'Hand on your heart' was released as the first single from Kylie Minogue's second album, 'Enjoy yourself'. It was another track written and produced by Stock, Aitken & Waterman, so nothing really had changed: Kylie was still making radiofriendly commercial pop without pretences.
The single became her third number 1 hit in the UK, while it reached number 4 in Australia and number 19 in the Dutch Top 40.
My collection: 7" single no. 3324 Found: Record fair, Utrecht, March 24, 2001 Cost: 1 guilder Tracks: 'Hand on your heart' / 'Just wanna love you'
In 2000, Roxanne Wilde (Kim Wilde's sister), Morgan Quaintance, Joe Holweger and Tom Hanna signed to Polydor records as Dimestars. They tried to forge a career for themselves, starting off with the single 'Solo so long'. It was released as a cd-single and cassette single, and this 12" single, the only vinyl release by Dimestars as far as I know.
'Solo so long' did not chart. The follow-up single 'My superstar', released in 2001, did. Their album 'Living for the weekend' was pressed and distributed as a promotional disc, but never got a commercial release in the end. Dimestars toured with Kylie Minogue in 2001, but split up after their career didn't take off. Right now, Roxanne Wilde is one of Kylie's backing singers during her current world tour.
My collection: 12" single no. 513 Found: HMV, London, 2000 Cost: 5 pounds Tracks: 'Solo so long (Cut la Roc remix)' / 'Solo so long (radio edit)'
In October 1981, after a year's absence from the charts, Earth and Fire released their single 'Dream'. It was the first single from their as-yet-untitled new album. When it was released, it was called 'Andromeda girl'. Two further singles, 'Tell me why' and 'Love is an ocean' were released from that album, but neither reached the Dutch Top 40.
Thus, this single was the only successful release, peaking at number 27 in November 1981. The B-side 'Jerney's day off' sounds like an original title for the instrumental version of 'Dream', but instead it is an original instrumental track.
My collection: 7" single no. 1384 Found: All that music, Leiden, February 22, 1991 Cost: 2 guilders Tracks: 'Dream' / 'Jerney's day off'
With the benefit of hindsight, I think you can conclude that the lack of success for Kajagoogoo can be explained by their inconsistence in sound. After the hard rock sound of 'Big apple', they suddenly presented 'The lion's mouth', a brass-driven affair.
The single reached number 25 in the UK singles chart but failed to chart in many European countries. 25 years later, this track still sounds pretty fresh.
My collection: 7" single no. 3078 Found: Beanos, East Croydon, London, May 10, 1999 Cost: 2 pounds Tracks: 'The lion's mouth' / 'The garden (instrumental)'
'Once upon a long ago' was recorded as a new track for Paul McCartney's 1987 compilation album 'All the best!'. The track was produced by Phil Ramone and mixed by George Martin. Personally, I think it's one of McCartney's most accomplished tracks, not least because of the moving violin solo by Nigel Kennedy.
The single reached number 10 in the UK singles chart, McCartney's last top 10 hit in the UK. It did slightly better in the Netherlands, peaking at number 6. The single was not released in the USA.
My collection: 7" single no. 2199 Found: Record fair, Rotterdam, October 8, 1994 Cost: 3 guilders Tracks: 'Once upon a long ago' / 'Back on my feet'
'Kiss them for me' was written by Siouxsie & the Banshees and produced by Stephen Hague. It was released in 1991 as the first single from the band's tenth studio album 'Superstition'. The song presented a change in musical direction for Siouxsie & the Banshees — adopting a much more straightforward pop-oriented feel than previous tracks, due in large part to Hague's production work.
The single became their biggest hit in the USA, peaking at number 23 in the US Billboard Hot 100. In the UK, the single reached number 32.
My collection: 7" single no. 1539 Found: Record fair, October 27, 1991 Cost: 7 guilders Tracks: 'Kiss them for me' / 'Return'
'Brood en spelen' ('Bread and games') was an unsuccessful single release from het Goede Doel's 1984 album 'Tempo Doeloe'. The story behind this one was an unfortunate one: the band made a deal with successful Dutch DJ Frits Spits to give him the premiere of this single on the radio. Then the record company suddenly released a different track from the album without the band knowing, and the DJ as a result refused to play their singles at all. Furthermore, Dutch language music was losing its popularity in the Netherlands as a result of the most popular band, Doe Maar, breaking up.
The B-side of this single is a German version of the band's song 'Alleen' ('Alone'). The band recorded a whole album's worth of German material, but when it was released in January 1985, the German record company decided not to promote it. The band was in a bit of trouble.
