Amy Grant had just earned the title 'Queen of Christian Pop' in her native USA when she changed direction and started recording secular albums. She wanted to become as successful in the mainstream as she had been in Christian circles. Her 1985 album 'Unguarded' was an album not very different from other artists production-wise, but the fact that her lyrics were no longer riddled with references to Jesus, God and the Bible shocked her fanbase.
'Find a way' was a single from this album and it became a hit in America. She didn't cross over to Europe yet (it would take her a few more years to do that), but this single is a promotional copy made in England. Proof that A&M Records were already trying hard to try and make her a star in the UK too.
My collection: 7" single no. 2396 Found: London, July 6, 1995 Cost: 2 pounds Tracks: 'Find a way' / 'It's not a song'
Taken from their 1990 album 'Happiness', 'Hello' was the second hit single for the Beloved, peaking at number 19 in the UK singles chart. It was released in a limited edition 7" single box set, including three square postcards.
As well as the names of some the band members' friends, the song mentions a number of famous people, chosen to loosely fit a "saints and sinners" theme. In alphabetical order, the people listed in the song are: Jeffrey Archer (politician and novelist), Fred Astaire, Bobby Ball (comedian), Charlie Brown, Tommy Cannon (comedian), Billy Corkhill (soap opera character), Leslie Crowther (TV presenter), "Freddie" Flintstone, Paris Grey (singer), Brian Hayes (broadcaster), Vince Hilaire (footballer), Barry Humphries, The LSO, Kym Mazelle (singer), Mork and Mindy, Little Nell, Charlie Parker, Andre Previn, Little Richard, Salman Rushdie, Jean Paul Sartre, The Supremes ("Mary Wilson, Di and Flo"), William Tell, Sir Bufton Tufton, Desmond Tutu, Willy Wonka, Zippy and Bungle (TV characters). There are also references to "Peter" and "Paul", presumably the Christian apostles Saint Peter and Saint Paul. Kym Mazelle, who's mentioned in the song, actually sings backing vocals on it.
My collection: 7" single no. 2771 Found: London, October 30, 1996 Cost: 2 pounds Tracks: 'Hello' / 'Hello (Dolly)'
In November 1988, Erasure released 'Crackers International', an EP with four self-produced tracks. 'Stop' was the lead track of the EP, with 'She won't be home' pushing the Christmas theme for the end of the year.
In the UK singles chart, the EP equalled the success of their biggest hit to date, 'Sometimes', reaching number 2. In the rest of Europe, the EP did not chart.
My collection: 7" single no. 2559 Found: Record fair, November 19, 1995 Cost: 2 guilders Tracks: 'Stop', 'The hardest part' / 'Knocking on your door', 'She won't be home'
'Pictures of you' was released in two versions, and this version was pressed on purple vinyl. The B-side was a live track on both singles, recorded live at Wembley in London in July 1989. Further live tracks from this gig appeared on the cd-single of the track.
The single peaked at number 24 in the UK singles chart.
My collection: 7" single no. 1201 Found: Free Record Shop, Den Haag, March 30, 1990 Cost: 6,5 guilders Tracks: 'Pictures of you (remix)' / 'Prayers for rain (live)'
'Pictures of you' was a track on the Cure's 1989 album 'Disintegration'. Clocking in at 7'24 minutes, the track was remixed and edited for the single release in 1990, lasting just 4'48 minutes.
According to interviews, the inspiration of the song came when a fire broke loose in Robert Smith's home. After that day, Robert was going through the remains and came across his wallet which had pictures of his wife, Mary. The cover of the single is one of the pictures. The single was released in two versions. This one is pressed on green vinyl.
My collection: 7" single no. 1209 Found: Free Record Shop, Den Haag, April 14, 1990 Cost: 6,5 guilders Tracks: 'Pictures of you (remix)' / 'Last dance (live)'
Early 12" singles by The The were selling for anything upwards of 20 pounds circa 1990. Although I was an avid collector of the band's work, I never shelled out that much money for their records. And now it turns out I was right. Somewhere in a dark corner of a Dutch record shop, this disc suddenly popped up in front of me. I knew instinctively I had to have this - even if my 12" collection is not growing so fast anymore.
The The released a collector's edition of their greatest hits album '45 rpm: volume 1' (By the way, where is volume 2?) in 2002, with disc 2 containing some extended versions. This extended version is missing from that disc. And so I'm very happy to have finally caught this one. And cheaply, too!
My collection: 12" single no. 503 Found: Plaatboef, Rotterdam, July 20, 2009 Cost: 2,5 euro Tracks: 'This is the day (extended version)' / 'I've been waiting for tomorrow (all of my life) (Special mix)'
Dusty Springfield released 'In private' in late 1989. Just like her previous two hits, the track was produced by the Pet Shop Boys, who had a big hand in her glorious comeback in 1987. 'In private' appeared on Springfield's 1990 album 'Reputation'.
The single reached number 9 in the Dutch Top 40 and number 14 in the UK singles chart. Although she released a handful of further singles, Dusty Springfield would never break the top 20 in the UK again.
My collection: 7" single no. 1155 Found: Free Record Shop, Den Haag, January 30, 1990 Cost: 6 guilders Tracks: 'In private' / 'In private (instrumental)'