Is she really going out with him? (acapella live version) - Joe Jackson

In 1988, the double album 'Live 1980-1986' by Joe Jackson was released. It was an impressive compilation of live performances by the man who gave us so many great pop songs during the Eighties.

The acapella live version of 'Is she really going out with him' was released as a single. It is one of those inexplicable omissions in my 7" single collection: I bought the cd-single at the time but 'forgot' about the vinyl version. It was Joe Jackson's biggest hit in the Netherlands, reaching number 3 in the Dutch top 40.

My collection: 7" single no. 4945
Found: Velvet Vinyl Outlet, Leiden, October 8, 2010
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Is she really going out with him? (acapella live version)' / 'A slow song (live)'

Is dit alles - Doe Maar

The Dutch band Doe Maar had their first top 10 hit 'Doris Day' in early 1982. The follow-up was the laid back 'Is dit alles' ('Is this all'), released in June 1982. It shot to number 9 in the Dutch Top 40, just months before the band would have their first number 1 hit, cementing their position as the country's favourite pop act.

The song is about a relationship that seems to drag out in routine, and the singer wonders if this is all there is.

My collection: 7" single no. 4944
Found: Velvet Vinyl Outlet, Leiden, October 8, 2010
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Is dit alles' / 'Tijd genoeg'

Jump - Van Halen

One of my favourite games when I am reflecting on my record collection, is finding out which artist has the lowest and highest registration number, i.e. which is the furthest apart. Van Halen is the winner at this point: I only have two singles by the band, 'Running with the devil' being number 51 and 'Jump' has just become number 4943. Breaking this record is quite hard, unless I am ever going to buy another single by Oliver, Patrick Hernandez or Peaches & Herb (which seems unlikely) or the Jam (which is very likely).

'Jump' is one of those Eighties anthem that pretty much everyone knows. It is not representative of the band's style, who usually have a harder sound.

My collection: 7" single no. 4943
Found: Velvet Vinyl Outlet, Leiden, October 8, 2010
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Jump' / 'House of pain'

Love and pride - King

Those of you who have followed this blog since the beginning will remember that I already own a copy of King's 'Love and pride'. It was a limited edition version featuring a different sleeve and a poster. This is the original release from 1984 with a beautiful sleeve. I had to have this beautiful version as well, featuring a totally undamaged UK sleeve.

'Love and pride' became a number 2 hit in the Netherlands in 1985, a year after its original release.

My collection: 7" single no. 4942
Found: Velvet Vinyl Outlet, Leiden, October 8, 2010
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Love and pride' / 'Don't stop'

Belle Hélène - Doe Maar

A song like 'Belle Hélène' would be totally unacceptable these days. Back in 1984, the record company had no qualms about releasing a song that contained lyrics describing a love affair with an underage girl. The fact that Doe Maar was the Netherlands' most popular band at the time also helped, of course: they could do no wrong.

It is interesting, however, to note that this single did not become a hit. I have no idea when this single was actually released: it might have been after their breakup that year, when disillusioned fans didn't bother buying their records anymore.

My collection: 7" single no. 4941
Found: Velvet Vinyl Outlet, Leiden, October 8, 2010
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Belle Hélène' / 'Bella Donna'

Who's that girl - The Flying Pickets

My friend Puck, who's into acapella stuff, will be delighted to hear this version of the Eurythmics' hit single 'Who's that girl'. The Flying Pickets had a hit with an acapella version of Yazoo's 'Only you' in 1984, and followed it up with this single. It was not a hit, although it was equally inventive.

The band of six was founded by Brian Hibbard in 1982. The group chose the name The Flying Pickets as band members had played a part in the UK miners strikes of 1972 and 1974. The Flying Pickets came up with the then novel concept of perfoming contemporary pop hits in acapella versions. The height of the group's fame coincided with the 1984 Miners Strike. The Flying Pickets were very vocal in their support of the miners during the dispute and came to blows with the record label Virgin after they picketed Drax Power Station in Yorkshire. They also performed benefit gigs for the miners. Hibbard himself claimed that their political beliefs probably had a detrimental effect regarding the group's mainstream image but it was a sacrifice they were willing to make.

My collection: 7" single no. 4940
Found: Velvet Vinyl Outlet, Leiden, October 8, 2010
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Who's that girl' / 'Remember this (Jara mix)'

State of independence - Jon and Vangelis

If you know anything about Eighties pop music, you will remember Donna Summer's hit single 'State of independence' from 1982. Jon and Vangelis, who wrote the song, recorded the song in 1981 on their album 'Friends of Mr. Cairo', but it turns out they also released it as a single in 1984.

