Seven seas - Echo and the Bunnymen

Here's another obscure favourite from that magical year 1984; the year in which I forgot all about doing homework and spent hours on end watching music videos on television. 'Seven seas' reached number 16 in the UK singles chart and thus was shown on TV countless times, but the band remained virtually unknown in the Netherlands.

The B-side recording of the Beatles' 'All you need is love' was performed by the band at Liverpool Cathedral for the programme 'Play at home' for Channel Four (UK).

My collection: 7" single no. 3967
Found: Record exchange, London, August 5, 2009
Cost: 1 pound
Tracks: 'Seven seas' / 'All you need is love'

White boy - Culture Club

After scouring the basement of the Music & Video Exchange in Notting Hill Gate and finding over 40 singles, I went up to the first floor, hoping to find some more. This is the 'expensive' part of the shop, stocking mainly collectors items, but sometimes you come across some interesting bargains. Such as this one: the debut single by Culture Club!

Most people assume that their first hit 'Do you really want to hurt me' was also their debut single, but that's not true: they released two singles prior to that one. 'White boy' did not chart in any territory, although it already showcases their signature sound. You don't see this single a lot, so I was glad to find it.

My collection: 7" single no. 3966
Found: Record Exchange, London, August 5, 2009
Cost: 50p
Tracks: 'White boy' / 'Love twist'

Pretty in pink - Psychedelic Furs

'Pretty in pink' was originally recorded as a track on Psychedelic Furs' 1981 album 'Talk Talk Talk'. When John Hughes made his movie 'Pretty in pink' in 1986, it was named after the Psychedelic Furs track.

The song was re-recorded by the band for the movie and released as a single. In this version, it became their biggest hit in the UK, peaking at number 18.

My collection: 7" single no. 3965
Found: Record Exchange, London, August 5, 2009
Cost: 50p
Tracks: 'Pretty in pink' / 'Love my way (US Remix)'

Bad boys - Wham!

'Bad boys' was a 1983 hit single for Wham!, taken from their debut album 'Fantastic'. The lyric of the song was written by George Michael from a teenager's perspective, but also including the concerns of parents, ultimately asking 'Why do you have to be so cruel?'.

The single reached number 2 in the UK singles chart, number 14 in the Dutch Top 40 and number 60 on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart. George Michael later denounced 'Bad boys' as a song he hated, stating it was 'like an albatross round my neck'. The song was omitted from the 1997 compilation album 'If you were there (The best of Wham)', despite the album including tracks that weren't even released as singles.

My collection: 7" single no. 3964
Found: Record Exchange, London, August 5, 2009
Cost: 30p
Tracks: 'Bad boys' / 'Bad boys (instrumental)'

The story of the blues - Wah!

Released in December 1982, Wah! scored the biggest hit of their career with 'The story of the blues', which reached number 3 in the UK singles chart. The track was produced by Mike Hedges and written and arranged by Pete Wylie, who was the core member of Wah! and its subsequent incarnations (Say Wah!, the Mighty Wah! etcetera).

During a live performance of this track in 1983 for BBC Radio, Colin Vearncombe from Black guested on backing vocals. Unfortunately, his fine voice is not included on this single version.

My collection: 7" single no. 3963
Found: Record Exchange, London, August 5, 2009
Cost: 50p
Tracks: 'The story of the blues (part 1)' / 'The story of the blues (part 2)'

New sensation - INXS

'New sensation' was released in early 1988 as the second single from INXS's 1987 album 'Kick'. The song features a sax solo by Kirk Pengilly and lyrics about a partying lifestyle. The first line 'Live, baby, live' was later referenced in the title of the bands's 1991 release 'Live baby live'.

The single reached number 25 in the UK singles chart, number 3 in the US Billboard Hot 100 chart and number 18 in the Dutch Top 40. I never bought the single in 1988 because I bought the cd-single. It's strange how I never think I really have a single until I have the 7" single.

My collection: 7" single no. 3962
Found: Record Exchange, London, August 5, 2009
Cost: 30p
Tracks: 'New sensation' / 'Do wot you do'

The very first video kiss - Imajinca

Released in 1984, 'The very first video kiss' by Imajinca is a mystery. You would think that in this age of internet nothing can remain a secret, but there is no information about this band or its members anywhere. All I can gather from the sleeve of this single is that the track was produced by Chris Andrews.

The tracks were written by S. Burton, D. Lief and H. Pistolas, who were probably members of this band. An they were signed to 'A Record Company', presumably a small independent record company around at that time. 'The very first video kiss' did not chart, despite its glossy Eighties production values.

My collection: 7" single no. 3961
Found: Record Exchange, London, August 5, 2009
Cost: 30p
Tracks: 'The very first video kiss' / 'All in a moment'