So many men, so little time - Miquel Brown

It's no wonder, I guess, that one of the most popular gay anthems of 1983 was also a hit in the clubs and discotheques. This extended version of Miquel Brown's very appropriate 'So many men, so little time' was a corker at many gay - but also straight parties.

Accoding to the bio on the back of the sleeve, Miquel Brown was born in Detroit, Michigan (USA) and arrived in London in May 1973 to start a career as a singing and dancing actress. 'So many men, so little time' is called 'a biography of a modern day girl' and is dedicated to Miquel's father, Samuel Stevenson. I bet he's proud.

My collection: 12" single no. 538
Found: unknown
Cost: 2 guilders
Tracks: 'So many men, so little time (extended)' / 'So many men, so little time (extended instrumental)'

Wonderful life - Black

Black will always be remembered for that one song, 'Wonderful life'. Through the years it has been covered by Chinese techno bands, German rock bands and Dutch female singers, it has been a popular song during funerals and it has even been used on advertisements for cereals and life insurances.

It was an English life insurance ad that prompted Polygram to re-release 'Wonderful life' in 1994. The single reached number 42 in the UK singles chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 2439
Found: August 22, 1995
Cost: 2 pounds
Tracks: 'Wonderful life' / 'Sweetest smile'

Kronenburg park (live) - Frank Boeijen Groep

Frank Boeijen had just decided to disband the group he'd worked with for the last ten years, when this single was released. The final live dates were still happening, and in a way, this single was a big farewell to all the fans. Hearts were broken, girls were weeping and the end of an era had come. Indeed, there was never another Frank Boeijen Groep single release after this.

'Kronenburg park' had been one of the biggest hits for the band back in 1985, and this single featured both that hit version and the live version from the then-current album. Like the other singles from the album, this one failed to chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 1382
Found: Melody Maker, Den Haag, February 16, 1991
Cost: 6,5 guilders
Tracks: 'Kronenburg park (live)' / 'Kronenburg park'

The word girl - Scritti Politti

I never actually took the time to compare them, but I do have the suspicion that all the versions of 'The word girl' included on this 12" single are actually different from the two versions on the 7" single. And if that isn't so, at least there's the extra extended version of the track on the B-side.

That B-side version was remixed by Julian Mendelsohn, one of the top remixers and producers of the Eighties. The track also features Ranking Ann, who I think is a complete unknown. But then again, I might just be missing some information there.

My collection: 12" single no. 321
Found: Record Exchange, London
Cost: 50p
Tracks: 'The word girl', 'Flesh & blood' / 'The word girl / Flesh & blood (version)'

In my life - Kim Wilde

'In my life' was the second new song on the compilation album 'The Singles Collection 1981-1993' and was released as a single in remix form in 1993. It was the final Kim Wilde single to be released on the 7" vinyl format.

Partly due to the flat and uninspired remix by West End, 'In my life' achieved little chart success, peaking at number 54 in the UK singles chart and number 78 in Germany.

My collection: 7" single no. 2060
Found: Wreckastow, Rotterdam, December 24, 1993
Cost: 10 guilders
Tracks: 'In my life (West End 7")' / 'In my life'

Election day - Arcadia

Arcadia presented themselves for the first time with their debut single 'Election day'. But they were no debutants: the trio consisted of three members from the band Duran Duran, and guest vocals on this track were provided by Grace Jones.

This extended version showcases those vocals even better, while adding some elements to the track that were not on the single and album versions.

My collection: 12" single no. 176

Found: Record Exchange, London

Cost: 1 pound

Tracks: 'Election day (Consensus mix)' / 'Election day', 'She's moody and grey, she's mean and she's restless'

If I can't have you - Kim Wilde

When Kim Wilde was about to release a compilation album in 1993, there was a need for a hit single. Not convinced that they had a hit single among their newly written material, the Wildes set about searching for a song to cover. Eventually they decided on Yvonne Elliman's Saturday Night Fever hit 'If I can't have you'.

Although not as inspired as the 1986 cover of 'You keep me hangin' on', Kim's version of 'If I can't have you' certainly gives the old song a kick up the arse, and it was rewarded with good chart placings: the single reached number 12 in the UK singles chart and number 23 in the Dutch Top 40.

