Sunday, 15 November 2009

See the lights - Simple Minds

'See the lights' was the second single released from Simple Minds' 1991 album 'Real life'. The track was remixed and edited for the single.

It was a moderate success for the Scottish band, reaching number 20 in the UK singles chart and number 10 in Canada.

My collection: 7" single no. 1549
Found: November 26, 1991
Cost: 3 guilders
Tracks: 'See the lights (7" version)' / 'Theme for great cities '91 (edit)'

Listen to the voices - Labi Siffre

In 1985, Labi Siffre came out of a self-imposed retirement from music after five years, when he saw a television film from South Africa showing a white soldier shooting at black children. He wrote '(Something inside) So strong', relaunching his career. The song has remained enduringly popular and is an example of the political and sociological thread running through much of Siffre’s lyrics - although personally I didn't like that song.

The follow-up 'Listen to the voices' appealed more to me, although that one was significantly less popular in the charts. It reached number 23 in the Dutch Top 40, but didn't chart in the UK.

My collection: 7" single no. 692
Found: Free Record Shop, Den Haag, December 1, 1988
Cost: 3 guilders
Tracks: 'Listen to the voices' / 'Never let you down'

Too funky - George Michael

'Too funky' was George Michael's final single for Sony Music before he started legal action against his record company to be freed from his contract. Although the track was intended for his album 'Listen without prejudice vol. 2', George shelved that idea and donated this song along with two others for the project 'Red Hot & Dance', an album to raise money for AIDS awareness.

Lyrically, the song was a basic, animalistic plea from George Michael for sexual activity with an individual. The track featured a sound clip from the movie 'The graduate': Anne Bancroft's line of 'Would you like me to seduce you? Is that what you're trying to tell me?'. The single reached number 4 in the UK singles chart and number 3 in the Dutch Top 40.

My collection: 7" single no. 2480
Found: London, October 29, 1995
Cost: 1 pound
Tracks: 'Too funky' / 'Crazyman dance'

Le soleil donne - Laurent Voulzy

One of Laurent Voulzy's biggest hits in France was 'Le soleil donne', released in 1988. The song featured verses in French, English and Spanish and a very radio- and summerfriendly melody.

The single was even released outside of France, as is evidenced with this particular single, made in Germany.

My collection: 7" single no. 4198
Found: Chelsea Records, Antwerpen, November 8, 2009
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Le soleil donne (part 1)' / 'Le soleil donne (part 2)'

The pen is the mightiest weapon - Fay Lovsky

In 1985, Fay Lovsky released her fourth album 'Cinema'. The album was produced by Fay Lovsky herself. Two singles were drawn from the album: 'Galileo' and 'The pen is the mightiest weapon'. Both singles did not chart.

After this album, Fay joined the Dutch band The Magnificent 7, which existed between 1986 and 1991 and released only one album.

My collection: 7" single no. 4179
Found: Chelsea Records, November 8, 2009
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'The pen is the mightiest weapon' / 'Bad continuity'

Lazy Bums - Lazy Bums

The comedic duo Datner & Kushnir performed 'Shir habatlanim' (English translation: 'The Bums' song') at the 1987 Eurovision Song Contest, representing Israel. The act consisted of two comedians, Nathan Datner and Avi Kushnir, dressed in black suits and ties in the style of the Blues Brothers. The lyrics describe the daily routine of an idle loafer, evidently unemployed, who wakes up in the morning at 10 am, drinks coffee and smokes and directing his dog to do the grocery errands. As happened more often in Israel, the entry was very controversial, prompting the Israeli Minister of Culture to threaten his resignation.

The song finished 8th in the Contest, and was subsequently released as a single in the Netherlands under the name 'Lazy Bums'. The single did not chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 4153
Found: Chelsea Records, Antwerpen, November 7, 2009
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Lazy Bums' / 'Bumper's song'

I put a spell on you - Creedence Clearwater Revival

On her latest album, Lily Allen states that Creedence Clearwater Revival may very well be God's favourite band. When you listen to their best known track, 'I put a spell on you', you can just imagine Him playing airguitar.

'I put a spell on you' was actually a cover of a 1956 song written by Screamin' Jay Hawkins. The Creedence version reached number 3 in the Dutch Top 40.

My collection: 7" single no. 539
Found: Parkpop, Den Haag, June 1987
Cost: 2 guilders
Tracks: 'I put a spell on you' / 'Molina', 'Fortunate son'

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