Love in the first degree - Bananarama

Released in October 1987, 'Love in the first degree' was the second single from Bananarama's fourth studio album 'Wow!'. Like the rest of the album, the track was produced by Stock, Aitken & Waterman and includes many of their trademark sounds. The lyrics were written by Siobhan Fahey and built upon by SAW and the other two Bananarama members Sara Dallin and Keren Woodward.

The single was the band's biggest selling single in the UK, peaking at number 3 (like two other singles by them). As one of their final performances with Fahey, the group performed the song at the BRIT Awards with a large entourage of male dancers dressed only in black bikini briefs. The song was nominated for best British single at the BRIT Awards, but lost to Rick Astley's 'Never gonna give you up'.

I bought this single together with three others in the basement of the Berwick Street branch of the Music & Video Exchange in London.

My collection: 7" single no. 3976
Found: Record Exchange, London, August 5, 2009
Cost: 50p
Tracks: 'Love in the first degree' / 'Mr. Sleaze'

Who needs love like that - Erasure

I took the bus (oh, how I miss those open double deckers from the old days!) from Notting Hill Gate to Oxford Street, in order to get to Berwick Street, where my record hunting would continue. I was aware of one more Music & Video Exchange down the road, but I stopped underway for a new shop, where I eventually found three singles, although two of them I already had - but these were picture disc editions (more about that later on this blog).

The one new title I found was 'Who needs love like that', the debut single by Erasure. Whereas Vince Clarke had a lot of success with Depeche Mode and Yazoo, this single was considered a flop, as it only reached number 55 in the UK singles chart. It was 1985. More than two decades later, we know how successful Erasure turned out to be...

My collection: 7" single no. 3975
Found: Revival Records, London, August 5, 2009
Cost: 50p
Tracks: 'Who needs love like that' / 'Push me shove me'

Beware boyfriend - Mari Wilson

After Mari Wilson reached the UK top 10 with 'Just what I always wanted', the next single was this one, 'Beware boyfriend', released in a limited edition with a free postcard. The sleeve photograph was taken by Dutch photographer Anton Corbijn, who was becoming one of the hottest photographers of the year, with his work for Joy Division, Kim Wilde and many others.

This single did not follow in the footsteps of its predecessor, stalling at number 51 in the UK singles chart. It was the last of nine singles I found on the first floor of the Notting Hill Gate branch of the Music & Video Exchange on August 5.

My collection: 7" single no. 3974
Found: Record Exchange, London, August 5, 2009
Cost: 3 pounds
Tracks: 'Beware boyfriend' / 'It's happening'

Suboceana (Boom boom chi boom boom) - Tom Tom Club

The music video of Tom Tom Club's Suboceana was a very strange one, one that caught my attention the very first time I saw it. I always wanted to have the single, but it was never available. In fact, I never even saw the single until I found this one.

And so it came to pass that I had the 12" single before I found the single. Much to my delight, this single features an instrumental version of the track that is not included on the 12".

My collection: 7" single no. 3973
Found: Record Exchange, London, August 5, 2009
Cost: 4 pounds
Tracks: 'Suboceana (Boom boom chi boom boom)' / 'Suboceana (instrumental)'

Tour de France - Kraftwerk

The cycling mania of some of the band members of Kraftwerk has been well documented. Ralf Hütter and Fritz Hilpert have been known to take part in cycling events. The track was originally recorded with the intention of being included on the subsequently abandoned album 'Techno pop'.

The single was remixed by François Kevorkian in New York and reached number 24 in the UK singles chart. In 2003, Kraftwerk would release a new album 'Tour de France Soundtracks', featuring a new recording of this track.

My collection: 7" single no. 3972
Found: Record Exchange, London, August 5, 2009
Cost: 2 pounds
Tracks: 'Tour de France (remix)' / 'Tour de France'

I second that emotion - Japan

'I second that emotion' was originally a hit for Smokey Robinson & the Miracles in 1967. Written by Smokey Robinson and Al Cleveland, the title of the song came to Robinson when his friend and Motown colleague Al Cleveland mispronounced the phrase 'I second that motion' as 'I second that emotion' while the pair were Christmas shopping in late 1966.

Japan recorded a cover version of the song as a standalone single released in 1980. This remixed version was released two years later, reaching number 9 in the UK singles chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 3971
Found: Record Exchange, London, August 5, 2009
Cost: 1 pound
Tracks: 'I second that emotion' / 'Halloween'

Heaven's open - Michael Oldfield

In 1991, Mike Oldfield suddenly called himself Michael Oldfield and released his final album for Virgin Records, 'Heaven's open'. At a time of friction with his record company, Oldfield included some veiled attacks on Richard Branson on the album.

The single 'Heaven's open' featured lead vocals from Oldfield himself for the first time. The single did not chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 3970
Found: Record Exchange, London, August 5, 2009
Cost: 1 pound
Tracks: 'Heaven's open' / 'Excerpt I from Amarok'