Special lady - Ray, Goodman and Brown

Harry Ray, Al Goodman and William Brown worked together as 'The Moments' until 1980, when they switched record companies. They started recording as Ray, Goodman & Brown and their first single, 'Special lady' was an immediate hit. It reached number 1 on the American R&B chart and number 5 on the pop chart. In the Netherlands, they reached number 8 in the Dutch Top 40. But strangely enough, the single didn't chart in the UK.

I bought this single in Rotterdam, where I was to see Janet Jackson live in concert that night. I'd say this song has a more enduring quality.

My collection: 7" single no. 2254

Found: Plaatboef, Rotterdam, March 22, 1995

Cost: 1 guilder

Tracks: 'Special lady' / 'Deja vu'

Download: here

I'm gonna shoot the deejay - The Press

I wonder if a song like 'I'm gonna shoot the deejay' ("'cause he won't play my tunes") would be allowed these days on any record or radio show, under the new anti-terrorism laws. Even a verbal threat is reason enough to have you shipped off to Guantanamo Bay these days. But in 1980, it wasn't a problem. At least, in the Netherlands: The Press reached no. 13 in the Dutch Top 40 in August 1980. The Press were formed in the Netherlands by Rene Innemee, Michel Nita, Floor Minnaert, John Coenen, Walter Nita and Willy Bronzwaer. They were previously active as The Walkers, but they assumed the new band name in 1980 for this single and the album 'Press here'. In 1981, they had another hit, 'Cantara pepe', and after that the band quit.

My collection: 7" single no. 3396

Found: Geest, Den Haag, 2004

Cost: 1 euro

Tracks: 'I'm gonna shoot the deejay' / 'Meet the press'

Download: here

It's going to happen! - The Undertones

The Undertones formed in Derry in 1976. Members were John O'Neill, Diamian O'Neill, Michael Bradley, Billy Doherty and Feargal Sharkey. They released four albums between 1979 and 1983, of which 'Positive touch' (1981) was the third. This album contained the single 'It's going to happen'.

'It's going to happen!' is the only song by the Undertones that made it to the lower regions of the Dutch charts. Other singles fared pretty well in the UK, but outside of the UK they were pretty unknown. Singer Feargal Sharkey left the band in 1983, to pursue a more successful solo career.

My collection: 7" single no. 3024

Found: September 19, 1998

Cost: 3 guilders

Tracks: 'It's going to happen!' / 'Fairly in the money now'

Download: Album 'Positive touch', including both tracks (password: hangoverhard.blogspot.com)

I'm alive - Electric Light Orchestra

Taken from the soundtrack of the movie Xanadu, this track by Electric Light Orchestra sound kindof familiar. It is almost a pastiche of earlier Electric Light Orchestra tracks. It was the second single taken from the soundtrack, after the title track 'Xanadu' (with Olivia Newton-John) had been a big hit all over Europe. By comparison, this single fared less well.

The film's version of the song contains a fairly lengthy instrumental introduction, a small segment of which is used for the album and single versions.

My collection: 7" single no. 3516

Found: Record Palace, Amsterdam, December 27, 2008

Cost: 0,5 euro

Tracks: 'I'm alive' / 'Drum dreams'

Download: Album 'Xanadu' (with bonus tracks), including both tracks

Whenever you need somebody - Rick Astley

'Whenever you need somebody' was Rick Astley's second single. It followed up his debut single 'Never gonna give you up', which was a worldwide number one hit. Expectations were high, and they were met. This too was a top three hit in the UK.

I bought this picture disc single together with that other single when I was completing the collection.

My collection: 7" single no. 3498
Found: Geest, Den Haag, 2004
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Whenever you need somebody' / 'Just good friends'
Download: here

Arrival - Mike Oldfield

'Arrival' was composed by Benny Andersson and Bjorn Ulvaeus from Abba, and recorded on their album of the same name. Mike Oldfield covered the track for his 1980 album 'QE2'. When 'Arrival' was released as a single, Oldfield created a parody of the Abba album sleeve, posing in his own Agusta Bell 47G helicopter.

Oldfield is good at making music, but unfortunately his opinions are less gifted. In 2007 he criticized Britain for being too controlling and overprotective, specifically concentrating on the smoking ban which England and Wales introduced that year. As if the world should make way for an addiction.

My collection: 7" single no. 3203

Found: Record fair, September 30, 2000

Cost: 2 guilders

Tracks: 'Arrival' / 'Polka (live)'

Download: here

Another weekend - Five star

Five Star returned in 1988 with a raunchier image for their fourth album, 'Rock the world'. They'd had big success with their three previous albums, but they felt that they'd gone as far as they could with the sound they'd had ever since their debut. 'Another weekend' reached number 18 in the UK singles chart, but it also signalled the end of their three year reign of the charts: further singles couldn't equal their previous successes.

Since I have most of Five Star's 12" singles, I was happy to find this one. It almost completes my collection - but I will obviously write about the other ones on this blog later.

My collection: 12" single no. 479

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

Cost: 2 euro

Tracks: 'Another weekend (Friday Night mix)' / 'Another weekend (Friday Night Dub mix)', 'The mews'

Download: here