Club Fantastic megamix - Wham!

'Club Fantastic megamix' is a unique Wham! single, because it's the only one that didn't become a top 10 hit in the UK. It still peaked at number 15, so that wasn't too bad, but all the other singles they released during their career made it into the top 10, which is quite a feat!

The megamix was a medley of three album tracks from Wham's debut album 'Fantastic': 'A ray of sunshine', 'Love machine' and 'Come on'. The band members George Michael and Andrew Ridgeley did not approve of this release. It was released three months after Wham! had begun proceedings to leave the label Innervision records.

My collection: 7" single no. 3846
Found: Zeeheldenfestival, Den Haag, July 4, 2009
Cost: 0,5 euro
Tracks: 'Club Fantastic megamix' / 'A ray of sunshine (instrumental mix)'

Positive reaction - Mandy Smith

Mandy Smith became a model during her early teens. In 1987 she was signed to PWL Records. The production trio Stock/Aitken/Waterman produced her first two singles, 'I just can't wait' and 'Positive reaction'. Neither single charted in the UK. The latter reached number 9 in Italy and number 11 in Switzerland.

Mandy Smith started dating Rolling Stones bassist Bill Wyman at age 13 in 1983. Six years later, they got married. In 1991, they divorced. In 2001, she was briefly engaged to Vanity Fair fashion model Ian Mosby with whom she had a son, Max Harrison Mosby. Smith now lives in Manchester. Having tried a career as a make up artist, Smith is presently training to be a counsellor.

My collection: 7" single no. 3836
Found: Zeeheldenfestival, Den Haag, July 4, 2009
Cost: 0,5 euro
Tracks: 'Positive reaction (Our Mandy's mix)' / 'Positive reaction (Amanda's mix)'

(Si Si) Je suis un rock star - Bill Wyman

Bill Wyman was born as William George Perks on October 24, 1936. He is best known as bass guitarist of the Rolling Stones, which he was between 1962 and 1992. While in the Stones, he recorded four solo albums, the third of which was 'Bill Wyman', released in 1982.

The single '(Si Si) Je suis un rock star' was released in July 1981 and became a top 20 hit in several countries. In the Netherlands, the single peaked at number 13, while in the UK it reached number 14.

My collection: 7" single no. 3829
Found: Zeeheldenfestival, Den Haag, July 4, 2009
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: '(Si Si) Je suis un rock star' / 'Rio de Janeiro'

Blaze of glory - Joe Jackson

It is printed on the sleeve and on the label of this single: 'For promotion only Not for sale'. So was 'Blaze of glory' released commercially as a single? You would guess not, because it is not listed in his discography on Wikipedia and discogs.com. Yet, I do have a cd-single which does not come with the 'promotion only' warning... How strange!

Anyway, 'Blaze of glory' is the title track of Joe Jackson's 1989 album. The on the album were an examination of his generation as the Eighties were ending, ranging from the optimism of the Fifties ('Tomorrow's world') to the politics of terrorism ('Rant and rave', included here on the B-side). The title track tells the story of a singer who is successful, but then dies young.

My collection: 7" single no. 1117
Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, December 1, 1989
Cost: 3,5 guilders
Tracks: 'Blaze of glory' / 'Rant and rave'

She's out of my life - Michael Jackson

It's hard to believe now, but 20 years ago, when you wanted to hear a song and not be dependent of radio stations, you actually had to buy records. You could also opt for cd's, but since my money resources were limited, I usually bought singles. And this is how I ended up with this single from the 'Hall of fame' series by Epic Records.

'She's out of my life' was an old song from 1980, which I did not have. I really wanted to have it, and while I am usually searching for picture sleeves, in this instance I made do with this release. Even if it didn't look that attractive, and even if the B-side was already part of my collection. These days, most people just download tracks somewhere. Life has become so much easier.

My collection: 7" single no. 1079
Found: HMV, London, October 19, 1989
Cost: 2 pounds
Tracks: 'She's out of my life' (Michael Jackson) / 'Lovely one' (Jacksons)

I'll wait - Taylor Dayne

Even though the American double 12" single of 'I'll wait' contains no less than 7 remixes of the track, the 'US 7" mix' is not on it. That one is included on the B-side of this single, which I bought almost a year after I bought the 12" format.

By that time, I was merely completing my collection, not so much an avid Taylor Dayne fan anymore. That star had faded fast, unfortunately.

My collection: 7" single no. 2360
Found: June 30, 1995
Cost: 50p
Tracks: 'I'll wait (Hot mix)' / 'I'll wait (US 7" mix)'

More than the sun - Black

'More than the sun' was the second single by Black. Unlike the debut single 'Human features', this single was released on the independent 'Wonderful world of...' label. It is an early version of a track that Black would re-record in 1984, when they were signed to WEA Records. The B-side 'Jump' is an even bigger rarity, since that track never appeared again.

I ordered this single, together with another early Black release, in the UK, although I can't remember from which company. I received it some time after I ordered it. It was a very special moment: I was filling in some much-lamented gaps in my Black collection.

By the way: if you go to Black's official website, you can download the new album 'The Given' for free! (Donations welcome.)

My collection: 7" single no. 2626
Found: received March 9, 1996
Cost: 5 pounds
Tracks: 'More than the sun' / 'Jump'