'A million love songs' was the penultimate single from Take That's debut album and was written by lead vocalist Gary Barlow at the age of 15. The single peaked at number 7 in the UK Singles Chart.
The song has also been voted by critics and music fans as the greatest ballad of all time. That seems a bit odd, but considering the numbers 2 and 3 were 'Everything I do' by Bryan Adams and 'Always' by Bon Jovi, you can just about figure out the blandness of the general public. So... greatest ballad of all time? Not really. A nice little song nonetheless.
My collection: 7" single no. 5301 Found: Record fair, Utrecht, April 14, 2012 Cost: 3 euro Tracks: 'A million love songs' / 'A million love songs (Lovers mix)'
'Son of a Preacher Man' was recorded by Dusty Springfield in September
1968 as a track on her legendary album 'Dusty in Memphis'. Written by
John Hurley and Ronnie Wilkins, the song was originally offered to
Aretha Franklin, but she turned it down. Only after she'd heard
Springfield's version she recorded the song herself. By that time,
however, Springfield's version had already become a hit; thus,
Franklin's version, included on her 1970 album, 'This girl's in love
with you', ended up as a B-side of the single 'Call me' only.
Although
the album 'Dusty in Memphis' was released in stereo, the singles off
the album were remixed and released in mono. This single reached number
10 in the US Billboard Hot 100 chart and number 9 in the UK singles
chart. I bought a sleeveless version in 2011 and a year later I found one with a picture sleeve. Sometimes one has to have a better copy of a single.
My collection: 7" single no. 5042 / no. 5319 Found: Kringloop, Haarlem, March 11, 2011 / Record fair, Utrecht, April 14, 2012 Cost: 0,25 euro / 1 euro Tracks: 'Son of a preacher man' / 'Just a little lovin' (Early in the mornin')'
'Sister Moon' was Transvision Vamp's fifth single release and the final single to be taken from their debut album Pop Art. It was a minor hit on the UK singles chart in 1988, peaking at number 41. Like most of their singles it featured two tracks on the B-side.
The album 'Pop Art' peaked at number 4 in the UK albums chart and became the 25th highest selling album of 1989 in Australia, peaking at number thirteen.
My collection: 7" single no. 5307 Found: Record fair, Utrecht, April 14, 2012 Cost: 3 euro Tracks: 'Sister moon' / 'Oh yeah', 'Walk on by'
'I wanna be loved by you' was written by Herbert Stothart and Harry Ruby with lyrics by Bert Kalmar for the 1928 musical 'Good boy'. First performed by Helen Kane, the song became best known in a version by Marilyn Monroe in Billy Wilder's classic movie 'Some like it hot'.
It was a bit of a surprise when I found this single by Marty Wilde, because I didn't know he'd recorded a version too. It was released in the summer of 1960 but didn't reach the UK singles chart. And of course I should have known about this track because I actually have it on the lengthy 3 cd compilation, 'The full Marty'. D'oh!
My collection: 7" single no. 5318 Found: Record fair, Utrecht, April 14, 2012 Cost: 1 euro Tracks: 'I wanna be loved by you' / 'Angry'
'Hide and Seek' was Five Star's second single and would later be included on their 1985 debut album 'Luxury of life'. The single was written by Gary Bell (who co-wrote their later hit 'System addict'), and Anne Dudley, one of the UK's top female songwriters and composers. The single wasn't a hit, only charting at number 113. The song was later covered by New Edition in 1984 as part of their self-titled album.
The video to the single featured a colourful setting with an early Five Star logo as a backdrop, with the floor resembling the American stars and stripes flag, and a very simple dance routine.
My collection: 7" single no. 5315 Found: Record fair, Utrecht, April 14, 2012 Cost: 3 euro Tracks: 'Hide and seek' / 'I'm gonna make this a night you will never forget'
After their top 10 hit with 'Halfway down the stairs' in the summer of 1977, the Muppets followed that single up with an EP featuring four songs. It was another hit for the Jim Henson creations, peaking at number 19 in the UK singles chart in December 1977.
The single displays much of the charm the old television series had, although obviously the songs were a bit more important on this disc than all the slapstick and visual jokes the audiences enjoyed on television. Still, the back of the sleeve displays this message from Miss Piggy: 'To my adoring fans, Thank you for making me the superstar I was destined to become.' Quite.
My collection: 7" single no. 5312 Found: Record fair, Utrecht, April 14, 2012 Cost: 3 euro Tracks: 'Don't dilly dally on the way', 'Waiting at the church' / 'The boy in the gallery', 'Wotcher knocked 'em in the Old Kent Road'
I first discovered this song when I bought the 12" single in November 2008, also at the record fair in Utrecht. I'd just started this blog and it was a great discovery. Now that this blog is slowly winding down (I only have to add a couple of dozen 12" singles and any new records I buy) it's nice to find this single.
According to the information on the sleeve of this single, it doesn't just feature the two famous singers (from Heaven 17 and Propaganda respectively), but also Midge Ure (from Ultravox) on keyboards. The single was released in August 1985 and wasn't a hit.
My collection: 7" single no. 5310 Found: Record fair, Utrecht, April 14, 2012 Cost: 3 euro Tracks: 'When your heart runs out of time' / 'When your heart runs out of time (drumless)'
