We are glass - Gary Numan

'We are glass' was released in 1980 as the first single from his 1980 album 'Telekon'. While his previous album 'The pleasure principle' (1979) was recorded entirely without guitars, this new album did contain the instrument again. As Numan commented, 'getting rid of guitars had been a mistake'.

Numan has said that 'We are glass' was inspired by a comment from a magazine staffer: 'Somebody once told me, a man from Omni, said that he thought I'd been put here by... something... aliens or something, to carry out a cause... which I thought was very flattering but a little silly... 'We are glass' I wrote because of that, y'know, like all pop stars are put here for reasons'. The B-side was a version of the first movement of Erik Satie's 'Trois Gymnopedies', in an arrangement that added guitar, bass and synthesizer to the original's solo piano part. The single reached number 5 in the UK singles chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 4292
Found: Record fair, Utrecht, November 21, 2009
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'We are glass' / 'Trois Gymnopedies (First movement)'

Cross the line - Spandau Ballet

It doesn't happen often that I find an unknown single from a famous band, but here it is. 'Cross the line' was apparently released by Spandau Ballet as a single from their 1986 album 'Through the barricades'.

The B-side was a live track taken from the video 'Through the barricades... across the border'. The single did not chart in any territory and I didn't know about this release until I found this single last week. I think Spandau Ballet fans will not be surprised at this single, but I was.

My collection: 7" single no. 4291
Found: Record fair, Utrecht, November 21, 2009
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Cross the line' / 'Virgin (live)'

After the love has gone - Princess

'After the love has gone' is another single by Princess produced and written by Stock, Aitken & Waterman.

Released in 1985 as the follow-up to her most successful single 'Say I'm your number one', it reached number 28 in the UK singles chart and number 24 in the Dutch Top 40.

My collection: 7" single no. 4290
Found: Record fair, Utrecht, November 21, 2009
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'After the love has gone' / 'After the love has gone (Senza voce)'

C'est la vie - Charlene Tilton

At some point in the Eighties, the actors of the legendary TV series 'Dallas' decided they could sing as well as act. Patrick Duffy recorded a rather dodgy duet with Mireille Mathieu, whereas Audrey Landers launched a singing career, working with German producers.

And then there's Charlene Tilton (who played Lucy in the series), who also worked with a German producer, Heidi Brühl, to release 'C'est la vie' in 1984. The single reportedly reached number 1 in Germany. Unpretentious pop. No more, no less.

My collection: 7" single no. 4288
Found: Record fair, Utrecht, November 21, 2009
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'C'est la vie' / 'C'est la vie (instrumental)'

Jones the rhythm - Grace Jones

I wonder if there will ever be a deluxe re-release of Grace Jones' classic album 'Slave to the rhythm'. There's a plethora of remixes of the title track, but there aren't that many other bonus tracks.

It was quite interesting to find this single, the second one taken from the album. 'Jones the rhythm' is a less familiar single from 'Slave to the rhythm', primarily because it didn't chart. It features an edit of the album version, as well as a very interesting instrumental B-side track. 'Junkyard' is constructed in the same style as the album, and as such could easily be tacked on to the track listing. I do hope it happens someday.

My collection: 7" single no. 4287
Found: Record fair, Utrecht, November 21, 2009
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Jones the rhythm' / 'Junkyard'

Nathan Jones - Bananarama

'Nathan Jones' was originally released in 1971. The song was written by Leonard Caston and Kathy Wakefield and recorded by the Supremes, post-Diana Ross. The single reached number 5 in the UK singles chart and number 16 in the US Billboard Hot 100 chart.

In 1988, Bananarama released their cover version of the song as a single. It was originally included on their 1987 album 'Wow!'. After Siobhan Fahey left the group and was replaced by Jacquie O'Sullivan, they re-recorded the song for the single. This version reached number 15 in the UK singles chart, but did not chart in the USA.

My collection: 7" single no. 4286
Found: Record fair, Utrecht, November 21, 2009
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Nathan Jones' / 'Once in a lifetime'

Surface tension - Rupert Hine

When I bought this single, I suddenly realised that I didn't have any UK pressed 7" singles by Rupert Hine until now. 'Surface tension' was released in 1981 as a single from his third album 'Immunity'. The B-side, 'House arrest', would reappear as a track on his 1982 album 'Waving not drowning'.

Of course, this was another non-charting single for Rupert Hine. As successful as he is as a producer, as a performing artist he never got the recognition he deserves.

My collection: 7" single no. 4284
Found: Record fair, Utrecht, November 21, 2009
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Surface tension' / 'House arrest'