There's more to love - The Communards

This 12" single contains a very different kind of extended mix: basically it sounds like the whole track has been re-recorded. 'There's more to love (than boy meets girl)' has been given an infusion of Latin brass, giving the track a summery feel. The serious message in the lyric still remains: love is not reserved for straight couples only.

The B-side gives the listener three further treats: two old-fashioned-sounding tracks and one acapella-ish version of the A-side track.

My collection: 12" single no. 539
Found: unknown
Cost: unknown
Tracks: 'There's more to love (extended)' / 'Zing went the strings of my heart', 'Spanish rap', 'When the boy in your heart is the boy in your arms'

Interview 1986 - Kate Bush

When Kate Bush returned to the pop scene with her landmark album 'Hounds of love', everybody wanted to make money with it. There were quite a few bootleggers who released interview cd's, lp's and singles at the time.

This white vinyl 7" single was made in the UK and contains an interview of unknown origins. Not much surprises in the answers, because even at the time the information given was quite wellknown.

My collection: 7" single no. 1223
Found: Record fair, April 22, 1990
Cost: 3 guilders
Tracks: 'Interview (part 1)' / 'Interview (part 2)'

So many men, so little time - Miquel Brown

It's no wonder, I guess, that one of the most popular gay anthems of 1983 was also a hit in the clubs and discotheques. This extended version of Miquel Brown's very appropriate 'So many men, so little time' was a corker at many gay - but also straight parties.

Accoding to the bio on the back of the sleeve, Miquel Brown was born in Detroit, Michigan (USA) and arrived in London in May 1973 to start a career as a singing and dancing actress. 'So many men, so little time' is called 'a biography of a modern day girl' and is dedicated to Miquel's father, Samuel Stevenson. I bet he's proud.

My collection: 12" single no. 538
Found: unknown
Cost: 2 guilders
Tracks: 'So many men, so little time (extended)' / 'So many men, so little time (extended instrumental)'

Wonderful life - Black

Black will always be remembered for that one song, 'Wonderful life'. Through the years it has been covered by Chinese techno bands, German rock bands and Dutch female singers, it has been a popular song during funerals and it has even been used on advertisements for cereals and life insurances.

It was an English life insurance ad that prompted Polygram to re-release 'Wonderful life' in 1994. The single reached number 42 in the UK singles chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 2439
Found: August 22, 1995
Cost: 2 pounds
Tracks: 'Wonderful life' / 'Sweetest smile'

Kronenburg park (live) - Frank Boeijen Groep

Frank Boeijen had just decided to disband the group he'd worked with for the last ten years, when this single was released. The final live dates were still happening, and in a way, this single was a big farewell to all the fans. Hearts were broken, girls were weeping and the end of an era had come. Indeed, there was never another Frank Boeijen Groep single release after this.

'Kronenburg park' had been one of the biggest hits for the band back in 1985, and this single featured both that hit version and the live version from the then-current album. Like the other singles from the album, this one failed to chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 1382
Found: Melody Maker, Den Haag, February 16, 1991
Cost: 6,5 guilders
Tracks: 'Kronenburg park (live)' / 'Kronenburg park'

The word girl - Scritti Politti

I never actually took the time to compare them, but I do have the suspicion that all the versions of 'The word girl' included on this 12" single are actually different from the two versions on the 7" single. And if that isn't so, at least there's the extra extended version of the track on the B-side.

That B-side version was remixed by Julian Mendelsohn, one of the top remixers and producers of the Eighties. The track also features Ranking Ann, who I think is a complete unknown. But then again, I might just be missing some information there.

My collection: 12" single no. 321
Found: Record Exchange, London
Cost: 50p
Tracks: 'The word girl', 'Flesh & blood' / 'The word girl / Flesh & blood (version)'

In my life - Kim Wilde

'In my life' was the second new song on the compilation album 'The Singles Collection 1981-1993' and was released as a single in remix form in 1993. It was the final Kim Wilde single to be released on the 7" vinyl format.

Partly due to the flat and uninspired remix by West End, 'In my life' achieved little chart success, peaking at number 54 in the UK singles chart and number 78 in Germany.

My collection: 7" single no. 2060
Found: Wreckastow, Rotterdam, December 24, 1993
Cost: 10 guilders
Tracks: 'In my life (West End 7")' / 'In my life'