When will I be famous? - Bros

'When will I be famous?' was the second single by Bros, released in November 1987. The single became a huge success, launching Bros as the new boyband hype of the Eighties. The song reached number 2 in the UK singles chart and number 6 in the Dutch Top 40.

I remember the most ridiculous claims surrounded this single: some parts would have been sung by Michael Jackson, whereas frontman Matt Goss was made out to be a female by some. It all helped to give them exposure, I guess...

My collection: 7" single no. 4195
Found: Chelsea Records, Antwerpen, November 8, 2009
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'When will I be famous?' / 'Love to hate you'

War child - Blondie

'War child' was a song on Blondie's sixth studio album 'The hunter'. It was written by Debbie Harry and Nigel Harrison. It was released as a single in various countries, but not in the band's native USA. It was the second and final single from the album, and the last Blondie single (except re-releases and remixes) for some 17 years, when the band reformed and released 'Maria' in 1999.

The single was the lowest charting Blondie single to date in the UK, peaking at number 39.

My collection: 7" single no. 4192
Found: Chelsea Records, Antwerpen, November 8, 2009
Cost: 3 euro
Tracks: 'War child' / 'Little Caesar'

Love enough for two - Prima Donna

Prima Donna represented the United Kingdom during the 1980 Eurovision Song Contest. The group consisted of sisters Kate and Jane Robbins, Sally Ann Triplett, Danny Finn, Alan Coates and Lance Aston (brother of Jay Aston, who became a member of Bucks Fizz the next year).

They performed the song 'Love enough for two', which finished in third place during the Contest.
It was the first UK entry since 1964 not to make the UK singles chart prior to the Eurovision final, only debuting in chart the week after the contest, peaking at number 48.

My collection: 7" single no. 4189
Found: Chelsea Records, Antwerpen, November 8, 2009
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Love enough for two' / 'Missing out on love'

I didn't know - Ph.D.

'I didn't know' is the first single from Ph.D.'s second album 'Is it safe?', released in 1983. The single did not chart in the UK, but reportedly it did have some success in certain European countries.

Jim Diamond and Tony Hymas have recently reformed and released their third album 'Three' earlier this year.

My collection: 7" single no. 4188
Found: Chelsea Records, Antwerpen, November 8, 2009
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'I didn't know' / 'Theme for Jenny'

Never let her slip away - Andrew Gold

I rediscovered 'Never let her slip away' by Andrew Gold a couple of years ago when I bought a compilation cd with hits from 1978. I loved the single when it came out (even though I was very young at the time) but forgot about it somewhere in the Eighties. When I heard it again, the memory came flooding back.

It's only this weekend that I realised I didn't actually have the single. That error has been corrected now. 'Never let her slip away' reached number 5 in the UK singles chart and number 15 in the Dutch Top 40.

My collection: 7" single no. 4171
Found: Chelsea Records, Antwerpen, November 8, 2009
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Never let her slip away' / 'Genevieve'

Louise (we get it right) - Jona Lewie

Jona Lewie had one of his biggest successes with 'Louise (We get it right)'. Although the single was ignored in Europe and the UK, it reached number 2 in Australia.

I didn't know this track when I bought the single. Since I like most of the Jona Lewie singles I have, this one couldn't go wrong I thought. And fortunately, I was right.

My collection: 7" single no. 4167
Found: Chelsea Records, Antwerpen, November 7, 2009
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Louise (We get it right)' / 'It never will go wrong'

Genetic engineering - Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark

'Genetic engineering' was released as the first single from Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark's fourth studio album 'Dazzle ships'. The album was co-produced with Rhett Davies, who was best known for his work on lusher-sounding albums by Roxy Music.

The single reached number 20 in the UK singles chart, making it the biggest hit from the album - although it did not chart in other countries.

My collection: 7" single no. 4165
Found: Chelsea Records, Antwerpen, November 7, 2009
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Genetic engineering' / '4 Neu'

More more more - Bananarama

'More more more' was originally recorded in Jamaica by the porn star Andrea True, who performed under the name Andrea True Connection. The song became a worldwide disco hit.

Bananarama covered the song on their 1993 album 'Please yourself'. Sara Dallin, Keren Woodward, Stock and Waterman added a second verse to their version of the song which was not present on Andrea True's original. When it was released as a single, it was remixed. It peaked at number 24 in the UK singles chart. It was their last single to be released by London Records, their label since 1983. The duo would not release another single in the UK until 'Move in my direction' in 2005.

My collection: 7" single no. 4161
Found: Chelsea Records, Antwerpen, November 7, 2009
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'More, more, more' / 'Give it all up for love'

Say it - ABC

'Say it' was the second single release from ABC's 1992 album 'Abracadabra'. The track was remixed by the people behind the house group Black Box.

The single reached number 42 in the UK singles chart, but remained virtually unknown in the rest of the world.

My collection: 7" single no. 4159
Found: Chelsea Records, Antwerpen, November 7, 2009
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Say it (Abracadabra mix)' / 'Say it (Black box mix - edit)'

Theme from Mahogany - Diana Ross

'Theme from Mahogany (Do you know where you're going to)' was written by Michael Masser and Gerald Goffin, and originally recorded in 1973 by Thelma Houston. Diana Ross recorded her version for the soundtrack of the 1975 Motown/Paramount movie Mahogany. Recorded with a full orchestral accompaniment, the track became one of the most recognizable elements of the movie.

The single was a number 1 hit in the US Billboard Hot 100 chart and reached number 4 in the Dutch Top 40 and number 5 in the UK singles chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 4156
Found: Chelsea Records, Antwerpen, November 7, 2009
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Theme from Mahogany (Do you know where you're going to)' / 'No one's gonna be a fool forever'

How do you do - Mouth and Macneal

Exactly a year ago, this blog started with what I consider to be my very first single. A year later, I have posted more than 3000 entries, and I'm three quarters through my collection. Looks like early next year, all I'll need to do is post my new acquisitions.

