Doot doot - Freur

Freur was formed in the early 1980s in Cardiff, Wales by Karl Hyde, Rick Smith, Alfie Thomas, John Warwicker and Bryn Burrows. In 1983 they got a contract with CBS Records. Originally the band's name was a graphic squiggle (see also the sleeve pictured here), but the label insisted on a pronounceable name. Thus Freur was chosen as the band name.

Their first single 'Doot doot' was their only hit, although it only peaked at no. 59 in the UK singles chart. The extended version of 'Doot doot' was a great find. I bought the 7" single soon after it came out, but this 12" only turned up a decade later.

My collection: 12" single no. 154

Found: Record fair, 1992

Cost: [unknown]

Tracks: 'Doot doot (special extended 12" mix)' / 'Hold me mother'

Download: here

Situation (remix) - Yazoo

Yazoo has always fascinated the eighties techno generation. Vince Clarke and Alison Moyet only recorded two albums together in the early eighties before going their separate ways. Since then, there have been many compilation albums. Sometimes these compilations were promoted with remixed singles, such as this one. The 1990 'Deadline mix' is an uncredited remix which tries to update the sound to 1990. Remixes are always interesting to me when I like a song enough. In this case, my verdict is undecided.

My collection: 7" single no. 2312

Found: Record fair, Leiden, May 27, 1995

Cost: 1 guilder

Tracks: 'Situation (Deadline mix - edit)' / 'State farm (Madhouse mix - edit)'

Download: here

Torch songs for the heroine - Peter Godwin

One of the tracks on 'Dance emotions' is an extended version of 'Torch songs'. The single was released in 1981 under the title 'Torch songs for the heroine'. The single version and the ballad version (on the B-side) were both produced by Midge Ure, which explains the romantic, almost metallic, dreamy Ultravoxesque sound of this.

I bought this single because his later singles 'Emotional disguise' and 'Images of heaven' were so good. I never liked this single much until recently. Sometimes, like wine, music needs to wait a while before being appreciated fully.

My collection: 7" single no. 1906

Found: Groningen, May 15, 1993

Cost: 2 guilders

Tracks: 'Torch songs for the heroine' / 'Torch songs for the heroine (Ballad version)'

Download: here

Flowers in December - Mazzy Star

I got to know Mazzy Star when they released 'Fade into you' (1994), a beautiful dreamy pop song. It was the group's biggest hit, peaking at no. 48 in the UK singles chart, until they released this single. 'Flowers in December' was released in 1996 and peaked at no. 40. In the Netherlands, they remained totally unknown.

I bought this single on the strength of 'Fade into you', hoping that this song would be equally wonderful. In short: it is.

My collection: 7" single no. 2777

Found: HMV, London, October 31, 1996

Cost: 2 pounds

Tracks: 'Flowers in December' / 'Tell your honey', 'Hair and skin'

Download: here

Beetlebum - Blur

Like 'The day before yesterday's man', I bought this single during a weekend trip to London. It was a colourful buy, because where the other single was pressed on yellow vinyl, this one was released on orange vinyl. I knew 'Beetlebum' already before I went to London, so it was great being able to buy this single.

'Beetlebum' was Blur's second number 1 single in the UK. It is believed that the song is about the experiences with drugs singer Damon Albarn had with his then-girlfriend, Justine Frischmann (from the band Elastica). Albarn has stated in an interview with MTV that the song describes a complicated emotion, sort of 'sleepy' and sort of 'sexy'.

My collection: 7" single no. 2836

Found: Virgin Megastore, London, February 9, 1997

Cost: 2,29 pounds

Tracks: 'Beetlebum' / 'Woodpigeon song'

Download: here

Owner of a lonely heart - Yes

'Owner of a lonely heart' by Yes is one of the great classics of the eighties. The rock band teamed up with Trevor Horn for their album '90125' and created a track that is powerful and memorable. According to a 1991 interview with Yes, 'Owner of a Lonely Heart' was originally written as a ballad. Jon Anderson convinced producer Trevor Horn to speed it up and add some guitar riffs to make it stand out and be more 'upbeat'.

The 1991 re-release of this track featured a remix by Martyn Phillips on the B-side. I bought this single for that remix, curious to hear how it turned out. It is a very intriguing version of a wonderful classic.

My collection: 7" single no. 2349

Found: Record Exchange, London, June 26, 1995

Cost: 1 pound

Tracks: 'Owner of a lonely heart' / 'Owner of a lonely heart (Wonderous mix - edit)'

Download: here

The politics of dancing - Re-flex

Re-Flex was an English band formed in 1981 by John Baxter, Paul Fishman, Nigel Ross-Scott and Roland Kerridge. They released their debut single 'The politics of dancing' in 1983. It reached the American Billboard chart in 1984, peaking at number 24. They were one of the first English bands to reach number one in the US dance chart. The album 'The politics of dancing' was also released in 1983, but the band failed to make further dents in the charts. They were soon labelled one hit wonders after they didn't follow up their debut album at all. Their 1985 album 'Humanication' remains unreleased.

My collection: 7" single no. 3519

Found: La La Land, Den Haag, January 3, 2009

Cost: 1,5 euro

Tracks: 'The politics of dancing' / 'Cruel world'

Download: here