'Always' was released as the first single from Erasure's sixth album 'I say I say I say'. The song quickly became Erasure's 13th Top 10 on the UK singles chart, peaking at number 4. It topped the charts in Ireland and hit number 5 in Germany. In the United States, the single peaked at number 20 in the US Billboard Hot 100 chart.
The real treat here is the instrumental B-side 'Tragic'. Andy Bell added vocals to this track later on - that version was released on the cd-single of the later single 'I love Saturday'. That single was not released on 7" vinyl.
My collection: 7" single no. 2507 Found: House of Rhythm, London, October 30, 1995 Cost: 1 pound Tracks: 'Always' / 'Tragic'
'The name of the game' was the first song to be recorded for Abba's fifth album, which would be named 'The album'. Written by Björn Ulvaeus, Benny Andersson and Stig Anderson, it was their most complex composition yet and contained the influences of the laid-back California sound of the day.
An edited version of 'The name of the game', which omitted the entire second verse of the song, reduced the length of the track from its original 4:51 to 3:58. This was released on a promotional single in the USA. Somehow this edited version found its way onto various cd releases, including the compilation 'Abba Gold' and the 1999 digital remaster of 'The album'. Fortunately, the original single features the song in its entirity.
My collection: 7" single no. 130 Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, 1982 Cost: 1 guilder Tracks: 'The name of the game' / 'I wonder (Departure)'
The relationship with my brother has always been a bit strange. He was very much into music, and didn't have any scruples about how to get hold of records. So when I started buying records as a child, sometimes I had singles disappear on me. There was also the odd swap, but he always came out on top, because I had a lousy judgement when I was eight years old.
This single is a historic one, because it was the first single I got from him, no strings attached. It happened one sunny summers day in 1985, when I'd done some radio work for him. I didn't really like the song, but I was too baffled to say anything about it. Lucky I kept it, because I really like the song now. The single reached number 37 in the UK singles chart and number 27 in the Dutch Top 40.
My collection: 7" single no. 259 Found: Den Haag Cost: nothing Tracks: 'No mercy' / 'In one door'
'When a heart beats' was the eighth hit single for Nik Kershaw. It was the third single taken from his 1984 album 'The riddle', and at the time of its release I really thought it was a bit of a tuneless affair. It was only later, when I realised I had nearly every single by Kershaw, that I bought this one. Now, twentyfour years later, I think it's a nice pop song, albeit a little unfocused.
The single reached number 27 on the UK singles chart, but did not chart in the Netherlands.
My collection: 7" single no. 2449 Found: Record fair, September 2, 1995 Cost: 1 guilder Tracks: 'When a heart beats' / 'Wild horses'
When you see the picture here, you would almost think there's been a mistake. But it's true: I bought this single in a completely white sleeve. And that's because this copy of 'This side of love' is a promotional single, with a white CBS sleeve and the warning 'For promotion only - Not for sale' on the label. This is slightly surprising, because I always thought CBS dropped Terence Trent d'Arby like a stone the minute they heard his second album 'Neither fish nor flesh'.
The album was precisely what the title described. A collection of songs with pretentious titles that weren't particularly radio-friendly. 'This side of love' did not chart in any territory. On the upside: the B-side of this single (a non-album track) sounds a bit like an Eric Satie piano improvisation.
My collection: 7" single no. 3290 Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, February 24, 2001 Cost: 1 guilder Tracks: 'This side of love' / 'Sad song for Sister Sarah Serenade'
'Doctor doctor' was the second single taken from Thompson Twins' hugely successful 1984 album 'Into the gap'. It reached number 3 in the UK singles chart, which was an improvement on the number 4 reached by the previous single, 'Hold me now'. In the Netherlands, 'Doctor doctor' reached a more modest number 24.
My collection: 7" single no. 3264 Found: Record Exchange, London, October 21, 2000 Cost: 2 pounds Tracks: 'Doctor doctor' / 'Nurse shark'
'More than this' was released in 1982 as the first single from Roxy Music's album 'Avalon'. The single peaked at number 6 in the UK singles chart and number 24 in the Dutch Top 40. Although it didn't reach the US Billboard Hot 100 chart, it is still one of their best known singles there.
In 1999, Emmie released a very good dance cover of this track.
