Who needs love like that - Erasure

I took the bus (oh, how I miss those open double deckers from the old days!) from Notting Hill Gate to Oxford Street, in order to get to Berwick Street, where my record hunting would continue. I was aware of one more Music & Video Exchange down the road, but I stopped underway for a new shop, where I eventually found three singles, although two of them I already had - but these were picture disc editions (more about that later on this blog).

The one new title I found was 'Who needs love like that', the debut single by Erasure. Whereas Vince Clarke had a lot of success with Depeche Mode and Yazoo, this single was considered a flop, as it only reached number 55 in the UK singles chart. It was 1985. More than two decades later, we know how successful Erasure turned out to be...

My collection: 7" single no. 3975
Found: Revival Records, London, August 5, 2009
Cost: 50p
Tracks: 'Who needs love like that' / 'Push me shove me'

Beware boyfriend - Mari Wilson

After Mari Wilson reached the UK top 10 with 'Just what I always wanted', the next single was this one, 'Beware boyfriend', released in a limited edition with a free postcard. The sleeve photograph was taken by Dutch photographer Anton Corbijn, who was becoming one of the hottest photographers of the year, with his work for Joy Division, Kim Wilde and many others.

This single did not follow in the footsteps of its predecessor, stalling at number 51 in the UK singles chart. It was the last of nine singles I found on the first floor of the Notting Hill Gate branch of the Music & Video Exchange on August 5.

My collection: 7" single no. 3974
Found: Record Exchange, London, August 5, 2009
Cost: 3 pounds
Tracks: 'Beware boyfriend' / 'It's happening'

Suboceana (Boom boom chi boom boom) - Tom Tom Club

The music video of Tom Tom Club's Suboceana was a very strange one, one that caught my attention the very first time I saw it. I always wanted to have the single, but it was never available. In fact, I never even saw the single until I found this one.

And so it came to pass that I had the 12" single before I found the single. Much to my delight, this single features an instrumental version of the track that is not included on the 12".

My collection: 7" single no. 3973
Found: Record Exchange, London, August 5, 2009
Cost: 4 pounds
Tracks: 'Suboceana (Boom boom chi boom boom)' / 'Suboceana (instrumental)'

Tour de France - Kraftwerk

The cycling mania of some of the band members of Kraftwerk has been well documented. Ralf Hütter and Fritz Hilpert have been known to take part in cycling events. The track was originally recorded with the intention of being included on the subsequently abandoned album 'Techno pop'.

The single was remixed by François Kevorkian in New York and reached number 24 in the UK singles chart. In 2003, Kraftwerk would release a new album 'Tour de France Soundtracks', featuring a new recording of this track.

My collection: 7" single no. 3972
Found: Record Exchange, London, August 5, 2009
Cost: 2 pounds
Tracks: 'Tour de France (remix)' / 'Tour de France'

I second that emotion - Japan

'I second that emotion' was originally a hit for Smokey Robinson & the Miracles in 1967. Written by Smokey Robinson and Al Cleveland, the title of the song came to Robinson when his friend and Motown colleague Al Cleveland mispronounced the phrase 'I second that motion' as 'I second that emotion' while the pair were Christmas shopping in late 1966.

Japan recorded a cover version of the song as a standalone single released in 1980. This remixed version was released two years later, reaching number 9 in the UK singles chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 3971
Found: Record Exchange, London, August 5, 2009
Cost: 1 pound
Tracks: 'I second that emotion' / 'Halloween'

Heaven's open - Michael Oldfield

In 1991, Mike Oldfield suddenly called himself Michael Oldfield and released his final album for Virgin Records, 'Heaven's open'. At a time of friction with his record company, Oldfield included some veiled attacks on Richard Branson on the album.

The single 'Heaven's open' featured lead vocals from Oldfield himself for the first time. The single did not chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 3970
Found: Record Exchange, London, August 5, 2009
Cost: 1 pound
Tracks: 'Heaven's open' / 'Excerpt I from Amarok'

In my arms - Kylie Minogue

I was really surprised when I saw this single in the racks of the Music & Video Exchange in London. I wasn't aware this single was even released on 7" vinyl, and it was an even more pleasant surprise when I saw that it was pressed on pink vinyl. Obviously, this one was a keeper.

'In my arms' was a single from Kylie's latest album 'X', released in February 2008. It reached number 15 in the UK singles chart and number 20 in the Dutch Top 40.

