I will - The Fixx

The British new wave band had a few hits during their career, but this single, 'I will' was not one of them. Released in 1984 as a single from their album 'Phantoms', it went by unnoticed. In their native UK, they would have no further hits after the 1982 singles 'Stand or fall' and 'Red skies', whereas in Canada and the USA other singles became hits right until 1991.

I bought this single mainly because I knew the band and because it was produced by one of the best producers around, Rupert Hine.

My collection: 7" single no. 3935
Found: Record Exchange, London, August 5, 2009
Cost: 10p
Tracks: 'I will' / 'Questions'

She's got claws - Gary Numan

In 1981, Gary Numan did a series of farewell concerts in London, after growing weary of the pressures of fame. This decision proved short-lived, as later on in 1981 Numan released a new album called 'Dance'. The album featured several distinguished guest players; Mick Karn (bass, saxophone) and Rob Dean (guitar) of Japan, Roger Mason (keyboards) of Models and Roger Taylor (drums) of Queen.

'She's got claws' was the only hit single released from this album, peaking at number 6 in the UK singles chart in September 1981.

My collection: 7" single no. 3934
Found: Record Exchange, London, August 5, 2009
Cost: 30p
Tracks: 'She's got claws' / 'I sing rain'

Discipline of love - Robert Palmer

'Discipline of love' was released as the first single from Robert Palmer's 1985 album 'Riptide'. It was Palmer's first solo single after the Power Station project which he'd done with members of Duran Duran.

The single was not a big success: it only reached number 95 in the UK singles chart. After later singles did have some chart success, it was re-released in 1986, improving on its previous chart run, reaching number 68.

My collection: 7" single no. 3933
Found: Record Exchange, London, August 5, 2009
Cost: 30p
Tracks: 'Discipline of love' / 'Dance for me'

Arthur's theme (Best that you can do) - Christopher Cross

'Arthur's theme' was written in collaboration between Christopher Cross, pop music composer Burt Bacharach and his frequent writing partner Carole Bayer Sager. A fourth writing credit goes to Minnelli's ex-husband and Australian songwriter Peter Allen, also a frequent collaborator with Bayer Sager.

The single was taken from the soundtrack of the movie 'Arthur' starring Dudley Moore and Liza Minelli. It reached number 1 on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart, number 7 on the UK singles chart. It was one of the first songs I recorded from the radio with my new tape recorder which I got for my eleventh birthday. Almost 28 years later, I've got the single!

My collection: 7" single no. 3932
Found: Record Exchange, London, August 5, 2009
Cost: 30p
Tracks: 'Arthur's theme (Best that you can do)' / 'Minstrel Gigolo (edit)'

Some guys have all the luck - Robert Palmer

'Some guys have all the luck' was written by Jeff Fortang. It was a hit three times in the UK. The earliest version by the Persuaders, released in 1973, did not reach the UK singles chart, but the cover versions by Rod Stewart (1984), Maxi Priest (1987) and Robert Palmer (1979) did.

This version is the rockiest one, with passionate vocals by Robert Palmer. It was taken from his 1982 album 'Pride' and reached number 16 in the UK singles chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 3931
Found: Record Exchange, London, August 5, 2009
Cost: 30p
Tracks: 'Some guys have all the luck' / 'Too good to be true'

Beethoven - Eurythmics

One of the strangest singles in their career, the Eurythmics released 'Beethoven' in October 1987. It is a bizarre track with plenty of samples and drum loops and a lot of spoken word text by Annie Lennox. The lyric portrays a battle between voices in the head of a housewife suffering from mental disorders.

I didn't like the song when it was released and I'm still not sure whether I like it now. But in a record collection that's growing ever more 'complete', I decided I wanted to have every Eurythmics single, even the 'lesser' ones.

My collection: 7" single no. 3930
Found: Record Exchange, London, August 5, 2009
Cost: 30p
Tracks: 'Beethoven' / 'Heaven'

Olé olé - Izhar Cohen

After buying six singles in the Soul & Dance department, I went a few numbers down the road and reached the 'Music & Video Exchange' on Notting Hill Gate. I went down to the basement, suspecting that if they were still selling cheap singles, they'd be there. And I was right: a whole alphabetized collection was waiting there for me. When I started browsing, this single was the first one (of the 37 I would eventually find here!) that I wanted to have. Quite a strange find.

