History - Michael Jackson

Michael Jackson may be dead, but his music still lives on. Never more than now. I was already filling in the blanks in my collection over the last few months, but recently there has been a surge of supply of rare items. And sometimes I'm lucky enough to win the bidding war on eBay.

'History' was released as the second single from Jackson's remix album 'Blood on the dancefloor' (1997), although the version on this single was not a remixed version but rather an edited version from the previous album 'History' (1995). This single was never commercially released on 7" vinyl. This is either a test pressing or a promotional disc, I think...

My collection: 7" single no. 3849
Found: eBay.co.uk, received July 11, 2009
Cost: 7 euro
Tracks: 'History' / 'Ghosts'

Tinsel town in the rain - The Blue Nile

So what is a mispressing of the Blue Nile's 'Tinsel town in the rain' worth? I never went out to research this and usually it's whatever someone wants to pay for it. And then I doubt that this mispressing is rare: the must be hundreds or thousands of singles like this, where the B-side is announced as an instrumental version of 'Heatwave', but it's an unidentifiable dance track.

'Tinsel town in the rain' was an unexpected hit for the Scottish band, peaking at number 28 in the Dutch Top 40 in October 1984. It was a remarkable hit, because in other countries the single did not chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 242
Found: LP Top 100, Den Haag, 1984
Cost: 5,5 guilders
Tracks: 'Tinsel town in the rain' / 'Heatwave (instrumental)' (sic)

Never my love - Patty Brard

'Never my love' was written by American siblings Donald and Richard Addrisi, who recorded under the name the Addrisi Brothers and had two Top 40 hits as singers. The first recording of the song that achieved chart success was by the Association, an American pop-rock band from California. Their version peaked at number 2 on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart in late 1967.

Dutch singer Patty Brard recorded the song in 1983 on her second solo album 'You're in the pocket'. Released as a single, the track did not chart but it still got some attention because of the music video, in which Brard was rolling around in the nude. Don't bother to look for it on YouTube: it can't be found.

My collection: 7" single no. 2726
Found: September 7, 1996
Cost: 2 guilders
Tracks: 'Never my love' / 'Oh girl'

Everlasting love - Sandra

'Everlasting love' was written by Buzz Cason and Mac Gayden. It was first a hit for soul singer Robert Knight in 1967. The song was subsequently covered by various acts, the most famous of which were U2 in 1989 and Love Affair in 1968. The Love Affair version peaked at number 1 in the UK in January 1968.

Sandra recorded her cover version of the song as a new track for her compilation album 'Ten on one' in 1988. The European release featured the track 'Change your mind', from Sandra's debut album, while the UK single featured the other new track from 'Ten on one', 'Stop for a minute'.

My collection: 7" single no. 1860 (German pressing) / no. 2670 (UK pressing)
Found: Grammofoonwinkel, Utrecht, January 30, 1993 / Leeds, June 30, 1996
Cost: 3 guilders / 1,5 pounds
Tracks: 'Everlasting love' / 'Change your mind' (German pressing)
'Everlasting love' / 'Stop for a minute' (UK pressing)

Love's been a little bit hard on me - Juice Newton

'Love's been a little bit hard on me' was released in 1982. It reached number 7 on the US Billboard Hot 100 during the summer of that year. I bought the single because I liked the song, while it met with disapproval of my sister, with whom I had an almost shared record collection at the time. Suffice to say that she was rather shocked that I came home with this one...

My collection: 7" single no. 135
Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, 1982
Cost: 3,5 guilders
Tracks: 'Love's been a little bit hard on me' / 'Ever true'

Candle in the wind (live) - Elton John

'Elton John live in Australia with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra' was released in 1987. This single, a live version of 'Candle in the wind', the famous song dedicated to Marilyn Monroe, was taken from that album. The single reached number 5 in the UK and Canada.

While touring in Australia, the year before, Elton lost his voice. Shortly thereafter he underwent throat surgery. Several non-cancerous polyps were removed from his vocal cords, and John lost his famous falsetto, and he sang with a new voice.

My collection: 7" single no. 627
Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, 1987
Cost: 1 guilder
Tracks: 'Candle in the wind (live)' / 'Sorry seems to be the hardest word (live)'

Feel so high - Des'ree

As written before on this blog, 'Feel so high' was released twice in the UK, with the second release being the most successful one. The original single had a different B-side than this reissue. The sleeve was also different.

Enough reasons for me to warrant the purchase of this single. It was the last 7" single by Des'ree I bought. Not long after this, the vinyl format was abandoned by the record company and the artist started recording dull songs.

My collection: 7" single no. 2361
Found: July 3, 1995
Cost: 1 pound
Tracks: 'Feel so high' / 'Got to be strong'