Blok aan mijn been - Frank Boeijen Groep

'Blok aan mijn been' was the third and final single taken from the self-titled debut album by the Frank Boeijen Groep, the Dutch band that was founded by Frank Boeijen at the end of the Seventies. Like its predecessor 'Vrijdagavond', this single failed to chart.

Just like that single, I had to search for this one for a long time too. I finally found a copy on a festival market for a price that was pretty steep. But after searching for a decade, you're bound to make a compromise. I didn't see the single that much afterwards anyway...

My collection: 7" single no. 2145
Found: Parkpop, Den Haag, August 21, 1994
Cost: 12,5 guilders
Tracks: 'Blok aan mijn been' / 'Ik haat jou'

Straighter line - Cock Robin

Just three weeks ago, in my entry about the single 'Manzanar', I wrote that I hadn't been able to find a copy of the third and last single from Cock Robin's third album 'First love last rites', 'Straighter line', and indeed, it has been a hell of a search. But fortunately the single popped up on a mailorder website 12 days ago, and so now I do have it.

'Straighter line' did not chart anywhere, so you'd expect to see this single literally everywhere. But I guess most copies have been destroyed or something. At least I have a copy now.

My collection: 7" single no. 4475
Found: Fun Records, Berlin, received January 28, 2010
Cost: 1,4 euro
Tracks: 'Straighter line' / 'We've changed'

Up the hill backwards - David Bowie

David Bowie recorded 'Up the hill backwards' as a track on his 1980 album 'Scary monsters (and super creeps)'. The lyric is often seen as a commentary on the public coverage of his divorce from Angela Bowie, one of several tracks on the album that muse over the double-edged sword of celebrity. It has also been interpreted as facing up to crises in general.

The track was released as the fourth and final single from the album in March 1981. The single was not a big success, reaching number 32 in the UK singles chart and failed to chart everywhere else.

My collection: 7" single no. 4474
Found: Fun Records, Berlin, received January 28, 2010
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Up the hill backwards' / 'Crystal Japan'

History 1992 - Mai Tai

After Mai Tai had some big successes in the Eighties, their career came to a complete standstill when their third album 'Cool is the rule' (1987) was less successful. They disappeared from view until 1991, when a 'Best of' album was released. This album featured one new track, 'Dance in the light'. That single did not chart.

'History 1992' can be considered one last desperate attempt at chart success. The hit from 1985 was remixed by one Gary Jones, and released as a single. This single did not chart. Soon after, Mai Tai decided to split up.

My collection: 7" single no. 4473
Found: Fun Records, Berlin, received January 28, 2010
Cost: 1,1 euro
Tracks: 'History 1992 (radio mix)' / 'History 1992 (Burn-it-mix)'

Love of the common people - Paul Young

'Love of the common people' was written by John Hurley and Ronnie Wilkins. The lyrics tell a bleak story of poverty and joblessness. Though Wilkins and Hurley did not expressly say so in the lyrics, the song is also a protest of what they saw as the failure of the American government to do more for the poor and unemployed than it had. The track was originally recorded by Waylon Jennings in 1967, then covered by Nicky Thomas in 1970.

Paul Young released his version of the song originally in 1982. After it failed to chart, he had two hit singles with 'Wherever I lay my hat' and 'Come back and stay'. The track was re-released in 1983, and on this occasion it peaked at number 2 in the UK singles chart and topping the chart in Ireland and the Netherlands. This limited edition double single features three live tracks, with one clocking in at an impressive 9 minutes.

My collection: 7" single no. 4470
Found: Fun Records, Berlin, received January 28, 2010
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Love of the common people' / 'Behind your smile (live)' // 'Wherever I lay my hat (live)' / 'Oh women (live)'

Thursday's child - Tanita Tikaram

'Thursday's child' was released as the third and last single from Tanita Tikaram's second album 'The sweet keeper'. The track was re-recorded for the single release. However, this did not help matters much: the single did not chart.

The B-side is a charming song taken from the album.

My collection: 7" single no. 4471
Found: Fun Records, Berlin, received January 28, 2010
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Thursday's child' / 'Once and not speak'

The circus - Erasure

According to Erasure members Vince Clarke and Andy Bell, 'The circus' was a deliberate departure of the pop sound of their previous six singles. The lyric touches on social issues and center around the lament of 'working men', whose bright futures and job securities are left shattered in the modern world of greedy corporations and technology.

'The circus' was the fourth and final single from the album of the same name. As the album version was 5'30 minutes long, the song was remixed for the single, clocking in at 3'50. The single peaked at number 6 in the UK singles chart. In Germany, where this limited edition pressed on red vinyl was released, the single peaked at number 30.

My collection: 7" single no. 4468
Found: Fun Records, Berlin, received January 28, 2010
Cost: 1,25 euro
Tracks: 'The circus (remix)' / 'The circus (Decay mix)'