Walking on air - Frazier Chorus

Continuing the Easter theme, this is the sleeve of the last single by Frazier Chorus, released in 1990. The single version of 'Walking on air' was remixed by Youth and continued Frazier Chorus's move towards more dance-oriented music.

Sounding a lot like other bands around at the time, Frazier Chorus lost the thing that made them 'different', their identity. And so this was their last release.

My collection: 7" single no. 2525

Found: Beanos, East Croydon, London, November 1, 1995

Cost: 2 pounds

Tracks: 'Walking on air' / 'Walking on air (album version)'

Heaven - Frazier Chorus

I saw the Pope today, speaking about life after death and all that malarkey. To use the words of Frazier Chorus' 1990 single: 'It seems our eternal reward / is to hang out in heaven, eternally bored'. Since it's Easter today, I thought this sleeve was a fitting tribute: after all, Easter is not about religion but about eggs. As we all know.

My collection: 7" single no. 2760

Found: House of Rhythm, London, October 29, 1996

Cost: 50p

Tracks: 'Heaven' / 'Heaven (God like edit)'

Lovefool - The Cardigans

The Swedish band The Cardigans formed in Jönköping in 1992. Heavy metal musicians Peter Svensson and Magnus Sveningsson formed the band together with singer Nina Persson plus Bengt Lagerberg and Lars-Olof Johansson. Their debut album 'Emmerdale' was released in 1994, followed by the second album 'Life' in 1996. Signing to Mercury Records in 1996, their first international release 'First band on the moon' featured the hit 'Lovefool'.

The single peaked at number 2 in the UK singles chart and topped the chart in New Zealand. I found this limited edition white vinyl 7" single while on holiday in London. The band had some further international hits but unfortunately they weren't released on 7" vinyl. What a shame!

My collection: 7"single no. 3262

Found: Record exchange, London, October 20, 2000

Cost: 2 pounds

Tracks: 'Lovefool' / 'Nasty sunny beam'

Big bubbles, no troubles - Ellis, Beggs and Howard

The debut single of Ellis, Beggs & Howard, 'Big bubbles, no troubles' was released in the summer of 1988. It was a hit in the Netherlands (peaking at number 16) and several other European countries, though it only made number 41 in the UK singles chart.

Briefly after its release, I found the cd-single at discount price. The picture disc included two mixes of the song. It was only after some time that I realised I didn't have the single version of this song. And so, when I found the single in 1995 I was pretty happy.

Nick Beggs performed this song live as part of his set as a 'support act' during the November 2007 European tour of Kim Wilde. He performed it armed only with a backing track and a Chapman stick. The song still sounded as fresh as ever!

My collection: 7" single no. 2587

Found: Grammofoonwinkel, Utrecht, December 30, 1995

Cost: 3 guilders

Tracks: 'Big bubbles, no troubles' / 'Rock me'

Je ogen hebben geen geheimen / Främling - Carola

Swedish singer Carola was born on September 8, 1966. She represented Sweden in the 1983 Eurovision Song Contest with 'Främling', which ended up in third place. Carola proceeded to record three versions in other languages: 'Love isn't love' (English), 'Fremder' (German) and 'Je ogen hebben geen geheimen', the Dutch version which helped the single get to number 7 in the Dutch Top 40.

The album of the same name sold over one million copies in Sweden, making it the biggest-selling album in Swedish music history.

My collection: 7" single no. 2971
Found: February 21, 1998

Cost: 4 guilders

Tracks: 'Je ogen hebben geen geheimen' / 'Främling'

That's what they say about love - Flip

Flip formed in the mid-Eighties. Singer/songwriters Anthony Duke and Frank Walsh recruited Gary Duke, Andy Kinch and Tristian Batory. In 1984 the band were signed to Arista Records, recording an album 'Flip' on 'Private I' records. It was recorded at Abbey Road, Wessex, Sarm and Air Studios and produced by Peter Collins, Colin Thurston and Eric Stewart (10cc). Stewart played on 'Love incognito', he also added a solo on the track 'Demand'.

The single 'That's what they say about love' was released in Spring 1986, and managed to squeeze into the Dutch Top 40, peaking at number 37.

My collection: 7" single no. 417
Found: V&D, Den Haag, June 21, 1986
Cost: 3 guilders
Tracks: 'That's what they say about love' / 'Love incognito'

French kiss - Lil Louis

A novelty record. Chicago house music producer Louis Burns produced a dance track in 1989 with female house-music singer Shawn Christopher performing some moaning and groaning on the, ahem, climax of the song.

The single went number one in the Netherlands, and peaked at number 2 in the UK, Switzerland and Germany.

My collection: 7" single no. 2142

Found: White noise, Utrecht, August 2, 1994

Cost: 1 guilder

Tracks: 'French kiss' / 'New York'