Please don't make me cry - UB40

After UB40 had a big success with their cover version of 'Red red wine' (originally recorded by Neil Diamond), they released 'Please don't make me cry'. Both singles were taken from the group's 1983 album 'Labour of love', a collection of covers. The B-side of this single is a cover of Bob Marley's 'Keep on moving'.

This single peaked at number 10 on the UK singles chart and number 4 in the Dutch Top 40.

My collection: 7" single no. 817
Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, May 13, 1989
Cost: 1 guilder Tracks: 'Please don't make me cry' / 'Keep on moving'

Grease - Frankie Valli

Frankie Valli was born as Francesco Stephen Castelluccio on May 3, 1934 in First Ward, Newark, New Jersey. He became famous as the frontman of the Four Seasons, who reached their peak of fame in the Sixties.

In 1978, Valli was asked to sing the theme song for the movie Grease. Along with the movie, this song became famous and when it was released as a single, it reached number one all over the world.

My collection: 7" single no. 2543
Found: Beanos, East Croydon, London, November 1, 1995
Cost: 2 pounds
Tracks: 'Grease' / 'Grease (instrumental)'

Good for me - Amy Grant

I happen to have both the cd-single and this 7" single of Amy Grant's 'Good for me'. The B-side of this 7" single is not included on the cd-single, which makes it a nice item. 'Good for me' was released as the sixth single from Grant's 1991 album 'Heart in motion'. It reached number 8 in the US Billboard Hot 100 and number 60 in the UK singles chart.

There exist two music videos for this single. In the original music video, Amy Grant frolicks and dances with another female, who was meant to be portrayed as a childhood friend of Grant's. However, once the video was completed, Grant felt that her intended message was lost and that the video looked as though she and her friend were lovers. And so a new version was shot with a male model. Good old Christian values... (!)

My collection: 7" single no. 2787
Found: November 2, 1996
Cost: 1 pound
Tracks: 'Good for me (7" Good for you mix)' / 'Good for me (7" You like to dance mix)'

Passing stranges - Ultravox

'Passing strangers' was released in October 1980 as the second single from Ultravox's milestone album 'Vienna'. The song is a fast-paced affair, with all the signature sounds of the band around that time. The single wasn't a big hit, stalling at number 57 in the UK singles chart.

The B-side 'Face to face' was recorded live in St. Albans on August 16, 1980 and was never recorded in studio by the band.

My collection: 7" single no. 2542
Found: Record Exchange, November 1, 1995
Cost: 1 pound
Tracks: 'Passing strangers' / 'Face to face (recorded live)'

Twenty four hours - Athlete

Released as the fourth and final single from Athlete's 2005 album 'Tourist', 'Twenty four hours' was a real treat for fans. The cd-single featured two new tracks, whereas the 7" single, released as a picture disc, featured one of those new tracks plus another new track exclusive to the 7" format.

The single peaked at number 42 in the UK singles chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 3418
Found: HMV mail order, received November 2005
Cost: 3 pounds
Tracks: 'Twenty four hours' / 'Stand in the sun', 'Before tomorrow'

Saturday night - The Blue Nile

Although the Blue Nile released their second album 'Hats' in the autumn of 1989, the sticker on the back of this single states that 'Saturday night', the third single from that album, was released on January 7, 1991. But then, the Blue Niles were always a bit slower than the average pop band.

Two weeks later, the single entered the UK singles chart and reached number 50 during a 2 week chart run. It was the last anyone heard from the band, until they returned with 'Peace at last', their third album. When? Well, in 1996.

My collection: 7" single no. 2191
Found: Record Exchange, London, September 29, 1994
Cost: 50p
Tracks: 'Saturday night (edit)' / 'Saturday night (album version)'

The river - Bruce Springsteen

'The river' was written by Bruce Springsteen right after he'd completed an album that was to be titled 'The ties that bind'. The imagery of the chorus and the end of the song were inspired by lines from Hank Williams' 1950 hit, 'Long gone lonesome blues'. When this song came up, Springsteen decided to write several others with a similarly darker feel, and eventually released a double album entitled 'The river' in 1980.

Released as a single, it reached number 12 in the Dutch Top 40 and number 35 in the UK singles chart. It remains one of Springsteen's signature songs.

