Dreaming - Aurora

I recently wrote about a promotional 12" single of Aurora's 'Dreaming', and here's the other one. This 12" single features three remixes by Love To Infinity, a UK-based remix, production and songwriting team consisting of Andy, Pete and Dave Lee.

It's inevitable that these remixes sound a bit the same, when the full length mix is turned into an edit and a dub version on the B-side. Still, a nice addition to the collection of Aurora remixes.

My collection: 12" single no. 578
Found: Discogs.com, received August 5, 2011
Cost: 5 euro
Tracks: 'Dreaming (LTI mix)' / 'Dreaming (LTI Instrumental Dub mix)', 'Dreaming (LTI Radio Edit)'

The pleasure principle - Janet Jackson

In 1996 Janet Jackson released her first major compilation album 'Design of a decade'. The release was promoted by the new single 'Runaway', but also by elusive 12" singles with remixes of previous hits. This double 12" package of 'The pleasure principle' is an example of one such releases.

The original 12" featured remixes by Shep Pettibone, and this package is slightly more varied with remixes by Danny Tenaglia.

My collection: 12" single no. 581
Found: Discogs.com, received August 5, 2011
Cost: 5 euro
Tracks: 'The pleasure principle (Legendary Club mix)' / 'The pleasure principle (D.T.'s Twilo mix)' // 'The pleasure principle (NuFlava Vocal Dub)' / 'The pleasure principle (Banji dub)'

We might as well be strangers - Keane

'We might as well be strangers' was the fifth single to be released from their 2004 debut album 'Hopes & fears'. It was a bit of a strange release, as it was only released on 10" single. It featured a remix of the track by a certain DJ Shadow.

The single didn't chart in any territory, although the 10" single was readily available in the UK, where the band had had four top 20 singles until then.

My collection: 10" single [unnumbered]
Found: Discogs.com, received August 5, 2011
Cost: 5 euro
Tracks: 'We might as well be strangers (remix)' / 'We might as well be strangers (remix instrumental)'

Remember me - Diana Ross

The nice thing about music is that there's always something new to explore. In 50 years of pop music there's always a song you've never heard and an artist that needs further exploration. Although I own much of Diana Ross's Eighties output, her old work passed me by as I was too young to appreciate it back then.

When Kim Wilde recorded a cover of 'Remember me' on her forthcoming album 'Snapshots' I was curious to hear the original version, and so I ordered one of those charming original UK pressings of the single. I will not pass judgement on which version is the best and leave it for you to decide. 'Snapshots' is out next Friday!

My collection: 7" single no. 5192
Found: eBay, received August 13, 2011
Cost: 3 pounds
Tracks: 'Remember me' / 'How about you'

Dreaming - Aurora

The British electronic dance music group Aurora formed in 1999 and made it to the charts in the UK that year with the song 'Hear you calling'. After a top 10 hit in 2000 with a cover of the Duran Duran track 'Ordinary world', they recorded their only album, which was released in 2001. 'Dreaming' was the first single lifted from that track, a breezy pop track which was remixed by Love to Infinity, Goldtrix and Stella Browne.

The latter two appear on this promotional 12" single. Strangely, these remixes didn't appear on cd-singles released at the time.

My collection: 12" single no. 577
Found: Discogs.com, received August 5, 2011
Cost: 4 euro
Tracks: 'Dreaming (Lullaby mix)' / 'Dreaming (Stella Browne dub mix)'

All for you - Janet Jackson

Following on from this one, here's another promotional 12" single of Janet Jackson's 'All for you'. This release comprises two heavyweight vinyl discs, featuring one remix on every side.

With the exception of the original version on side C, the mixes were all created by the remix team of Barry Harris and Chris Cox, a.k.a. Thunderpuss. The club mix on side A also appeared on other releases (including commercial ones) but the two other remixes are quite rare.

My collection: 12" single no. 576
Found: Discogs.com, received August 6, 2011
Cost: 5 euro
Tracks: 'All for you (Thunderpuss club mix)' / 'All for you (Thunderdub)' // 'All for you' / 'All for you (Thunderpuss drumapella)'

Holding back the years - Simply Red

Simply Red rose to prominence with this beautiful ballad in 1985. 'Holding back the years' would turn out to be a classic. Taken from their debut album 'Picture book', it launched a career that was ended only last year when front man Mick Hucknall did a farewell tour with Simply Red.

This 12" single features the full length version of 'Holding back the years', as well as a longer version of 'I won't feel bad'. I only bought the 12" single years after its release because my budget didn't stretch that far in 1985. I wanted to have it since the first moment I heard this longer version.

My collection: 12" single no. 124
Found: Record fair, 1992
Cost: 5 guilders
Tracks: 'Holding back the years [extended]' / 'I won't feel bad [extended]', 'Drowning in my own tears'