Mama's pearl - The Jackson 5

'Mama's pearl' was a hit recording for The Jackson 5 in 1971 and was written by The Corporation, a songwriting team that had helped the group score four consecutive number 1 singles. The song, while sung mostly by Michael featured cameo spots from brothers Jermaine and Jackie. According to a Jackson biographer, it was originally called 'Guess who's making whoopie (with your girlfriend)'. Producer Deke Richards reportedly had the lyrics and title changed to preserve Michael Jackson's youthful, innocent image. 

The single reached number 2 in the US Billboard Hot 100 and number 25 in the UK singles chart, whereas it didn't chart in Europe.

My collection: 7" single no. 7562
Found: Record fair, Amsterdam, 19 January 2025 
Tracks: 'Mama's pearl' / 'Darling dear'

Pictures of matchstick men - Status Quo

Although I already had 'Pictures of matchstick men' in my collection, it was an unsightly 'old gold' release, without a picture sleeve. Fortunately I now own an original release of that song, courtesy of a seller who didn't charge a ridiculous price for it.

According to Francis Rossi, who wrote the song: 'I wrote it on the bog. I'd gone there, not for the usual reasons... but to get away from the wife and mother-in-law. I used to go into this narrow frizzing toilet and sit there for hours, until they finally went out. I got three quarters of the song finished in that khazi. The rest I finished in the lounge.' So basically we know where the song was written, but not what it's about.

My collection: 7" single no. 7564
Found: Record fair, Amsterdam, 19 January 2025
Tracks: 'Pictures of matchstick men' / 'Gentleman Jim's sidewalk cafe'

As tears go by - Marianne Faithfull

Marianne Faithfull passed away recently, on 30 January. I bought her debut single just 11 days earlier and I really wanted to post this single earlier but I just didn't have the time. So here it is, still: quite a bit of history in this 61 year old disc. The song was written by Mick Jagger, Keith Richards and Rolling Stones' manager Andrew Loog Oldham. Marianne Faithfull recorded and released it as a single in the United Kingdom in 1964. Her song peaked at number 9 on both the UK and Irish singles charts. 

It was actually Marianne's re-recording from 1987 which made me quite fond of the song. It adds a layer of nostalgia which is abent on this early recording. Marianne actually said it herself: "Forty is the age to sing it, not seventeen".

My collection: 7" single no. 7566
Found: Record fair, Amsterdam, 19 January 2025
Tracks: 'As tears go by' / 'Greensleeves'

Pop life - Prince and the Revolution

Although Prince was at the top of his game in the mid-Eighties, some singles were simply not released in the Netherlands and so we missed out on a few good songs. One of those songs was 'Pop life', which got its release in the UK after 'Raspberry beret' and before 'Kiss'. 

The single wasn't very successful: it only reached number 60 in the UK and spent two weeks in the chart. Which probably explains why the record company didn't bother releasing it in other territories. 

My collection: 7" single no. 7560
Found: Record fair, Amsterdam, 19 January 2025
Tracks: 'Pop life' / 'Girl'

Wherever I lay my hat - Paul Young

I've never had any burning desire to buy every Paul Young single that exists, but there are sometimes curiosities that I can't resist. This is the American promotional single for 'Wherever I lay my hat', the first single Paul had any solo success with, and it features an edit of the song.

The edit appears on both sides, which isn't a rare thing for American promotional singles. I guess in America DJ's were prone to play the B-side more often, which makes this a rather convenient disc for them.

My collection: 7" single no. 7559
Found: Record fair, Amsterdam, 19 January 2025
Tracks: 'Wherever I lay my hat (edit)' / 'Wherever I lay my hat (edit)'

Look out any window - Bruce Hornsby & the Range

Although I haven't really delved into the repertoire of the man, I think Bruce Hornsby plays a mean piano solo. Having played the instrument myself, I know how hard it out to get those sounds out of it, but that it someone who seems to do it effortlessly.

That was one reason to buy this single without ever having heard the song. The other reason was the state of it: it looks like it was released yesterday, even if the sticker mentions the actual release date: 8 August 1988. Yes, this is a promotional copy, and that's a bit of a bonus. The track really doesn't disappoint. I'm going to play this single more than once.

My collection: 7" single no. 7558
Found: Record fair, Amsterdam, 19 January 2025
Tracks: 'Look out any window' / 'On the Western skyline (live)'

Rage hard (Stamped) - Frankie goes to Hollywood

Although I have a lot of Eighties singles and I consider myself to be quite well informed about the pop music of the Eighties, still I sometimes get surprised. I bought this single by Frankie goes to Hollywood because the sleeve was different to the one I have; it made me curious because the sleeve mentions "(stamped)" under the title. And indeed, it is a different version of the song. 

Apparently, this single was released after 'Rage hard' entered the UK singles chart at number 6. Releasing a different version was probably a way to try and keep the single longer in the charts, and maybe get it higher up. The ploy worked partly, because the peak position ended up being number 4, but it only stayed in the chart for 7 weeks.

My collection: 7" single no. 7557
Found: Record fair, Amsterdam, 19 January 2025
Tracks: 'Rage hard (Stamped)' / '(Don't lose what's left) Of your little mind'