Love to stay - Altered Images

'Love to stay' was the third single from Altered Images' 1983 album 'Bite' and also their penultimate single. It was their first single since 1981's 'A day's wait' that didn't reach the UK top 40, halting at number 46. It is one of their more polished-sounding singles, thanks to Mike Chapman, who produced the track.

It has become my wish to collect all of Altered Images' singles. Six down, only four to go now...

My collection: 7" single no. 3659

Found: Record fair, Utrecht, April 18, 2009

Cost: 0,5 euro

Tracks: 'Love to stay' / 'Another lost look (recorded live)'

Shouldn't do that - Kaja

After all the international success as Kajagoogoo, first together with singer Limahl and then without him, the band found themselves reduced to a trio when Jez Strode left the band in 1985. The band was relaunched as Kaja in 1985.

The first single released by Kaja was 'Shouldn't do that', as a taster from the album 'Crazy people's right to speak'. It also featured on the soundtrack for 'Santa Claus: The Movie'. Still, this single peaked only at number 63 in the UK, and it signalled the end for the band in this line-up. Kajagoogoo has recently reformed and they are touring Europe and the UK again.

My collection: 7" single no. 3644

Found: Record fair, Utrecht, April 18, 2009

Cost: 0,8 euro

Tracks: 'Shouldn't do that' / 'Charm of a gun'

Words of love - Sanci Bell

Corinne Hermes won the 1983 Eurovision Song Contest with 'Si la vie est cadeau'. That same year, the singer Sanci Bell recorded an English version of that song entitled 'Words of love'. It's hard to find any information on Sanci Bell, she didn't release much more than this one single, I have to assume.

And even this cover isn't a very pretty version. One has to wonder why a French singer has to record an English version of a French song anyway...

My collection: 7" single no. 3675

Found: Record fair, Utrecht, April 18, 2009

Cost: 6 euro

Tracks: 'Words of love' / 'Si la vie est cadeau (Version Orchestrale)'

King Kong - Bobby Pickett and Peter Ferrara

At the height of the disco rage, novelty songs were all around. I described one of them on this blog: Rick Dees and his 'Disco Duck'. And this is another one: 'King Kong', a song about the movie gorilla of the same name.

Bobby Pickett had a hit in 1962 with another novelty song, 'Monster Mash', a number one hit in America. Pickett proceeded to make further novelty songs, such as 'Star Drek' (about the television series 'Star Trek') and this one. Based firmly on the story of the movie 'King Kong', Pickett and Ferrara perform the various voices on this track. The single was released in 1976, but didn't become a hit.

My collection: 7" single no. 3658
Found: Record fair, Utrecht, April 18, 2009
Cost: 0,5 euro
Tracks: 'King Kong' / 'Disco Kong'

Waiting for a star to fall - Boy meets girl

I heard this song for the first time last year, twenty years after its release. It appeared regularly on the show 'Secret songs', which is presented by Kim Wilde on Magic FM in the UK. Magic FM actually doesn't broadcast abroad, but a kind friend from the UK has been sending me a recording of every show for months now.

Boys Meets Girl consists of George Merrill and Shannon Rubicam. 'Waiting for a star to fall' was their most successful single, taken from their second album 'Reel life'. It peaked at number 9 in the UK and number 5 in the USA. The song was originally written by the duo for Whitney Houston, but she rejected it. Belinda Carlisle did record a demo of the song while she was recording her 'Heaven on earth' album, but it didn't make the album.

My collection: 7" single no. 3632
Found: Record fair, Utrecht, April 18, 2009
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Waiting for a star to fall' / 'No apologies'

Popcorn - Rod Hunter

I have no idea how many versions of Gershon and Kingsley's composition 'Popcorn' exist. Everytime I think I have found everything, a new single I've never heard of pops up. Check out yesterday's new find: it's Rod Hunter's version of 'Popcorn', released on the Decca label in 1972. I have no further information on it, just that it's another nice version of that old classic.

And it's great to add it to my collection, of course!

My collection: 7" single no. 3622

Found: Record fair, Utrecht, April 18, 2009

Cost: 2 euro

Tracks: 'Popcorn' / 'Snoopy'

Juliet - Robin Gibb

Robin Gibb was not content just to be part of the Bee Gees, one of the most successful bands of all time. In 1983, he released a solo album. It was actually his second solo album, since 1970's 'Robin's Reign' was an early attempt at making it on his own. The 1983 album 'How old are you?' was a more successful attempt, since it yielded several hit singles.

'Juliet' was the first single taken from the album. It was a number one hit in Germany, Switzerland and Italy, peaking at number 2 in Austria and, by way of contrast, number 94 in the UK. Robin performed this song last December during the Night of the Proms concerts in Germany, and I took to the song instantly. I simply had to buy the single. I didn't know it was such an old song, though!

My collection: 7" single no. 3620
Found: Record fair, Utrecht, April 18, 2009
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Juliet' / 'Hearts on fire'