How can I fall - Breathe

In the Eighties not only dance tracks got the 'extended remix' treatment, but also ballads. Sometimes this resulted in very beautiful tracks, such as this version of 'How can I fall' by Breathe. With some instrumental additions, the track is extended to great effect.

What's more, this 12" single was released in a limited edition poster package. The 24"x36" photograph is the same as the one on the front sleeve, but it's still a nice gesture.

My collection: 12" single no. 139
Found: Record Exchange, London, October 1991
Cost: 2 pounds
Tracks: 'How can I fall? (extended remix)' / 'How can I fall? (single version)', 'All this I should have known'

Endless road - Time Bandits

The Dutch band Time Bandits were always able to release their hit singles with attractive 12" single alternatives. Their 1985 hit 'Endless road' was released with a 'special remixed dance version' included on this disc.

My collection: 12" single no. 390
Found: unknown
Cost: unknown
Tracks: 'Endless road (special remixed dance version)' / 'Fiction'

Love and anger - Kate Bush

I still remember the day in March 1990 when my sister walked into my room with the newest single by Kate Bush, 'Love and anger'. She pronounced the title wrong and then showed me that the single was released in a gatefold booklet sleeve. I was green with envy, almost literally. When she added that the shop only had one copy, no love was left inside me, just anger.

The two weeks it took for the shop to get the single back in stock were among the longest weeks of my life. My fandom of Kate Bush had taken on gigantic proportions - and having an item like this pass me by was simply too much to bear. But fortunately in this case, all's well that ends well.

My collection: 7" single no. 1192
Found: Melody Maker, Den Haag, March 1990
Cost: 7 guilders
Tracks: 'Love and anger' / 'Ken'

Stay out of my life - Five Star

The single 'Stay out of my life' was successful in the UK only at a time when Five Star were at the peak of their popularity in their home country. It reached number 9 in the UK singles chart.

This 12" single features a remix of 'Stay out of my life' as well as a remix of previous hit single 'If I say yes'. Where many Five Star 12" singles just seem to fall flat, this package is quite a lively one.

My collection: 12" single no. 457
Found: unknown
Cost: unknown
Tracks: 'Stay out of my life' / 'If I say yes (Lew Hahn US dub mix)', '(How dare you) Stay out of my life'

Jackie's strength - Tori Amos

I never managed to turn my friend Puck into a Tori Amos fan, however hard I tried. While I bought all of her albums and singles, he remained insensitive to the beauty of her Nineties work. Admittedly, Amos creatively burned out after the turn of the century, but before she did, she created some magical music.

In 1999, I was pleasantly surprised when Puck actually liked the 'Wedding cake club mix' of 'Jackie's strength'. Originally a moving ballad on Tori Amos' 1998 album 'From the choirgirl hotel', Warren Rigg turned it into a 'hands in the air' dance anthem. Quite an achievement and I actually liked this remix myself too. I bought this American double 12" single mainly for the sleeve, because all the tracks were released on the American cd-single as well.

My collection: 12" single no. 400
Found: Record fair, 1999
Cost: 20 guilders
Tracks: 'Jackie's strength (Wedding cake club mix)' / 'Jackie's strength (Wedding cake edit)' // 'Jackie's strength (One Rascal dub #1)' / 'Father Lucifer (Sylkscreen remix)' // 'Jackie's strength (One Rascal dub #2)' / 'Father Lucifer (Sylkscreen instrumental)' // 'Jackie's strength (Wedding cake meltdown mix)' / 'Jackie's strength (Bonus beats)'

It's over - Level 42

The ballad 'It's over' was released as the fourth single from Level 42's album 'Running in the family' in 1987. I bought the 7" single in 1991, but it took me some years to find and buy the 12" single after that.

When I did, I only bought it because it was very cheap. The extended version isn't that extended and I already had the B-side, a live track. The instrumental version of 'It's over' is a nice bonus, though. Instrumental versions are ideal to make you own extended versions with.

My collection: 12" single no. 262
Found: Record Exchange, London, 1998
Cost: 30p
Tracks: 'It's over (extended version)' / 'Physical presence (live version)', 'It's over (instrumental)'

The captain of her heart - Double

I've always liked the track 'The captain of her heart' by the band Double. I bought the single as soon as it was released, but I never really thought there was a 12" single. When I found it a decade later, I was interested to find that there was a 'full version' of the track.

