Step right up - Jaki Graham

Jaki Graham had her biggest chart successes when she duetted with David Grant, but she also released plenty of solo singles. 'Step right up' was a slightly formulaic Eighties pop song, released in November 1986 and her last big hit in the UK singles chart, peaking at number 15.

The real treat here is the sexually charged 'The closest one', which is on the B-side of this single. A duet with Derek Bramble, who also co-wrote the song, it shows off Jaki's amazing vocal range.

My collection: 7" single no. 3925
Found: Record Exchange, London, August 5, 2009
Cost: 30p
Tracks: 'Step right up' / 'The closest one'

Let's groove - Earth Wind and Fire

In 1981, Earth Wind & Fire released their album 'Raise!'. From this album, the single 'Let's groove' was taken. The song peaked at number 3 in the UK and USA and number 5 in the Netherlands. The song was nominated for a Grammy in the category 'Best R&B Vocal performance by a duo or group'.

I was never a fan of Earth Wind & Fire during their heyday, but like many songs from the Eighties, I started to like them in hindsight.

My collection: 7" single no. 3924
Found: Record Exchange, London, August 5, 2009
Cost: 50p
Tracks: 'Let's groove' / 'Let's groove (instrumental)'

You might need somebody - Randy Crawford

So I'm going to do something I've never done on this blog before: a series of postings. A chronological listing of all that I've bought in London during my one day shopping spree - a series of posts that will take me a few days actually.

I came into London by plane, taking the train from Gatwick to Victoria and then went to Ealing Broadway to check out the Oxfam music shop. It was a disappointment: they only had some second hand cd's and lp's, no singles at all. So I went back. My first successful visit was in Notting Hill Gate, in the 'Soul and Dance Exchange'. I never went there before but they had a nice amount of singles there. My first catch: 'You might need somebody' by Randy Crawford, a hit for her 1981, peaking at number 11 in the UK singles chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 3923
Found: Record Exchange, London, August 5, 2009
Cost: 50p
Tracks: 'You might need somebody' / 'You bring the sun out'

London town - Bucks Fizz

Bucks Fizz's 1983 Greatest Hits compilation featured a couple of new songs, of which 'London town' was one. Written by Andy Hill, the lyrics tell of someone who is finding it difficult to adjust to life in a big city but is determined to stay. Lead vocals on the track were performed by member Bobby G, although he was unhappy with the distorted way his vocals were mixed, claiming that he 'sounded like a munchkin'.

This 12" single features an extended club mix of the track plus an extra B-side track.

My collection: 12" single no. 382
Found: Record fair, 1995
Cost: 5 guilders
Tracks: 'London town (extended club mix)' / 'Identity', 'Love dies hard'

Ocean blue - ABC

'Ocean blue' was released as the fourth single from ABC's 1984 album 'How to be a zillionaire'. The single version was very different from the album version, featuring a richer, fuller sound. The B-side was the album track 'Tower of London', a tribute to the landmark in the UK's capital.

The single stalled at number 51 in the UK singles chart during its three week chart run.

My collection: 7" single no. 1181
Found: Oldies Unlimited, received February 26, 1990
Cost: 2 pounds
Tracks: 'Ocean blue' / 'Tower of London'

Streets of London - Ralph McTell

I'm taking a day off and am going to London for one day. Flying down in the morning and flying back in the evening, I've got exactly 10 hours to hunt down records in various second hand shops in the world's capital of music (Or at least it used to be before the music industry went belly-up).

I've prepared a few posts for you all to read in my absence. And of course I had to make a few appropriate ones. 'Streets of London' is one of the most classic songs about London. It was performed by Ralph McTell (born December 3, 1944) in 1969 on his album 'Spiral staircase' but it was not released as a single in the UK until 1974, when it reached number 2 in the singles chart. In the Netherlands, it reached number 9 in 1972.

My collection: 7" single no. 1044
Found: Record Exchange, London, October 17, 1989
Cost: 40p
Tracks: 'Streets of London' / 'Summer lightning'

I want your sex - George Michael

George Michael released his first controversial solo single in 1987, the provocative 'I want your sex'. It was banned on many daytime radio stations in both the USA and the UK. Despite - or perhaps because of - all the controversy, the single became a number 1 hit in the UK and the Netherlands. It also reached number 2 on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart.

It is remarkable that George Michael's 1998 compilation album 'Ladies & Gentlemen' does not feature the A-side of this single, but rather the B-side. Perhaps he's grown to be ashamed of this display of casual hornyness?

My collection: 7" single no. 543
Found: Free Record Shop, Den Haag, 1987
Cost: 6 guilders
Tracks: 'I want your sex (Rhythm 1: Lust)' / 'I want your sex (Rhythm 2: Brass in love)'