Joan of Arc - Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark

The second single from OMD's third album 'Architecture & Morality' was the beautiful 'Joan of Arc'. Not to be confused with 'Maid of Orleans', which was subtitled 'The waltz of Joan of Arc', which was the next single and would be a worldwide hit.

This single was less successful worldwide, although it did reach number 5 in the UK singles chart, only one place lower than 'Maid of Orleans'.

My collection: 7" single no. 2493
Found: House of Rhythm, London, October 30, 1995
Cost: 40p
Tracks: 'Joan of Arc' / 'The romance of the telescope (unfinished)'

Let me be the one - Five Star

'Let me be the one' was released in the summer of 1985 as the fourth single from the group's 'Luxury of life' album.

This 12" single features two remixes of the track, of which the 'Philadelphia remix' features famous saxophonist Grover Washington, Jr. As an extra treat, there's a dub mix of one of their early hits, 'All fall down' and of course the instrumental B-side 'Beat 47'.

My collection: 12" single no. 463
Found: Record fair, Utrecht, 2008
Cost: 2 euro
Tracks: 'Let me be the one (Philadelphia remix)', 'Let me be the one (Dance mix by Hardrock) / 'All fall down (M&M dub mix)', 'Beat 47'

Johnny wanna live - Sandra

'Johnny wanna live' originally appeared on Sandra's fourth album 'Paintings in yellow' (1990). When it was decided in the summer of 1992 that a compilation album, '18 greatest hits' was to be released, Sandra re-recorded the track to be included as a new single.

The song's lyric protests against cruelty to animals. In an interview in Sweden. Sandra explained the origins of the song citing her disapproval of people wearing fur coats. The single reached number 9 in Israel and number 37 in Germany.

My collection: 7" single no. 1790
Found: Melody Maker, Den Haag, November 14, 1992
Cost: 6,5 guilders
Tracks: 'Johnny wanna live' / 'Mirrored in your eyes'

Big yellow taxi - Amy Grant

Joni Mitchell originally wrote 'Big yellow taxi'. She commented about the song: 'I wrote 'Big yellow taxi' on my first trip to Hawaii. I took a taxi to the hotel and when I woke up the next morning, I threw back the curtains and saw these beautiful green mountains in the distance. Then, I looked down and there was a parking lot as far as the eye could see, and it broke my heart... this blight on paradise. That's when I sat down and wrote the song'.

Amy Grant recorded her version of this song in 1994 for her album 'House of love'. In my opinion, it's the best version of the song. It reached number 20 in the UK singles chart and number 67 in the US Billboard Hot 100.

My collection: 7" single no. 2335
Found: HMV, Lonodn, June 26, 1995
Cost: 2 pounds
Tracks: 'Big yellow taxi' / 'House of love'

I can make you feel good - Shalamar

'I can make you feel good' was the biggest hit for Shalamar in the Netherlands, where it reached number 8 in the Dutch Top 40. It also did well in the UK, where the single peaked at number 7.

The single was taken from Shalamar's 1982 album 'Friends'. In the UK, that album is apparently regarded as one of the defining albums of that year.

My collection: 7" single no. 2582
Found: December 12, 1995
Cost: 1 guilder
Tracks: ' I can make you feel good' / 'Help me'

More than love - Wet Wet Wet

'More than love' was the fourth single from Wet Wet Wet's fourth studio album, 'High on the happy side'. The single was released in March 1992 and reached number 19 in the UK singles chart and number 9 in the Dutch Top 40. The single's B-side was 'Goodnight girl', which was actually the previous single that reached number 1 in the UK.

My collection: 7" single no. 1968
Found: Melody Maker, Den Haag, September 25, 1993
Cost: 6 guilders
Tracks: 'More than love' / 'Goodnight girl'

Take on me - A-ha

Earlier today I read the news that A-ha is disbanding. It's a sad thing: for a quarter of a century they have made some of the most incredible pop songs, and their craft became better with every album. Their latest, 'Foot of the mountain' (2009) is a great piece of retro synthpop, with some of the best melodies they've ever composed.

So by way of a tribute, here is their earliest release, bar the original version of 'Take on me', which featured on the blog before. This is the second release of that song from 1985, with a new recording and a different B-side. It was still not successful. It was re-released in the same year with this sleeve and it was a case of 'third time lucky': that time it became a worldwide hit.

