Any colour you like - Black

Although this blog is dedicated to music on vinyl (the name says it all) I would like to make an exception and make you an offer you can't refuse. There's a lot of music on here you can listen to for free, but this time I'm asking for $1. That's not a lot, is it?

Black has been making beautiful music for 30 years now. In the Eighties he was very successful with the song 'Wonderful life' and subsequent releases. His vinyl output during that time has been featured on this blog (see it here). After that, things became less commercially successful - although the music has always been beautiful. You can hear it for yourself on the new compilation 'Any colour you like', which was released today. You can download it here and if you use the discount code 'mrg4song' it will cost you just £0.75 - 10% of the original price! If you like this blog you MUST download this compilation. If only to do me - and yourself - a favour.

In the heat of the night - Sandra

After the success of '(I'll never be) Maria Magdalena', Sandra and her producer Michael Cretu had to come up with a successor. They chose to stick to the success formula: synthesizers, a melodic chorus and male backing vocals.

The 12" single featured a longer version of the track that would also appear on Sandra's debut album 'The long play'.

My collection: 12" single no. 196
Found: Concerto, Amsterdam, 1993
Cost: 2 guilders
Tracks: 'In the heat of the night [longer version]' / 'Heatwave'

The day it rained forever - Aurora

The follow-up to the first single from their self-titled debut album was Aurora's 'The day it rained forever'. A dynamic dance track, which was remixed by no less than five remix teams. Most of the remixes were again unreleased on cd-single.

This double 12" single features seven remixes by the Belgian group Lasgo, the Mancunian dance duo Flip & Fill (DJ's Graham Turner and Mark Hall) and Monoboy. It's quite an attractive package with some rather brilliant remixes.

My collection: 12" single no. 579
Found: Discogs.com, received August 5, 2011
Cost: 5 euro
Tracks: 'The day it rained forever (Lasgo vocal)' / 'The day it rained forever (Flip & Fill vocal)', 'The day it rained forever (Monoboy Dubstramental)' // 'The day it rained forever (Monoboy Vocal)', 'The day it rained forever (Flip & Fill instrumental)' / 'The day it rained forever (Radio edit)', 'The day it rained forever (Flip & Fill radio edit)'

Runaway - Janet Jackson

When Janet Jackson released 'Design of a decade' in 1996, 'Runaway' appeared on the cd as a new track. This new track was released as the first single from the album. The first cd-single at the time featured three remixes of 'When I think of you', whereas the second one featured four remixes of 'Runaway'.

This promotional double 12" single, however, is something else: it features no less than fourteen remixes of 'Runaway'. And only two of them appeared on the aforementioned cd-single. It's a great package, and what's more: most of these remixes are actually quite good!

My collection: 12" single no. 585
Found: Discogs.com, received August 31, 2011
Cost: 6 euro
Tracks: 'Runaway (G-man's Hip Hop mix feat. Coolio)', 'Runaway (G-man's Hip Hop extended)', 'Runaway (Silk's Old School radio)', 'Runaway (G-man's Club mix)' / 'Runaway (Kelly's Bump & Run 12"), 'Runaway (Kelly's Bump & Run radio)', 'Runaway (Silk's Old School 12")' // 'Runaway (Torin's Chicago Underground)', 'Runaway (Maestro's 95th & Ashland House Dub)', 'Runaway (Silk's Housy mix)' / 'Runaway (Jam & Lewis Street mix edit)', 'Runaway (Jam & Lewis Ghetto mix)', 'Runaway (J.A.M. session mix)', 'Runaway (IndaSoul mix)'

State of independence - Donna Summer

Composed by Vangelis and Jon Anderson and produced by Quicy Jones, 'State of independence', released in 1982 was a glorious piece of pop music. Layered with synthesizers and not too far removed from the aforementioned duo's own version, it was a massive hit for Donna Summer that year.

This limited edition 12" single features both the single edit and the full length track. Alas, no remixes. But the track was eventually remixed in 1996 - and that was a bit of a mixed blessing to say the least.

My collection: 12" single no. 188
Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, 1993
Cost: 1 guilder
Tracks: 'State of independence (long version)' / 'State of independence (special edit)', 'Love is just a breath away'

Just a little while - Janet Jackson

America was still in shock after having seen (part of) her tit when Janet Jackson's 2004 album 'Damita Jo' was released. It meant that the album did relatively worse than previous albums because the sight of all that flesh meant that no-one could listen to music anymore - of course!

Listening to the album now one can't help but notice that miss Jackson might have been a tad sex-obsessed, but a track like 'Just a little while' - which closes the album - is nothing more or less than a pleasant piece of pop music. The mixes on this 12" single could have been a massive club success.

