Black man Ray - China Crisis

China Crisis's third album was produced by Walter Becker, of Steely Dan fame. Named 'Flaunt the imperfection', the album was preceded by the single 'Black man Ray', which became an international hit.

I bought a limited edition set of two picture discs during a holiday in London. It was a strange find: each shaped picture disc contained one side, one disc holding the 'A-side' ('Black man Ray') and the other holding the 'B-side' ('Animalistic').

My collection: Picture disc (unnumbered)

Found: London, 2001

Cost: 5 pounds

Tracks: 'Black man Ray' // 'Animalistic'

Download: here

Me and my foolish heart - Johnny hates Jazz

'Shattered dreams', 'I don't wanna be a hero', 'Turn back the clock'... These were the singles that made Johnny hates Jazz's fame in 1987. But before they signed to Virgin records and released the debut album that yielded these hits, they recorded their debut single on RAK records, the label owned by the father of band member Calvin Hayes: Mickie Most. This single did not chart, but the track would end up on their debut album anyway.

I found this 12" single during a record fair and because I knew the album, I also knew this track. It was great to have an extended mix, because it never resurfaced on any other format since. Until last year's re-release of the debut album 'Turn back the clock', that is. For Johnny hates Jazz fans, this is a real must have item. And for music lovers like me, too.

My collection: 12" single no. 340

Found: Record fair, Rotterdam, 1999

Cost: 2 guilders

Tracks: 'Me and my foolish heart (12" mix)' / 'Living in the past', 'Me and my foolish heart (7" mix)'

Download: here

NME Readers' Pollwinners '84 EP - Bronski Beat, Cocteau Twins, The Smiths, U2

British music magazine New Musical Express, or NME in short, started giving away free EP's with the magazine in 1985. The first EP featured tracks from four readers poll winners. And quite exclusive tracks, too, as far as I know!

As is usual with such giveaway discs, they turn up in second hand shops years later. I spotted this one in a Dutch shop(!), then saw that it included a dub mix of U2's 'Wire' and decided that I needed to check this out.

My collection: 7" single no. 2215
Found: Grammofoonwinkel, Utrecht, November 14, 1994
Cost: 1 guilder
Tracks: 'Hard rain' (Bronski Beat), 'Ivo (new version)' (Cocteau Twins) / 'What she said (live)' (The Smiths), 'Wire (dub mix)' (U2)
Download: here

Baby Jane - Rod Stewart

'Baby Jane' was a number one single in the UK for Rod Stewart, taken from his 1983 album 'Body wishes'. It was his most successful single since 'Da ya think I'm sexy' (1978). It was Stewart's sixth and final UK charttopper.

These days, Rod Stewart is busy recording big band albums, but this is a track from the time when he still rocked the pants off everyone. A style which I much prefer, I have to say.

My collection: 7" single no. 3535

Found: Empire Records, Den Haag, January 9, 2009

Cost: 0,5 euro

Tracks: 'Baby Jane' / 'Ready now'

Download: Album 'Body wishes', including both tracks (part 1 / part 2)

La vie en rose - Grace Jones

'La vie en rose' was one of French singer Edith Piaf's most famous songs. The lyrics were written by Piaf, with music composed by Louis Gugliemi. It became a favourite with audiences in 1946. Owing to its popularity, Piaf would include it on many of her albums.

Grace Jones recorded a cover version of this track in 1977 as part of her debut album 'Portfolio'. The radical bossanova/disco interpretation of the track became Jones's first international hit single, even if the single version was heavily edited. The original album version was included on this 12" single, lasting over seven minutes.

My collection: 12" single no. 318

Found: Record fair, 2002

Cost: 1 euro

Tracks: 'La vie en rose' / 'I need a man'

Download: Album 'Island life', including both tracks

Valentine - T'pau

Drawn from their debut album 'Bridge of spies', 'Valentine' is a power ballad that is laden with emotions. Released in time for Valentine's day 1988, it climbed to the ninth place in the UK singles chart, only reaching number 22 in the Netherlands.

Of all the singles T'pau has released, this is probably the one that affected me most. There was a time when I could dream the lyric of this song. No wonder, then, that I bought this single as soon as I recognised its appeal.

My collection: 7" single no. 603

Found: Free record shop, Den Haag, 1988

Cost: 6,5 guilders

Tracks: 'Valentine' / 'Giving my love away'

Download: cd-single 'Valentine', including both tracks

Carmen Brasilia - Anarchic System

This single was released in 1972 at the same time as other versions of 'Carmen Brasilia' by Bob Callaghan and co. and Revolution System. Like the other versions, 'Carmen Brasilia' is an instrumental track, performed on a Moog synthesizer, based on the most famous part of the opera Carmen by Georges Bizet. The B-side is 'Marina', a more acoustic instrumental, featuring faint vocals, guitars and a flute.

Anarchic System consisted of Gilles Devos, Jacqus Deville, Patrick Verette, Christian Lerouge and Michel Dhuy. Later incarnations of the band would draw inspiration from the rock genre. This remains an excellent example of Moog music.

My collection: 7" single no. 2560
Found: Record fair, November 19, 1995
Cost: 10 guilders
Tracks: 'Carmen Brasilia' / 'Marina'
Download: here