My collection: 7" single no. 2691
Found: Beanos, East Croydon, London, July 3, 1996
Cost: 2 pounds
Tracks: 'The river' / 'Independence day'

Nooduitgang (live) - Het Goede Doel

Het Goede Doel released a live version of their song 'Nooduitgang' ('Emergency exit') in 1987. Their album 'Mooi en onverslijtbaar' and its associated singles sold rather well, but the release of a live album was imminent, and so this single was released to promote it. Band member Sander van Herk wrote a piece on the history of the band in 2001 in a booklet for a 4cd box set and confessed that the track on the single was played live, but the audience participation was mixed in.

The record buying public was unaware of this, and the single reached number 25 in the Dutch Top 40.

My collection: 7" single no. 3769
Found: Marktplaats.nl, received June 3, 2009
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Nooduitgang (live)' / 'The sonic ranger rides again'

We'll be together - Sandra

Released in November 1988, 'We'll be together' was the third single taken from Sandra's third album 'Into a secret land'. For the first time ever, this song was co-written by Sandra herself. The single reached number 9 in the German singles chart.

When I bought this single, it came with a Spanish promotional sheet. Printed in colour, the front of the A4 paper features the album cover and the back features a biography, written in Spanish.

My collection: 7" single no. 1777
Found: Record fair, Amsterdam, October 25, 1992
Cost: 2 guilders
Tracks: 'We'll be together' / 'It means forever'

Sign your name - Terence Trent d'Arby

Although I hated the first few singles by Terence Trent d'Arby, I had to admit that 'Sign your name' was actually a very good ballad. It was taken from his debut album 'Introducing the hardline according to Terence Trent d'Arby', released in 1987.

It was a big hit in countries around the world, peaking at number 2 in the UK singles chart and the Dutch Top 40, and number 4 in the US Billboard Hot 100.

My collection: 7" single no. 1331
Found: Record Exchange, London, October 17, 1990
Cost: 50p
Tracks: 'Sign your name' / 'Greasy chicken'

To turn the stone - Frida

'To turn the stone' was the second single taken from Frida's 1982 album 'Something's going on'. It was considerably less successful than the previous one, 'I know there's something going on', which reached the charts all over Europe.

'To turn the stone' only managed to reach number 39 in the German singles chart and flopped everywhere else. As a result, no further singles were taken from the album.

My collection: 7" single no. 160
Found: Studio Echo, Den Haag, 1982
Cost: 5,5 guilders
Tracks: 'To turn the stone' / 'I got something'

The Skye Boat song - Willy Finlayson

Tori Amos' debut album 'Y Kant Tori Read', released before she hit the big time with 'Little earthquakes', contained an instrumental excerpt of 'The Skye Boat song', a Scottish traditional from the 19th century. Since I liked the melody, I was quite curious when I found this single, on which the traditional is performed by Willy Finlayson. Remember him? He also recorded 'On the air tonight' in 1985.

Finlayson's solo career has been short: none of his singles reached the UK singles chart and no other singles of his are known.

My collection: 7" single no. 2173
Found: House of Rhythm, London, September 27, 1994
Cost: 50p
Tracks: 'The Skye Boat Song' / 'Cash'

Holding out for a hero - Bonnie Tyler

When you hear this song you will probably recognise the production values of Jim Steinman immediately: with its backing vocals and high speed music, it's an almost hysteric piece of music. 'Holding out for a hero' was originally released in 1984 and included on the soundtrack of the movie 'Footloose'. It later appeared on Tyler's 'Secret dreams and forbidden fire' album.

The single peaked at number 2 in the UK singles chart and number 34 in the US Billboard Hot 100. In the Netherlands, the single flopped mercilessly.

My collection: 7" single no. 3291
Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, February 24, 2001
Cost: 1 guilder
Tracks: 'Holding out for a hero' / 'Faster than the speed of night'

Crystal ball - Keane

Tim Rice-Oxley from Keane commented about 'Crystal ball': 'That was a really scary for me, because I've always had lots to say, and lots of opinions whether right or wrong. We then ended up having a massive row about something a couple of days later and it came out of that that we were all feeling this sense of numbness, this feeling of kinda fading away as people. I struggled to find one last song to complete the album, and found I could not write. I was left looking around song directories written by the sheer desperates of London, thus explaining how I discovered Crystal Ball...'

