Monday, 20 April 2009

L'amour toujours - Telex

The Belgian synthpop group Telex released their fourth album 'Wonderful world' in 1984. The single 'L'amour toujours', released a year later, was taken from this album. The single wasn't a commercial success for the band.

I didn't know this song when I bought it, I just assumed that it would be just as nice as the other Telex singles I have. And it is.

My collection: 7" single no. 3637
Found: Record fair, Utrecht, April 18, 2009
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'L'amour toujours' / 'I don't like music'

Bitakat hob - Samira

In 1980, Morocco competed in the Eurovision Song Contest for the first - and so far, only - time. It was the first time that the contest featured a song in Arabic, while the music also showed clear Arabic influences.

Samira Bensaïd, who was born on January 10, 1958 in Rabat, performed the song 'Bitakat hob' ('Message of love') as the fifth of 19 performers in the Contest, finished 18th. This low placing may have contributed to the withdrawal by Morocco from further Contests.

I bought this single for its rarity value - and was very happily surprised when it also contained an original press sheet inside!

My collection: 7" single no. 3674
Found: Record fair, Utrecht, April 18, 2009
Cost: 3 euro
Tracks: 'Bitakat hob' / 'Les enfants de l'amitié'

Lifeline - Spandau Ballet

Released in September 1982, 'Lifeline' became Spandau Ballet's fourth top 10 hit in the UK, peaking at number 7. Produced by Steve Jolley and Tony Swain, this track is a sign that the band were slowly moving away from their earlier, rougher work and taking a slightly more commercial-sounding approach.

This picture disc was a limited edition release, which probably helped the sales of the single in the UK.
My collection: 7" single no. 3627
Found: Record fair, Utrecht, April 18, 2009
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Lifeline' / 'Live & let live'

Adventures in modern recording - The Buggles

I didn't know this single existed until I saw it mentioned on discogs.com recently. 'Adventures in modern recording' is the title track from the Buggles' second album, and it sums up the career of band member Trevor Horn pretty nicely. During and since the Buggles, he's always been on the forefront of modern recording and producing, creating the most fabulous albums out there.

This single, however, was not rewarded with chart success, just like the other singles taken from the album - as well as the album itself.

My collection: 7" single no. 3671
Found: Record fair, Utrecht, April 18, 2009
Cost: 2 euro
Tracks: 'Adventures in modern recording' / 'Blue nylon'

Sunday, 19 April 2009

Rough justice - Bananarama

It's hard to tell from this image, but the sleeve of this single has a 3D postcard on the front. It's this kind of collectable issues that always draws me in. I had to buy 'Rough justice' anyway, because it's one of those tracks that take me right back to the year 1984, the year in which I avoided homework by watching music videos on television every day.

The socially conscious 'Rough justice' deals with social apathy towards children, poverty and starvation. The single peaked at number 23 in the UK.

My collection: 7" single no. 3670
Found: Record fair, Utrecht, April 18, 2009
Cost: 2 euro
Tracks: 'Rough justice' / 'Live now'

Friends - Shalamar

Jody Watley was one of the members of Shalamar, and she would go on to have solo success. One of her solo singles was called 'Friends', just like this single by Shalamar. As you might expect, they are two different songs.

Shalamar released 'Friends' in November 1982, and it peaked in at number 12 in the UK singles chart. Like much of their material, it's a very groovy, danceable song.

My collection: 7" single no. 3625
Found: Record fair, Utrecht, April 18, 2009
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Friends' / 'I just stopped by because I had to'

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)'

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