It was released on the occasion of a 'greatest hits' compilation album, and failed to become a hit. Such is the fate of talented composers...

My collection: 7" single no. 4939
Found: Velvet Vinyl Outlet, Leiden, October 8, 2010
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'State of independence' / 'The friends of Mr. Cairo'

Whole lotta love - Blonde on blonde

Page three girls Nina Carter and Jilly Johnson formed the duo Blonde on blonde, releasing a disco-inspired cover version of Led Zeppelin's classic track 'Whole lotta love' in 1979. This picture disc proves that the appeal of the girls was not so much their sound, but rather visual.

Still, it's an interesting cover of the track because it's very different from the 'rock hard' original. The single did not become a hit, but perhaps it should have been.

My collection: 7" single no. 4938
Found: Velvet Vinyl Outlet, Leiden, October 8, 2010
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Whole lotta love' / 'Make me smile'

Master and servant - Depeche Mode

I never bought the 7" single of Depeche Mode's 'Master and servant', and I only found this out a couple of months ago. Therefore it's a lot of fun to find this single for a very reasonable price.

The overtly sexual, SM-themed lyrics of 'Master and servant' - complete with synthesized whip-and-chain sound effects - reportedly got the song banned by many radio stations in the United States. The song narrowly avoided a radio ban by the BBC as well, and might have been banned if the one BBC staffer who wanted to ban the record had not been away on holiday at the time the other staffers voted on whether to add the single to their playlist. Despite all this controversy, the single reached number 6 in the UK singles chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 4937
Found: Velvet Vinyl Outlet, Leiden, October 8, 2010
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Master and servant' / '(Set me free) Remotivate me'

Alle dagen dorst - Toontje Lager

Released in January 1984, 'Alle dagen dorst' was the second consecutive single by the Dutch band Toontje Lager to narrowly miss the Dutch top 40. 'Alle dagen dorst' ('Thirsty every day') was less inspired than the band's biggest hits and failed to capture the imagination of the record buying public.

The track 'Ben jij ook zo bang', released as a single in 1982, appears on the B-side of this single in a live version.

My collection: 7" single no. 4936
Found: Velvet Vinyl Outlet, Leiden, October 8, 2010
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Alle dagen dorst' / 'Ben jij ook zo bang (live)'

People are strange - Echo and the Bunnymen

The Doors recorded 'People are strange' in the Seventies, one of those Jim Morisson compositions that stays in your head when you've heard it just once. In 1987, the British band Echo & the Bunnymen recorded a cover version of this track for the soundtrack of the movie 'The lost boys'. The song was produced by The Doors' keyboard player, Ray Manzarek.

The single reached number 29 in the UK singles chart and number 13 in the Irish Singles Chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 4935
Found: Velvet Vinyl Outlet, Leiden, October 8, 2010
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'People are strange' / 'Run, run, run (live)'

Fly too high - Janis Ian

Like 'At Seventeen', 'Fly too high' was re-released in 1991 to promote the compilation album 'Up 'til now'. I already own the original release of 'Fly too high' but since this single contains the full length 5 minute album version of the song, I decided I had to have this one as well. The B-side was recorded live at the Circustheater in Den Haag on October 23, 1991.

Produced by Giorgio Moroder, this is the one and only worldwide hit for Janis Ian, who has continued to make music until today. In addition to being a musician, Ian writes science fiction. Her works have been published in an assortment of anthologies.

My collection: 7" single no. 4934
Found: Velvet Vinyl Outlet, Leiden, October 8, 2010
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Fly too high' / 'Here comes the night'

'n Beetje - Teddy Scholten

I already owned a copy of Teddy Scholten's winning Eurovision song 'n Beetje but when I found this copy I had to have it too. Not because of the A-side, but because of the B-side: it's a cover version of 'Sing little birdie', as performed by the husband and wife duo Pearl Carr & Teddy Johnson at the 1959 Eurovision Song Contest, representing the United Kingdom.

Teddy Scholten also used her husband to perform a Dutch version of this song, translated by Daan Hooykaas. The quality of the vinyl on this one isn't the best, but the single, being 51 years old, has become very hard to find after half a century.