My collection: 7" single no. 3207
Found: Record fair, September 30, 2000
Cost: 5 guilders
Tracks: 'Take on me' / 'Love is reason'

Where did our love go - The Supremes

Holland–Dozier–Holland originally composed 'Where did our love go' and prepared the instrumental track for The Marvelettes to record it. They rejected the song, after which the songw as offered to the Supremes. They had only had one top 40 hit and eight flops to their name. Although they were hesitant to record the song, they finally felt they didn't really have a choice other than to do it.

When the song was released, it shot to number 1 in the US Billboard Hot 100 chart and number 3 in the UK singles chart. In the Netherlands, where the Dutch Top 40 did not exist yet, it did reach some magazine charts, peaking at number 8 in October 1964.

My collection: 7" single no. 1060
Found: London, October 18, 1989
Cost: 1 pound
Tracks: 'Where did our love go' / 'He means the world to me'

Wonderful life - Black

'Wonderful life' is the song they can play at my funeral. It's the perfect combination of beautiful music and a raher cynical lyric - although it can also be perceived as being a rather upbeat lyric as well. Add to this the perfect voice of Colin Vearncombe, and you have one of the best pop songs of all time.

When it was originally released in 1985 on the independent Ugly Man label, a limited edition double single was made, featuring not two, but four great tracks. Re-recordings of all of these traks would appear on Black's debut album in 1987 on A&M records, except 'Birthday night', a song that never resurfaced. And for that, this double single is a true collectors item for Black fans. This original version reached number 72 in the UK singles chart. It was the first single by Black to reach the chart, if only for one week.

My collection: 7" single no. 2627
Found: March 9, 1996
Cost: 5 pounds
Tracks: 'Wonderful life' / 'Birthday night' // 'Sometimes for the asking' / 'Everything's coming up roses'

Sweet and low - Deborah Harry

'Sweet and low' was another single from Deborah Harry's 1989 album 'Def, dumb and blonde'. Originally produced by Chris Stein, Toni C and Deborah Harry, the track was remixed for the single by Phil Harding and Ian Curnow, associates of Stock, Aitken & Waterman. At the time of the release of this single, Harry embarked on a solo tour in the USA, UK and Australia in early 1990.

The single reached number 57 in the UK singles chart and was released in a limited edition with a poster sleeve. Of course, I had to have that one.

My collection: 7" single no. 1707
Found: Record fair, Amsterdam, September 19, 1992
Cost: 5 guilders
Tracks: 'Sweet and low' / 'Lovelight'

The swords of a thousan men - Tenpole Tudor

Tenpole Tudor released their debut album 'Eddie, Old Bob, Dick and Gary' in 1981. The second single from the album, 'Wunderbar', was a European hit, but its predecessor did less well. Still, in the UK it was their biggest hit, reaching number 6 in the UK singles chart.

My copy of the single is a Belgian pressing, which in fact is a pretty rare thing: I think I've only got a handful of singles made in Belgium.

My collection: 7" single no. 3295
Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, February 24, 2001
Cost: 1 guilder
Tracks: 'The swords of a thousand men' / 'Love and food'

Against all odds - Phil Collins

Phil Collins wrote 'Against all odds' for the 1984 movie of the same name. It was originally titled 'How can you just sit there?', and was one of many songs to be written for Collins' debut album 'Face value' (1981). Collins rewrote the lyric for the 1984 version which was released on the soundtrack album of 'Against all odds'.

When it was released as a single, it reached number 2 in the UK singles chart and number 1 in the US Billboard Hot 100 chart. In the Dutch Top 40, it reached number 10. Back in 1984, I didn't really like this song and its boring music video - my appreciation for it became bigger in the early Nineties.

My collection: 7" single no. 2370
Found: House of Rhythm, London, July 1, 1995
Cost: 60p
Tracks: 'Against all odds' (Phil Collins) / 'Making a big mistake' (Mike Rutherford)

I heard a rumour - Bananarama

'I heard a rumour' was the first single from Bananarama's 1987 album 'Wow!', which was their second album to be produced by Stock, Aitken & Waterman. The song has all the features of a SAW production: a steady beat, lots of synth sounds and an accesible pop treatment. It has to be said that the B-side is a weird one, featuring samples from Princess's 'Say I'm your number one' amongst other things.

My copy was released as a limited edition with a poster sleeve. The single reached number 14 in the UK singles chart and number 17 in the Dutch Top 40. In America the single was even more successful, reaching number 4.

