Quiet life - Japan

'Quiet life' was Japan's first big chart hit, peaking at number 19 in the autumn of 1981. The album of the same name saw the band change from glam rockers to futuristic synthpop performers. They were rewarded with an ever greater following.

I didn't get to know Japan until they had disbanded. First I heard 'Nightporter', then 'Adolescent sex', and then this synthpop track. And all this after I'd heard David Sylvian's early solo work. Even when you follow pop music from an early age, you get to miss something every once in a while.

My collection: 7" single no. 2883

Found: House of Rhythm, London, October 28, 1997

Cost: 1 pound

Tracks: 'Quiet life' / 'A foreign place'

Download: Album 'Quiet life', including both tracks

Feel like change - Black

I wonder how much this single is worth. It's obviously not a commercially sold item, and not quite a white label. However it does list the release date of this single (April 22, 1991) and it is a custom A&M label.

Well anyway, 'Feel like change' was the first single from Black's self-titled album from 1991. It would be the last album for A&M, as after this main member Colin Vearncombe went independent and never dealt with big corporate record companies again. Oh, I wish I had Colin Vearncombe's voice, I would love hearing myself all day.

My collection: 7" single no. 3461

Found: Record fair, Utrecht, November 22, 2008

Cost: 1 euro

Tracks: 'Feel like change' / 'Nice'

Download: Album 'Black (+ bonus tracks)', including both tracks

Thought you were on my side - Cock Robin

'Thought you were on my side' was the second chart hit for Cock Robin in the Netherlands. After the number one hit 'The promise you made', this single reached number 5 in the Dutch Top 40. The single was also successful in Germany and France, but flopped in the UK and America.

Having bought the 12" single of 'The promise you made' I was already convinced that the extended versions of Cock Robin tracks were very interesting, so I had no doubts that I should have this record as well. I did wait it out, though, because 12" singles became cheaper once they left the chart. It was well worth the wait.

My collection: 12" single no. 32

Found: Free Record Shop, Den Haag, 1986

Cost: 7,95 guilders

Tracks: 'Thought you were on my side (extended remix)' / 'Thought you were on my side', 'Peace on earth'

Download: here

Equinoxe - Jean Michel Jarre

'Equinoxe' was the second album released by Jean Michel Jarre, released in 1978. The album reflects a day in the life of a human being, from morning to night. The release of the album was followed by a concert on the Place de la Concorde, Paris on July 14, 1979. The concert attracted one million people, becoming Jarre's first entry in the Guinness Book of Records for the largest crowd for an outdoor concert.

The single 'Equinoxe (part 5)' peaked at number 45 in the UK singles chart, and reached number 13 in the Dutch Top 40. The B-side of this single features an autograph of Jean Michel Jarre in the runout groove, as made by him on the master plate.

My collection: 7" single no. 2917

Found: London, November 1, 1997

Cost: 1 pound

Tracks: 'Equinoxe (part 5)' / 'Equinoxe (part 1)'

Download: here

Ghosts - Ghosts

I already wrote about the Ghosts' single 'Stay the night'. 'The world is outside', their next single, peaked at number 35 in the UK singles chart. 'Ghosts' was released a few months after that, but achieved no chart placing in the UK. Still, this is an interesting single, if only for the remix of 'The world is outside'. While this remix misses the sparkle of the original track, it does keep certain elements of the song intact and makes it interesting to listen to. 'The world is outside' was one of my favourite tracks of 2008 (although it was released a year earlier, but how was I to know...) and so I was glad to get this single. And it's pressed on white vinyl, too!

My collection: 7" single no. 3574

Found: eBay, received February 2, 2009

Cost: 3 pounds

Tracks: 'Ghosts' / 'The world is outside (Stellasound remix)'

Download: here

The Fear - Lily Allen

When you read the long, long entry on Lily Allen in Wikipedia, you would think this girl has spent decades in the entertainment business. But in fact she's only released one album, with her second one underway right now. 'The fear' is the first single drawn from this second album, and it was released last month on cd-single and this picture disc 7" single.

Lily Allen was born on May 2, 1985 as the daughter of British actor/musician Keith Allen and film producer Alison Owen. While the songs on her debut album were mostly about former boyfriends and short-lived love affairs, the new album supposedly contains some more adult oriented lyrics. 'The fear' is a good example: it reflects on fame and what it can do to a young woman like Lily.

My collection: 7" single no. 3578

Found: digitalstores.co.uk website, received February 2, 2009

Cost: 3 pounds

Tracks: 'The fear' / 'Kabul shit'

Download: here

Let's all chant - Michael Zager Band

A fabulous disco track from 1978. 'Let's all chant' by the Michael Zager Band reached number 4 in the Dutch Top 40 and number 8 in the UK singles chart. Michael Zager was born on January 3, 1943 in Passaic, New Jersey. He was a member of Ten Wheel Drive from 1968 to 1973, and then went on to record a couple of album as the Michael Zager Band. 'Let's all chant' remains his best known song, and was even re-released in 2000 in a remixed version.

Michael Zager went on to produce and compose music for many artists, such as Gladys Knight, Deniece Williams, Luther Vandross and Whitney Houston.

My collection: 7" single no. 2291

Found: Record fair, Den Haag, May 13, 1995

Cost: 1 guilder

Tracks: 'Let's all chant' / 'Love express'

Download: here