Is she really going out with him? - Joe Jackson

Joe Jackson was born as David Ian Jackson on August 11, 1954. He released his debut album 'Look sharp!' in 1979. Prior to that, 'Is she really going out with him?' was released as his debut single in September 1978.

A flop in the UK, the single managed to become a radio hit in Europe, although this didn't lead to chart placings. In the Netherlands the single managed a few weeks in the bubbling under chart in April 1979. It took a re-release in August 1979 to become a number 13 hit in the UK.

My collection: 7" single no. 823

Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, May 13, 1989

Cost: 1 guilder

Tracks: 'Is she really going out with him?' / 'You got the fever'

Nothing (Chad Jackson remixes) - Frazier Chorus

Frazier Chorus changed track in 1990 when they released their second album 'Ray'. They positioned themselves as an act that had a certain danceability to them. The singles were remixed by prominent DJ's such as Paul Oakenfold and Chad Jackson.

This 12" single featuring three versions of a remix by Chad Jackson was an interesting find when I got it. I'd bought the single 'Nothing' during a holiday in London and thought it was one of their better singles. This remix appealed less to me, but I was still glad that I was able to find it. After all, Frazier Chorus were completely unknown in the Netherlands.

My collection: 12" single no. 110

Found: Grammofoonwinkel, Utrecht, 1993

Cost: 6,5 guilders

Tracks: 'Nothing (has been proved mix)' / 'Nothing (Instrumental)', 'Nothing (beats mix 2)'

The way you are - Tears for fears

After the record company had released several singles from Tears for fears' debut album 'The hurting', the band released a new single, 'The way you are' towards the end of 1983. The single kept the band in the public eye while they were working on their second album. It peaked at number 23 in the UK and as such didn't live up to the expectations caused by the three top 5 singles taken from 'The hurting'.

The single, which heavily featured sampling and programmed rhythms, led to a departure in Tears for Fears' musical approach. In the liner notes to their 1996 B-sides album Saturnine Martial & Lunatic they wrote that 'this was the point we realised we had to change direction'. I had a hard time finding this single, since it wasn't released in the Netherlands. I finally found it in a second hand store while on holiday in London.

My collection: 7" single no. 1027
Found: Record exchange, London, October 17, 1989

Cost: 80p

Tracks: 'The way you are' / 'The marauders'

U.O. Me - Luv'

Reportedly inspired by Raffaella Carra's 'A far l'amore comincia tu', 'U.O. me' was the third single release by the Dutch girl group Luv', released in early 1978. The single reversed their fortunes in a dramatic way: second single 'Dream dream' did not chart, after debut single 'My man' had been a top 20 hit in the Netherlands. 'U.O. me' peaked at number 3 in the Netherlands, but also provided them with an international breakthrough hit.

German Schlager singer Peter Petrel recorded a German cover version entitled 'Wer hat hier denn wohl wen verführt' later on in 1978.

My collection: 7" single no. 3688

Found: Empire Records, May 5, 2009

Cost: 0,5 euro

Tracks: 'U.O. me' / 'Hang on'

Gimme the sunshine - Curiosity

After the enormous success of their debut album and the singles 'Misfit' and 'Down to earth', the second album proved to be more difficult for Curiosity killed the cat. The first single from their second album 'Getahead', 'Name and number', was still a hit, but its follow-up 'First place' performed less well and the band found themselves dropped by their record label.

Cutting their name short to Curiosity, the band tried again in 1993, with a cover of Johnny Bristol's 'Hang on in there baby', which became a UK top 10 hit. The next singles, 'I need your lovin'' and 'Gimme the sunshine' continued the downward trend however, which resulted in the album Back to Front only being released in Japan and selected overseas markets. After this, the band folded for good. Frontman Ben Volpeliere-Pierrot still tours as Curiosity killed the cat these days as part of the 'Here and Now' Eighties revival concerts.

My collection: 7" single no. 2040

Found: HMV, London, October 22, 1993

Cost: 2 pounds

Tracks: 'Gimme the sunshine' / 'Fall in again'

Little sister leaving town - Tanita Tikaram

'Little sister leaving town' was the second single taken from Tanita Tikaram's second album 'The sweet keeper' (1990). The single peaked at number 83 in the UK singles chart, continuing the trend of declining sales for each single Tikaram released since her debut album.

Nevertheless, 'Little sister leaving town' is one of Tikaram's more accomplished songs, creating an intimate atmosphere. The B-side was a demo version of 'I love the heaven's solo', which would become a single a few years later.

My collection: 7" single no. 1203

Found: Melody Maker, Den Haag, April 6, 1990

Cost: 6,5 guilders

Tracks: 'Little sister leaving town' / 'I love the heaven's solo'

Heart - Pet Shop Boys

'Heart' was released as the fourth single from the Pet Shop Boys' second album 'Actually' (1987). The track was remixed for the single and the single itself was released in two different sleeves in the UK: one picturing Neil Tennant (above) and one with Chris Lowe (below).

The track 'Heart' was originally offered to Hi-NRG singer Hazell Dean and Madonna, but in the end the Pet Shop Boys recorded the track themselves. Originally recorded for the 1986 album 'Plase' with Shep Pettibone, the duo re-recorded it in 1987 with producer Andy Richards. The single became the band's fourth number one hit in the UK, topping the chart for three weeks in the summer of 1988. In the Netherlands, the single peaked at number 11.

My collection: 7" single no. 2677 / no. 2678

Found: Record exchange, London, July 2, 1996

Cost: 1 pound / 1 pound

Tracks: 'Heart' / 'I get excited (you get excited too)'