Izhar Cohen won the 1978 Eurovision Song Contest for Israel with 'A-ba-ni-bi'. Israel must have been looking for another victory when they sent him again in 1985. This time, he tried it with that famous Hebrew chant, 'Olé Olé'. The original version of the song (in Hebrew) is not included on this single, for it contains the English version only. I didn't even know the song had been released in the UK, but this is really an English pressing.

My collection: 7" single no. 3929
Found: Record Exchange, London, August 5, 2009
Cost: 1 pound
Tracks: 'Olé olé' / 'Blue'

Harvest for the world - Isley Brothers

The Isley Brothers consisted of the brothers Ronald, O'Kelly Jr, Rudolph, Ernie, Marvin and Chris Isley. In 1976 they released the album 'Harvest for the world'. The title track was released as a single in July 1976 and peaked at number 10 in the UK singles chart.

A decade later, the track would be covered by Jason Donovan with Kim Wilde for a TV programme celebrating the 30th anniversary of Amnesty International.

My collection: 7" single no. 3928
Found: Record Exchange, London, August 5, 2009
Cost: 30p
Tracks: 'Harvest for the world' / 'Let me down easy'

Dead giveaway - Shalamar

Personally, I only know 'The second time around' and, more recently, 'Friends', but taking a quick look at the Guinnes book of hit singles (UK) reveals that Shalamar has actually released more than a dozen hit singles during their career.

While I was shopping in the Soul and dance department of the Record Exchange in London, I found three different Shalamar singles I didn't know. I decided to buy one of them, because the sleeve was quite beautiful and because I was rather curious. 'Dead giveaway' is a decent single, which also turns out to be one of the three UK top 10 hits, peaking at number 8 in June 1983.

My collection: 7" single no. 3927
Found: Record Exchange, London, August 5, 2009
Cost: 30p
Tracks: 'Dead giveaway' / 'I don't wanna be the last to know'

Mornin' - Al Jarreau

Released as a single from Al Jarreau's 1983 album 'Jarreau', 'Mornin'' is a very laidback easy listening jazz ballad, which lyrically displays all the good things in life. The song was the embodiment of positivity, which struck a chord with many people in various countries. The single hit number 21 in the US Billboard Hot 100 chart, number 28 in the UK singles chart and number 16 in the Dutch Top 40.

My collection: 7" single no. 3926
Found: Record Exchange, London, August 5, 2009
Cost: 30p
Tracks: 'Mornin'' / 'Not like this'

Step right up - Jaki Graham

Jaki Graham had her biggest chart successes when she duetted with David Grant, but she also released plenty of solo singles. 'Step right up' was a slightly formulaic Eighties pop song, released in November 1986 and her last big hit in the UK singles chart, peaking at number 15.

The real treat here is the sexually charged 'The closest one', which is on the B-side of this single. A duet with Derek Bramble, who also co-wrote the song, it shows off Jaki's amazing vocal range.

My collection: 7" single no. 3925
Found: Record Exchange, London, August 5, 2009
Cost: 30p
Tracks: 'Step right up' / 'The closest one'

Let's groove - Earth Wind and Fire

In 1981, Earth Wind & Fire released their album 'Raise!'. From this album, the single 'Let's groove' was taken. The song peaked at number 3 in the UK and USA and number 5 in the Netherlands. The song was nominated for a Grammy in the category 'Best R&B Vocal performance by a duo or group'.

I was never a fan of Earth Wind & Fire during their heyday, but like many songs from the Eighties, I started to like them in hindsight.

My collection: 7" single no. 3924
Found: Record Exchange, London, August 5, 2009
Cost: 50p
Tracks: 'Let's groove' / 'Let's groove (instrumental)'

You might need somebody - Randy Crawford

So I'm going to do something I've never done on this blog before: a series of postings. A chronological listing of all that I've bought in London during my one day shopping spree - a series of posts that will take me a few days actually.

I came into London by plane, taking the train from Gatwick to Victoria and then went to Ealing Broadway to check out the Oxfam music shop. It was a disappointment: they only had some second hand cd's and lp's, no singles at all. So I went back. My first successful visit was in Notting Hill Gate, in the 'Soul and Dance Exchange'. I never went there before but they had a nice amount of singles there. My first catch: 'You might need somebody' by Randy Crawford, a hit for her 1981, peaking at number 11 in the UK singles chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 3923
Found: Record Exchange, London, August 5, 2009
Cost: 50p
Tracks: 'You might need somebody' / 'You bring the sun out'

London town - Bucks Fizz

Bucks Fizz's 1983 Greatest Hits compilation featured a couple of new songs, of which 'London town' was one. Written by Andy Hill, the lyrics tell of someone who is finding it difficult to adjust to life in a big city but is determined to stay. Lead vocals on the track were performed by member Bobby G, although he was unhappy with the distorted way his vocals were mixed, claiming that he 'sounded like a munchkin'.