My collection: 7" single no. 1290 Found: All that music, Leiden, August 31, 1990 Cost: 3 guilders Tracks: 'More than this' / 'India'
'When the spirit slips away' is the third single from Ten Sharp's 1991 album 'Under the waterline'. Originally released as a 7 track mini-album, it was expanded to 10 tracks when international success loomed.
With its environmental message, this single was probably deemed uninteresting by the Dutch public, as the single did not chart. In other countries it was equally unsuccessful, although it was released in only a few countries.
My collection: 7" single no. 1966 Found: Record fair, Amsterdam, September 25, 1993 Cost: 2,5 guilders Tracks: 'When the spirit slips away' / 'When the spirit slips away (instrumental)'
Peeping Tom is a person who, in the legend of Lady Godiva, watched her during her ride and was struck blind or dead. The song 'Peeping Tom' was Rockwell's third single, taken from his album 'Captured'. It also featured on the soundtrack of the motion picture 'The last dragon', a Motown Productions picture. This martial arts film was a critical disappointment but a commercial success.
Although personally I think this is an accomplished song, it was not successful in any territory. I had the 12" single before I found this 7" single - and I do admit the remix is better than the single version.
My collection: 7" single no. 2581 Found: Record fair, Rotterdam, December 23, 1995 Cost: 1 guilder Tracks: 'Peeping Tom' / 'Tokyo (instrumental)'
'Break the chains' was the third and last single release from Private lives' debut album 'Prejudice and pride'. The single version was slightly different from the album version, as it added a sung intro.
Like most Private lives singles, this one did not chart.
My collection: 7" single no. 2984 Found: Record fair, February 9, 1998 Cost: 1 guilder Tracks: 'Break the chains' / 'You've got to win'
'Part-time lover' was released as a single in 1985 and was taken from Stevie Wonder's album 'In square circle'. The song reached number 1 in America, number 3 in the UK and number 11 in the Netherlands. The song featured R&B singer Luther Vandross humming at the end of Stevie's verses.
Sounds familiar? Well that's because I wrote about the 12" single of 'Part-time lover' on this blog a few months ago...
My collection: 7" single no. 2261 Found: April 8, 1995 Cost: 2 guilders Tracks: 'Part-time lover' / 'Part-time lover (instrumental)'
'Praying for time', released in August 1990, was George Michael's first single in almost two years. The song was a dark and sombre reflection on social ills and injustice. George used an echoey vocal effect and put the melody in a low enough key to take away the sunny nature of his regular singing voice.
While George Michael refused to appear in videos to support the album, a music video was released featuring only the words of the song with a blue and black background that, at the end of the clip, reveals itself to be the image on the cover of the album 'Listen without prejudice', from which the song was taken. The single reached number 6 in the UK, number 10 in the Netherlands and number 1 in the USA.
My collection: 7" single no. 1312 Found: HMV, London, October 15, 1990 Cost: 2 pounds Tracks: 'Praying for time' / 'If you were my woman'
'Lolly lolly' was the second single released from Wendy & Lisa's second album 'Fruit at the bottom' (1989). The single was remixed by their former employer Prince, who made the track sound bouncier and funkier than on the album.
Despite his efforts, the single was only a minor hit in the UK, peaking at number 64. However, in the Netherlands 'Lolly lolly' shot to number 8.
My collection: 7" single no. 936 Found: Free Record Shop, Den Haag, July 7, 1989 Cost: 6 guilders Tracks: 'Lolly lolly' / 'Hip hop love'
Back in 1984, while I was constantly watching television to see music videos, I got to know the duo Naked Eyes thanks to their video of '(What) In the name of love'. They were unknown in the Netherlands, but in the UK - where Music Box was based - they already had one hit under their belt with 'Always something there to remind me'.
It took me years to find this single, but I finally did in 1995. What a relief! It was not a hit for Naked Eyes, even though the music video was a regular on television in the summer of 1984.
My collection: 7" single no. 2431 Found: August 19, 1995 Cost: 2 guilders Tracks: '(What) In the name of love' / 'Two heads together'
Yazoo released their second album 'You and me both' in 1982, and 'The other side of love' was the first single taken from that album. It was an uptempo song with a strong synth hook. Alison Moyet's soulful vocals completed the package.
While the album reached the top of the UK albums chart, the single stalled just outside the top 10, peaking at number 13. It's an energetic sort of song that has stood the test of time.