This full version adds an impressive 35 seconds to the track, which I have to agree ain't much. But I took it home anyway.

My collection: 12" single no. 434
Found: House of Rhythm, London, 1997
Cost: 1 pound
Tracks: 'The captain of her heart (full version)' / 'Your prayer takes me off part 2 (dub)'

Paris Latino - Bandolero

I bought the 7" single of 'Paris latino' in 1997, a few years before I found this 12" single. The 12" version is slightly longer than the single version, and as such isn't a remix but just an extended version.

The B-side contains two very latin sounding tracks, good for any party.

My collection: 12" single no. 546
Found: unknown
Cost: unknown
Tracks: 'Paris latino' / 'Tango tango', 'El bandido caballero'

Cruel summer '89 - Bananarama

'Cruel summer' was a hit for Bananarama, reaching number 9 in the UK singles chart in August 1983. In 1989, the record company decided on releasing a remix of the track as a single, which wasn't a brilliant idea to begin with.

This 12" single adds some more misery to the whole idea. I didn't know this when I bought it, of course, otherwise I would never have done it. The remixes of three Bananarama hits are all abyssmal. A crash course in ruining great pop songs.

My collection: 12" single no. 420
Found: unknown
Cost: unknown
Tracks: 'Cruel summer '89 (Swing beat dub)', 'I heard a rumour (Corporation of Bananarama mix)' / 'Venus (The Greatest remix)'

Let it be - Ferry Aid

I don't really know why - well it probably was a lack of funds - but I never bought the 12" single of Ferry Aid's 'Let it be' despite being a fan of several artists on this record. 23 years later, I finally managed it and what a pleasant surprise this disc holds...

The remixed version of 'Let it be' starts with the part of Kate Bush, so basically it starts on a high. It's very interesting to hear a different sequence of artists in the 12" mix.

My collection: 12" single no. 545
Found: discogs.com, received May 18, 2010
Cost: 5 euro
Tracks: 'Let it be [12" remix]' / 'Let it be (Mega message mix)'

Catch me - Marsha Raven

Before the 'Anglia remix' was created, which spawned the hit single version of 'Catch me' by Marsha Raven, she released the track without the sound effect of Big Ben in it.

This 12" single is the extended version of the original single version, and it features no clocks whatsoever. Without that, it loses a lot of its appeal although it's still a very danceable track.

My collection: 12" single no. 542
Found: Plaatboef, Rotterdam, 2001
Cost: 2,5 guilders
Tracks: 'Catch me' / 'Catch me (instrumental mix)'

Ooh to be ah - Kajagoogoo

Kajagoogoo were scorned in the Eighties (and after) became they were considered to be naff. But when you listen to their music now, it holds up very well. The song with the nonsensical title 'Ooh to be aah' is a great piece of breezy pop that has stood the test of time better than you'd think.

This 12" single features an extended remix of 'Ooh to be ah' plus a B-side track that was not featured on the 7" single.

My collection: 12" single no. 544
Found: Plaatboef, Rotterdam, 2000
Cost: 2,5 guilders
Tracks: 'Ooh to be ah (The Construction mix)' / 'Ooh to be ah', 'Interview rooms'

Secrets - Fiat Lux

Back in November 2008, I featured the 7" single of Fiat Lux's 'Secrets' on this blog. The song cannot be downloaded from there anymore as I never reupload tracks (so don't ask, please).

However, since I have this 12" single as well, both tracks are available once more. And it's just as well, since 'Secrets' is one of the best songs of the Eighties, I dare say. It's a shame that this 12" single does not include an extended version of the track, but there is an extra B-side - which I have to say is a bit of a throwaway track...

My collection: 12" single no. 248
Found: unknown
Cost: unknown
Tracks: 'Secrets' / 'Comfortable life', 'Aqua vitae'

Don't break my heart - UB40

This is not the best 12" remix in the history of mankind - in fact, it's rather lame. It features the single version of UB40's 'Don't break my heart', which fades out at the end while a different track fades in: it's an instrumental roughly based on the tempo and key of the song but doesn't really belong here. I think many people must have felt a bit cheated when they played this record after buying it.

