Cloud eight - Frazier Chorus

Frazier Chorus followed up their single 'Nothing' with 'Cloud eight'. You could say it was equally successful, as it peaked at number 52 in the UK singles chart. But things were looking a bit grim for the band: with no chart success to speak of, the inspiration to go on began to wane too. Two more singles would follow before the band broke up.

Still, 'Cloud eight' is an inspired piece of breezy pop. I bought a quartet of Frazier Chorus singles on the day I bought this one, and I like every one of them a lot.

My collection: 7"single no. 2522
Found: Beanos, East Croydon, London, November 1, 1995
Cost: 2 pounds
Tracks: 'Cloud eight' / 'Le change est magnifique'

We belong - Pat Benatar

Pat Benatar released 'We belong' as a follow-up to her highly successful single 'Love is a battlefield'. The track was taken from her sixth studio album 'Tropico'.

While it matched the success of 'Battlefield' in the US (peaking at number 5 in the US Billboard Hot 100 chart), the song was less successful elsewhere, peaking at number 10 in the Netherlands and number 22 in the UK.

My collection: 7" single no. 2125
Found: Record Palace, July 30, 1994
Cost: 2 guilders
Tracks: 'We belong' / 'Suburban king'
Download: Album 'Tropico', including both tracks

Bad ambassador - The Divine Comedy

As far as I know, 'Bad ambassador' was the only single from The Divine Comedy's 2001 album 'Regeneration' that was released on 7" vinyl. Of course I bought it right away, even if I had to order it from the UK.

The reason for my greed was the fact that the 7" vinyl featured a live track not found on the two cd-single releases. 'Life on earth' is not, as it may seem, a cover of the David Bowie track, but a composition that appeared on The Divine Comedy's 1998 album 'Fin de siècle'.

My collection: 7" single no. 3339

Found: HMV mail order, London, 2001

Cost: 3 pounds

Tracks: 'Bad ambassador' / 'Life on earth (live)'

The comfort of strangers - Julia Fordham

When I bought 'The comfort of strangers', it was mainly because it was so very cheap and because I knew the name Julia Fordham because of her single 'Happy ever after'.

This single actually predates that hit, it was released as Julia's debut single in 1988. It peaked at number 89 in the UK singles chart, and no-one could foresee that the second single from Julia's debut album would become such a big hit.

My collection: 7" single no. 2508
Found: Record Exchange, London, October 30, 1995
Cost: 10p
Tracks: 'The comfort of strangers' / 'I wish'

Why should I love you? - Des'ree

The third single drawn from Des'ree's debut album 'Mind adventures' was the sublime soul ballad 'Why should I love you?'. It wasn't as successful as the previous single, peaking at number 44 in the UK singles chart. Personally I thought it was the strongest track on the album.

The cd-single was released as a double package in the UK, with the second disc featuring covers of 'Imagine', 'Calling you' and 'Killing me softly with his song'. On the vinyl single, though, only the self-penned track 'Competitive world' appeared.

My collection: 7" single no. 1659

Found: Melody Maker, Den Haag, May 30, 1992

Cost: 6 guilders

Tracks: 'Why should I love you?' / 'Competitive world'

Lass die Sonne in dein Herz - Wind

Wind represented Germany in the Eurovision Song Contest for the second time in 1987 with 'Lass die Sonne in dein Herz'. Just like the first time in 1985, they ended up on second place, behind Johnny Logan, who won with 'Hold me now' for Ireland. Their performance is notable for including as a backing singer Robert Pilatus, later to achieve infamy in connection with Milli Vanilli.

Written and composed by longtime Contest contributors for Germany Ralph Siegel and Bernd Meinunger, the song is a reggae-oriented track with a lyric full of positive platitudes.

My collection: 7" single no. 540

Found: Free Record Shop, Den Haag, July 1, 1987

Cost: 6 guilders

Tracks: 'Lass die Sonne in dein Herz' / 'Let the sun shine in your heart'

That loving feeling - Cicero

Cicero followed up his debut single 'Love is everywhere' with another track produced by the Pet Shop Boys, 'That loving feeling'. Despite the fact that the track had that typical Pet Shop Boys sound, it only made number 46 in the UK singles chart. It could be because of the unremarkable lead vocals by Cicero.

Whatever it was, it was the beginning of the end for him: the subsequent single 'Heaven must have sent you back to me' peaked at number 70 and later singles didn't chart. A promising career was cut short pretty quickly.

My collection: 7" single no. 3081

Found: Beanos, East Croydon, London, May 10, 1999

Cost: 1 pound

Tracks: 'That loving feeling' / 'Splatt'