Alejandro - Lady Gaga

If nothing else, the songs by Lady Gaga are infectuous. I don't think they will really stand the test of time, as this kind of overproduced pop rarely sounds fresh a decade later. In the case of 'Alejandro', it sounds a bit like a rejected Ace of Base track from circa 1990, which is quite remarkable in itself.

That's not to say it's a bad track per se: after just one listen you find yourself humming the simple (and thus memorable) chorus. The fact that all of Lady Gaga's singles so far have been released as a 7" picture disc adds to the appeal.

My collection: 7" single no. 4967
Found: HMV, London, October 31, 2010
Cost: 3,5 pounds
Tracks: 'Alejandro' / 'Alejandro (Bimbo Jones remix)'

Bittersweet - Sophie Ellis-Bextor

Sophie Ellis-Bextor is best known for her 2001 hit 'Murder on the dancefloor'. But she's still going strong, as is evidenced by this picture disc 7", released earlier this year. Produced by the Freemasons, this track sounds a lot like the Eighties classic 'Blue Monday' by New Order, yet sounds very contemporary.

'Bittersweet' was released on May 2, 2010 and reached number 25 in the UK singles chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 4963
Found: Record Exchange, London, October 31, 2010
Cost: 1 pound
Tracks: 'Bittersweet' / 'Bittersweet (Freemasons 7" mix)

Oxygene IV - Jean Michel Jarre

'When 'Oxygene IV' was first released in 1977, it was an instant chart success around the world. Such much, created entirely on synthesizers, had never been heard before and Jean-Michel Jarre acquired a reputation as being a master of technology.' The press info sheet included with this single stretches historical facts a bit: long before 'Oxygene' was released, the German masters of technology Kraftwerk were already at it. But we go on...

'Time has passed and, as the 1990's approach, Jarre shares the same concerns of us all for our environment and the ways in which it is being endangered by the very technology we created.' How interesting... The truth, of course, is that there was some money to be earned by re-releasing this classic. On environment-damaging vinyl, no less.

My collection: 7" single no. 4960
Found: Record Exchange, London, October 31, 2010
Cost: 50p
Tracks: 'Oxygene IV (remix)' / 'Industrial revolution (overture)'

Me myself I - Joan Armatrading

'Me myself I' was a single taken from Joan Armatrading's 1980 album of the same name. She had made a name for herself with the hit single 'Rosie', but subsequent singles weren't as successful as that one. It's undeniable, however, that the lady packed a lot of power in this song.

Still, it's one of those singles I only buy when it's very, very cheap. And it was.

My collection: 7" single no. 4952
Found: Record Exchange, London, October 31, 2010
Cost: 10p
Tracks: 'Me myself I' / 'When you kissed me'

Farewell mr. Sorrow - All about Eve

This 12" single was released as a numbered limited edition, this being number 3608. The edition must have been 5000 or 10,000 copies. Besides the free colour poster included in the package, this 12" was notable for its cover version of 'Silver song', a track originally recorded by the folk group Mellow Candle. As you can hear in the video below, the original is also a beautiful recording, but it can't hold a candle (sorry for that pun) to All about Eve's beautiful cover.

Much of the appeal of the cover version has to be attributed to Julianne Regan's beautiful and passionate voice. I hear she is recording an album with The Mission's Wayne Hussey, so finally there's something to look forward to.



My collection: 12" single no. 112
Found: Wreckastow, Rotterdam, 1991
Cost: 20 guilders
Tracks: 'Farewell mr. Sorrow', 'Silver song' / 'Elizabeth of glass', 'All the rings round Saturn'

Whenever you're ready - Five Star

Five Star were an essential pop group in the middle of the Eighties. The Pearson siblings were able to score hit after hit under the guidance of their father Buster, and their newfound fame came with loads of money, which was invested in a mansion somewhere in England.