This 12" single features an extended club mix of the track plus an extra B-side track.

My collection: 12" single no. 382
Found: Record fair, 1995
Cost: 5 guilders
Tracks: 'London town (extended club mix)' / 'Identity', 'Love dies hard'

Ocean blue - ABC

'Ocean blue' was released as the fourth single from ABC's 1984 album 'How to be a zillionaire'. The single version was very different from the album version, featuring a richer, fuller sound. The B-side was the album track 'Tower of London', a tribute to the landmark in the UK's capital.

The single stalled at number 51 in the UK singles chart during its three week chart run.

My collection: 7" single no. 1181
Found: Oldies Unlimited, received February 26, 1990
Cost: 2 pounds
Tracks: 'Ocean blue' / 'Tower of London'

Streets of London - Ralph McTell

I'm taking a day off and am going to London for one day. Flying down in the morning and flying back in the evening, I've got exactly 10 hours to hunt down records in various second hand shops in the world's capital of music (Or at least it used to be before the music industry went belly-up).

I've prepared a few posts for you all to read in my absence. And of course I had to make a few appropriate ones. 'Streets of London' is one of the most classic songs about London. It was performed by Ralph McTell (born December 3, 1944) in 1969 on his album 'Spiral staircase' but it was not released as a single in the UK until 1974, when it reached number 2 in the singles chart. In the Netherlands, it reached number 9 in 1972.

My collection: 7" single no. 1044
Found: Record Exchange, London, October 17, 1989
Cost: 40p
Tracks: 'Streets of London' / 'Summer lightning'

I want your sex - George Michael

George Michael released his first controversial solo single in 1987, the provocative 'I want your sex'. It was banned on many daytime radio stations in both the USA and the UK. Despite - or perhaps because of - all the controversy, the single became a number 1 hit in the UK and the Netherlands. It also reached number 2 on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart.

It is remarkable that George Michael's 1998 compilation album 'Ladies & Gentlemen' does not feature the A-side of this single, but rather the B-side. Perhaps he's grown to be ashamed of this display of casual hornyness?

My collection: 7" single no. 543
Found: Free Record Shop, Den Haag, 1987
Cost: 6 guilders
Tracks: 'I want your sex (Rhythm 1: Lust)' / 'I want your sex (Rhythm 2: Brass in love)'

Kissed you in the rain - Freiheit

'Kissed you in the rain' was the second single taken from Freiheit's 1988 album 'Fantasy'. As always, the track was produced by Armand Volker. The single was a success in Germany but in other countries it did not chart.

The release of this single effectively ended the band's international career. They are still recording, but they have returned to German-language songs, as in their home country they remained popular.

My collection: 7" single no. 3309
Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, February 24, 2001
Cost: 1 guilder
Tracks: 'Kssed you in the rain' / 'Moonlight'

Have you ever been in love - Leo Sayer

Leo Sayer was born as Gerard Hugh Sayer on May 21, 1948 in Shoreham-by-Sea, Sussex, England. A popular singer in the Seventies and early Eighties, he released his tenth studio album 'Have you ever been in love' in November 1983. The single of the same name was released a year earlier and reached number 19 in the Dutch Top 40 and number 10 in the UK singles chart.

In later years, Sayer has been maligned because of these ballads, that are perceived to be overly sentimental. Personally I think it is just within the boundaries of good taste - the melody is beautiful anyway.

My collection: 7" single no. 964
Found: All that music, Leiden, August 10, 1989
Cost: 2 guilders
Tracks: 'Have you ever been in love' / 'I don't need dreaming anymore'

Hands across the ocean - The Mission

'Hands across the ocean' was in fact an ep, containing three songs that were all interesting to me for a variety of reasons. The title track featured backing vocals by Julianne Regan from All about Eve. 'Amelia' was an emotional track about child abuse, apparently written by the band after reading the story of a fan. And finally, 'Love' is a cover of the John Lennon track.

The single was released to promote the release of the 'outtakes' album 'Grains of sand' in 1990. It reached number 28 in the UK singles chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 2203
Found: Record fair, Rotterdam, October 8, 1994
Cost: 2 guilders
Tracks: 'Hands across the ocean' / 'Amelia', 'Love'