Anyway, to celebrate the one year anniversary of this blog, here's another single by Mouth & Macneal. Since 'Hello-ah' was the duo's second number 1 hit in the Netherlands, I thought it would be appropriate to post their first here. I bought 'How do you do' in 1981, ten years after its release.

My collection: 7" single no. 98

Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, 1981

Cost: 1 guilder

Tracks: 'How do you do' / 'Land of milk and honey'

My song of you - Laurent Voulzy

Laurent Voulzy recorded the song 'Les nuits sans Kim Wilde' in 1985, a tribute to the English singer and a remarkable pop song. I bought the compilation album 'Carib islander' a decade later and found out that Voulzy actually made several remarkable pop songs - and some lovely chansons as well.

'My song of you' is one of those chansons. Despite the English title, the song is almost entirely in French and showcases the amazing talent of Voulzy to write and perform a very melodic song seemingly without effort.

My collection: 7" single no. 4200
Found: Chelsea Records, Antwerpen, November 8, 2009
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'My song of you' / 'My song of you (version acoustique)'

Smalltown boy (1991 remix) - Bronski Beat

When the record company released a compilation album of Jimmy Somerville's work with Bronski Beat and the Communards in 1991, they also decided to release a single to promote the collection. Bronski Beat's debut single 'Smalltown boy' was remixed by Stephen Hague and released in January 1991.

The single did not chart in Europe, but did manage to reach number 32 in the UK singles chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 4196
Found: Chelsea Records, Antwerpen, November 8, 2009
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Smalltown boy (1991 remix)' (Bronski Beat) / 'There's more to love than boy meets girl' (Communards)

Keep each other warm - Bucks Fizz

'Keep each other warm' was released as the fifth and final single from the 1986 Bucks Fizz album 'Writing on the wall'. Despite positive reviews from the music press, the single didn't reach the UK top 40, stalling at number 45.

The B-side was 'Give a little love', which went on to become more famous as a top 20 hit by Aswad two years later. 'Keep each other warm' was later covered by Barry Manilow in 1989.

My collection: 7" single no. 4194
Found: Chelsea Records, Antwerpen, November 8, 2009
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Keep each other warm' / 'Give a little love'

(I'm always touched by your) Presence dear - Blondie

'(I'm always touched by your) Presence dear' was written by Gary Valentine, for his then girlfriend, before he left Blondie. The song was included on their album 'Plastic letters', and subsequently released as the second single off the album.

The single reached number 10 in the UK singles chart and the Dutch Top 40, but it was not released as a single in the USA.

My collection: 7" single no. 4191
Found: Chelsea Records, Antwerpen, November 8, 2009
Cost: 2 euro
Tracks: '(I'm always touched by your) Presence dear' / 'Poets problem', 'Detroit 442'

I wish you love - Princess

Those who are familiar with Princess's biggest hits will be very surprised upon hearing this single. I know I was. I bought this single because I quite like her dance songs, but this nostalgic track is very different - but I do like it a lot. It turns out that Princess does actually have a better voice than I always assumed...

'I wish you love' was taken from her 1987 album 'All for love'. It didn't chart, however. It was probably too different for the general public.

My collection: 7" single no. 4190
Found: Chelsea Records, Antwerpen, November 8, 2009
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'I wish you love' / 'Risky business'

Happy station (Scratch version) - Fun Fun

Fun Fun are the Italian singers Francesca Merola and Roberta Servelli. They made themselves famous with their early Eighties blend of dance music and simple pop songs.

Their first hit single was 1983's 'Happy station', which was remixed in a so-called 'scratch version' to appeal to the youth market at the time. The single reached number 4 in the Dutch Top 40 and number 11 in Germany.

My collection: 7" single no. 4187
Found: Chelsea Records, Antwerpen, November 8, 2009
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Happy station (Scratch version)' / 'Happy station (instrumental version)'

Starlight dancer - Kayak

Kayak singles have become hard to get, and even if they do pop up, it's usually the same titles. That's why I was quite excited to find this mint copy of 'Starlight dancer' - in Belgium, of all places.

'Starlight dancer' was the title track of Kayak's fifth studio album, released in 1977. The single was the biggest hit from the album, peaking at number 17 in the Dutch Top 40 and even brushing the lower regions of the American singles chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 4180
Found: Chelsea Records, Antwerpen, November 8, 2009
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Starlight dancer' / 'Irene'

Rich - Lloyd Cole and the Commotions

'Rich' is a single taken from Lloyd Cole & the Commotions' second album 'Easy pieces', released in 1985. The B-side of this single is taken from their debut album 'Rattlesnakes'. For me, the reason for buying this single was the B-side, but I'm glad to say that the A-side is actually very good too.

The information I have suggests that this single was actually only released in Europe. A DJ 12" from the UK exists, but I have not heard about any commercial copies. Which makes this single a bit of a rarity.

My collection: 7" single no. 4176
Found: Chelsea Records, Antwerpen, November 8, 2009
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Rich' / 'Down on Mission street'

Breaking away - Jaki Graham

'Breaking away' is the title track from Jaki Graham's second album, released in 1986. The album reached number 25 in the UK albums chart.

When the song was released as the second single from the album, it performed rather well in the charts. In the UK, 'Breaking away' peaked at number 16, and in the Dutch Top 40 it reached number 22.

My collection: 7" single no. 4175
Found: Chelsea Records, Antwerpen, November 8, 2009
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Breaking away' / 'Love me tonight'