We close our eyes - Go West

Go West's debut single was 'We close our eyes', a great rhythmic track that lends itself well to an extended remix. This 12" single does not disappoint: this six minute remix of the track delivers well in every aspect. The remix was later included on the 1985 compilation album 'Bangs & Crashes'.

Thanks to those wonderful Here & Now Tours at the beginning of this century I've had the pleasure of seeing Richard Drummie and Peter Cox live a couple of times. Thankfully they were still as powerful as two decades earlier.

My collection: 12" single no. 28
Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, 1986
Cost: 2,5 guilders
Tracks: 'We close our eyes (Total overhang club mix)' / 'We close our eyes', 'Missing persons'

Hey little girl - Icehouse

The UK single of 'Hey little girl' was already in my possession when I found this 12" single. I wasn't too surprised, then, by the sleeve which was different from the European one. I was, however, quite surprised by the track listing of this disc, as it featured an extended remix of the title track and a remix of the earlier hit single 'Can't help myself'. A good deal, I felt, since I like both tracks.

The design and painting of the sleeve was done by David Storey, who also did artwork for artists as diverse as Blondie, Elton John and The Specials.

My collection: 12" single no. 280
Found: House of Rhythm, London, 1996
Cost: 2 pounds
Tracks: 'Hey little girl (Australian Disco Mix)' / 'Hey little girl (single mix)', 'Can't help myself (Disco club mix)'

Atomic - Blondie

Blondie released 'Atomic' in February 1980 and as such it was their first single of the Eighties. The single reached number 1 in the UK singles chart and number 39 in the US Billboard Hot 100 chart.

This 12" single contains a live version of David Bowie's 'Heroes' featuring Robert Fripp on guitar, recorded at London's Hammersmith Odeon on January 11, 1980. The track was later included on 1993's rarities compilation 'Blonde and Beyond'.

My collection: 12" single no. 394
Found: Record fair, Amsterdam, January 1999
Cost: 5 guilders
Tracks: 'Atomic' / 'Die young stay pretty' / 'Heroes (live)'

So excited - Janet Jackson

'So excited' was taken from Janet Jackson's ninth album '20 Y.O.' and features a sample of Herbie Hancock's 1984 hit single 'Rockit'. That is a very good addition, however the addition of the inarticulate ramblings of a rapper named Khia is a less fortunate choice.

Although 'So excited' was remixed by Junior Vasquez, Bimbo Jones and Eddie Baez, this 12" single features four slightly predictable versions of the song: an album version, a radio edit, an instrumental version and an acapella version, all drawn from the regular album mix. The radio edit is laughable because of its random removal of certain 'shocking' words. You can't listen to - lyric - certain words - blocked. And what's so shocking about the word 'inside' anyway?

My collection: 12" single no. 601
Found: Discogs.com, received November 1, 2011
Cost: 3 euro
Tracks: 'So excited (album version)', 'So exicted (radio edit)' / 'So excited (instrumental)', 'So excited (a cappella)'

Cloudbusting - Kate Bush

Kate Bush released 'Cloudbusting' in October 1985 as the second single from her fifth album 'Hounds of love'. The 12" single featured two B-side tracks and an extended remix of the title track, entitled the 'Organon Remix'.

In 'Burning Bridge', a woman desperately pleads with her lover to step up his level of commitment to her. 'My Lagan Love' is a traditional Irish melody with lyrics by John Carder Bush, Kate Bush's brother.

My collection: 12" single no. 15
Found: Free Record Shop, Den Haag, 1985
Cost: 15 guilders
Tracks: 'Cloudbusting (The Organon Remix)' / 'Burning bridge', 'My lagan love'

Stop for a minute - Sandra

'Stop for a minute' was released after Sandra's first two albums as a new track on her first compilation album 'Ten on one'. It was a surprisingly strong track, it sounds a lot less dodgy than a lot of her early work.

This 12" single features an interesting extended version of the track, as well as the A- and B-side of the 7" single.

My collection: 12" single no. 223
Found: Record fair, 1994
Cost: 10 guilders
Tracks: 'Stop for a minute (extended version)' / 'Two lovers tonight', 'Stop for a minute'

Tinseltown in the rain - The Blue Nile

The Blue Nile's 'A walk across the rooftops' was one of the most remarkable albums of 1984, featuring seven beautifully crafted tracks. It featured two singles: 'Stay' and 'Tinseltown in the rain'. The album version of the latter track appears on this 12" singles, as well as an instrumental version of another album track, 'Heatwave'.

This 12" single is however most notable for the otherwise unreleased track 'Regret'. 'One of the saddest songs I know', I wrote on a mailing list a decade ago and I still stand by those words. The track was later included on a rare compilation cd which I never found, but fortunately there's an mp3 floating around which I've included here for your listening pleasure. After all, sometimes the crackles and pops of vinyl tend to distract the listener a bit.

My collection: 12" single no. 143
Found: Record fair, 1993
Cost: 5 guilders
Tracks: 'Tinseltown in the rain' / 'Heatwave (instrumental)', 'Regret'