Paranoimia '89 - Art of Noise

Art of Noise had a hit with 'Paranoimia' in 1986, a track featuring the vocals of the computer generated television personality Max Headroom. When the band released a greatest hits compilation in 1988, the album was promoted with several singles.

One of them was 'Paranoimia '89', a remixed version omitting Max Headroom's vocals and based wholly on the music by Art of Noise. The remix was made by Dutch remixer and DJ Ben Liebrand. The single did not chart in any territory.

My collection: 7" single no. 3960
Found: Record Exchange, London, August 5, 2009
Cost: 10p
Tracks: 'Paranoimia '89' / 'Locus classicus 1'

Give a little love back to the world - Emma

Emma Louise Booth was born in 1974 in Bridgend, Wales. She represented the United Kingdom during the 1990 Eurovision Song Contest with 'Give a little love back to the world', written by Paul Curtis. The lyric of the song had an environmental them, leading to several platitudes and a rather cringable chorus.

Emma finished sixth in the Contest, then went on to release one more single in 1991, 'Dance all night', which failed to chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 3959
Found: Record Exchange, London, August 5, 2009
Cost: 10p
Tracks: 'Give a little love back to the world' / 'I don't wanna be around'

Goodbye stranger - Supertramp

'Goodbye stranger' is a single taken from Supertramp's 1979 album 'Breakfast in America'. The single reached number 57 in the UK singles chart. The B-side of the single is the title track of Supertramp's previous album, 'Even in the quietest moments'.

It's always a bit of a shock when you buy a single and it turns out to be so faulty you can't even play it. This single is so crooked that frankly I'm amazed the shop dared to ask 50p for it. Oh well, you win some, you lose some.

My collection: 7" single no. 3958
Found: Record Exchange, London, August 5, 2009
Cost: 50p
Tracks: 'Goodbye stranger' / 'Even in the quietest moments'

Lately - Stevie Wonder

Stevie Wonder has this uncanny knack of creating timeless melodies. 'Lately' is a title that may not seem familiar to you but I bet when you hear the track, you will think 'O right! I remember that!'. The single was taken from Wonder's 1980 album 'Hotter than July', and reached number 3 in the UK singles chart.

The track was later covered by acts like S Club 7 and Jodeci. Not that those versions could compete with the original, of course...

My collection: 7" single no. 3957
Found: Record Exchange, London, August 5, 2009
Cost: 10p
Tracks: 'Lately' / 'If it's magic'

Satisfaction - Wendy and Lisa

'Satisfaction' was a single taken from Wendy & Lisa's second album 'Fruit at the bottom'. The track was written, produced and remixed for this single edition by Wendy & Lisa themselves. The single reached number 27 in the UK singles chart.

In the Netherlands, the single did not chart. I missed out on this track completely, and decided to try out this single since it was so cheap. The track is not very different from other Wendy & Lisa material, so no surprises there.

My collection: 7" single no. 3956
Found: Record Exchange, London, August 5, 2009
Cost: 10p
Tracks: 'Satisfaction' / 'Stay'

Foolish beat - Debbie Gibson

At the age of 17, Debbie Gibson was the youngest female to write, produce, and perform a US Billboard Hot 100 number 1 hit single with her song 'Foolish beat'. In the UK, the single reached a peak position of number nine on the UK Singles Chart.

The song was included on Gibson's debut album 'Out of the blue', released in 1987 as well.

My collection: 7" single no. 3955
Found: Record Exchange, London, August 5, 2009
Cost: 10p
Tracks: 'Foolish beat' / 'Foolish beat (instrumental)'

Theme from Harry's Game - Clannad

This blog is not moving as fast as usual because of a flu. Not the Mexican variety, mind you, but a common summer flu. Still, all a person can do is sleep and wait till it's over. And listen to some calm and soothing music, like Clannad's Theme from Harry's Game. It was the song that launched the Irish band into fame all over Europe.

Harry's Game was a British television miniseries for ITV in 1982. The lyrics of this track are in the Irish language. The chorus 'Fol lol the doh fol the day, Fol the doh fol the day', is ancient Irish mouth-music which is common in traditional music. The single peaked at number 5 in the UK singles chart and number 9 in the Dutch Top 40.

My collection: 7" single no. 3954
Found: Record Exchange, London, August 5, 2009
Cost: 30p
Tracks: 'Theme from Harry's Game' / 'Strayed away'