My collection: 7" single no. 2042
Found: Wreckastow, Rotterdam, October 23, 1993
Cost: 10 guilders
Tracks: 'If I can't have you' / 'Never felt so alive'

Onverstoorbaar (live) - Frank Boeijen Groep

'Onverstoorbaar' ('Unstirred') was one of the six new tracks on the Frank Boeijen Groep's 1990 live double cd, 'Hier komt de storm' ('Here comes the storm'). It was, however, the only new track to be recorded live, as the other five were recorded in the studio. Hence, no studio version of 'Onverstoorbaar' exists - but still the single was titled 'Onverstoorbaar (live)'.

Personally, I thought this track represented everything which made the band so great: a great melody, a lyric that clicks on an emotional level, and sounding full and lively. Most people did not agree with me: the single did not chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 1362
Found: Free Record Shop, Den Haag, December 8, 1990
Cost: 6 guilders
Tracks: 'Onverstoorbaar (live)' / 'Hemel en hel'

Million miles away - Kim Wilde

'Million miles away' was released as the third and final single from Kim Wilde's 1992 album 'Love is' in Europe and Japan. The track was a remixed version of the album version. The sleeve featured a photograph of Kim that looked a lot like a photograph of Marilyn Monroe made a few decades previous.

It was very hard to get hold of this 7" vinyl: most shops didn't stock the format anymore, and although this single was made in Holland, I finally found a copy almost a year after its release in Austria!

My collection: 7" single no. 1933
Found: Vienna, July 6, 1993
Cost: 30 Schilling
Tracks: 'Million miles away' / 'The light of the moon (belongs to me)'

Fly up to the moon - Black and Sam Brown

In 1991, Black recorded a duet with another A&M Records artist, Sam Brown. The track 'Fly up to the moon' was included on Black's 1991 self-titled album and was released as the third and last single from the album. The lyric includes a quote from the T.S. Eliot poem 'The hollow men': 'This is the way the world ends / Not with a bang but a whimper'. Except Sam Brown actually sings '...but with a whimpy'.

The single also included two bonus tracks on the B-side. 'You lift me up' was re-recorded years later by Colin Vearncombe on his 2000 album 'Water on snow'.

My collection: 7" single no. 1694
Found: London, 1991
Cost: 2 pounds
Tracks: 'Fly up to the moon' / 'You lift me up', What you are'

Het antwoord (live) - Frank Boeijen Groep

While in the Netherlands a live version of 'Verjaardagsfeest' was released as the first single from the Frank Boeijen Groep's 1990 live album 'Hier komt de storm', the Belgian record company opted for 'Het antwoord' ('The answer'), the studio version of which was released as a single in 1983.

The live version from the album was edited by fading out at the end. The single did not chart, but it did become quite a rare item, as it wasn't released in the band's home country.

My collection: 7" single no. 4169
Found: Chelsea Records, Antwerpen, November 7, 2009
Cost: 2 euro
Tracks: 'Het antwoord (live)' / 'De prijs (van Jan Arends) (live)'

Who do you think you are? - Kim Wilde

'Who do you think you are?' was released as the second single from Kim Wilde's 1992 album 'Love is' in Europe and as the third single in the UK. The lyric of the song was written by Kim and were an observation of stardom and what it can do to people - and it was as much a comment on herself as it was on others.

The single reached number 49 in the UK singles chart and number 58 in Germany.

My collection: 7" single no. 1687
Found: Melody Maker, Den Haag, July 17, 1992
Cost: 6,5 guilders
Tracks: 'Who do you think you are?' / 'I've found a reason'

Verjaardagsfeest (live) - Frank Boeijen Groep

In 1989, the Frank Boeijen Groep released a live double cd, featuring 150 minutes of music. It was a recording of several concerts, during which many songs from their ten year career were played in often great arrangements. As an added bonus, the set also contained a handful of new tracks.

The first single from the album was a live version of 'Verjaardagsfeest', the track that put them in the spotlights back in 1981. The single did not chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 1293
Found: Free Record Shop, Den Haag, September 21, 1990
Cost: 6 guilders
Tracks: 'Verjaardagsfeest (live)' / 'De prijs (van Jan Arends) (live)'

Megamix:ninety! - Mel and Kim

Mel & Kim was one of the most popular acts in the Stock/Aitken/Waterman stable of artists. While they only released one album and four singles, they were remembered by many as one of the acts to shape the sound of 1987. After the tragic death of Mel Appleby in 1988, Kim Appleby went solo, and Mel & Kim ceased to exist, understandably.

Still, in 1990, Alan Coulthard created a megamix of Mel & Kim's biggest hits. It was released as 'Megamix:ninety!' in Germany. This 12" single offers the full length megamix and an Italo House mix of 'Showing out', the duo's debut hit.