My collection: 7"single no. 3765 Found: Marktplaat.nl. received June 3, 2009 Cost: 1 euro Tracks: 'Brood en spelen' / 'Allein'
Keane's song 'A bad dream' was partially based on the poem 'An Irish Airman foresees his death' by W.B. Yeats. Tim Rice-Oxley explains: 'We wanted to get a balance between a kinda dream sequence. It starts very quietly, and I love the idea of being in a plane, like a Spitfire or something, being so high up in the sky that you can't hear the guns below you and so on. And it's almost got a serene silence which is what this Yeats poem seemed to really express. The song starts very quietly, but it gets huge and angry as it goes on... The big distorted washy piano sound in the middle is a pretty vast sound and it's I guess an attempt to express all that anger bursting out.'
The track was released as the sixth and final single from Keane's album 'Under the iron sea' in January 2007. Although it became Keane's first single to fail to reach the UK Top 20, it peaked at number 23 in the UK singles chart.
My collection: 7" single no. 3491 Found: eBay.co.uk, received December 20, 2008 Cost: 3 pounds Tracks: 'A bad dream' / 'She sells sanctuary'
Jim Diamond was born on September 28, 1953 in Glasgow, Scotland. His big break came in 1982 as part of the band Ph.D. After this band folded, Diamond went solo. He recorded the sloppy ballad 'I should have known better', which became a UK number 1, and also reached number 3 in the Dutch Top 40.
When 'I should have known better' reached number 1 in the UK, Band Aid just released their charity single 'Do they know it's Christmas?'. He requested publicly that people not buy his single, but instead buy that single.
My collection: 7" single no. 251 Found: Wouters, Den Haag, December 1984 Cost: 6 guilders Tracks: 'I should have known better' / 'Impossible dream'
'Valotte' was the title track of Julian Lennon's debut album. It was written by Lennon, Justin Clayton and Carlton Morales and recorded at Muscle Shoals Sound Studios in Muscle Shoals, Alabama. The first line of the chorus, 'Sitting on a pebble by the river playing guitar', was written by Lennon, inspired by the Tennessee River in Muscle Shoals.
The track was released as a single in December 1984. It reached number 9 in the US Billboard Hot 100, but was significantly less successful in the UK, where it only reached number 55. This single was released with a limited edition poster sleeve in the UK.
My collection: 7" single no. 2202 Found: Record fair, Rotterdam, October 8, 1994 Cost: 3 guilders Tracks: 'Valotte' / 'Let me be'
'When I need you' was written by Albert Hammond and Carole Bayer Sager. It was first recorded by Hammond on his 1976 album of the same name.
Leo Sayer recorded his version later that year and included it on his album 'Endless flight'. The single reached number 3 in the Dutch Top 40 and number 1 in the UK singles chart in February 1977. Three months later, the single also topped the US Billboard Hot 100 chart. Sayer performed the song on the second show of the third season of The Muppet Show.
My collection: 7" single no. 1215 Found: Record fair, Den Haag, April 22, 1990 Cost: 0,5 guilder Tracks: 'When I need you' / 'I think we fell in love too fast'
'Don't give up' was not Peter Gabriel and Kate Bush's first collaboration, but it is arguably their best. The song was recorded for Gabriel's 1986 album 'So'. The lyric describes the despair of a man who feels that the economic system has no place for him, seeking council and support from the words sung by Kate Bush. Godley & Creme directed two videos for the song: the first consisted of a single take of the singers in an embrace, as the sun enters total eclipse and re-emerges. The second featured Gabriel and Bush's faces superimposed over film of a town and its people in disrepair.
The single peaked at number 9 in the UK singles chart and number 4 in the Dutch Top 40.
My collection: 7" single no. 500 Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, 1987 Cost: 3,5 guilders Tracks: 'Don't give up' / 'In your eyes (special mix)'
The theme of the lyric of 'Clocks' is contrast, contradictions and urgency. The song emerged during the late stages of the production of Coldplay's second album, 'A rush of blood to the head'. The song was recorded very quickly, because the band were running after the postponed scheduled release date of the album.
When released as the second single from the album, the response was immediate and positive. The chart success was pretty good, with top 10 placings in the Netherlands (number 2), Canada (number 7) and the UK (number 9). The song was also remixed numerous times, amongst others by Röyksopp.
My collection: 7" single no. 3374 Found: HMV mailorder, London, 2003 Cost: 2 pounds Tracks: 'Clocks' / 'Crests of waves'
'Poison' is one of Alice Cooper's most well-known songs, and provided his last major mainstream hit, in 1989. It was taken from his album 'Trash', which was produced by Desmond Child. The whole album sounded more commercial and radio-friendly than previous Cooper albums, which may account for its success.
