Prisoner - Sue Saad and the Next

Another recent find is this single by Sue Saad and the Next. 'Prisoner' was taken from their only self-titled album and it's the single I bought last week at the Utrecht record fair.

Sue Saad and The Next are Sue Saad (vocals), James Lance (drums), Tony Riparetti (guitar), Billy Anstatt (guitar), and Bobby Manzer (bass). Saad, Lance, and Riparetti wrote all the songs on the band's self-titled debut album and are the original nucleus of the group, having been friends and musical collaborators since junior high school in Santa Barbara, California. Richard Perry produced the band's album with the help of Lance, the whole project taking less than twenty days to complete. Lance had said that the songs on the album 'evoke youthful passion seasoned with wry adult knowledge, as well as a toughminded picture of daily American life and the ways it can be lit up by moments of rock and roll celebration'. For more information about the band, have a look at this webpage.

My collection: 7" single no. 3460

Found: Record fair, Utrecht, November 22, 2008

Cost: 0,5 euro

Tracks: 'Prisoner' / ' I want him'

Download: Album 'Sue Saad & the Next', including both tracks

Change his ways - Robert Palmer

Robert Palmer is dead. It's strange every time I realise that. He's one of those artists that was just always around. When I was a child, I listened to 'Looking for clues', thinking that it was just a great song from some strange guy. When I was a bit older, I heard 'Riptide' and thought this man was truly sophisticated. Then I heard 'Addicted to love' a few years later and I was slightly put off by the 'straight up and down' rock.

My sister bought the album 'Heavy Nova' and I played it many times. In time, I bought almost every single drawn from that album. The only one that was missing was 'Change his ways' - until recently. I picked up the picture disc 7" last week. For the first time ever, it was a bargain.

My collection: 7" snigle no. 3457

Found: Record fair, Utrecht, November 22, 2008

Cost: 1,25 euro

Tracks: 'Change his ways' / 'More than ever'

Download: Album 'Heavy Nova', including both tracks

Heaven can wait - Bolland

The Dutch brothers Rob and Ferdi Bolland have released many singles in the Netherlands, but they became more famous for their production work, amongst others with Austrian singer Falco. They became still more famous because of their song 'You're in the army now', which was covered by Status Quo in 1986. The original version was recorded in 1983 for Bolland's album 'The domino theory'.

The 12" single 'Heaven can wait' includes an extended remix of 'You're in the army now', and that was my reason for buying it. I didn't know the track 'Heaven can wait', which is on the A-side, and I have to say the B-side of this 12" single is superior. Or is it just me...?

My collection: 12" single no. 465

Found: Record fair, Utrecht, 2007

Cost: 5 euro

Tracks: 'Heaven can wait (extended version)' / 'You're in the army now (extended version)'

Download: here

Popcorn - The Popcornmakers

Although I was very interested in the track 'Popcorn', I didn't know about all the versions that existed. So when I found this version by the Popcornmakers, I wasn't even aware that this was one of the versions that contributed to the number 1 position in the Dutch Top 40 in 1972, together with those by Anarchic System, Hot Butter and Revolution System.

The B-side was another moog instrumental, 'Toad in the hole', presumably another track named after a delicacy. It all may sound hopelessly dated now, back then it sounded downright futuristic.

My collection: 7" single no. 2209

Found: Record fair, the Netherlands, October 22, 1994

Cost: 3 guilders

Tracks: 'Popcorn' / 'Toad in the hole'

Download: here

Secrets - Fiat Lux

In 1983, there were a few songs that I deemed instant classics. This was one of them. Fiat Lux was the best synthpop band that never made it. 'Secrets' was the best example of their extraordinary talent. Part ballad, part popsong, part classical music, it contained almost everything that I admired.

Fiat Lux formed in Yorkshire (UK) in 1982 with Steve Wright (vocals), Ian Nelson (sax, keyboard) and Dave Crickmore (guitars, keyboards). They never released any albums, however, there are several singles out there, most of which I have. The first one I bought was this 'Secrets', in 1989. Until then, I had to make do with a radio recording.

My collection: 7" single no. 780

Found: All that music, Leiden, March 24, 1989

Cost: 3 guilders

Tracks: 'Secrets' / 'Comfortable life'

Download: here

Too depressed to commit suicide - PeeCees

It's not blatantly obvious, but when you read a song title like 'Too depressed to commit suicide', you have to assume it's not a serious song. When you look at the sleeve and instantly recognise an album cover from The Police, you have to conclude that this is definitely a parody. And not only that: this 'triple A side' also features songs by Jack Michaelson and the HeeBeeGeeBees.

My decision was made pretty fast: I had to buy this single at last week's record fair, if only to satisfy my curiosity. It was released in 1981, at the height of the success of the Police, Michael Jackson and the Bee Gees. It's pretty amazing when you hear the tracks and how similar they sound to the original artists' work. Even more amazing when you find out that one of the three in this group is Angus Deayton. I never knew he had singing ambitions...

My collection: 7" single no. 3462

Found: Record fair, Utrecht, November 22, 2008

Cost: 1,25 euro

Tracks: 'Too depressed to commit suicide' - The PeeCees / 'Up the wall' - Jack Michaelson, 'Meaningless songs' - HeeBeeGeeBees

Download: Album '439 Golden Greats', including these three tracks

Lay all your love on me - Abba

As I wrote before, the first 7" single I ever had will always remain a mystery. Fortunately, this isn't the case with my 12" singles. The very first one I had is still in my collection and is still proudly number one. And I remember how I got it, too.

I was a big fan of Abba. Then, sometime in 1980, they released a single on 12" only. It was a track taken from their album 'Super trouper' and this maxi single didn't even contain a remix. But still, the fact that I didn't have it bugged me. My brother, one day, offered his copy to me - but at full price. Greedy as I was to want to have it, I paid it, too. I was, and still am, the proud owner of a very collectable item - or so I thought.

My collection: 12" single no. 1

Found: My brother's record collection, at home, 1981

Cost: 15 guilders

Tracks: 'Lay all your love on me' / 'On and on and on'

Download: Album 'Super trouper', including both tracks