My collection: 12" single no. 364
Found: Record fair, Rotterdam, 1998
Cost: 5 guilders
Tracks: 'Megamix:ninety!' / 'Showing out (Italo House mix)'

Zeg me dat het niet zo is - Frank Boeijen Groep

Songs about death are usually controversial: either people love them, or they loathe them. 'Zeg me dat het niet zo is' ('Say it isn't so') is one of those songs: the lyrics are quite vague, but the ending leaves nothing to the imagination: 'We doen alsof ze gewoon verder leeft / Zelfs als dat niet zo is' ('We pretend she still lives on / Even if it isn't so').

It gave the Frank Boeijen Groep their first hit in two years, even if it was a minor one: the single reached number 34 in the Dutch Top 40. Since then, it has become one of those Dutch language classics you will always hear on the radio - or during funeral services.

My collection: 7" single no. 1126
Found: Free Record Shop, Den Haag, December 8, 1989
Cost: 6 guilders
Tracks: 'Zeg me dat het niet zo is' / 'De grote kilte'

Heart over mind - Kim Wilde

Although 'Heart over mind' still sounded a lot like a Rick Nowels & Ellen Shipley composition, 'Heart over mind' was written by four other people. It was the final track to be recorded for Kim Wilde's 1992 album 'Love is', in fact the album had been completed and this song was sent over by Rick Nowels (who had written other tracks on the album) and Wilde decided to record it.

The original album version was edited for the 7" single release. It reached number 34 in the UK singles chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 1772
Found: London, October 21, 1992
Cost: 2 pounds
Tracks: 'Heart over mind' / 'I've found a reason'

Love is holy - Kim Wilde

After a brief pause, Kim Wilde started working on her eighth studio album 'Love is' in 1991. Some of the work was done in America, with Belinda Carlisle's main songwriter and producer Rick Nowels. He and Ellen Shipley wrote 'Love is holy', a song he had lying around for a while until Kim heard it and wanted to record it.

Backed with the beautiful 'Birthday song', which Kim wrote for her niece Scarlett, the single was released in April 1992. It met with considerably more success than the singles Kim released in 1990, reaching number 18 in the Dutch Top 40 and number 16 in the UK singles chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 1637
Found: Melody Maker, Den Haag, April 27, 1992
Cost: 6,5 guilders
Tracks: 'Love is holy' / 'Birthday song'

Een zomer aan het eind van de twintigste eeuw - Frank Boeijen Groep

After having made a handful of albums with pop songs with romantic lyrics, the Frank Boeijen Groep were moving away from this image with their ninth album, 'Een zomer aan het eind van de twintigste eeuw' ('A summer at the end of the twentieth century'). The album featured mostly guitar-based tracks with lyrics about the world instead of lyrics about love and life.

The title track was released as a single on the same day as the release of the album. Most people were not convinced by this new sound and didn't buy the single (although the album still sold well).

My collection: 7" single no. 1084
Found: Free Record Shop, Den Haag, October 21, 1989
Cost: 6 guilders
Tracks: 'Een zomer aan het eind van de twintigste eeuw' / 'De piano van Beethoven'

Sufi - MFO

Mazhar Alanson, Fuat Güner and Özkan Ugur formed MFO in 1984. They represented their homeland Turkey twice during the Eurovision Song Contest. In 1985, they competed with the song 'Didai didai dai', which finished in fourteenth place. They competed again in 1988 with the uplifting song 'Sufi', which finished in fifteenth place. They are still active as a band today, having released more than a dozen albums.

'Sufi' was released as a 12" single in Germany. It featured studio recordings of the original Turkish version of 'Sufi' plus an English translation of the song. The 'long version' is basically a combination of the two with added instrumental breaks.

My collection: 12" single no. 109
Found: Plaatboef, Rotterdam, 1990
Cost: 5 guilders
Tracks: 'Sufi (Long version)' / 'Sufi (Original version)', 'Sufi (English version)'

Interview - Kate Bush

There isn't a lot of information about this picture disc: the disc itself gives no information other than 'Made in England' and 'Kate Bush Interview 1985', and when you listen to the interview without any factual knowledge, it could have been recorded pretty much anywhere.

In actual fact, I do know it's the soundtrack of an interview on Music Box, the European version of MTV in 1985, when Kate Bush was promoting her album 'Hounds of love'. Martin Buchanan was the lucky fella who got to speak with her, and this is a large portion of what they were talking about. And of course, it is a bootleg release.

My collection: 7" single no. 2283
Found: Record fair, March 6, 1995
Cost: 5 guilders
Tracks: Interview (part 1) / Interview (part 2)