My collection: 12" single no. 582
Found: Discogs.com, received August 5, 2011
Cost: 5 euro
Tracks: 'Just a little while (album version)', 'Just a little while (Maurice's Nu Soul remix)' / 'Just a little while (Peter Rauhofer club mix)'

Dreaming - Aurora

I recently wrote about a promotional 12" single of Aurora's 'Dreaming', and here's the other one. This 12" single features three remixes by Love To Infinity, a UK-based remix, production and songwriting team consisting of Andy, Pete and Dave Lee.

It's inevitable that these remixes sound a bit the same, when the full length mix is turned into an edit and a dub version on the B-side. Still, a nice addition to the collection of Aurora remixes.

My collection: 12" single no. 578
Found: Discogs.com, received August 5, 2011
Cost: 5 euro
Tracks: 'Dreaming (LTI mix)' / 'Dreaming (LTI Instrumental Dub mix)', 'Dreaming (LTI Radio Edit)'

The pleasure principle - Janet Jackson

In 1996 Janet Jackson released her first major compilation album 'Design of a decade'. The release was promoted by the new single 'Runaway', but also by elusive 12" singles with remixes of previous hits. This double 12" package of 'The pleasure principle' is an example of one such releases.

The original 12" featured remixes by Shep Pettibone, and this package is slightly more varied with remixes by Danny Tenaglia.

My collection: 12" single no. 581
Found: Discogs.com, received August 5, 2011
Cost: 5 euro
Tracks: 'The pleasure principle (Legendary Club mix)' / 'The pleasure principle (D.T.'s Twilo mix)' // 'The pleasure principle (NuFlava Vocal Dub)' / 'The pleasure principle (Banji dub)'

We might as well be strangers - Keane

'We might as well be strangers' was the fifth single to be released from their 2004 debut album 'Hopes & fears'. It was a bit of a strange release, as it was only released on 10" single. It featured a remix of the track by a certain DJ Shadow.

The single didn't chart in any territory, although the 10" single was readily available in the UK, where the band had had four top 20 singles until then.

My collection: 10" single [unnumbered]
Found: Discogs.com, received August 5, 2011
Cost: 5 euro
Tracks: 'We might as well be strangers (remix)' / 'We might as well be strangers (remix instrumental)'

Remember me - Diana Ross

The nice thing about music is that there's always something new to explore. In 50 years of pop music there's always a song you've never heard and an artist that needs further exploration. Although I own much of Diana Ross's Eighties output, her old work passed me by as I was too young to appreciate it back then.

When Kim Wilde recorded a cover of 'Remember me' on her forthcoming album 'Snapshots' I was curious to hear the original version, and so I ordered one of those charming original UK pressings of the single. I will not pass judgement on which version is the best and leave it for you to decide. 'Snapshots' is out next Friday!

My collection: 7" single no. 5192
Found: eBay, received August 13, 2011
Cost: 3 pounds
Tracks: 'Remember me' / 'How about you'

Dreaming - Aurora

The British electronic dance music group Aurora formed in 1999 and made it to the charts in the UK that year with the song 'Hear you calling'. After a top 10 hit in 2000 with a cover of the Duran Duran track 'Ordinary world', they recorded their only album, which was released in 2001. 'Dreaming' was the first single lifted from that track, a breezy pop track which was remixed by Love to Infinity, Goldtrix and Stella Browne.

The latter two appear on this promotional 12" single. Strangely, these remixes didn't appear on cd-singles released at the time.

My collection: 12" single no. 577
Found: Discogs.com, received August 5, 2011
Cost: 4 euro
Tracks: 'Dreaming (Lullaby mix)' / 'Dreaming (Stella Browne dub mix)'

All for you - Janet Jackson

Following on from this one, here's another promotional 12" single of Janet Jackson's 'All for you'. This release comprises two heavyweight vinyl discs, featuring one remix on every side.

With the exception of the original version on side C, the mixes were all created by the remix team of Barry Harris and Chris Cox, a.k.a. Thunderpuss. The club mix on side A also appeared on other releases (including commercial ones) but the two other remixes are quite rare.

My collection: 12" single no. 576
Found: Discogs.com, received August 6, 2011
Cost: 5 euro
Tracks: 'All for you (Thunderpuss club mix)' / 'All for you (Thunderdub)' // 'All for you' / 'All for you (Thunderpuss drumapella)'

Holding back the years - Simply Red

Simply Red rose to prominence with this beautiful ballad in 1985. 'Holding back the years' would turn out to be a classic. Taken from their debut album 'Picture book', it launched a career that was ended only last year when front man Mick Hucknall did a farewell tour with Simply Red.

This 12" single features the full length version of 'Holding back the years', as well as a longer version of 'I won't feel bad'. I only bought the 12" single years after its release because my budget didn't stretch that far in 1985. I wanted to have it since the first moment I heard this longer version.