The single reached number 2 in the UK, number 7 in the USA and number 10 in the Dutch Top 40. The music video for 'Poison' was available in two versions. Model Rana Kennedy wore nothing but a black thong in the original video, so a more modest version was filmed in which Kennedy wears a corset to cover her upper body.
My collection: 7" single no. 1056 Found: London, October 17, 1989 Cost: 2 pounds Tracks: 'Poison' / 'Trash'
So here's a song for the Misheard Lyrics website. Ever since I've heard Sandra singing 'Life may be a big insanity', I've heard 'Life may be a big obscenity'. Try it for yourself, you may hear it too.
'(Life may be) A big insanity' was released as the second single from Sandra's fourth album 'Paintings in yellow'. The song was written by husband Michael Cretu with Klaus Hirschburger. The single only became a minor hit for Sandra, reaching number 27 in Germany, number 18 in Israel and number 41.
The single was released in the UK as well - though without any chart success - and I've got the different sleeve to prove it. I found this UK edition (pictured below) two years after I bought the original German version. I don't think it's Sandra's best single, but when you've got a collection, you have to buy everything that's pretty. And I do think the UK sleeve is more beautiful than the German one!
My collection: 7" single no. 2096 / no. 2659 Found: Record fair, Amsterdam, April 16, 1994 / House of Rhythm, London, June 29, 1996 Cost: 2 guilders / 50p Tracks: '(Life may be) A big insanity' / 'The skin I'm in'
'Sit and wait' was Sydney Youngblood's second single, taken from his debut album 'Feeling free'. Written by Ralf Hamm, Mike Staab, Sydney Youngblood and Claus Zundel, it was another dance song with a catchy hook.
The single became a success in Europe, peaking at number 2 in Austria, Germany and Sweden, number 6 in Switzerland and the Netherlands. It was only less successful in the UK (where it peaked at number 16), Ireland (15) and France (number 21).
My collection: 7" single no. 1141 Found: Free Record Shop, Den Haag, January 6, 1990 Cost: 6 guilders Tracks: 'Sit and wait' / 'Feeling free' (duet with Elaine Hudson)
With the album 'Because I can' making the Indie Top Ten, things were looking up for Mice. A third single was released from the album: 'Dear sir', released as a cd-single and a 7" vinyl single pressed on orange vinyl.
Then, disaster struck: Permanent Records went out of business in 1997, shortly after the release of 'Dear sir', prompting one fan to remark: 'it turned out to be Temporary Records'. The single was not promoted, nor could it be replaced after it sold out. It marked the end of Mice, and frontwoman Julianne Regan pursued other musical interests.
My collection: 7" single no. 2739 Found: Record fair, Amsterdam, September 21, 1996 Cost: 10 guilders Tracks: 'Dear sir' / 'Pyjamadrama'
There's no mistaking the sound of producer Tony Mansfield on this single. It might well have been a New Musik track. Instead, it's Naked Eyes, with their second hit single 'Promises promises' (1983). At least, it was a hit single in the USA, where it peaked at number 11. Oddly enough, the British duo didn't manage to have a hit with this in their own country.
The B-side features an early version of '(What) In the name of love', a track they would release as a single in 1984.
My collection: 7" single no. 2131 Found: Record Palace, Amsterdam, July 30, 1994 Cost: 2 guilders Tracks: 'Promises promises' / 'In the name of love'
'Sweet harmony' was the Beloved's biggest hit. It peaked at number 8 in the UK and even landed in the charts in Europe, peaking at number 22 in the Netherlands.
The song gained notoriety for its music video, which some considered to be controversial. It consisted of a naked Jon Marsh and a bevy of other equally naked females - including Tess Daly - lipsynching the lyrics. In an interview, Marsh pointed out that the video was 'not intended to be sexual' and was 'as A-sexual as you can get'. The video is supposed to represent unity between humans.
My collection: 7" single no. 1927 Found: Melody Maker, Den Haag, June 8, 1993 Cost: 6,5 guilders Tracks: 'Sweet harmony' / 'Motivation (Energised)'
In the spring of 1989, Jody Watley released her second album, 'Larger than life'. She co-wrote 11 of the album's 12 songs. The first single release, 'Real love", sold over 500,000 copies in the USA alone and was certified gold. It reached number 2 on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart.
In the UK, people were less impressed, as it only made number 31 there. In the Netherlands, the single peaked at number 19.
My collection: 7" single no. 949 Found: V&D, Den Haag, July 21, 1989 Cost: 3 guilders Tracks: 'Real love' / 'Real love (instrumental)'
'Hand on your heart' was released as the first single from Kylie Minogue's second album, 'Enjoy yourself'. It was another track written and produced by Stock, Aitken & Waterman, so nothing really had changed: Kylie was still making radiofriendly commercial pop without pretences.