The track was released as the second single of Keane's second album 'Under the iron sea'. It reached number 20 in the Dutch Top 40 and the UK singles chart. This 7" single is a numbered limited edition; this is number 30.

My collection: 7" single no. 3490
Found: eBay.co.uk, received December 20, 2008
Cost: 3 pounds
Tracks: 'Crystal ball' / 'Maybe I can change'

Love house - Samantha Fox

Honestly, I have no idea why I bought this single. It's a long time ago when I did. Even then, I was not impressed with the output of Page 3 girl Samantha Fox and house music in general. This track was produced by the Dutch brothers Bolland, but that in itself is no reason for me to buy a single - quite the contrary.

Mysteries have a right to survive, and so I won't guess any more. The only thing I do know that this single reached number 10 in the Dutch Top 40 and number 32 on the UK singles chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 2410
Found: Leiden, 1995
Cost: 1 guilder
Tracks: 'Love house' / 'Don't cheat on me'

Cannonball - Supertramp

Without Roger Hodgson, but with a reputation that was very good, Supertramp soldiered on after 1983. Rick Davies took over lead vocals, and the 1985 album 'Brother where you bound' was promoted with the first single 'Cannonball'.

On the album and on thie 12" single, the track lasted for well over 7 minutes, whereas the 7" single contained an edit. Impressive also is the 10 minute instrumental version on the B-side of this 12" single.

My collection: 12" single no. 285
Found: Record Exchange, London, 1996
Cost: 50p
Tracks: 'Cannonball (Direct to disc version)' / 'Cannonball (instrumental)'

Heartbreaker - Dionne Warwick

When Barry Gibb is producing, or even co-producing, any song takes on a decidedly 'Bee Gees sound'. So when Dionne Warwick had her 1982 album 'Heartbreaker' co-produced by Gibb, it was almost as if she was doing backing vocals to Bee Gees tracks. Warwick later commented that she didn't like the album's title track, but recorded it because she trusted the judgement of the three Gibb brothers, who wrote the song, that it would be a hit.

And it was: Warwick reached the charts all over the world when 'Heartbreaker' was released as a single. It reached number 5 in the Dutch Top 40 and number 2 in the UK singles chart. Warwick commented: 'I cried all the way to the bank'.

My collection: 7" single no. 3088
Found: Record Exchange, London, May 12, 1999
Cost: 1 pound
Tracks: 'Heartbreaker' / 'I can't see anything but you'

Ever so lonely - Monsoon

To be honest, I'd completely forgotten that I owned this 12" single of 'Ever so lonely'. The single has been on this blog in an earlier entry. So when I was going through my 12 inch singles, I was pleasantly surprised.

This extended version of 'Ever so lonely' is made in the best of the Eighties traditions: it's just longer, it features a few extra instrumental and vocal passages, and no irritating beats and out of key synth loops. How refreshing!

My collection: 12" single no. 338
Found: Plaatboef, Rotterdam, 1998
Cost: 2 guilders
Tracks: 'Ever so lonely (extended version)' / 'Sunset over the Ganges'

Mama - Zucchero

In 1990, the Italian singer Zucchero attempted to reach the charts outside of continental Europe, where he'd made a name for himself. In July 1990 he released 'Mama' in the UK, an English version of his 1989 European hit 'Madre dolcissima'. The single did not chart.

In 1991, he had more success, when he recorded a duet with Paul Young. Their track 'Senza una donna' became a top 10 hit in the UK.

My collection: 7" single no. 3060
Found: Record Exchange, London, May 9, 1999
Cost: 20p
Tracks: 'Mama' / 'Madre dolcissima'

You keep me hangin' on - Tata Vega

Tata Vega was born as Carmen Rosa Vega in New York on October 7, 1951. She began her singing career in 1963. She was cast in the Broadway production of the musical 'Hair', after which she joined the band Pollution and then the group Earthquire. Between 1976 and 1981, she released four solo albums on the Motown label.

In 1980, she released her version of the Supremes hit 'You keep me hangin' on'. It was a typical late Seventies disco version, which did not manage to chart outside of America. I bought this single because I am interested in every cover version of 'You keep me hangin' on'. I have to admit that I still like Kim Wilde's version best.

My collection: 7" single no. 3045
Found: La La Land, Den Haag, December 19, 1998
Cost: 2 guilders
Tracks: 'You keep me hangin' on' / 'You better watch out'