Rise - PIL

'Rise' was written by John Lydon (a.k.a. Johnny Rotten) and Bill Laswell about apartheid in South Africa, specifically about Nelson Mandela as Lydon stated in a 2013 Glastonbury interview. Lydon also referred to alleged Royal Ulster Constabulary interrogation techniques, such as electric torture, in an MTV interview in 1987. The song contains the phrase 'may the road rise with you', which is a direct translation of the old Irish blessing "go n-éirí an bóthar leat" (usually translated as "may the road rise up to meet you"). The phrase "anger is an energy" became the title of Lydon's 2014 autobiography. 

It was one of the group's biggest commercial hits, peaking at number 11 on the UK Singles Chart. I remember being impressed with the song when it came out, but somehow I never bought the single. So finally, here it is, almost four decades later.

My collection: 7" single no. 7810
Found: Lenny's Music Store, Vienna, 17 October 2025
Tracks: 'Rise' / 'Rise (instrumental)' 

Jones the rhythm - Grace Jones

Perhaps it's no wonder that I bought this single because the sleeve is much more interesting than the 'Jones the rhythm' single I bought in 2009. The picture is a crop from the album which this track is traken from: Slave to the rhythm, the experimental remix album released in 1985, circling around 'Slave to the rhythm', Grace Jones's hit single from that year.

'Jones the rhythm' was not a charting success, having been somewhat overshadowed by the huge success of the lead single, and partially due to lack of promotion.  

My collection: 7" single no. 7809
Found: Lenny's Music Store, Vienna, 17 October 2025
Tracks: 'Jones the rhythm' / 'Junkyard' 

Master and servant - Depeche Mode

During the first few years of their career, Depeche Mode released many singles and the German record company released them on red vinyl for the first edition. I started buying them recently - 'Blasphemous rumours / Somebody' being the first one - and I was lucky enough to find another one in Vienna.

'Master and servant' is a rather blunt song that Depeche Mode would never play live again these days. In fact, a live album is released soon, and this track is missing once again. It's not a bad song, but I think Martin and Dave are a bit embarrassed by it now. Pretty red disc though.

My collection: 7" single no. 7808
Found: Lenny's Music Store, Vienna, 17 October 2025
Tracks: 'Master and servant' / '(Set me free) Remotivate me' 

Musik klingt in die Welt hinaus - Egon Egemann

Two singles by Egon Egemann made it into my collection until now: 'A song goes out around the world', featuring the English and German version and 'A song goes out around the world' with an instrumental version on the B-side. But the original version is of course this Swiss pressing, featuring 'Musik klingt in die Welt hinaus' on the A-side and the English version on the B-side.

The song was of course the Swiss entry of the Eurovision Song Contest in 1990. Egon Egemann made 11th place with it.

My collection: 7" single no. 7803
Found: Seven Star Records, Vienna, 14 October 2025
Tracks: 'Musik klingt in die Welt hinaus' / 'A song goes out around the world' 

Ant rap - Adam and the Ants

'Ant rap' was written by Adam Ant and Marco Pirroni, the song was remixed from the version on the group's 1981 album Prince Charming. It entered the UK Singles Chart in December 1981 at number 9 before rising to a peak position of number three. While widely panned by critics, it was one of the earliest rap singles to chart in the UK.

Ant boasts of his success and his ability to dance, and calls out the anarchists of the music scene, affirming he was never concerned with receiving their "credibility". The song ended up being the band's penultimate single; in 1982 they only released 'Deutscher Girls' from the Jubilee soundtrack.

My collection: 7" single no. 7801
Found: Seven Star Records, Vienna, 14 October 2025
Tracks: 'Ant rap' / 'Friends' 

Love is in the air (Ballroom mix) - John Paul Young

John Paul Young released 'Love is in the air' in 1978, and it became such a big hit that people still remembered it throughout the Eighties. Then in 1992, when the movie Strictly Ballroom was made, a new mix of the song was created just for the soundtrack. And thus the 'Ballroom mix' of this song came to be. This new version reached number 3 in the Australian singles chart. 

Apparently there was also a 12" single featuring an eight minute 'Strictly Dance Mix'. Maybe that's just a little bit too much. 

My collection: 7" single no. 7800
Found: Seven Star Records, Vienna, 14 October 2025
Tracks: 'Love is in the air (Ballroom mix)' (John Paul Young) / 'Scott & Fran's Paso Doble' (David Hirschfelder & The Bogo Pogo Orchestra) 

Liebe auf den ersten Blick - Münchener Freiheit

As shown on this sleeve, 'Liebe auf den ersten Blick' was the title song of the TV show of the same name. The song was the last big hit for the German band Münchener Freiheit in 1992, after they had international success during most of the Eighties. It reached number 16 in the German singles chart and number 31 in Switzerland.

The band still exists, in a different lineup, and is currently touring Germany. 

My collection: 7" single no. 7799
Found: Seven Star Records, Vienna, 14 October 2025
Tracks: 'Liebe auf den ersten Blick' / 'Lass mir den Traum'