My collection: 7" single no. 547
Found: Tower Records, London, October 1987
Cost: 2 pounds
Tracks: 'I heard a rumour' / 'Clean cut boy (Party size)'

Whoops now / What'll I do - Janet Jackson

As far as I know, it doesn't happen that often that a 'hidden track' on a cd album is subsequently released as a single. But that's exactly what happened with Janet Jackson's 'Whoops now' in 1995. It was the eighth single taken from Jackson's 1993 album 'Janet', and it was released in the UK as a double A-side with 'What'll I do', another album track.

This 7" single was released as a picture disc only, which might have helped sales a little. The single reached number 9 in the UK singles chart, while it reached number 1 in New Zealand.

My collection: 7" single no. 2257
Found: Wreckastow, Rotterdam, March 22, 1995
Cost: 8 guilders
Tracks: 'Whoops now (radio edit)' / 'What'll I do'

Bakerman - Laid Back

The single 'Bakerman' by Laid Back was notable for its music video, directed by Lars von Trier, featuring members of the band falling down in the sky as part of a parachute jump. The music is also interesting, while the lyric is a little repetitive. The track featured guest vocals by Hanne Boel.

The single reached number 23 in the Dutch Top 40, while a remix version reached number 1 in Greenland in 2006.

My collection: 7" single no. 1189
Found: Free Record Shop, Den Haag, May 3, 1990
Cost: 6 guilders
Tracks: 'Bakerman' / 'I walk proud'

Delicate - Terence Trent d'Arby featuring Des'ree

Terence Trent d'Arby returned to form in 1993, when he released his third album 'Symphony or damn'. The songs were certainly more accessible than his work on the second album 'Neither fish nor flesh' and he also managed to reach the higher regions of the UK singles charts again.

The best single from the album in my opinion was the second one: 'Delicate', a duet with Des'ree. Just like the previous single 'Do you love me like you say?' this reached number 14 in the UK singles chart, but it also managed to scrape in the Billboard Hot 100 chart, although it stalled at number 74.

My collection: 7" single no. 1993
Found: HMV, London, October 18, 1993
Cost: 2 pounds
Tracks: 'Delicate' / 'She's my baby', 'Dance little sister'

Runaway - Freur

I found this 12" single in 1995, a beautiful relic from the early Eighties. As mentioned before, Freur's single 'Runaway' was the second single from Freur's debut album 'Doot doot' and didn't bring them the commercial success they may have hoped for.

The 12" single is a real treat, because it features alternate versions of both the A-side and the B-side of the single. I have always like Freur for their debut single 'Doot doot' (Well, and the 12" single 'Doot doot' as well), but this one is a close second.

My collection: 12" single no. 249
Found: London, 1995
Cost: 1 pound
Tracks: 'Runaway (Dun difrunt)' / 'You're a hoover (Dun difrunt too)'

Nobody knows - Nik Kershaw

'Nobody knows' is another single from Nik Kershaw's 1985 album 'Radio Musicola'. The lyric of the song deals with tabloid journalists, paparazzi and the public's right to know intimate details of celebrities' lives.

The single did not chart in the UK, but reached number 73 in Australia and number 2 in Japan.

My collection: 7" single no. 3077
Found: Beanos, East Croydon, London, May 10, 1999
Cost: 1 pound
Tracks: 'Nobody knows' / 'One of our fruit machines is missing'

Papillon - Editors

The first single from the Editors' third album 'In this light and on this evening' (which came out just recently) is 'Papillon'. Contrary what one might expect, this song is very synth-driven and almost sounds like an old Depeche Mode track. It has already reached number 1 in Belgium.

The music video is something I can't watch, full of running people. For some reason, it makes me physically ill to see these people running around. If you like this track, you can also download a free MP3 of an exclusive remix of this track from this page on the NME website.

My collection: 7" single no. 4103
Found: eBay.co.uk, received October 14, 2009
Cost: 4 pounds
Tracks: 'Papillon' / 'Eat raw meat = Blood drool (demo)'

Paris is burning - Ladyhawke

When I wrote about 'Paris is burning' by Ladyhawke in August, I noted that that single contained only a remix and the French version of the song. What I didn't know was that in the mean time the single had been re-released in March. This limited release (only 600 copies were made, apparently) was pressed on white vinyl and featured the original version of 'Paris is burning' plus a remix. Of course, a download bundle was also available.

While the original release reached number 61 in the UK singles chart, this re-release reached number 47.

My collection: 7" single no. 4102
Found: eBay.co.uk, received October 14, 2009
Cost: 3 pounds
Tracks: 'Paris is burning' / 'Paris is burning (Chicken Lips Zeefungk beatdown)'