Jackie's strength - Tori Amos

I never managed to turn my friend Puck into a Tori Amos fan, however hard I tried. While I bought all of her albums and singles, he remained insensitive to the beauty of her Nineties work. Admittedly, Amos creatively burned out after the turn of the century, but before she did, she created some magical music.

In 1999, I was pleasantly surprised when Puck actually liked the 'Wedding cake club mix' of 'Jackie's strength'. Originally a moving ballad on Tori Amos' 1998 album 'From the choirgirl hotel', Warren Rigg turned it into a 'hands in the air' dance anthem. Quite an achievement and I actually liked this remix myself too. I bought this American double 12" single mainly for the sleeve, because all the tracks were released on the American cd-single as well.

My collection: 12" single no. 400
Found: Record fair, 1999
Cost: 20 guilders
Tracks: 'Jackie's strength (Wedding cake club mix)' / 'Jackie's strength (Wedding cake edit)' // 'Jackie's strength (One Rascal dub #1)' / 'Father Lucifer (Sylkscreen remix)' // 'Jackie's strength (One Rascal dub #2)' / 'Father Lucifer (Sylkscreen instrumental)' // 'Jackie's strength (Wedding cake meltdown mix)' / 'Jackie's strength (Bonus beats)'

It's over - Level 42

The ballad 'It's over' was released as the fourth single from Level 42's album 'Running in the family' in 1987. I bought the 7" single in 1991, but it took me some years to find and buy the 12" single after that.

When I did, I only bought it because it was very cheap. The extended version isn't that extended and I already had the B-side, a live track. The instrumental version of 'It's over' is a nice bonus, though. Instrumental versions are ideal to make you own extended versions with.

My collection: 12" single no. 262
Found: Record Exchange, London, 1998
Cost: 30p
Tracks: 'It's over (extended version)' / 'Physical presence (live version)', 'It's over (instrumental)'

The captain of her heart - Double

I've always liked the track 'The captain of her heart' by the band Double. I bought the single as soon as it was released, but I never really thought there was a 12" single. When I found it a decade later, I was interested to find that there was a 'full version' of the track.

This full version adds an impressive 35 seconds to the track, which I have to agree ain't much. But I took it home anyway.

My collection: 12" single no. 434
Found: House of Rhythm, London, 1997
Cost: 1 pound
Tracks: 'The captain of her heart (full version)' / 'Your prayer takes me off part 2 (dub)'

Paris Latino - Bandolero

I bought the 7" single of 'Paris latino' in 1997, a few years before I found this 12" single. The 12" version is slightly longer than the single version, and as such isn't a remix but just an extended version.

The B-side contains two very latin sounding tracks, good for any party.

My collection: 12" single no. 546
Found: unknown
Cost: unknown
Tracks: 'Paris latino' / 'Tango tango', 'El bandido caballero'

Cruel summer '89 - Bananarama

'Cruel summer' was a hit for Bananarama, reaching number 9 in the UK singles chart in August 1983. In 1989, the record company decided on releasing a remix of the track as a single, which wasn't a brilliant idea to begin with.

This 12" single adds some more misery to the whole idea. I didn't know this when I bought it, of course, otherwise I would never have done it. The remixes of three Bananarama hits are all abyssmal. A crash course in ruining great pop songs.

My collection: 12" single no. 420
Found: unknown
Cost: unknown
Tracks: 'Cruel summer '89 (Swing beat dub)', 'I heard a rumour (Corporation of Bananarama mix)' / 'Venus (The Greatest remix)'

Let it be - Ferry Aid

I don't really know why - well it probably was a lack of funds - but I never bought the 12" single of Ferry Aid's 'Let it be' despite being a fan of several artists on this record. 23 years later, I finally managed it and what a pleasant surprise this disc holds...

The remixed version of 'Let it be' starts with the part of Kate Bush, so basically it starts on a high. It's very interesting to hear a different sequence of artists in the 12" mix.

My collection: 12" single no. 545
Found: discogs.com, received May 18, 2010
Cost: 5 euro
Tracks: 'Let it be [12" remix]' / 'Let it be (Mega message mix)'

Catch me - Marsha Raven

Before the 'Anglia remix' was created, which spawned the hit single version of 'Catch me' by Marsha Raven, she released the track without the sound effect of Big Ben in it.

This 12" single is the extended version of the original single version, and it features no clocks whatsoever. Without that, it loses a lot of its appeal although it's still a very danceable track.

My collection: 12" single no. 542
Found: Plaatboef, Rotterdam, 2001
Cost: 2,5 guilders
Tracks: 'Catch me' / 'Catch me (instrumental mix)'