Engel der Nacht - Nena

With the album Eisbrecher, the band Nena reached the end of their contract with CBS and the single 'Enger der Nacht' would turn out to be their last. It is a good farewell for a band that enjoyed huge success in the first half of the Eighties.

While the previous single 'Mondsong' reached number 37 in the German singles chart (already a low position for the band), 'Engel der Nacht' didn't chart at all. After this, frontwoman Gabriele Susanne Kerner went solo (confusingly under the stage name Nena) and enjoyed some success on her own.

My collection: 7" single no. 7544
Found: Record fair, Amsterdam, 19 January 2025
Tracks: 'Engel der Nacht (remix)' / 'Zusammen'

Hot in the city - Billy Idol

'Hot in the city' was re-released a few times, but this one here is the original release from 1982. It features a different sleeve and a different B-side. 

This version of 'Hot in the city' reached number 58 in the UK singles chart; it was his first solo chart placing in the UK. It did significantly better in Austria and New Zealand, where the single reached number 5. When 'Hot in the city' was re-released in 1987, it fared significantly better in the UK too: it peaked at number 13.

My collection: 7" single no. 7543
Found: Record fair, Amsterdam, 19 January 2025
Tracks: 'Hot in the city' / 'Dead on arrival'

Somewhere down the crazy river - Robbie Robertson

Promotional singles can be confusing, especially when they are delivered in 'regular' sleeves. This Robbie Robertson single is a good example.

The sleeve announces the title track and a B-side, 'Broken arrow'. But the disc containes a remix edit and the LP version of 'Somewhere down the crazy river'. This is also why I wanted to have this disc - because it's great to have both versions of the song. The label of the disc clearly indicates 'For promo use only - Not for sale'. And fortunately, a sticker on the front sleeve also says 'Special radio sampler'. Which made me curious.

My collection: 7" single no. 7542
Found: Record fair, Amsterdam, 19 January 2025
Tracks: 'Somewhere down the crazy river (Remix/Edit)' / 'Somewhere down the crazy river (LP version)'

Es war keine so wunderbar wie du - Cliff Richard und die Shadows

Back in 1964 Cliff Richard had a hit with 'I could easily fall in love with you'. It isn't easy to find a good copy of a single that old, but I managed it five years ago.

And then, here's the German version of that same song, in the same unscathed condition! In this case, the song is credited to 'Cliff Richard und die Shadows'. I can't find out whether this version was a hit in Germany, but I would assume it was. It is a great version.

My collection: 7" single no. 7534
Found: Record fair, Amsterdam, 19 January 2025
Tracks: 'Es war keine so wunderbar wie du' / 'Es könnte schon morgen sein'

Angie - Rolling Stones

As far as classics go, the Rolling Stones' 'Angie' qualifies as a real classic. Back in the Eighties, when I was listening to the Top 100 of all times on Veronica Radio, this song was in the top 10, and I think it should be there still if anyone compiles a list. Not because I am so Rolling Stones-minded - quite the contrary! - but it says something when a song like this appeals even to someone like me, who doesn't really like whatever this band did. (There are exceptions, of course, and they are all on this blog.)

'Angie' was also the hardest Rolling Stones single to find - because of its status as a classic. You have to get lucky and find a decent copy for a reasonable price. So last month, I was finally lucky. Sexy cover, too. Probably won't hold up on those prude American media.

My collection: 7" single no. 7533
Found: Record fair, Amsterdam, 19 January 2025
Tracks: 'Angie' / 'Silver train'

You can't get what you want (till you know what you want) - Joe Jackson

'You can't get what you want (till you know what you want)' is a single from Joe Jackson's 1984 album Body and Soul. It spent sixteen weeks on the US Billboard Hot 100 and was Jackson's second-highest charted song in America when it peaked at number 15 in June 1984. 

The track features a slap bass performance from Jackson's longtime bassist Graham Maby. Maby recalled, 'For 'You can't get what you want', Joe wanted me to slap. It was certainly not one of my strengths, but I think the track came out fine, and it was fun to play live.'

My collection: 7" single no. 7532
Found: Record fair, Amsterdam, 19 January 2025
Tracks: 'You can't get what you want (till you know what you want)' / 'Cha cha loco'

Rockin' Robin - Michael Jackson

'Rockin' Robin' was written by Leon René under the pseudonym Jimmie Thomas, and recorded by American singer Bobby Day in 1958. 

In 1972, Michael Jackson released his own version of the song, which was released as a single from his gold-certified solo album titled Got to be there as a follow-up single to the song of the same name. It was the biggest hit from the album, hitting number 2 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and number 3 on the UK singles chart. It was also Michael's second solo single, while he was still a member of the Jackson Five  too.

My collection: 7" single no. 7531
Found: Record fair, Amsterdam, 19 January 2025
Tracks: 'Rockin' Robin' / 'Love is here and now you're gone'