Who's that girl - The Flying Pickets

My friend Puck, who's into acapella stuff, will be delighted to hear this version of the Eurythmics' hit single 'Who's that girl'. The Flying Pickets had a hit with an acapella version of Yazoo's 'Only you' in 1984, and followed it up with this single. It was not a hit, although it was equally inventive.

The band of six was founded by Brian Hibbard in 1982. The group chose the name The Flying Pickets as band members had played a part in the UK miners strikes of 1972 and 1974. The Flying Pickets came up with the then novel concept of perfoming contemporary pop hits in acapella versions. The height of the group's fame coincided with the 1984 Miners Strike. The Flying Pickets were very vocal in their support of the miners during the dispute and came to blows with the record label Virgin after they picketed Drax Power Station in Yorkshire. They also performed benefit gigs for the miners. Hibbard himself claimed that their political beliefs probably had a detrimental effect regarding the group's mainstream image but it was a sacrifice they were willing to make.

My collection: 7" single no. 4940
Found: Velvet Vinyl Outlet, Leiden, October 8, 2010
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Who's that girl' / 'Remember this (Jara mix)'

State of independence - Jon and Vangelis

If you know anything about Eighties pop music, you will remember Donna Summer's hit single 'State of independence' from 1982. Jon and Vangelis, who wrote the song, recorded the song in 1981 on their album 'Friends of Mr. Cairo', but it turns out they also released it as a single in 1984.

It was released on the occasion of a 'greatest hits' compilation album, and failed to become a hit. Such is the fate of talented composers...

My collection: 7" single no. 4939
Found: Velvet Vinyl Outlet, Leiden, October 8, 2010
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'State of independence' / 'The friends of Mr. Cairo'

Whole lotta love - Blonde on blonde

Page three girls Nina Carter and Jilly Johnson formed the duo Blonde on blonde, releasing a disco-inspired cover version of Led Zeppelin's classic track 'Whole lotta love' in 1979. This picture disc proves that the appeal of the girls was not so much their sound, but rather visual.

Still, it's an interesting cover of the track because it's very different from the 'rock hard' original. The single did not become a hit, but perhaps it should have been.

My collection: 7" single no. 4938
Found: Velvet Vinyl Outlet, Leiden, October 8, 2010
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Whole lotta love' / 'Make me smile'

Master and servant - Depeche Mode

I never bought the 7" single of Depeche Mode's 'Master and servant', and I only found this out a couple of months ago. Therefore it's a lot of fun to find this single for a very reasonable price.

The overtly sexual, SM-themed lyrics of 'Master and servant' - complete with synthesized whip-and-chain sound effects - reportedly got the song banned by many radio stations in the United States. The song narrowly avoided a radio ban by the BBC as well, and might have been banned if the one BBC staffer who wanted to ban the record had not been away on holiday at the time the other staffers voted on whether to add the single to their playlist. Despite all this controversy, the single reached number 6 in the UK singles chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 4937
Found: Velvet Vinyl Outlet, Leiden, October 8, 2010
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Master and servant' / '(Set me free) Remotivate me'

Alle dagen dorst - Toontje Lager

Released in January 1984, 'Alle dagen dorst' was the second consecutive single by the Dutch band Toontje Lager to narrowly miss the Dutch top 40. 'Alle dagen dorst' ('Thirsty every day') was less inspired than the band's biggest hits and failed to capture the imagination of the record buying public.

The track 'Ben jij ook zo bang', released as a single in 1982, appears on the B-side of this single in a live version.

My collection: 7" single no. 4936
Found: Velvet Vinyl Outlet, Leiden, October 8, 2010
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Alle dagen dorst' / 'Ben jij ook zo bang (live)'

People are strange - Echo and the Bunnymen

The Doors recorded 'People are strange' in the Seventies, one of those Jim Morisson compositions that stays in your head when you've heard it just once. In 1987, the British band Echo & the Bunnymen recorded a cover version of this track for the soundtrack of the movie 'The lost boys'. The song was produced by The Doors' keyboard player, Ray Manzarek.

The single reached number 29 in the UK singles chart and number 13 in the Irish Singles Chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 4935
Found: Velvet Vinyl Outlet, Leiden, October 8, 2010
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'People are strange' / 'Run, run, run (live)'

Fly too high - Janis Ian

Like 'At Seventeen', 'Fly too high' was re-released in 1991 to promote the compilation album 'Up 'til now'. I already own the original release of 'Fly too high' but since this single contains the full length 5 minute album version of the song, I decided I had to have this one as well. The B-side was recorded live at the Circustheater in Den Haag on October 23, 1991.

Produced by Giorgio Moroder, this is the one and only worldwide hit for Janis Ian, who has continued to make music until today. In addition to being a musician, Ian writes science fiction. Her works have been published in an assortment of anthologies.

My collection: 7" single no. 4934
Found: Velvet Vinyl Outlet, Leiden, October 8, 2010
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Fly too high' / 'Here comes the night'