Break the chains - Private lives

'Break the chains' was the third and last single release from Private lives' debut album 'Prejudice and pride'. The single version was slightly different from the album version, as it added a sung intro.

Like most Private lives singles, this one did not chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 2984
Found: Record fair, February 9, 1998
Cost: 1 guilder
Tracks: 'Break the chains' / 'You've got to win'

Part-time lover - Stevie Wonder

'Part-time lover' was released as a single in 1985 and was taken from Stevie Wonder's album 'In square circle'. The song reached number 1 in America, number 3 in the UK and number 11 in the Netherlands. The song featured R&B singer Luther Vandross humming at the end of Stevie's verses.

Sounds familiar? Well that's because I wrote about the 12" single of 'Part-time lover' on this blog a few months ago...

My collection: 7" single no. 2261
Found: April 8, 1995
Cost: 2 guilders
Tracks: 'Part-time lover' / 'Part-time lover (instrumental)'

Praying for time - George Michael

'Praying for time', released in August 1990, was George Michael's first single in almost two years. The song was a dark and sombre reflection on social ills and injustice. George used an echoey vocal effect and put the melody in a low enough key to take away the sunny nature of his regular singing voice.

While George Michael refused to appear in videos to support the album, a music video was released featuring only the words of the song with a blue and black background that, at the end of the clip, reveals itself to be the image on the cover of the album 'Listen without prejudice', from which the song was taken. The single reached number 6 in the UK, number 10 in the Netherlands and number 1 in the USA.

My collection: 7" single no. 1312
Found: HMV, London, October 15, 1990
Cost: 2 pounds
Tracks: 'Praying for time' / 'If you were my woman'

Lolly lolly - Wendy and Lisa

'Lolly lolly' was the second single released from Wendy & Lisa's second album 'Fruit at the bottom' (1989). The single was remixed by their former employer Prince, who made the track sound bouncier and funkier than on the album.

Despite his efforts, the single was only a minor hit in the UK, peaking at number 64. However, in the Netherlands 'Lolly lolly' shot to number 8.

My collection: 7" single no. 936
Found: Free Record Shop, Den Haag, July 7, 1989
Cost: 6 guilders
Tracks: 'Lolly lolly' / 'Hip hop love'

(What) In the name of love - Naked Eyes

Back in 1984, while I was constantly watching television to see music videos, I got to know the duo Naked Eyes thanks to their video of '(What) In the name of love'. They were unknown in the Netherlands, but in the UK - where Music Box was based - they already had one hit under their belt with 'Always something there to remind me'.

It took me years to find this single, but I finally did in 1995. What a relief! It was not a hit for Naked Eyes, even though the music video was a regular on television in the summer of 1984.

My collection: 7" single no. 2431
Found: August 19, 1995
Cost: 2 guilders
Tracks: '(What) In the name of love' / 'Two heads together'

The other side of love - Yazoo

Yazoo released their second album 'You and me both' in 1982, and 'The other side of love' was the first single taken from that album. It was an uptempo song with a strong synth hook. Alison Moyet's soulful vocals completed the package.

While the album reached the top of the UK albums chart, the single stalled just outside the top 10, peaking at number 13. It's an energetic sort of song that has stood the test of time.

My collection: 7" single no. 177
Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, 1982
Cost: 3,5 guilders
Tracks: 'The other side of love' / 'Ode to boy'

A view to a kill - Duran Duran

Duran Duran was chosen to do the theme song of the 1984 James Bond movie 'A view to a kill' after bassist John Taylor (a lifelong Bond fan) approached producer Cubby Broccoli at a party and asked: 'When are you going to get someone decent to do one of your theme songs?'. As a result, the band was introduced to Bond composer John Barry. Simon le Bon comments: 'He didn't really come up with any of the basic musical ideas. He heard what we came up with and he put them into an order. And that's why it happened so quickly because he was able to separate the good ideas from the bad ones, and he arranged them.'

The song was completed in April, and was released worldwide in May 1984. It was the last track that the original five members of Duran Duran recorded together until their reunion sixteen years later, in 2001.

My collection: 7" single no. 1866
Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, February 13, 1993
Cost: 1 guilder
Tracks: 'A view to a kill' / 'A view to a kill (That fatal kiss)'