Bring me closer - Altered Images

Last year saw a re-emergence of Altered Images, with Clare Grogan recording a whole new album. Alas, no vinyl singles were released, and so we're left with the old singles instead. I have all of them, but I recently found out about three picture discs. One is the picture disc of 'Don't talk to me about love', which I bought a little over four years ago, and here is another one: 'Bring me closer'. It really is the weakest track of the three, because as I wrote back in 2009, this single doesn't seem to go anywhere for some reason. 

I only have to buy the picture disc edition of 'I could be happy' to complete the set, and I am sure I will do that pretty soon. But visually, this one is without a doubt the most beautiful one of the three. 

My collection: 7" single no. 6843
Found: Discogs.com, received 14 January 2023
Tracks: 'Bring me closer' / 'Surprise me'

Let's all chant - Michael Zager Band

I bought the single 'Let's all chant' a long, long time ago. This was when I was no longer sick of the track - because it had been played repeatedly in and after 1978. Almost three decades later and I find myself buying the 12" single, because I have to admit it's as infectious a disco track as they come. It's not hard to imagine radio DJ's having a good time while playing this. 

This 12" version does what all good extended versions should do: add to the track and not take out any relevant stuff, like remixers started doing towards the end of the 1980's. This is seven minutes of 'Let's all chant' - the way you like it.

My collection: 12" single [unnumbered]
Found: Record fair, Den Bosch, 12 November 2023
Tracks: 'Let's all chant [extended]' / 'Traffic jam [extended]', 'Traffic jam (dub mix)'

Pytanie o siebie - Izabela Trojanowska I Zespół Budka Suflera

When I posted singles from Poland last month I finished with an EP by Izabela Trojanowska, so I thought it was nice to finish with her this month too. For some reason Discogs lists this EP as 'Pytanie o siebie', the first track on the B-side of this EP, so I had no choice but to follow their lead. 

On this EP Izabela collaborates with the band Budka Suflera, who ensure that the songs are slightly rougher. It's interesting to note that the tracks on the A-side are more rock-oriented, while the songs on the B-side are more synth-driven. It's almost as if it's a compilation of two singles pressed on one disc. 

My collection: 7" single no. 6842
Found: Received 7 January 2023
Tracks: 'Nic Za Nic; Sobie Na Złość' / 'Pytanie O Siebie; Jestem Twoim Grzechem'

Słodkie Życie / S O S Dla Planety - Kapitan Nemo

Kapitan Nemo featured once before on this blog, with two accessible synthpop songs on the single 'Zimne kino'. This single was released prior to that one, so the music is quite similar and again very accessible.

Although this single clearly states an A- and B-side, it looks like the B-side 'S O S Dla Planety' was more popular, since it ended up in the Polish radio chart back in 1983, peaking at number 9. I have to say I prefer the A-side, but maybe that's just me.

My collection: 7" single no. 6841
Found: Received 7 January 2023
Tracks: 'Słodkie Życie' / 'S O S Dla Planety'

Wspomnienia z pleneru - Kombi

I raved about the synthpop band Kombi a couple of times on this blog, and thus I am quite happy to present here the debut single of this band, released in 1979. It comes in a colourful Tonpress sleeve, although I am not sure if the sleeve belongs to the single since there is no mention of the band or song at all. 

'Wspomnienia z pleneru' means 'Outdoor memories'. It is an instrumental track with a beautiful melody line. 

My collection: 7" single no. 6840
Found: Received 7 January 2023
Tracks: 'Wspomnienia z pleneru' / 'Przeciąg'

Zielono mi - Andrzej Dąbrowski

Andrzej Dąbrowski (born 13 April 1938 in Vilnius) is a Polish singer, drummer (jazzman), composer, journalist, photographer, and rally driver (Polish vice-champion in car rallies in 1957). A graduate of the Music High School in Kraków and the Instrumental Department of the State Higher School of Music in Kraków (in the percussion class of Józef Stojko).  

He made his debut as a jazz singer in 1965, and as a singer performing pop music in addition to jazz - in 1970. This EP, with the lead track 'Zielono mi' is a slightly eclectic mix of songs, finishing with the show tune 'Ol' Man River', from the 1927 musical 'Show boat'. 

My collection: 7" single no. 6839
Found: Received 7 January 2023
Tracks: 'Zielono Mi', 'Już Przyszedł Dzień' / 'Powrót', 'Ol' Man River'

Nie Wierz Nigdy Kobiecie - Budka Suflera

Budka Suflera is a rock group, formed in 1974 in Lublin (Poland). They released their debut album the next year, and they kept releasing albums on a regular basis to this day. They also released several singles together with Izabela Trojanowska, whose name also appears on this blog from time to time.

'Nie Wierz Nigdy Kobiecie' ('Never believe a woman') was released in 1982. It is a rock ballad, with lyrics written by Andrzej Mogielnicki, and the music was composed by Jan Borysewicz with the help of Romuald Lipka, although only the former is mentioned. The song was subsequently covered by Lady Pank, Krzysztof Krawczyk and Stachurski.

My collection: 7" single no. 6838
Found: Received 7 January 2023
Tracks: 'Nie Wierz Nigdy Kobiecie' / 'Rok Dwóch Żywiołów'