My collection: 12" single no. 124
Found: Record fair, 1992
Cost: 5 guilders
Tracks: 'Holding back the years [extended]' / 'I won't feel bad [extended]', 'Drowning in my own tears'

Raspberry swirl - Tori Amos

Tori Amos released 'From the choirgirl hotel' in 1998. It was one of her last great albums - subsequent efforts became ever less engaging. The biggest hit from the previous album, 'Boys for pele', was a remix - or should we say a full-on butcher job? - of 'Professional widow'. No wonder that the record company kept releasing remixes of Tori Amos tracks in subsequent years.

This remix of 'Raspberry swirl', one of the many singles from 'Choirgirl', is a nice, if somewhat repetitive, effort. The choice of putting the instrumental version of the remix on the A-side is a bit strange, however.

My collection: 12" single no. 575
Found: unknown, 1998
Cost: 15 guilders
Tracks: 'Raspberry swirl (Sticky extended instrumental)' / 'Raspberry swirl (Sticky extended vocal mix)'

(I'll never be) Maria Magdalena - Sandra

After leaving the girl group Arabesque, Sandra Ann Lauer teamed up with Michael Cretu. Their first recording was a German version of Alphaville's big hit 'Big in Japan', entitled 'Japan ist weit'. Apparently, only 125 copies of the single were ever sold.

How different it was for the next single: '(I'll never be) Maria Magdalena' became a Europe-wide hit and launched Sandra's solo career in a big way. This 12" single features the album version of the track, which is double the length of the single version.

My collection: 12" single no. 207
Found: Grammofoonwinkel, Utrecht, 1993
Cost: 4 guilders
Tracks: '(I'll never be) Maria Magdalena' / 'Party games'

Das Blech - Spliff

'Da fliegt mir doch das Blech weg' has become one of my favourite quotes in German, and it's down to this record.

I own the single, of course, but the 12" single is much better with the extended drum solo in the middle. These kind of remixes are exciting because they keep the tension of the original track intact while building on it. And that's a rare thing these days.

My collection: 12" single no. 339
Found: Record fair, 1996
Cost: 2 guilders
Tracks: 'Das Blech [extended]' / 'Tag für tag'

Since yesterday - Strawberry Switchblade

This 12" single of Strawberry Switchblade's biggest hit 'Since yesterday' features three tracks - and no extended version of the title track as one would expect in 1984.

Oddly enough, an extended version of the track does exist, but I don't know when and where it was originally released. Nonetheless, this disc is interesting for the two B-sides, which are as charming as anything this colourful Scottish duo have released. I.e. very.

My collection: 12" single no. 306
Found: Big Company Records, London, October 1996
Cost: 2,5 pounds
Tracks: 'Since yesterday' / 'Sunday morning', 'By the sea'

1000 years from today - The Beloved

The spacey track '1000 years from today' was robbed of its shimmering beauty and transformed into a dancefloor stomper on this promotional 12" single. Three different remixers went to work on this with varying levels of success.

Personally I prefer the Adam & Eve remixes on this disc, but other listeners may choose differently. It's an interesting choice of remixes, and an interesting disc.

My collection: 12" single no. 573
Found: Discogs.com, received July 29, 2011
Cost: 5 pounds
Tracks: '1000 years from day (Doc Baron's 80 Proof mix)', '1000 years from today (Adam & Eve's Timeless vocal mix)' / '1000 years from today (Adam & Eve's Commotion mix)', '1000 years from today (Todd Edwards dub mix)', '1000 years from today (Doc Baron's 101.9 mix)'

All for you - Janet Jackson

Janet Jackson released 'All for you', the title track of her 2001 album, as the second single from that album. As far as I know there was no release on 7" vinyl, but there are several 12" single floating around, and this promotional 12" single is one of the more interesting ones.

It features six remixes of the track: there are three different remixes on side A, and the instrumental versions of those remixes appear on the B-side. The instrumental version of the rock remix becomes quite boring, but the other two remixes stand up quite well in instrumental form.

My collection: 12" single no. 574
Found: Discogs.com, received July 29, 2011
Cost: 4 pounds
Tracks: 'All for you (DJ Quik remix)', 'All for you (Rock mix)', 'All for you (Top heavy remix)' / 'All for you (DJ Quik remix instrumental)', 'All for you (Instrumental rock mix)', 'All for you (Top heavy remix instrumental)'

Your love takes me higher - The Beloved

The Beloved released 'Your love takes me higher' in 1989, before they became famous with similar dancepop tracks. This American 12" single features four remixes of the track that sound, I have to say, a lot like the PWL pop that was so popular just two years before.

Of course, the Beloved developed a style of their own and had a few massive hits in the early Nineties, but this 12" single shows their beginnings on that path to success - and it's quite an enjoyable package of remixes!

My collection: 12" single no. 572
Found: Discogs.com, received July 29, 2011
Cost: 4 pounds
Tracks: 'Your love takes me higher (The pod went pop mix)', 'Your love takes me higher (Divinely simple)' / 'Your love takes me higher (Deep joy)', 'Your love takes me higher (Simply divine)'