Part of their success must have been the attractive 12" single packages. Almost without exception, the discs contained four tracks, three of which were remixes. This 12" of 'Whenever you're ready' packs two remixes of the title track, a Shep Pettibone remix of an album track and the obligatory instrumental B-side track.

My collection: 12" single no. 553
Found: Record fair, 200X
Cost: 2 guilders
Tracks: 'Whenever you're ready (New York mix)', 'Whenever you're ready (Crazy dub jammy)' / 'Are you man enough (Shep Pettibone remix)', 'Forever yours'

The man I love - Kate Bush and Larry Adler

The 80th birthday of harmonica player Larry Adler was celebrated with an album called 'The glory of Gershwin'. It was released in 1994 and produced by George Martin. Several guest musicians made an appearance on the album, including Kate Bush, who sang the Gershwin song 'The man I love'. Released as a single on July 18, 1994 it climbed to number 22 in the UK Singles Chart.

The B-Side of the 7" single was an edited version of Adler and Martin's rendition of 'Rhapsody in Blue'.

My collection: 7" single no. 2155
Found: Record fair, Amsterdam, September 3, 1994
Cost: 10 guilders
Tracks: 'The man I love' / 'Rhapsody in blue'

Love resurrection - Alison Moyet

I was very disappointed when Yazoo broke up, and I had a hard time forgiving Alison Moyet for starting up a solo career and recording songs that were so different from the synth-driven pop tracks composed by her and Vince Clarke. But in time I had to concede that Moyet was a pretty damn good singer in her own right and her voice fits pretty much with every style of music.

Last week she was one of the stars during a concert dedicated to Kirsty MacColl, along with Kim Wilde, Amy MacDonald and Andrea Corr amongst others, and I hear she is now a slim, beautiful woman. Back in 1984, she was big and quite scary to watch. One thing never changed, though: the voice. This 12" single features a longer version of her debut solo single, 'Love resurrection'.

My collection: 12" single no. 411
Found: Record fair, 200X
Cost: 2 euro
Tracks: 'Love resurrection (long version)' / 'Baby I do'

Heart of the sun - Red Box

This picture disc version of the 12" single of 'Heart of the sun' by Red Box must have been confusing at the time for fans: the A-side of the disc (shown here) carried a picture that was also used on the sleeve of the album 'The circle & the square'.

The disc itself was a good package: interesting remixes of both 'Heart of the sun' and the previous single 'Lean on me', plus a weird B-side. Red Box fans should rejoice: a new album has just been released by Cherry Pop records.

My collection: 12" single no. 552
Found: Esprit Mailorder, received 2000
Cost: 4 pounds
Tracks: 'Heart of the sun (Slash & Burn)' / 'Enjoy (Solid Gold Easy Amex)', 'Lean on me (Vera's Husband's mix)'

Get outta my way - Kylie Minogue

'Get outta my way' was released last week as the second single from Kylie's current album 'Aphrodite'. Like the previous single 'All the lovers', it was released on two cd-singles and a 7" picture disc. It has already peaked at the number 12 spot in the UK singles chart - and is unlikely to get any higher than that.

The song was written and produced by Lucas Secon, Damon Sharpe, Peter Wallevik, Daniel Davidsen and Cutfather, and co-produced by Stuart Price. He said the song wasn't written for any particular artist and at one point four different artists wanted to cut it as their first single before it was claimed by Kylie.

My collection: 7" single no. 4951
Found: Recordstore.co.uk, received October 8, 2010
Cost: 2 pounds
Tracks: 'Get outta my way' / 'Get outta my way (Bimbo Jones piano mix - radio edit)'

Star - Time Bandits

There was a time when I thought 'Star' by the Time Bandits was one of the greatest tracks of all time. That feeling has subsided, but it is a pretty nifty pop song nonetheless. It wasn't a hit, which was kindof a shame, but I never actually knew there was a 12" single of this. And that the special remix on it was mixed by Ben Liebrand is a real treat too.

