It's no secret - Kylie Minogue

Kylie Minogue has just released a new single with two other female artists I've never heard of. It's not the best pop song I've ever heard but it will probably be a big hit, because it's a clever combination of popular names, apparently.

This single was released back in 1988, when Kylie was still working with Stock, Aitken and Waterman, and her voice sounded decidedly shrill. 'It's no secret' was released as the B-side of 'Wouldn't change a thing', but apparently it was a single in the USA around that time. It's a nice addition to the singles I already have, but I wouldn't have bought it if it weren't so cheap.

My collection: 7" single no. 7262
Found: Record fair, Den Haag, 6 July 2024
Tracks: 'It's no secret' / 'Made in heaven'

Heart - Pet Shop Boys

It's worth hunting down Pet Shop Boys 12" singles if they contain one or more tracks that aren't available on CD. (Someday there will be a full box set of every track they've ever released, but I'm not sure if that will happen during my lifetime, so it's best to be on the safe side.)

This 12" single of 'Heart' features a dub mix and a 'remix', both of which don't appear on the CD-single of the same name. Unfortunately this copy is a bit crackly, but it still gives a good impression of these remixes which I would otherwise have missed out on.

My collection: 12" single [unnumbered]
Found: Discogs.com, received 2 July 2024
Tracks: 'Heart (remix)' / 'Heart (dub mix)', 'I get excited (You get excited too)'

Running up that hill - Elastic Band

Kate Bush's 'Running up that hill' was very popular two years ago, thanks to a certain Netflix series, but the song has always attracted some attention. There are many cover versions of the song, and this 12" single features just one of them.

Elastic Band recorded their version of the song in 1994 - a dance-infused track with lots of beats and thin vocals. It wasn't a patch on the original, of course, but it's an amusing take on the classic track nonetheless. And the cover is pretty beautiful, I have to say.

My collection: 12" single [unnumbered]
Found: Discogs.com, received 2 July 2024
Tracks: 'Running up that hill (Alex Party Version)' / 'Rolling down that mountain (Momentum mix)'

Als m'n moesje niet meer hier is - Annie

I think I mentioned before that the repertoire of Dutch singer Annie is full of morbid lyrics. A good example is this single, 'Als m'n moesje niet meer hier is' ('If my mum is no longer among us'). A guy meets a girl, they dance a lot, and suddenly the girl is pregnant and says that they have to get married. But the guy refuses, saying that he doesn't want to leave his mum alone, and she'd have to wait until 'my mum is no longer among us'. The girl gets angry and says she doesn't ever want to see him again. When the guy gets home, he finds his mum... dead. 

Yes, I told you there's something morbid about her lyrics.

The B-side is a bit more innocent: it's about a girl in prison, who finds some consolation in a guy who is waiting for her outside, while taking care of her child. Somehow I feel this story won't end well either - but that is not told in the lyrics this time.

Annie is a phenomenon, and certainly a singer who amused me a lot back in the day.

My collection: 7" single no. 2873
Found: Disco Market, 1985
Tracks: 'Als m'n moesje niet meer hier is' / 'Meisje in de Bijlmerbajes'

Elle était si jolie - Les Djinns

Les Djinns arrived in my collection with their version of 'Oui, oui, oui, oui', the French entry for the Eurovision Song Contest in 1959. 'Elle était si jolie' was originally performed by Alain Barriere in 1963 at the same event. And this song was recorded by Les Djinns as well. It appears on this EP, which features four tracks by the choir.

Les Djinns recorded two more Eurovision songs: 'Le chant de Mallory' and 'Tom Pillibi'. I'm sure those versions will eventually end up in my collection as well. It's just a matter of finding them for cheap as well.

My collection: 7" single no. 7261
Found: Discogs.com, received 4 July 2024
Tracks: 'Elle était si jolie', 'Voila, voila' / 'Voila le carnaval', 'Son vent ma jolie'

Vragen - Paradise

The band Paradise has three members: IJsbrand van Belleghem (lead vocals, drums), Piet van Doorn (keys, vocals) and Rob Bijhouwer (guitar, vocals). After more than 40 years they are still going strong, but they only ever released one single.

'Vragen' was released in 1987. It is a Dutch version of the song 'Rücksicht', performed by Hoffman & Hoffman at the Eurovision Song Contest in 1983. A remarkable choice, because the original never charted in the Netherlands. Predictably, this single didn't chart either. But the band still exists and plays live regularly. 

My collection: 7" single no. 7260
Found: Discogs.com, received 4 July 2024
Tracks: 'Vragen' / 'Terug in de tijd'

You'll never know - Hi-Gloss

'You'll never know' was co-written by Phil Hurtt and Giuliano Salerni, who gathered a team of session players to produce something mid-tempo enough to induce movement, but smooth enough to allow strangers to make the most of the dark. Bonita Taylor sang the lead vocal, with in-demand future star Luther Vandross among the backing vocalists. 

The song was popular with club DJs and soul-friendly sections of the music press. In August 1981 the song entered the UK singles chart, eventually peaking at number 12. In the Dutch Top 40 the single reached number 21. I heard the track on a CD compilation recently and was interested enough to want to have the 7" single. Because of the song, mind you, although the sleeve is certainly quite appealing as well.

My collection: 7" single no. 7259
Found: Discogs.com, received 4 June 2024
Tracks: 'You'll never know' / 'I'm totally yours'