Fade to grey - Neon

Visage's 'Fade to grey' is arguably one of the best tracks of the early Eighties, and it's inspired many others to record the track. I bought a version by Phase One ten years ago, and now it's time for another cover version, this time by Neon. 

Neon was one of many Belgian New Beat projects started by Target Records in the late 1980s. Members of Neon were Frank Van Der Heyden, Friedhelm Nieske, J.P. Bulté, Luc Devriese and Peter Peyskens. It's interesting that the back cover credits a certain Rita for catering-assistance; that's not a credit you see very often on record sleeves. Fortunately this is quite a good cover version, well worth a listen.

My collection: 7" single no. 7354
Found: Record fair, Rotterdam, 5 October 2024
Tracks: 'Fade to grey' / 'Fade to grey (instrumental remix)'

I saw the light - The The

Back in 1994, The The released Hanky Panky, an album filled with cover versions of songs by Hank Williams, an American singer-songwriter. I'd never heard of the man, but apparently he is regarded as one of the most significant and influential American singers and songwriters of the 20th century. 

I have to say that after the album Mind Bomb, which I regard as The The's best ever album, this one came as a disappointment. I bought the CD-single, but only played it once or twice. With the recent resurgence of The The I had to go back to it and decided it wasn't so bad after all. And so, here's the 10 inch single, featuring the same tracks as on that CD-single. Which is why I never bought it three decades ago. Well, it's never too late.

My collection: 10" single [unnumbered]
Found: Discogs.com, received 4 October 2024
Tracks: 'I saw the light', 'I'm free at last' / 'Someday you'll call my name', 'There's no room in my heart for the blues'

Amiga Quartett - Milli Vanilli

This EP, released by the East German record company Amiga, presents four songs by Milli Vanilli. It includes their debut hit 'Girl you know it's true', as well as the debut album's title track, 'All or nothing'. The B-side consists of another hit song, 'Baby, don't forget my number' and the album track 'Hush', a cover version of the Joe South song.

For residents of the GDR (former East-Germany) these EP's were often the only way to buy music from "the West", as the country was pretty much isolated from western Europe. Obviously the EP's would only contain songs that wouldn't go against the communist party lines - whatever they were. These days, most of these EP's are sold for small amounts. Still, they are pretty enough to want to have them.

My collection: 7" single no. 7351
Found: Discogs.com, received 28 September 2024
Tracks: 'Girl you know it's true', 'All or nothing' / 'Baby don't forget my number', 'Hush'

So ist die liebe, mon ami (N'avoue jamais) - Corry Brokken

Having won the Eurovision Song Contest in 1957, Corry Brokken would continue to be connected to the event for many years. She did, of course, compete again in 1958, but she also recorded her fair share of cover versions of Eurovision songs. 

In 1965 she recorded 'Als je maar nooit bekent', a Dutch version of 'N'avoue jamais', the French Eurovision entry of 1965. She also recorded the song in German. That version was titled 'So ist die Liebe, mon ami'. The German lyrics were written by Carl Ulrich Blecher.

My collection: 7" single no. 7350
Found: Discogs.com, received 28 September 2024
Tracks: 'So ist die Liebe, mon ami' / 'Venedig in Grau'

No doubt about it (Little Tequila-mix) - Hot Chocolate

A Hot Chocolate remix album seemed like a good idea, after Ben Liebrand's remix of 'You sexy thing' had become a top 10 hit in the UK. Unfortunately, not all of the remixes were executed equally well. Al Topo's remix of 'Heaven's in the backseat of my Cadillac' didn't chart at all, and this remix of 'No doubt about it' by a certain Frank Mono (who worked with Al Topo, who plays additional instruments on this remix) was just plain lazy. Adding some instruments to the original track does not a remix make.

I added this single to my collection, because I'm getting ever closer to a complete Hot Chocolate discography. But I think a remix album is still a good idea - if executed with better remixers.

My collection: 7" single no. 7349
Found: Discogs.com, received 28 September 2024
Tracks: 'No doubt about it (Little Tequila-mix)' / 'Gave you my heart  (didn't I)'

Someday - The New Faces

The New Faces were a Scottish trio who released about a dozen singles but never made it to the charts. One of their singles was this one, 'Someday'. It is, of course, an English version of Ronnie Tober's 1968 Eurovision entry 'Morgen'. Ronnie also recorded 'Someday' himself.

I was a bit surprised to find a copy of this single easily online, because obscure singles often have a tendency to become very expensive decades later. But this is a good copy in the correct Decca sleeve.

My collection: 7" single no. 7348
Found: Discogs.com, received 28 September 2024
Tracks: 'Someday' / 'Biscuit coloured overcoat'

Without you - Heart

'Without you' is best known in the version by Harry Nilsson, an emotional performance that perfectly captures the essence of the lyrics. But the song was actually written by Pete Ham and Tom Evans of British rock group Badfinger, and recorded on the band's 1970 album No Dice. 

Heart also recorded a version of the track. It was released on the album Magazine, an album with an interesting back story. Unfortunately, Heart's version is a bit overwrought and doesn't hit the listener emotionally at all. This promotional single features the track in stereo and mono versions, which is a nice touch.

My collection: 7" single no. 7347
Found: Discogs.com, received 28 September 2024
Tracks: 'Without you (stereo)' / 'Without you (mono)'