My collection: 7" single no. 4933
Found: Velvet Vinyl Outlet, Leiden, October 8, 2010
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: ''n Beetje' / 'Zing, kleine vogel'

Why worry - Clannad

'Why worry?' was released in 1991 as the second single from Clannad's 1990 album 'Anam'. Being the masters of breezy Celtic pop, it's another of their trademark songs that seems to woosh by without too many memorable hooks.

My collection: 7" single no. 4932
Found: Velvet Vinyl Outlet, Leiden, October 8, 2010
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Why worry?' / 'Gaothbearra'

Amor - Rod McKuen

Rod McKuen had been no stranger to the singles charts: in 1971 he had two number 1 hits in the Netherlands with 'Soldiers who want to be heroes' and 'Without a worry in the world'. After one more hit single in 1972, he disappeared until the release of 'Amor' in 1978, at the height of the disco craze.

It was an unusual song during this time, but it was an instant success: it reached number 10 in the sweaty summer of 1978.

My collection: 7" single no. 4931
Found: Velvet Vinyl Outlet, Leiden, October 8, 2010
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Amor' / 'Don't drink the orange juice'

Where were you - Flash and the Pan

'Where were you' by Flash and the Pan is one of those songs that seems so familiar but you can't quite remember where you know it from. It was a track on the band's third album 'Headlines' and released as a single in certain territories only (which might explain why it's not listed in the discography on the band's Wikipedia page).

The single was not a hit - but it is a song that stands up well, even after almost three decades.

My collection: 7" single no. 4930
Found: Velvet Vinyl Outlet, Leiden, October 8, 2010
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Where were you?' / 'Don't vote'

People, people - Donna Summer

'People, people' was released as a single from Donna Summer's 1983 album 'She works hard for the money'. The song was produced by Michael Omartian and written by Donna Summer, Michael Omartian and B. Sudano.

The single was not a chart success in any territory.

My collection: 7" single no. 4929
Found: Velvet Vinyl Outlet, Leiden, October 8, 2010
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'People, people' / 'Tokyo'

Lay your love on me - Racey

Racey formed in 1976 in Weston-super-Mare by singer Phil Fursdon and Clive Wilson. In 1979 they released their debut album 'Smash and grab', which sold about 500,000 copies worldwide. Their hit singles were written by the famous duo Mike Chapman and Nicky Chinn. Their biggest hit was 'Lay your love on me', which became a number 3 hit in the UK and a charttopper in the Netherlands.

The band formally split in 1985, and since then two separate groups named Racey exist, one featuring band member Richard Gower and the other featuring Clive Wilson, Phil Fursdon and Pete Miller, the original bass player. Several albums and CDs with re-recordings of the original hits as well as new material are available from both of the versions of the group.

My collection: 7" single no. 4928
Found: Velvet Vinyl Outlet, Leiden, October 8, 2010
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Lay your love on me' / 'I believed you'

Wild places - Ian Matthews

Duncan Browne wrote and recorded 'The wild places' in 1978 and had a reasonably big hit with it. Six years later, Ian Matthews thought he might have similar success with his cover. Ian Matthews? Who? Well, I didn't know him either. Turns out it's Ian Matthews who was previously part of Fairport Convention and the band Matthews Southern Comfort.

'Wild places' comes from his 1984 album 'Shook'. Neither single nor album made any impact in the charts.

My collection: 7" single no. 4927
Found: Velvet Vinyl Outlet, Leiden, October 8, 2010
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Wild places' / 'Work on all this'

Vincent - Don McLean

'Vincent' was written and recorded by Don McLean as a tribute to the Dutch painter Vincent van Gogh. The song includes references to his landscape works, in lines such as 'sketch the trees and the daffodils' and 'morning fields of amber grain' - which describe the amber wheat that features in several paintings. Several lines may allude to Van Gogh's self-portraits: perhaps in 'weathered faces lined in pain / are soothed beneath the artist's loving hand', McLean is suggesting that van Gogh may have found some sort of consolation in creating portraits of himself. There is, too, a single line describing van Gogh's most famous set of works, Sunflowers. 'Flaming flowers that brightly blaze' not only draws on the luminous orange and yellow colours of the painting, but also creates powerful images of the sun itself, flaming and blazing, being contained within the flowers and the painting.

McLean wrote the lyrics in 1971 after reading a book about the life of the artist. The following year, the song became the number one hit in the U.K. and No. 12 in the U.S.

My collection: 7"single no. 4926
Found: Kringloop, Den Haag, October 6, 2010
Cost: 0,1 euro
Tracks: 'Vincent' / 'Castles in the air'