Ben Liebrand made a name for himself during the Eighties with his weekly remix on radio Veronica, and also managed to score a few hits of his own with remixes of oldies (some of which have featured on this blog in the past). This mix is certainly not one of his best, however it is quite a rarity.

My collection: 12" single no. 551
Found: Velvet Vinyl Outlet, Leiden, October 8, 2010
Cost: 1,5 euro
Tracks: 'Star (special remix)' / 'Star (instrumental remix)'

Starlight - Risqué

I hope Jos is still reading this blog, because I know he will be very excited by this record. It's the 12" single of Risqué's 'Starlight', a disc so rare that it isn't even listed in many discographies on the web. Released in 1982, it's from a time when 12" singles weren't a standard yet, and certainly not for Dutch groups.

The song itself isn't very exciting as the girls always seemed to sing in unison. This 'extended long dance version' is slightly longer than the single version, but that doesn't add a lot.

My collection: 12" single no. 550
Found: Velvet Vinyl Outlet, Leiden, October 8, 2010
Cost: 1,5 euro
Tracks: 'Starlight (extended long dance version)' / 'Starlight (instrumental)'

Get out of your lazy bed - Matt Bianco

'Get out of your lazy bed' was the debut single from UK band Matt Bianco, released in 1984. The song became the band's first Top 20 hit, peaking at number 15 in the UK singles chart. In the Netherlands, the single reached number 28 in the Dutch Top 40.

The song was used as the theme tune by long running New Zealand children's breakfast show 'What now', and is now firmly linked to Saturday morning cartoons, in the minds of many New Zealanders that grew up during the Eighties and Nineties.

My collection: 7" single no. 4950
Found: Velvet Vinyl Outlet, Leiden, October 8, 2010
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Get out of your lazy bed' / 'Big Rosie'

Took the last train - David Gates

I didn't know this single when I bought it. I almost didn't buy it, because of the fact it didn't have a picture sleeve - and I always prefer to have those. But then I figured this might never have been released with a picture sleeve and I was curious enough to hear this song upon the strength of David Gates' name alone. The former Bread frontman has been responsible for several great songs.

Boy, was I glad that I bought this single! It's a great upbeat track, very melodic. By contrast, the B-side is a wonderful ballad. It was David Gates' only single to reach the UK singles chart, peaking at number 50 in the summer of 1978.

My collection: 7" single no. 4949
Found: Velvet Vinyl Outlet, Den Haag, October 8, 2010
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Took the last train' / 'Ann'

Somebody to love - Queen

Although it lacks the innovation and intricacy of 'Bohemian rhapsody', I've always loved 'Somebody to love' more. It's a beautiful melody and the lyric is very simple: the search for someone to love can be quite desperate.

The single became the band's second number 1 hit in the Netherlands and peaked at number 2 in the UK singles chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 4948
Found: Velvet Vinyl Outlet, Leiden, October 8, 2010
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Somebody to love' / 'White man'

Discipline of love - Robert Palmer

'Discipline of love' was released as the first single from Robert Palmer's 1985 album 'Riptide'. It was Palmer's first solo single after the Power Station project which he'd done with members of Duran Duran. This version of the single comes in a gatefold sleeve with lots of pictures of Robert Palmer, it's quite an interesting sleeve design!

The single was not a big success: it only reached number 95 in the UK singles chart. After later singles did have some chart success, it was re-released in 1986, improving on its previous chart run, reaching number 68.

My collection: 7" single no. 4947
Found: Velvet Vinyl Outlet, Leiden, October 8, 2010
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Discipline of love' / 'Dance for me'

Tall story teller - Arabesque

Sometimes I buy a single because the sleeve is different. It's always interesting to compare. In the case of Arabesque's 'Tall story teller', I already had the German version, but this here is the Dutch version. The record company took a chance, because Arabesque never had a hit in the Netherlands, and this single didn't change much of that.

My collection: 7" single no. 4946
Found: Velvet Vinyl Outlet, Leiden, October 8, 2010
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Tall story teller' / 'Caballero'

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'