Dance this night away - Maarten Peters

The unsuccessful single 'Dance this night away' by Maarten Peters was his only one to be released as a 12" single featuring a remix. And it was quite a famous name who remixed his track: Ben Liebrand, who'd had several hit singles to his name during the mid-Eighties. Even he couldn't help this track.

The remix has all the hallmarks of a Liebrand mix: a new dance beat, several elements from the original song and a good groove. And an interesting buy: these days you can't find this 12" single anywhere.

My collection: 12" single no. 69
Found: Free Record Shop, Den Haag, 1988
Cost: 15 guilders
Tracks: 'Dance this night away (Ben Liebrand dance mix)' / 'Dance this night away (instrumental)'

Matters of the heart - Freur

So here's another disc by Freur. The more often I write about this group, the less I know what to write. They are completely unknown to most people and I don't even know whether these posts appeal to anyone. But Freur has become an essential part of my collection with all their 7" and 12" singles taken from that debut album 'Doot doot', released in 1982.

'Matters of the heart' was another single taken from the album, and both the A-side are, as they call it, 'Dun dif'runt'. It's quirky and eclectic as always.

My collection: 12" single no. 391
Found: Record fair, 2000
Cost: 5 guilders
Tracks: 'Matters of the heart (Dun dif'runt)' / 'You're a hoover (Dun dif'runt too)'

Closest thing to heaven - Kane Gang

The Kane Gang recorded and released 'Closest thing to heaven' in 1984. I never heard a song any better than this from them, although initially I only knew the single version. This 12" version is slightly longer and adds a little extra to what's already quite a perfect song.

What a difference, though, with the B-side: two throwaway tracks that you are better off not listening to.

My collection: 12" single no. 247
Found: unknown
Cost: 2 guilders
Tracks: 'Closest thing to heaven (Full version)' / 'Mighty day', 'Bride of smalltown mudwrestles with Abbott & Costello in outer space (3D Mad Mix II creed)'

Ze geeft om mij - Frank Boeijen

Frank Boeijen recorded a new version of 'Ze geeft om mij' ('She cares for me'), a track from his debut solo album 'Wilde bloemen' ('Wild flowers') when it was released as the second single from that album. The track got an altogether 'warmer' sound.

The B-side was a Dutch language cover of Leonard Cohen's 'Suzanne', performed live during the television programme Rotland, presented by Jan Rot. Boeijen recorded that track in the studio with Belgian singer Yasmine some years later.

My collection: 7" single no. 1584
Found: February 15, 1992
Cost: 6,5 guilders
Tracks: 'Ze geeft om mij' / 'Suzanne (live)'

Popcorn - Popcorn players

Back in 1972, the composition 'Popcorn' by Gershon and Kingsley was a very popular track. No less than four different performers charted with it in the Dutch Top 40. When this LP was released in 1972, roughly translated as 'The first hits of Veronica 538' after the famous radio station broadcasting in the Netherlands, the track could not be omitted.

However, I think they couldn't get permission from Hot Butter, Revolution System, Anarchic System and the Popcornmakers, so a fifth version was included, as performed by the Popcorn players. And when you collect all versions of 'Popcorn' like me, this one is a definite must have.

My collection: LP, unnumbered
Found: Plaatboef, Den Haag, 2000
Cost: 2 guilders
Tracks: 'Vaya con dios' (The Cats), 'Popcorn' (The Popcorn Players), 'Everybody is telling me' (Monica & Oscar Benton), 'Black & white' (Three dog night), 'Femmes aux jeux d'amour' (Adamo), '10538 Overture' (Electric Light Orchestra) / 'Who was it?' (Hurricane Smith), 'To make my life beautiful' (Alex Harvey), 'Go all the way' (Raspberries), 'Devilish Mary' (Jen Rog), '6 Uhr früh in den Strassen' (Christian Anders), 'Oei oei' (Jan Boezeroen)

Little brother - Blue pearl

What kind of a name is Durga McBroom? It sounds like something from a fantasy movie. In actual fact, it's the name of the singer of Blue Pearl, one half of a dance duo consisting of her and Martin Glover, who later became famous as the producer Youth.

This 12" single features two unremarkable tracks, but since the B-side is a cover version of Kate Bush's 'Running up that hill', I still was tempted to buy it. Not that this version is actually any good: it's possibly the most unpassionate version of that song ever.

My collection: 12" single no. 408
Found: unknown
Cost: 5 guilders
Tracks: 'Little brother (remix)' / 'Running up that hill'

Hang on now - Kajagoogoo

Kajagoogoo were very successful after they stormed the pop scene with 'Too shy' in 1982. Subsequent singles 'Ooh to be ah' and 'Hang on now' reached the top 20 in the UK without too much trouble, and part of the appeal was, believe it or not, the outrageous hairstyles of the members of the group.

The record company recognised this fact with this release: the 12" single of 'Hang on now' came with a free poster. It took away attention from the fact that the music was pretty good, too: 'Hang on now' features lush synthesizers and a great guitardriven melody.

My collection: 12" single no. 344
Found: Plaatboef, Rotterdam, 1997
Cost: 2,5 guilders
Tracks: 'Hang on now (extended)' / 'Hang on now (instrumental)', 'Introduction'