He's a liar - Bee Gees

The 12" single of 'He's a liar' was featured on this blog some time ago already, but mostly when I've got a 12" single, I also have the 7" single. And this one is no exception.

'He's a liar' was the first single from the Bee Gees album 'Living eyes', released in 1981. It had been approximately 2 years since the last Bee Gees single had been released - which was an eternity at that time - and although this song sounded nothing like the Bee Gees disco era singles, this single was ignored in most territories because the band had become so heavily associated with disco - and disco was no longer in fashion.

My collection: 7" single no. 882
Found: All that music, Leiden, June 16, 1989
Cost: 2 guilders
Tracks: 'He's a liar' / 'He's a liar (instrumental)'

Hazy shade of winter - The Bangles

'Hazy shade of winter' was written by Paul Simon and recorded by Simon & Garfunkel in 1966 for their 1968 album, 'Bookends'.

The Bangles recorded a harder-edged cover the song for the soundtrack of the 1987 movie 'Less than zero'. It was released as a single and subsequently reached number 2 in the US Billboard Hot 100 chart, number 11 in the UK singles chart and number 13 in the Dutch Top 40.

My collection: 7" single no. 1460
Found: Parkpop, Den Haag, June 27, 1991
Cost: 2 guilders
Tracks: 'Hazy shade of winter' / 'She's lost you' (Joan Jett & the Blackhearts)

Love will never do (without you) - Janet Jackson

Originally, producers Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis toyed with the idea of making Janet Jackson's 'Love will never do (without you)' a duet. They thought about possibly getting Prince, Johnny Gill, Ralph Tresvant, or anyone else working with them at the time. During the recording of the first verse, Jimmy Jam told Janet to 'sing it low like some guy would sing it.' As a result, they kept the idea of her singing the first verse in a low octave but go an octave up on the second verse.

The single became Janet Jackson's fifth number 1 single in the US Billboard Hot 100 chart, the final of seven top five singles from the album 'Rhythm Nation 1814', making her the only artist to achieve seven top five singles from one album in the USA. Its success was more moderate in Europe: in the UK singles chart, 'Love will never do (without you)' peaked at number 34, and in the Dutch Top 40 it reached number 33. The single remix did a lot to ruin what was actually a great song on the album.

My collection: 7" single no. 1377
Found: Melody Maker, Den Haag, January 26, 1991
Cost: 6,5 guilders
Tracks: 'Love will never do (without you) ('Work it out' 7" with intro)' / 'Love will never do (without you) (The love 7")'

Maggie May - Rod Stewart

The lyric of the song 'Maggie May' describes the ambivalence and contradictory emotions of a young man involved in a relationship with an older woman. It was written from Rod Stewart's own experience. He later commented: 'Maggie May was more or less a true story, about the first woman I had sex with, at the Beaulieu Jazz Festival.'

The track was recorded by Stewart in 1971 for his album 'Every picture tells a story'. It was initinially included as the B-side of the single 'Reason to believe', but after dj's took to 'Maggie May' instead, the sides were flipped and 'Maggie May' became the A-side. It finally reached number 1 in the UK and the USA, while it reached number 3 in the Dutch Top 40. The song was Stewart's first substantial hit as a solo performer and launched his solo career.

My collection: 7" single no. 1863
Found: Grammofoonwinkel, Utrecht, January 30, 1993
Cost: 4,5 guilders
Tracks: 'Maggie May' / 'Reason to believe'

Should I do it - Pointer Sisters

For some time in the Eighties, the Pointer Sisters were one of the most successful black groups around. Their album 'Black & White', released in 1981, reached high positions in the album charts in various countries including the UK and USA.

The single 'Should I do it' was taken from this album. The single reached number 13 in the US Billboard Hot 100 chart and number 9 in the Dutch Top 40.

My collection: 7" single no. 3289
Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, February 24, 2001
Cost: 1 guilder
Tracks: 'Should I do it' / 'Take my heart, take my soul'

Magic oh magic - Al Bano and Romina Power

Al Bano and Romina Power represented Italy in the Eurovision Song Contest twice. Their first attempt was in 1976 with the song 'We'll live it all again'. They returned in 1985 with 'Magic oh magic', which contrary to their previous entry was sung almost entirely in Italian - with the exception of the title of course.

At the close of voting, 'Magic oh magic' finished seventh in a field of 19 competitors. Although Al Bano and Romina Power had some hits outside of Italy in the early Eighties, this single did not give them any chart success outside of Italy.

My collection: 7" single no. 4467
Found: Fun Records, Berlin, received January 28, 2010
Cost: 3,5 euro
Tracks: 'Magic oh magic' / 'It's forever'

Paradise - Black

The last single from Black's debut album 'Wonderful life' was an edited version of 'Paradise'. To boost the sales of the single, a limited edition box set including postcards and a large poster was released. For some time, this was a holy grail I was searching for frantically in the Dutch record shops that simply refused to import something like this. In the end, I found a copy in London during a holiday there, a year after its release.

The single, meanwhile, reached number 38 in the UK singles chart during a three week chart run. It was to be Black's final top 40 hit in the UK.

My collection: 7" single no. 599
Found: Record Exchange, London, October 1989
Cost: 1,5 pound
Tracks: 'Paradise (edit)' / 'Dagger reel'