My collection: 7" single no. 177 Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, 1982 Cost: 3,5 guilders Tracks: 'The other side of love' / 'Ode to boy'
Duran Duran was chosen to do the theme song of the 1984 James Bond movie 'A view to a kill' after bassist John Taylor (a lifelong Bond fan) approached producer Cubby Broccoli at a party and asked: 'When are you going to get someone decent to do one of your theme songs?'. As a result, the band was introduced to Bond composer John Barry. Simon le Bon comments: 'He didn't really come up with any of the basic musical ideas. He heard what we came up with and he put them into an order. And that's why it happened so quickly because he was able to separate the good ideas from the bad ones, and he arranged them.'
The song was completed in April, and was released worldwide in May 1984. It was the last track that the original five members of Duran Duran recorded together until their reunion sixteen years later, in 2001.
My collection: 7" single no. 1866 Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, February 13, 1993 Cost: 1 guilder Tracks: 'A view to a kill' / 'A view to a kill (That fatal kiss)'
In 1993, Kim Appleby released her second solo album 'Breakaway'. The album was preceded by this single, 'Light of the world'. With the material co-written with her sister Mel Appleby all used up, she turned to new co-writers Davidge and Slateford to make this track. You would think that such an uplifting song housed in a sexy sleeve like this one would have been a big hit.
But these were strange times; people were still listening to tuneless, depressing 'grunge rock' and dance was not as en vogue as it was before. Hence, 'Light of the world' stalled at number 41 in the UK singles chart and did not chart in other territories.
My collection: 7" single no. 2001 Found: London, October 18, 1993 Cost: 2 pounds Tracks: 'Light of the world' / 'Don't worry'
According to Australian music critic Molly Meldrum the lyric of Madonna's 'The power of goodbye' was written about Madonna's ex-husband Sean Penn. The track was released as a single in the fall of 1998. The single reached number 6 in the UK and the Netherlands, but stalled at number 11 in the US Billboard Hot 100.
'The power of goodbye' was taken from Madonna's 1998 album 'Ray of light', the best work of her career. After this single, her singles would slowly fall back to the mediocre material she's issuing these days.
My collection: 7" single no. 3046 Found: Record fair, Rotterdam, December 23, 1998 Cost: 10 guilders Tracks: 'The power of goodbye' / 'Mer girl'
Nicky Ryan enters the dark castle, a gloomy place where few people ever dare to enter. 'Enya? Enya? Where are you?' A dark rumbling comes from afar, a cough, a rattle, and then a deep, dark voice sounds from across the hall. -'Who the hell is that?' 'It's Nicky. Enya? I've got a request...' - 'Go away, I want to sleep', comes the answer, and another coughing fit ensues. 'But I got a call from the record company. They want you to record some vocals for this movie soundtrack.' - 'Vocals? Are you mad?', rumbles the voice. 'Do you think I still have that same voice I had ten years ago? Now where did I keep my fags and my whiskey...' 'Enya, please. We could make a good deal of money on this.' - 'But I can't, I just can't. Listen to me, man! You really think I could pull it off with this? I sound like Tom Waits or Marianne Faithfull...' Nicky sighs. The darkness of the castle makes him depressed. 'Maybe you're right... But if we slow down the music, perhaps...? ' A silence. Then: 'How much money are we talking about?'
Exclusively on this blog: the original version of 'Book of days', as recorded in Enya's dark castle.
My collection: 7" single no.1731 (pictured above) Found: Virgin Megastore, London, October 17, 1992 Cost: 1 pound Tracks: 'Book of days' / 'As baile'
My collection: 7" single no. 2239 (pictured below) Found: Record fair, February 18, 1995 Cost: 3 guilders Tracks: 'Book of days' / 'On your shore'
After UB40 scored a massive hit with 'I got you babe' (a duet with Chrissie Hynde from the Pretenders), they released a song that I thought was about a thousand times better than that piece of outdated drivel. 'Don't break my heart' was composed by the band, as opposed to the aforementioned cover version.
They managed to reach number 3 in the UK singles chart with this, plus number 13 in the Dutch Top 40.
My collection: 7" single no. 349 Found: 1985 Cost: 6 guilders Tracks: 'Don't break my heart' / 'Mek ya rok'
'Always' was released as the first single from Erasure's sixth album 'I say I say I say'. The song quickly became Erasure's 13th Top 10 on the UK singles chart, peaking at number 4. It topped the charts in Ireland and hit number 5 in Germany. In the United States, the single peaked at number 20 in the US Billboard Hot 100 chart.
