You are my world 87 - The Communards

I wrote about the Communards' 'You are my world' before (although Blogger seems to have deleted that post again in their random actions vandalism), but that was the original version from 1986 with which they made their debut.

In 1987, they re-released the track in a re-recorded version. This version did better than the original: while that one peaked at number 30 in the UK, this one peaked at number 21. And in the Netherlands, where the original didn't chart, it reached number 24. I bought the single to get my collection of Communards singles complete. Always a good feeling to be complete.

My collection: 7" single no. 3646

Found: Record fair, Utrecht, April 18, 2009

Cost: 0,8 euro

Tracks: 'You are my world 87' / 'Judgement day'

A little bit further away - Kokomo

The British funk band Kokomo formed in the Seventies. They released their debut album 'Kokomo' in 1975. The second album 'Rise & shine' appeared two years later and the third album, again titled 'Kokomo' came out in 1982. This album contained the hit single 'A little bit further away', a beautiful soul song with vocal harmonies and a very early Eighties soul music backing.

While not a big hit in the UK, it peaked at number 4 in the Netherlands. I got to know the song thanks to a compilation cd which I bought in the late Eighties. Now I've finally got the original single as well.

My collection: 7" single no. 3680

Found: La La Land, Den Haag, April 25, 2009

Cost: 1 euro

Tracks: 'A little bit further away' / 'Keep on dancin''

The ballroom blitz - The Sweet

'The Ballroom Blitz' was written by Nicky Chinn and Mike Chapman. It was released as a single in 1973, where it reached number 1 in Australia and entered at number 2 in the UK singles chart but failed to go to number one. The song reached number 5 in the United States and number 4 in the Netherlands.

The song itself was written about the Grand Hall of the Palace Theatre in Kilmarnock, Scotland, after the band was forced off stage by a barrage of bottles.

My collection: 7" single no. 3678

Found: La La Land, Den Haag, April 25, 2009

Cost: 1 euro

Tracks: 'The ballroom blitz' / 'Rock & Roll disgrace'

Belfast - Boney M

'Belfast' was originally written by Drafi Deutscher for Marcia Barrett while she was still performing as a solo artist in the early Seventies. Boney M performed the song live because they didn't have enough of their own material yet, and it proved to be an audience favourite. This gave producer Frank Farian the idea to record it anew.

However, because of the politically tinted lyrics ('when the hate you have for one another's past') he first recorded it with Gilla in German. It still appeared on Boney M's 1977 album 'Love for sale' and ended up being a single for them. It peaked at number 9 in the UK and number 3 in the Netherlands.

My collection: 7" single no. 3682

Found: La La Land, Den Haag, April 25, 2009

Cost: 1 euro

Tracks: 'Belfast' / 'Plantation boy'

I'm your man - Wham!

'I'm your man' was released in November 1985 after Wham!'s world tour, followed by a period of rest. The last people had seen of Wham! was during Live Aid in the Summer. Thus, the single was long-awaited. It was a number 1 in the UK and peaked at number 4 in the Netherlands.

Within a few months, Wham! announced their split. 'I'm your man' did not appear on any studio album, and so its only appearance on an album was on 'The final', the compilation album that was released in 1986 to commemorate the end of Wham!'s career. In 1995, Lisa Moorish covered the song.

My collection: 7" single no. 3684

Found: La La Land, Den Haag, April 25, 2009

Cost: 1 euro

Tracks: 'I'm your man' / 'Do it right (instrumental)'

Baby I love your way - Peter Frampton

'Baby I love your way' was written and performed by Peter Frampton and originally featured on his 1975 album 'Frampton'. A live version of the song was released in 1976 on his live album 'Frampton comes alive!'. In this version, the track peaked at number 12 in America and number 43 in the UK.

My collection: 7" single no. 3679

Found: La La Land, Den Haag, Apil 25, 2009

Cost: 1 euro

Tracks: 'Baby I love your way' / 'It's a plain shame'

Louise - The Human League

The third and last single from Human League's 1984 album 'Hysteria' was the melancholy 'Louise'. Writer of the song and frontman Phil Oakey points out that the story is actually about the original protagonists from 'Don’t you want me' meeting up four years later. In 'Louise' the man sees his lost love again and still cannot deal with reality. The anger that drove the earlier song has dissipated, and is replaced with a hopeful fantasy that his ex-lover is drawn to him all over again.

The single peaked at number 13 in the UK singles chart. I spotted this single the last time I went to La La Land, but didn't know whether I had it or not. I checked, and went back today to get it...

My collection: 7" single no. 3676

Found: La La Land, Den Haag, April 25, 2009

Cost: 1 euro

Tracks: 'Louise' / 'The sign'