Cry - Godley & Creme

Picture discs can be very attractive when they are done well, and they are even more attractive when the sleeve is done even better. Such is the case with this picture disc of 'Cry' by Godley & Creme. You can not see it so well on this scan, but the transparent sleeve has five black squares and the disc contains the eight images that fit inbetween.

Of course I already had a copy of 'Cry', but I can never resist a good thing when I see it. And so, here's another copy of the single - but you'll have to agree that this one is a big improvement on the other one.

My collection: 7" single no. 4637 (2)
Found: Chelsea Records, Antwerpen, May 24, 2019
Cost: 2 euro
Tracks: 'Cry' / 'Love bombs'

Rivers of Babylon - Boney M

Back in 1980, I already bought a copy of Boney M's biggest hit - and one of the biggest hits of all time - 'Rivers of Babylon'. That sleeve and record were made in the Netherlands. This one, bought more recently, was made in Germany. And as you can see, the sleeve is far prettier.

Apparently, there are different versions of this song on different pressings. The original pressings featured an early version that was soon replaced by a more widely available mix. The initial single mix of 'Rivers of Babylon' is most notable for lead singer Liz Mitchell's ad-libs ('Dark tears of Babylon, you got to sing a song, sing a song of love, yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah') between the two verses. On subsequent single pressings, only the 'yeah's were retained. Well, both singles I have are apparently 'original pressings', because there is no difference.

My collection: 7" single no. 71 (2)
Found: Chelsea Records, Antwerpen, May 24, 2019
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Rivers of Babylon' / 'Brown girl in the ring'

Love of the common people - Paul Young & The Family

Many people know Paul Young's 'Love of the common people' - just not in this particular version. It was the original single by Paul Young & The Family, released as his second solo single after 'Iron out the rough spots'. Just like that single, this one did not chart. It almost seemed like his solo career ended as soon as it had begun.

It was his cover version of 'Wherever I lay my hat' that subsequently saved his behind. But that is a story for another future entry in this blog...

My collection: 7" single no. 6116
Found: Record fair, Den Haag, June 1, 2019
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Love of the common people' / 'Tender trap'

Method of modern love - Daryl Hall & John Oates

Back in 1985, Daryl Hall and John Oates were regulars on pre-MTV music channels Sky Channel and Music Box. Their colourful music video for 'Method of modern love' appeared regularly - so much so that I got to hate the video and the track in time. Too much of a good thing and all that.

And so here we are in 2019 - and I am buying that single. What helps is that I haven't heard the song in three decades and that the pop music of today has become so much worse in the mean time. And then there's the added bonus of a second single in this package, presenting live versions of earlier hits 'I can't go for that' and 'Maneater'. Not bad at all!

My collection: 7" single no. 6115
Found: Record fair, Den Haag, June 1, 2019
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Method of modern love' / 'Bank on your love' // 'I can't go for that (No can do) (live version)' / 'Maneater (live version)'

Stuck on you - Lionel Richie

Lionel Richie is one of those artists that are loved by many and scorned by the rest. Especially his ballads are divisive: considered too mushy by some, and adored by many. 'Stuck on you' is one of those ballads. Taken from his multiplatinum album 'Can't slow down', this was the fourth single from that album. It reached number 3 in the US Billboard Hot 100 chart, number 12 in the UK singles chart and number 18 in the Dutch Top 40.


In 2003, 'Stuck on you' was covered by American band 3T. It was the first single from the band's second studio album 'Identity'. Released in summer 2003, it achieved success in the Netherlands, Belgium and France, where it was a top ten hit.

My collection: 7" single no. 6114
Found: Record fair, Den Haag, June 1, 2019
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Stuck on you' / 'Round and round'

Walk right now - The Jacksons

Record dealers are often likely to charge an arm and a leg for records of famous bands and the Jacksons can count as one of the most famous bands of all time. So it was a source of much pleasure to find a very good copy of this single by the Jacksons for just one euro during an open air record fair last week.

'Walk right now' was taken from the album 'Triumph', the album that gave us the hits 'Can you feel it' and 'Lovely one'. The single performed well in the UK, peaking at number 7, but only got to number 73 in the US Billboard Hot 100 chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 6113
Found: Record fair, Den Haag, June 1, 2019
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Walk right now' / 'Your ways'

Almost over you - Sheena Easton

'Almost over you' sees Sheena Easton at her most melodramatic. The single was taken from her 1983 album 'Best kept secret', the first one in her career to be entirely recorded in the USA.Not surprisingly, the material went down better in the USA than it did in the UK. The album reached number 33 in the US album chart, but only got to number 99 in the UK.

The single followed the same pattern: while it peaked at number 25 in the US Billboard Hot 100, it only got to number 89 in the UK singles chart. Sheena's UK career would never recover: only 'The arms of Orion', her 1989 duet with Prince would do marginally better in the UK than it did in the USA.

My collection: 7" single no. 6111
Found: Record fair, Den Haag, June 1, 2019
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Almost over you' / 'I don't need your word'