My collection: 12" single no. 376
Found: Plaatboef, Rotterdam, 2000
Cost: 2,5 guilders
Tracks: 'Don't break my heart (12" version)' / 'Mek ya rok (12" version)'

Owner of a lonely heart - Yes

What a shame. Trevor Horn produced Yes's 'Owner of a lonely heart' in 1983, creating a great and innovative rock track - but then decided to make a remix as well. The result is on this 12" single, and I repeat: what a shame. The remix is not much more than a random collection of noises that becomes increasingly grating as time progresses and no verse or chorus appears.

The B-side, fortunately, offers the A- and B-side of the 7" single, so owners of this 12" single can always take their refuge to that side.

My collection: 12" single no. 543
Found: unknown
Cost: unknown
Tracks: 'Owner of a lonely heart (Special remix dance version)' / 'Owner of a lonely heart', 'Our song'

This woman's work - Kate Bush

Kate Bush recorded 'This woman's work' for the movie 'She's having a baby', directed by John Hughes. The song is played during the dramatic climax, when Jake (Kevin Bacon) learns that the lives of his wife (Elizabeth McGovern) and their unborn child are in danger. As the song plays, we see a montage sequence of flashbacks showing the couple in happier times, intercut with shots of him waiting for news of Elizabeth and their baby's condition. Bush wrote the song specifically for the sequence, writing from a man's viewpoint and matching the words to the visuals which had already been filmed.

Kate included the song in her 1989 album 'The sensual world'. The song was re-edited from the original version featured on the film soundtrack. When the song was chosen as the second single from the album, the song was mixed differently for another time.

The single was released in two different formats: a 'regular' 7" single and a picture disc. While failing to chart in most territories, it reached number 25 in the UK singles chart and number 20 in Ireland. The song should be considered one of Kate Bush's signature songs.

My collection: 7" single no. 1123
Found: Free Record Shop, Den Haag, December 19, 1989
Cost: 6,5 guilders
Tracks: 'This woman's work' / 'Be kind to my mistakes'

You keep me hangin' on - Kim Wilde, You win again - Bee Gees

This promotional jukebox single from Italy is evidence that the Italians were a bit slow in picking up one of Kim Wilde's biggest hits, 'You keep me hangin' on'. While the Bee Gees' 'You win again' was released in September 1987, Kim's single was originally released a year earlier.

I have no documentation on the chart history of 'You keep me hangin' on' in Italy, but I suspect it only charted when this promo was circulated. By that time, it had already reached number 1 in the US Billboard Hot 100 chart - no mean feat for a female singer from the UK.

My collection: 7" single no. 4866
Found: eBay.co.uk, received May 15, 2010
Cost: 6 pounds
Tracks: 'You keep me hangin' on' (Kim Wilde) / 'You win again' (Bee Gees)

Giorgio - Lys Assia

I wonder if I'll ever find out if there's a 7" single of Lys Assia's winning Eurovision song 'Refrain' from 1956. I'm still looking for it and it's the only Eurovision winner that's missing from my collection!

Lys Assia returned to the Contest in 1957 and 1958, and this is her entry from 1958: 'Giorgio'. Representing Switzerland, she very nearly won the Contest again, earning 24 points, but finished second behind Andre Claveau with 'Dors mon amour', who earned 27 points. It's surprising that a 52 year old single can still be in such pristine condition.

My collection: 7" single no. 4865
Found: Da Capo, Utrecht, May 14, 2010
Cost: 3 euro
Tracks: 'Giorgio' / 'Louella'

Merry-go-round - Susan Fassbender

Susan Fassbender's 1981 single 'Twilight cafe' was a hit in the UK, but subsequent recordings failed to match that success.

This single, 'Merry-go-round' was released the same year, but failed to chart despite some appearances in TV programmes like 'Cheggers plays pop' and 'Swap shop'.

My collection: 7" single no. 4863
Found: Da Capo, Utrecht, May 14, 2010
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Merry-go-round' / 'Reasons'

The Chinese way - Level 42

'The Chinese way' was released as the second single from Level 42's 1982 album 'The pursuit of accidents'.

It became Level 42's first top 30 single in the United Kingdom, peaking at number 24.

My collection: 7" single no. 4862
Found: Da Capo, Utrecht, May 14, 2010
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'The Chinese way' / '88 (live)'