My collection: 7" single no. 3969
Found: Record Exchange, London, August 5, 2009
Cost: 2 pounds
Tracks: 'In my arms' / 'Can't get you out of my head (Greg Kurstin remix)'

Invisible touch - Genesis

'Invisible touch' was the title track of Genesis' 1986 album and released as its first single. The song came about during a jam for the second parts of another album tracks 'Domino/The last domino', Mike Rutherford apparently playing a riff while Phil Collins improvised the line 'She seems to have an invisible touch'. It was recorded at the band's studio Fisher Lane Farm during 1985 and 1986.

This limited edition version of the single came in a foldout sleeve with a clear vinyl record. While not a hit in the Netherlands, the single reached number 15 in the UK singles chart and number 1 in the US Billboard Hot 100 chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 3968
Found: Record Exchange, London, August 5, 2009
Cost: 2 pounds
Tracks: 'Invisible touch' / 'The last domino'

Seven seas - Echo and the Bunnymen

Here's another obscure favourite from that magical year 1984; the year in which I forgot all about doing homework and spent hours on end watching music videos on television. 'Seven seas' reached number 16 in the UK singles chart and thus was shown on TV countless times, but the band remained virtually unknown in the Netherlands.

The B-side recording of the Beatles' 'All you need is love' was performed by the band at Liverpool Cathedral for the programme 'Play at home' for Channel Four (UK).

My collection: 7" single no. 3967
Found: Record exchange, London, August 5, 2009
Cost: 1 pound
Tracks: 'Seven seas' / 'All you need is love'

White boy - Culture Club

After scouring the basement of the Music & Video Exchange in Notting Hill Gate and finding over 40 singles, I went up to the first floor, hoping to find some more. This is the 'expensive' part of the shop, stocking mainly collectors items, but sometimes you come across some interesting bargains. Such as this one: the debut single by Culture Club!

Most people assume that their first hit 'Do you really want to hurt me' was also their debut single, but that's not true: they released two singles prior to that one. 'White boy' did not chart in any territory, although it already showcases their signature sound. You don't see this single a lot, so I was glad to find it.

My collection: 7" single no. 3966
Found: Record Exchange, London, August 5, 2009
Cost: 50p
Tracks: 'White boy' / 'Love twist'

Pretty in pink - Psychedelic Furs

'Pretty in pink' was originally recorded as a track on Psychedelic Furs' 1981 album 'Talk Talk Talk'. When John Hughes made his movie 'Pretty in pink' in 1986, it was named after the Psychedelic Furs track.

The song was re-recorded by the band for the movie and released as a single. In this version, it became their biggest hit in the UK, peaking at number 18.

My collection: 7" single no. 3965
Found: Record Exchange, London, August 5, 2009
Cost: 50p
Tracks: 'Pretty in pink' / 'Love my way (US Remix)'

Bad boys - Wham!

'Bad boys' was a 1983 hit single for Wham!, taken from their debut album 'Fantastic'. The lyric of the song was written by George Michael from a teenager's perspective, but also including the concerns of parents, ultimately asking 'Why do you have to be so cruel?'.

The single reached number 2 in the UK singles chart, number 14 in the Dutch Top 40 and number 60 on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart. George Michael later denounced 'Bad boys' as a song he hated, stating it was 'like an albatross round my neck'. The song was omitted from the 1997 compilation album 'If you were there (The best of Wham)', despite the album including tracks that weren't even released as singles.

My collection: 7" single no. 3964
Found: Record Exchange, London, August 5, 2009
Cost: 30p
Tracks: 'Bad boys' / 'Bad boys (instrumental)'

The story of the blues - Wah!

Released in December 1982, Wah! scored the biggest hit of their career with 'The story of the blues', which reached number 3 in the UK singles chart. The track was produced by Mike Hedges and written and arranged by Pete Wylie, who was the core member of Wah! and its subsequent incarnations (Say Wah!, the Mighty Wah! etcetera).

During a live performance of this track in 1983 for BBC Radio, Colin Vearncombe from Black guested on backing vocals. Unfortunately, his fine voice is not included on this single version.

