Donny Osmond: 'It was Alan, Wayne and Merrill who wrote 'Crazy Horses'. Wayne and Merrill were in the studio and Wayne had started the main riff for the song. Then Alan came in and brought a cohesive concept about pollution: the horses being horsepower. Then Merrill added the 'crazy' before the horses. It's a very serious song.'

My collection: 7" single no. 3737

Found: Record fair, Den Haag, May 23, 2009
Cost: 0,5 euro

Tracks: 'Crazy horses' / 'That's my girl'

P-Machinery medley with Relax - Propaganda for Frankie

This is an interesting one. Propaganda for Frankie is an Italian producer/DJ outfit that decided to profit from the ongoing popularity of the bands Propaganda and Frankie goes to Hollywood. Their track 'P-machinery medley with Relax' is what people would nowadays call a 'mashup'. The difference being that the songs are performed by other, unnamed, artists.

Although the concept is the same as Club House's 'Do it again with Billie Jean', this single didn't become a Europe-wide hit. Instead, it has become some sort of item for Italo House afficionados.

My collection: 7" single no. 3729

Found: Record fair, Den Haag, May 23, 2009

Cost: 0,5 euro

Tracks: 'P-Machinery medley with Relax' / 'Deejay'

Love is love - Culture Club

In 1984, Culture Club was asked to write two songs for the soundtrack to the movie 'Electric Dreams'. Boy George and Roy Hay wrote 'The dream' and 'Love is love'. The latter was released as a single in Canada, Japan and France. It was only a hit in Japan.

I found this single and didn't even know it existed. It was interesting enough for me to want to have it, especially since that other song from 'Electric dreams' ('Together in electric dreams' by Phil Oakey and Giorgio Moroder) has become an Eighties classic. It was interesting to find out how this song would compare.

My collection: 7" single no. 3726

Found: Record fair, Den Haag, May 23, 2009

Cost: 0,5 euro

Tracks: 'Love is love' / 'Don't go down that street'

Abergavenny - Marty Wilde

On the occasion of his daughter Roxanne's wedding today, I thought it might be nice to get out a real classic today: Marty Wilde's 'Abergavenny'. While all of the UK knows him for his hits beween 1958 and 1962, the European continent was more impressed with this song from 1968. Marty performed it at the Knokke festival, and subsequently had a great European hit on his hands: in the Netherlands the song peaked at number 5. The song also became a top 50 hit in America under Marty's pseudonym Shannon. 'Abergavenny' also appears on Marty's 1969 album 'Diversions', a collection of truly great songs including 'Jesamine', the 1968 hitsong he wrote for the Casuals.

I was incredibly lucky to get this Belgian pressing from a dealer who probably wasn't aware that this single normally sells for anything above 10 euros. I should know, I've searched for this one for years...

My collection: 7" single no. 3716
Found: Record fair, Den Haag, May 23, 2009
Cost: 2 euro
Tracks: 'Abergavenny' / 'Alice in blue'

Rendez-vous - Jean Michel Jarre

Jarre recorded the album 'Rendez-vous' after being inspired by the sounds of the Elka synthesizer, which he used a lot on the record. It also features his first heavy use of the Moog synthesizer on a studio album. This single featured part 4 of the album.

In 1986 NASA and the city of Houston asked Jarre to stage a concert to celebrate NASA's 25th and the city of Houston's 150th anniversaries. During that concert, astronaut Ronald McNair was to have played the saxophone part of Jarre's piece "Rendez-vous VI" while in orbit aboard the Space Shuttle Challenger. It was to have been the first piece of music recorded in space, for the album. After the Challenger disaster of January 28 1986 which killed McNair, the piece was recorded with a different saxophonist, retitled 'Ron's piece' and the album dedicated to the seven dead Challenger astronauts.

My collection: 7" single no. 3736

Found: Record fair, Den Haag, May 23, 2009

Cost: 0,5 euro

Tracks: 'Fourth Rendez-vous' / 'First Rendez-vous'

Love and loneliness - The Motors

'Tenement steps' was taken from the Motors' third and last album of the same name. But so was this single, also released in 1980. It peaked at number 58 in the UK singles chart, making it the band's last hit before they finally disbanded in 1982.

'Love and loneliness' was covered by Chris Thompson in 1986 for the soundtrack of the movie 'American Anthem'.

My collection: 7" single no. 3720

Found: Record fair, Den Haag, May 23, 2009

Cost: 0,5 euro

Tracks: 'Love and loneliness' / 'Time for make-up'

Oh Susie - Secret Service

The Swedish band Secret Service was formed in 1979 by Ola Håkansson, Tim Norell, Ulf Wahlberg, Tony Lindberg, Leif Paulsen and Leif Johansson. Their debut single 'Oh Susie' became a number one hit in Sweden, but also scored in other countries of Europe and South America. In Norway it peaked at number 6, in Germany it went to number 9. The debut album, also named 'Oh Susie', went gold in Sweden.

My collection: 7" single no. 3722
Found: Record fair, Den Haag, May 23, 2009
Cost: 0,5 euro
Tracks: 'Oh Susie' / 'Give me your love'