Flash - Stephanie

It's always weird to find a single not intended for the UK market in a shop in the UK. But here I was, finding a copy of Princess Stephanie of Monaco's 'Flash', the French version of 'One love to give'.

As described in that post, this single reached number 4 in France and number 28 in Switzerland. Due to the similarity of the sleeve I doubted for a moment whether or not I had this single already. I'm glad I decided to take it with me just in case. Turns out I really didn't have this one!

My collection: 7" single no. 3948
Found: Record Exchange, London, August 5, 2009
Cost: 50p
Tracks: 'Flash' / 'Le sega Mauricien'

Where does the time go - Julia Fordham

Julia Fordham released 'Where does the time go' in 1989 as a single from her second album 'Porcelain'. The male voice on the track was performed by John O'Kane. The single peaked at number 41 in the UK singles chart.

Although I am not familiar with most of Fordham's work, I decided I wanted to try this one out, if nothing else for the ridiculously low price of this disc.

My collection: 7" single no. 3947
Found: Record Exchange, London, August 5, 2009
Cost: 10p
Tracks: 'Where does the time go' / 'My little secret'

Stranger to the rain - Frances Ruffelle

Before Frances Ruffelle represented the UK in the Eurovision Song Contest in 1994 with 'Lonely symphony (We will be free)', she had a successful career in several musicals in London's West End. She debuted in the late Eighties in Andrew Lloyd Webber's 'Starlight Express' in the principal role of Dinah. A year later, she played Éponine in 'Les Miserables'.

In 1990, Frances Ruffelle joined the cast of 'Children of Eden'. She also appeared on the soundtrack album of this musical. The single 'Stranger to the rain' was released in the autumn of 1990, but it did not chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 3946
Found: Record Exchange, London, August 5, 2009
Cost: 50p
Tracks: 'Stranger to the rain' / 'Stranger to the rain (instrumental)'

The medal song - Culture Club

'The medal song' was released in 1984 as the second single from the album 'Waking up with the house on fire', Culture Club's third album. Boy George later commented he felt the album experienced a lukewarm reception because of the half-hearted material on the album. The group was pressured by their record company to come up with a quick follow-up to their second album 'Colour by numbers'.

'The medal song' performed poorly in the charts, peaking at number 32 in the UK singles chart and their first hit single not to reach the top 10 in the UK. Not even this limited edition gatefold sleeve could help matters much.

My collection: 7" single no. 3945
Found: Record Exchange, London, August 5, 2009
Cost: 30p
Tracks: 'The medal song' / 'Don't go down that street'

Meet el presidente - Duran duran

I've had the cd-single of Duran Duran's 'Meet el presidente' for two decades now. It was released in a gatefold sleeve, which I imagined was exclusive to the cd-single format. But I was wrong: in the UK, the 7" single was also released in a gatefold sleeve, with the same band photo inside as the one in the cd-single sleeve. I didn't have the 7" single yet, so I was happy to snap this one up.

The single charted in the UK, peaking at number 24, whereas in the Netherlands the single made number 31. Still, 'Meet el presidente' was the least successful single from the band's 1986 album 'Notorious'.

My collection: 7" single no. 3944
Found: Record Exchange, London, August 5, 2009
Cost: 30p
Tracks: 'Meet el presidente' / 'Vertigo (Do the demolition)'

I don't know what it is but I love it - Chris Rea

'I don't know what it is but I love it' was released as a single from Chris Rea's 1984 album 'Wired to the moon'. It only became a minor hit for Rea, reaching number 65 in the UK singles chart.

It was another Chris Rea single which I hadn't heard before, but because the man has made such a lot of great songs, I was confident that this single would be interesting too. And so it is.

My collection: 7" single no. 3943
Found: Record Exchange, London, August 5, 2009
Cost: 50p
Tracks: 'I don't know what it is but I love it' / 'Mystery man'

Baker street (remix) - Gerry Rafferty

Someone responded on this blog a while ago, writing that I should feature Gerry Rafferty's 'Baker street' on here. Well, I would want to, but I haven't got that particular single yet. Meanwhile, I did find the next best thing: a remix of the track. It was released on the occasion of the release of 'Right down the line: the best of Gerry Rafferty' in 1990.

Fortunately the remix has been done in good taste: it brings forward certain elements of the original recording, and also adding some sounds that were not in the original recording at all if I'm not mistaken. Nothing beats the original, of course, but this is quite an interesting remix. The single reached number 53 in the UK singles chart in March 1990.

My collection: 7" single no. 3942
Found: Record Exchange, London, August 5, 2009
Cost: 50p
Tracks: 'Baker street (remix)' / 'Night owl'