No more "I love you's" - The Lover Speaks

The Lover Speaks consisted of David Freeman and Joseph Hughes. They formed in 1985 after working in the punk band The Flys. They got a recording contract with A&M Records via Dave Stewart of Eurythmics fame. After releasing their debut album and this single, they toured with the Eurythmics in 1986. They returned to the studio in 1988 and recorded another album, The Big Lie with Iovine, Stewart and Daniel Lanois producing - only to face A&M Records not wanting to release it. The duo then split. Freeman went on to release a few solo albums in the 1990s.

'No more "I love you's"' got some belated praise when it was covered by Annie Lennox on her album 'Medusa' (1995). I liked that cover and went searching for the original version. I found it on the second to last day of the year!

My collection: 7" single no. 2589

Found: Grammofoonplatenwinkel, Utrecht, December 30, 1995

Cost: 2 guilders

Tracks: 'No more "I love you's"' / 'This can't go on'

Download: 'No more "I love you's"' / 'This can't go on'

The closing of the year - Wendy and Lisa

Taken from the soundtrack of the movie 'Toys', 'The closing of the year' was credited to The Musical Cast of Toys featuring Wendy & Lisa. In actual fact, it sounds like Wendy & Lisa featuring Seal, who also sings a verse in this song. This track was produced by Trevor Horn, who was working with Wendy & Lisa on an album at the time. That project, however, has never been released.

'The closing of the year' is a festive, positive, uplifting track. It never charted and has sunk into oblivion. I couldn't think of a more fitting title to end 2008 with in this blog. See you next year!

My collection: 7" single no. 2458

Found: Record fair, Amsterdam, September 9, 1995

Cost: 2 guilders

Tracks: 'The closing of the year (edit)' / 'The closing of the year (instrumental)'

Download: cd-single 'The closing of the year', including both tracks

Hablemos del amor

Raphael competed in the 1967 Eurovision Song Contest with the monumental ballad 'Hablemos del amor'. It is an impressive bit of singing, with an equally impressive orchestral backing. Hard to believe that this is 41 years ago, although it does sound slightly oldfashioned. When I first heard this song - it was little more than 10 years ago - I was very impressed. I was very glad when I found this ep, even though the vinyl was a bit battered.

Raphael, who was born on May 5, 1943, represented Spain at Eurovision in 1966 and 1967. He reached 7th and 6th position respectively. Even if he didn't win, it was the first time that Spain obtained a high place in the competition. It turned Raphael into an international star.

My collection: 7" single no. 2968

Found: Bea Records, February 21, 1998

Cost: 10 guilders

Tracks: 'Hablemos del amor', 'Si un amor se va' / 'No tiene importancia', 'Quedate con nosotros'

Download: Album 'Raphael 1966-1967', including all four tracks (part 1/part 2)

Tokyo - Lili and Sussie

I bought this single on the relative strength of 'Candy love', Lili & Sussie's only hit in the Netherlands. I didn't expect much from 'Tokyo'. It's a bit of throwaway pop, likeable but a bit fluffy. It didn't trouble the charts outside of Scandinavia, although I don't even know if it charted there either.

Part of my record collection is 'buying by association'. It's obvious that this time the lucky grab wasn't too lucky, although the single is nice enough.

My collection: 7" single no. 3333

Found: Record fair, Utrecht, March 24, 2001

Cost: 1 guilder

Tracks: 'Tokyo' / 'Do you remember'

Download: here

Perfect way - Scritti Politti

'Perfect way' was released in September 1985 and reached no. 45 in the UK singles chart. Not an impressive success, despite its catchy hooks. In America it did far better, reaching no. 11. The 12" single was remixed by François Kevorkian, who remains best known for his work with Kraftwerk.

I bought my copy of the 12" as a bargain in London. I was always interested in those eighties singles by Scritti Politti and the extended versions seemed like a good addition to my collection.

My collection: 12" single no. 264

Found: Record Exchange, London, 1995

Cost: 50p

Tracks: 'Perfect way (extended mix)' / 'Perfect way (version) (extended mix)'

Download: here

You'll always find me in the kitchen at parties - Jona Lewie

One of the big complaints of the early eighties was that any fool with a synthesizer could knock out a hit, because with a computer it was easy to make what you wanted. Jona Lewie's 'You'll always find me in the kitchen at parties' is one of those songs that could have gotten this criticism, because it sounds deceptively simple.

Contrary to popular belief, Kirsty MacColl didn't perform backing vocals on this track; she only appeared with Jona Lewie on TV a couple of times to mime to the vocals recorded by the wives of Bob Andrews (producer of the song) and Dave Robinson (owner of Stiff Records, to which Jona was signed).

My collection: 7" single no. 2103

Found: Record fair, Leiden, May 28, 1994

Cost: 1 guilder

Tracks: 'You'll always find me in the kitchen at parties' / 'Bureaucrats'

Download: here

Hacka-Tacka music - Baba & Roody

The reggae-track 'Hacka-Tacka music' is most notable for its panting and groaning by the French performers, Baba & Roody. It was a sensation in the Netherlands in the late Seventies because of their performance in the weekly chart show 'Toppop': the female singer's top slowly moved downwards, revealing a whole nipple in the end.

I bought the single for its comedy value in 1989, and then a year later once again, to give it to a friend during his birthday party, saying 'This is the one you've been searching for so long!'. (In fact, it's his birthday again today!) He was asked to play the single by all who were there, and while the song was playing his head turned bright red. I really had to laugh.

My collection: 7" single no. 959

Found: All that music, Leiden, August 10, 1989

Cost: 3 guilders

Tracks: 'Hacka-Tacka music' / 'La musique erotique'

Download: here