Voulez-vous - Abba

If you're confused about this sleeve, then I can help you. It is indeed the photograph that was used for the single 'Does your mother know', but it features 'Voulez-vous' on the A-side, and 'Kisses of fire' on the B-side - originally the B-side of 'Does your mother know' (and a track from the album Voulez-vous). 

Why did the Japanese choose to replace the track 'Does your mother know' on this single? I don't know. I do know that it's this kind of variation that I really like. And it's a nice addition to my subcollection of Japanese Abba singles of course.

My collection: 7" single no. 7774
Found: Discogs.com, received 6 October 2025
Tracks: 'Voulez-vous' / 'Kisses of fire' 

Flowers - Zaine Griff

‘Flowers’ is a song written by Zaine Griff. It was released on Zaine Griff’s second album Figures (1982). The lyrics explicitly refer to the theatre play Flowers, written by Jean Genet and is meant to be a tribute to his old mime and movement teacher, Lindsay Kemp, who produced the play during the Seventies. Zaine asked Kate Bush to sing backing vocals on this song, and she did.

Quite why I never managed to buy this single before has to have something to do with the price of it. I can't recall that I ever saw it for a low price anywhere, but when I thought of this single recently, there it was, for just a few quid. Of course I had to have it. 

My collection: 7" single no. 7773
Found: Discogs.com, received 6 October 2025
Tracks: 'Flowers' / 'Turn out the light'

Don't take my mind on a trip - Boy George

Some years ago I bought the 3" cd-single (yes, that's also a collection I have) of Boy George's 'Don't take my mind on a trip'. I didn't know the song at the time, but it came with a rather good cover version of 'What becomes of the broken hearted'. I didn't give it a second thought for some time, but then I bumped into this 7" single. It was interesting (and cheap) enough for me to want to take it home.

The single wasn't very successful, peaking as it did on number 68 in the UK singles chart. But the two tracks on this disc are varied: the A-side sounds like a Teddy Riley or Jam & Lewis production (it was produced by Gene Griffin, but actually arranged by Teddy Riley) and the B-side sounds like a Stock, Aitken & Waterman (in their good days) production (it was producted by Vlad Naslas). 

My collection: 7" single no. 7772
Found: Record fair, Rijswijk, 5 October 2025
Tracks: 'Don't take my mind on a trip' / 'Girlfriend' 

In all honesty - Breathe

Obviously I'm familiar with the band Breathe, because I have quite a few of their singles. But I never saw this one before, and I had a little trouble finding out where this one belongs in their discography. As it turns out, this was their second single release, before the original release of 'Don't tell me lies', back in 1986. 

Unlike that song, 'In all honesty' did not end up on the band's debut album All that jazz. Actually, that album is going to be re-released by Cherry Red in December this year in a deluxe 2cd edition, which adds the two tracks on this single.

My collection: 7" single no. 7771
Found: Record fair, Rijswijk, 5 October 2025
Tracks: 'In all honesty' / 'Take a little time' 

I don't believe in miracles - Colin Blunstone

'I don't believe in miracles' was recorded by Colin Blunstone for his 1972 album Ennismore. In October of that year the song was released as the album's lead single. The single reached number 31 in the UK singles chart, but failed to chart in other territories. Somehow it became a minor classic, because artists like Barbara Dickson and Judie Tzuke recorded their own versions of the song. Rumour has it that Kim Wilde also recorded the song, but her version is languishing in an archive somewhere.

When I saw this single I was curious enough to buy it, even though I'm not familiar with the song. I have to say it's nice.

My collection: 7" single no. 7770
Found: Record fair, Rijswijk, 5 October 2025
Tracks: 'I don't believe in miracles' / 'I've always had you'

Thunderball - Tom Jones

Theme song for the fourth James Bond movie Thunderball was called, surprisingly, 'Thunderball'. The song was recorded by Tom Jones, whose biggest claim to fame was the hit single 'It's not unusual' at the start of 1965. 

Composer John Barry teamed up with lyricist Don Black and wrote the song. Tom Jones allegedly fainted in the recording booth after singing the song's final, high note. Jones said of the final note, "I closed my eyes and I held the note for so long when I opened my eyes the room was spinning." The single reached number 35 in the UK singles chart and didn't become as famous as, for instance 'Goldfinger' by Shirley Bassey. Still, it's a rather impressive vocal effort.

My collection: 7" single no. 7769
Found: Record fair, Rijswijk, 5 October 2025
Tracks: 'Thunderball' / 'Key to my heart' 

Never can say goodbye - The Jackson 5

Most people will remember 'Never can say goodbye' in the version by Gloria Gaynor, or, more recently, the Communards. But originally it was recorded by the Jackson 5 in 1971. The song was originally written and intended for the Supremes; however, Motown decided it would be better for the Jackson 5. 

The song features a young Michael Jackson singing a serious song about love, with accompaniment from his brothers. The single reached number 2 in the US Billboard Hot 100 chart and number 33 in the UK singles chart. Oddly enough, it didn't chart in the Netherlands at all, although this is actually a Dutch pressing.

My collection: 7" single no. 7768
Found: Record fair, Rijswijk, 5 October 2025
Tracks: 'Never can say goodbye' / 'She's good'