Your love takes me higher - The Beloved

Regular readers of this blog will have seen another 12" single of the Beloved's 'Your love takes me higher' some time ago. When I bought this 12" single I'd frankly forgotten about that other one.

Fortunately, I didn't buy this disc for nothing: two different tracks appear on this disc, i.e. the 7" version and the 'Rise up higher' remix. Whether it was truly worth the price of this disc, I'll let you decide.

My collection: 12" single no. 594
Found: Record Exchange, London, October 15, 2011
Cost: 2 pounds
Tracks: 'Your love takes me higher (Deep joy)', 'Your love takes me higher (7" mix)' / 'Your love takes me higher (Simply divine)', 'Your love takes me higher (Rise up higher)'

Sexdrive - Grace Jones

'Sexdrive' is a 1993 single by Grace Jones, which was due to be featured on her now shelved album, 'Black Marilyn'. It was released on September 23, 1993 by Island Records, and it is a cover version of the Sheep on Drugs song 'Track X'. The song was eventually included in a French version of Island Life, called 'Island Life 2' in the form of two remixes.

This American promotional 12" single was released on see-through red vinyl. The track reached number 82 in the UK singles chart.

My collection: 12" single no. 595
Found: Record Exchange, London, October 15, 2011
Cost: 50p
Tracks: 'Sex drive (Sex pitch mix)', 'Sex drive (Sexstrumental)' / 'Sex drive (Hard drive mix)'

Red frame/White light - Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark

'Red frame/White light' is the second single of the synthpop group Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark. The song is about the red telephone box that was used by the band to make calls to organise their gigs. The single reached number 67 in the UK singles chart.

The telephone box is located at the crossing of Birkenhead Road and Greenwood Road in Meols. In the nearby pub 'The Railway Inn' the band would meet. In the songs lyrics the phone number is mentioned: 6323003[3]. Fans would ring the number expecting to get one of the band members, but got a confused home owner in their own area code. Over the years it has become a bit of a sacred place for OMD fans. In 2004 OMD fan Stephen Cork started a successful campaign to get the telephone box repainted in time for a fan tour on April 10, 2005.

My collection: 7" single no. 5213
Found: Sister Ray, London, October 16, 2011
Cost: 2 pounds
Tracks: 'Red frame/White light' / 'I betray my friends'

Wham Rap (US remix) - Wham!

I already own a copy of the 1982 Wham! single 'Wham rap', but this one seemed different because of the 'Special US remix' badge on the sleeve. And indeed, when you compare the intro of the other single with this one, you'll notice that it sounds different.

It gets better. Whereas the sleeve and label of this single speak of a 'Special US remix' and a 'Special club mix', the tracks included on this disc are in fact part 1 and part 2 of a special US remix, which is also included on the 12" single as the A-side. This single was released in 1983 as a reissue, which - contrary to the 1982 release - charted in the UK and Australia, peaking at number 8 and 9 respectively.

My collection: 7" single no. 5212
Found: Sister Ray, London, October 16, 2011
Cost: 1 pound
Tracks: 'Wham rap (Special US remix) [= Special US remix part 1]' / 'Wham rap (Special Club mix) [= Special US remix part 2]'

Stand by love - Simple Minds

'Stand by love' was released in 1991 as the third single from their tenth album 'Real life'. The song was written by Charlie Burchill and Jim Kerr and was produced by Stephen Lipson. The B-side was recorded live at the Universal Amphitheatre, Los Angeles (USA) on June 19, 1991.

This numbered limited edition (this is number 16403) features an exclusive colour poster. Unfortunately, this copy suffers from water damage, so I haven't been able to watch the poster...

My collection: 7" single no. 5211
Found: Sister Ray, London, October 16, 2011
Cost: 50p
Tracks: 'Stand by love' / 'King is white and in the crowd (live)'

Wastelands - Midge Ure

'Wastelands' was the third single taken from Midge Ure's debut album 'The gift'. The album was released in 1985, the single followed in early 1986. It reached number 46 in the UK singles chart, but was unsuccessful in other territories.

The B-side was recorded live at the Wembley Arena on December 23, 1985. This limited edition features a clear vinyl disc.

My collection: 7" single no. 5210
Found: Out on the floor, London, October 15, 2011
Cost: 1 pound
Tracks: 'Wastelands' / 'The chieftain/The dancer (live)'

Planet earth - Duran Duran

Finding the debut single of Duran Duran has become something of a nightmare for me in recent years. I think I have all of their 7" singles, but this one eluded me - until this weekend. It's not that I never saw a copy, it's just that I wasn't prepared to spend double digits in any western currency for it.

The single was released on February 2, 1981, and was an immediate hit in the UK, peaking at number 12 later that month. The track was the first to explicitly acknowledge the New Romantic fashion movement, with the line 'Like some New Romantic looking for the TV sound'.

My collection: 7" single no. 5209
Found: Out on the floor, London, October 15, 2011
Cost: 2 pounds
Tracks: 'Planet earth' / 'Late bar'