Music on vinyl

Monday, 4 January 2010

Where did love go wrong - Belle and the Devotions

The response on this blog is sometimes very useful. Last year I found out that there are three singles by Belle and the Devotions: their Eurovision entry 'Love games' of course, 'Got to let you know', released in 1983, and this one: 'Where did love go wrong'.

It was of course just a matter of time until I would find this one. And as always, I found it in a place where I least expected it: in a second hand shop in Amsterdam. Like the other two singles, it sounds like a modern Motown track. And I guess that was the sound that the group was always going for. I have to say that in my opinion, this is the least interesting single of the three.

My collection: 7" single no. 4383
Found: Second Life Music, Amsterdam, December 30, 2009
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Where did love go wrong' / 'When you're alone'

She loved like diamond - Spandau Ballet

'She loved like diamond' sounds a bit like a rough demo, and so it is quite a surprise to find that it is actually Spandau Ballet's sixth single, the third single taken from their second album 'Diamond'. Earlier singles like 'Muscle bound' and 'Chant no. 1' sound a lot more sophisticated than this track.

Perhaps this is also why it was less successful chart-wise: 'She loved like diamond' only reached number 49 in the UK singles chart, the lowest chart placing for any Spandau Ballet single up until then.

My collection: 7" single no. 4381
Found: Second Life Music, Amsterdam, December 30, 2009
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'She loved like diamond' / 'She loved like diamond (instrumental)'

Fool's paradise - Rosie Vela

I was very excited to find this single by Rosie Vela. Not because it contained any new tracks (both the A-side and the B-side are taken from her 1986 album 'Zazu'), but because of the sleeve and the fact that I didn't really know this single existed. Sure, I do have the 12" single so it was only logical a 7" single would also exist, but I always assumed it was only released in the UK and with a sleeve similar to the 12" single version.

But this is German pressing, featuring 'Tonto' on the B-side instead of 'Interlude'. I can only assume that there's a different UK pressing of 'Fool's paradise' on 7" single somewhere too. I'll keep on searching...

My collection: 7" single no. 4380
Found: Second Life Music, Amsterdam, December 30, 2009
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Fool's paradise' / 'Tonto'

Dansez maintenant - Dave

I don't remember this myself, but I am told that I was very much impressed with the song 'Dansez maintenant' by Dave when I was five years old. Dave was born as Wouter Otto Levenbach on May 4, 1944 in Amsterdam. He had a string of number 1 hits in France in the Seventies, but he remained virtually unknown in his country of origin.

The exception was 'Dansez maintenant', a track based on 'Moonlight serenade' by Glenn Miller and Mitchell Parish. It reached number 1 in the Dutch Top 40 in the autumn of 1975.

My collection: 7" single no. 4378
Found: Second Life Music, Amsterdam, December 30, 2009
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Dansez maintenant' / 'Dimanche avec toi'

S-S-S-Single bed - Fox

The British band Fox formed in 1974, with members Noosha Fox, Kenny Young, Herbie Armstrong, Jim Gannon, Pete Solley, Gary Taylor and Jim Frank. The band had a lot of success with their self-titled debut album, which was released in 1975 and featured the distinctive lead vocals by Noosha Fox. When she was relegated to backing vocals for half of the tracks on the second album 'Tails of illusion' (1975), success eluded the band.

They came back in 1976 with the single 'S-S-S-Single bed', which did feature Noosha Fox on lead vocals. The single topped the chart in Australia and reached number 10 in the Dutch Top 40 and number 4 in the UK singles chart. The track was recently covered by Bananarama on their 2009 album 'Viva'.

My collection: 7" single no. 4377
Found: Second Life Music, Amsterdam, December 30, 2009
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'S-S-S-Single bed' / 'Silk milk'

She - Charles Aznavour

When Frenchmen speak English, it's always hilarious. And even on this classic recording by Charles Aznavour, you can't help but grin at the heavy French accent in this beautiful little song. 'She' was released in 1974 and reached number 1 in the UK singles chart and number 18 in the Dutch Top 40. The single did not have any success in the USA or France. Anavour also recorded the song in French, Italian, Spanish and German.

The British duo Vegas recorded a great cover version of 'She' on their eponymous and only album, released in 1992.

My collection: 7" single no. 4373
Found: Independent Oulet, Amsterdam, December 30, 2009
Cost: 1.25 euro
Tracks: 'She' / 'La Barraka'

Sunday, 3 January 2010

Christmas Anachronisms

I have added three Christmas singles to this blog today - but I have placed them under December 26, 2009. I bought these singles on December 30, 2009 and I decided I didn't want to make you wait until December 2010 to see them. So here they are: