I believe - Tears for Fears

Such was the success of Tears for fears with their second album Songs from the big chair, that the record company was confident enough to release a fifth single from it. Which is remarkable, since the album only had eight tracks.

I bought the 7" single (a double single, in fact) back in 1985, around the time it was released, but it took me four decades to decide that I also wanted to have the 10" single. My recent obsession with 10" singles has something to do with that. While the double 7" has four tracks, this 10" single only has three, which seems odd. But it's a good selection of more laidback tracks from the band.

My collection: 10" single [unnumbered]
Found: Discogs.com, received 16 June 2024
Tracks: 'I believe (a soulful re-recording)' / 'I believe', 'Sea song'

So far away - Dire Straits

One of the most catchy songs from their album Brothers in Arms is Dire Straits' third single from that album, 'So far away'. It's a calm piece of work with a guitar hook that stays in your mind once you've heard it. For some reason I didn't really like the song when it came out, but I learned to appreciate it a couple of years later. Which is why I eventually bought the 7" single. 

Flash forward to now, and I bought the 10" single. It contains exactly the same tracks, but in the attractive 10" format. Sometimes I don't know why I buy the things I do, but 10" singles have become my latest obsession I guess.

My collection: 10" single [unnumbered]
Found: Discogs.com, received 13 July 2024
Tracks: 'So far away' / 'Walk of life'

Some kind of lover - Jody Watley

Although I already owned the 7" single and 12" single of 'Some kind of lover', my recent discovery of a 10" single made me want to own that version as well. It turns out that the '10" extended' version on this disc is different from the one on the 12", which makes this item a very nice addition.

We're still waiting for a deluxe edition of Jody Watley's self-titled debut album, of course, but in the meantime I'm happy just to own another version of this fabulous dance track.

My collection: 10" single [unnumbered]
Found: Discogs.com, received 13 July 2024
Tracks: 'Some kind of lover (10" extended)' / 'Looking for a new love', 'Some kind of lover (instrumental)'

The Barry Williams Show - Peter Gabriel

I was very surprised to find this 7" single of Peter Gabriel's 'The Barry Williams Show', the lead single from his 2002 album 'Up'. I own the album on CD and even a couple of CD-singles, but I wasn't aware that this one was released on 7" vinyl, and has by now become a bit sought after. The copy I found in Fulda was in mint condition but also very cheap! It's a nice find.

'Up' was, in my opinion, Peter Gabriel's best ever album, but this song about the worst part of TV culture, is actually the weakest song of the ten tracks on it. 

My collection: 7" single no. 7279
Found: Marleen Records, Fulda (Germany)
Tracks: 'The Barry Williams Show (Unadulterated radio edit)' / 'Cloudless (radio edit)'

Amiga Quartett - O.M.D.

While visiting a record shop in Fulda (Germany), a village not too far from the historical border with Eastern Germany, I was happy to find a couple of Amiga Quartett EP's. The Kylie EP was one, and this O.M.D. EP was another one. I've actually been after this one for a few years, but I didn't want to pay a lot of money for it. As luck would have it, this shop had it virtually for free. (Okay, I'm not counting the expenses of travelling to the area for a family holiday...)

Released in 1985, this EP features three singles of the band and one B-side. At the time, O.M.D. were at the height of their popularity, although personally I still prefer their earlier work. 

My collection: 7" single no. 7278
Found: Marleen Records, Fulda (Germany), 24 July 2024
Tracks: 'Talking loud and clear', 'Apollo' / 'Tesla girls', 'Locomotion'

Amiga Quartett - Kylie Minogue

It would be easy to speak of another subcollection when it comes to these Amiga Quartett EP's. Released by the state-run record company Amiga in the GDR until the reunification of Germany, this EP is another example of 'western' music making its way beyond the iron curtain. Of course, this was a regular occurrance, as previous purchases of such EP's by Abba, A-ha and the Bangles have shown. 

This particular EP consists of four tracks by Kylie Minogue, all of which have been released as separate singles in 'the west'. It's funny that the 'Amiga Quartett' logo has been turned upside down on this sleeve to accommodate the design, which is copied from the Australian singer's debut album. 

My collection: 7" single no. 7277
Found: Marleen Records, Fulda (Germany), 24 July 2024
Tracks: 'The Loco-motion', 'It's no secret' / 'I should be so lucky', 'Got to be certain'

Being with you - Smokey Robinson

Smokey Robinson is a legend. Having recorded several singles with The Mircles ('The tracks of my tears' undoubtedly the most famous one), he retired from touring to focus on raising his two children with his wife Claudette, and on his duties as Motown's vice president, a job he had taken on by the mid-1960s after Esther Gordy Edwards had left the position. However, the success of the group's 'Tears of a clown' made Robinson stay with the group until 1972. His last performance with the group was in July 1972 in Washington, D.C.

After a year of retirement he announced his comeback with a solo album, released in 1973. The Seventies weren't his most successful period, but in 1981 he topped the charts again with 'Being with you', which reached number 1 in the UK singles chart and number 2 on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart. The sleeve of this German pressing asserts that he reached number 1 in the USA, but that was only on the Cash Box chart. 

My collection: 7" single no. 7276
Found: Marleen Records, Fulda (Germany), 24 July 2024
Tracks: 'Being with you' / 'What's in your life for me'