When your heart is weak - Cock Robin

Just like in Europe, 'When your heart is weak' was also the debut single for Cock Robin in the UK. But for some reason, it was released with a different sleeve and a different B-side! Whereas the European sleeve resembled the album sleeve a lot, the UK version featured a different colour photograph of the band and a unique band logo (which was only used on UK releases).

Intriguingly enough, the single did not chart in the UK. Perhaps if they'd used the European sleeve...?

My collection: 7" single no. 1596
Found: March 28, 1992
Cost: 2 guilders
Tracks: 'When your heart is weak' / 'Peace on earth'

Love games - Belle and the Devotions

Belle and the Devotions represented the United Kingdom with the Motown pastiche 'Love games' during the 1984 Eurovision Song Contest. The 12" single featured on this blog some time ago, but obviously I've got the 7" single as well.

The song ended up on seventh place in the Eurovision Song Contest and peaked at number 11 in the UK singles chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 3174
Found: Record fair, January 18, 2000
Cost: 2 guilders
Tracks: 'Love games' / 'Rock me'

La femme accident - Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark

For some reason, I've listened to the 12" extended remix of 'La femme accident' a lot more than the original single version over the last ten years. So it was delightful to play this single again after such a long time.

'La femme accident' is a great lightweight pop track from the synthpop masters OMD. It was the third and last single release from their 1985 album 'Crush'. It reached number 42 in the UK singles chart, but failed to chart in other territories.

My collection: 7" single no. 352
Found: V&D, December 1985
Cost: 3 guilders
Tracks: 'La femme accident' / 'Firegun'

Strangers when we meet / The man who sold the world (live) - David Bowie

'Strangers when we meet' was originally recorded by David Bowie for his 1993 album 'The Buddha of Suburbia'. He re-recorded the song in 1995 for his album '1. Outside'. It was released as the second single from the album, as a double A-side with a reworked version of Bowie's 1970 song 'The man who sold the world'. While this was announced as a 'live' track, it was actually recorded in the studio, based on a reworked version as performed on the Outside Tour.

The single reached number 39 in the UK singles chart during a two week chart run. The 7" single was pressed on the ugliest shade of fluorescent green the record company could find.

My collection: 7" single no. 2719
Found: Wreckastow, Rotterdam, August 10, 1996
Cost: 10 guilders
Tracks: 'Strangers when we meet' / 'The man who sold the world (live)'

Was it worth it - Pet Shop Boys

I have to say that I think the Pet Shop Boys were not particularly inspired when they recorded two new tracks for their 1992 compilation album 'Discography'. If 'DJ Culture' was a bit boring musically, 'Was it worth it' was uninspired both musically and lyrically.

As a result, it became the first single not to reach the UK top 20 since they signed to Parlophone records in 1984. This was the main reason why the song was not included on their later hits compilation 'PopArt'.

My collection: 7" single no. 1586
Found: Melody Maker, Den Haag, February 22, 1992
Cost: 3 guilders
Tracks: 'Was it worth it' / 'Miserablism'

Material girl - Achinoam Nini

'Material girl' is of course one of the songs that made Madonna famous in the early Eighties, and also the song that gave her the nickname Material girl.

In 1991, Achinoam Nini (known internationally as Noa) and Gil Dor recorded their debut album 'Live', which featured a lot of original songs but also a few cover versions. 'Material girl' was one of them, and this track in turn was released on a one-sided promotional 12" single in Israel. Through amazing luck, I found a copy in 2000, which was shipped to me from Israel. The record was pressed on very thin vinyl and is bended quite a lot unfortunately. But it's still a unique item to own. And a great cover version, of course!

My collection: 12" single no. 518
Found: eBay.com, received December 2000
Cost: 20 guilders
Tracks: 'Material girl'

Sister madly - Crowded House

In 1988, Crowded House released their second album 'Temple of low men'. Since my sister bought the cd, I pretty much knew every track on it (at the time, cd's were still pretty rare in our house). 'Sister madly', which appears on the album, is said to be about Neil Finn waking up to find his sister having nightmares.

'Sister madly' was released as the fourth single from the album, and although I didn't know this at the time, I snapped up a copy when I saw it during a holiday in London. As far as I know, the single did not chart in any territory.

My collection: 7" single no. 1054
Found: Record Exchange, October 17, 1989
Cost: 60p
Tracks: 'Sister madly' / 'Mansion in the slums'