My collection: 7" single no. 3963
Found: Record Exchange, London, August 5, 2009
Cost: 50p
Tracks: 'The story of the blues (part 1)' / 'The story of the blues (part 2)'

New sensation - INXS

'New sensation' was released in early 1988 as the second single from INXS's 1987 album 'Kick'. The song features a sax solo by Kirk Pengilly and lyrics about a partying lifestyle. The first line 'Live, baby, live' was later referenced in the title of the bands's 1991 release 'Live baby live'.

The single reached number 25 in the UK singles chart, number 3 in the US Billboard Hot 100 chart and number 18 in the Dutch Top 40. I never bought the single in 1988 because I bought the cd-single. It's strange how I never think I really have a single until I have the 7" single.

My collection: 7" single no. 3962
Found: Record Exchange, London, August 5, 2009
Cost: 30p
Tracks: 'New sensation' / 'Do wot you do'

The very first video kiss - Imajinca

Released in 1984, 'The very first video kiss' by Imajinca is a mystery. You would think that in this age of internet nothing can remain a secret, but there is no information about this band or its members anywhere. All I can gather from the sleeve of this single is that the track was produced by Chris Andrews.

The tracks were written by S. Burton, D. Lief and H. Pistolas, who were probably members of this band. An they were signed to 'A Record Company', presumably a small independent record company around at that time. 'The very first video kiss' did not chart, despite its glossy Eighties production values.

My collection: 7" single no. 3961
Found: Record Exchange, London, August 5, 2009
Cost: 30p
Tracks: 'The very first video kiss' / 'All in a moment'

Paranoimia '89 - Art of Noise

Art of Noise had a hit with 'Paranoimia' in 1986, a track featuring the vocals of the computer generated television personality Max Headroom. When the band released a greatest hits compilation in 1988, the album was promoted with several singles.

One of them was 'Paranoimia '89', a remixed version omitting Max Headroom's vocals and based wholly on the music by Art of Noise. The remix was made by Dutch remixer and DJ Ben Liebrand. The single did not chart in any territory.

My collection: 7" single no. 3960
Found: Record Exchange, London, August 5, 2009
Cost: 10p
Tracks: 'Paranoimia '89' / 'Locus classicus 1'

Give a little love back to the world - Emma

Emma Louise Booth was born in 1974 in Bridgend, Wales. She represented the United Kingdom during the 1990 Eurovision Song Contest with 'Give a little love back to the world', written by Paul Curtis. The lyric of the song had an environmental them, leading to several platitudes and a rather cringable chorus.

Emma finished sixth in the Contest, then went on to release one more single in 1991, 'Dance all night', which failed to chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 3959
Found: Record Exchange, London, August 5, 2009
Cost: 10p
Tracks: 'Give a little love back to the world' / 'I don't wanna be around'

Goodbye stranger - Supertramp

'Goodbye stranger' is a single taken from Supertramp's 1979 album 'Breakfast in America'. The single reached number 57 in the UK singles chart. The B-side of the single is the title track of Supertramp's previous album, 'Even in the quietest moments'.

It's always a bit of a shock when you buy a single and it turns out to be so faulty you can't even play it. This single is so crooked that frankly I'm amazed the shop dared to ask 50p for it. Oh well, you win some, you lose some.

My collection: 7" single no. 3958
Found: Record Exchange, London, August 5, 2009
Cost: 50p
Tracks: 'Goodbye stranger' / 'Even in the quietest moments'

Lately - Stevie Wonder

Stevie Wonder has this uncanny knack of creating timeless melodies. 'Lately' is a title that may not seem familiar to you but I bet when you hear the track, you will think 'O right! I remember that!'. The single was taken from Wonder's 1980 album 'Hotter than July', and reached number 3 in the UK singles chart.

The track was later covered by acts like S Club 7 and Jodeci. Not that those versions could compete with the original, of course...

My collection: 7" single no. 3957
Found: Record Exchange, London, August 5, 2009
Cost: 10p
Tracks: 'Lately' / 'If it's magic'

Satisfaction - Wendy and Lisa

'Satisfaction' was a single taken from Wendy & Lisa's second album 'Fruit at the bottom'. The track was written, produced and remixed for this single edition by Wendy & Lisa themselves. The single reached number 27 in the UK singles chart.

In the Netherlands, the single did not chart. I missed out on this track completely, and decided to try out this single since it was so cheap. The track is not very different from other Wendy & Lisa material, so no surprises there.

My collection: 7" single no. 3956
Found: Record Exchange, London, August 5, 2009
Cost: 10p
Tracks: 'Satisfaction' / 'Stay'