'Automatic' was released in 1984 and became a worldwide top 10 hit, peaking at number 5 in the USA, number 2 in the UK and number 6 in the Netherlands.The song became one of the Pointers' signature tunes and was the first of four consecutive top ten singles from their album 'Break Out', which was award multi platinum discs.
Released as the third single from A-ha's most recent album 'Analogue', 'Cosy prisons' was only available in the UK. The single was released in two formats: a cd-single and a picture disc 7" single. Both formats carried a track from a Ken Bruce Session, previously broadcast on BBC Radio 2. Whereas the cd-single contained 'The sun always shines on TV', the 7" picture disc contained 'Stay on these roads'.
James Taylor was born on March 12, 1948 in Boston, Massachusetts (USA). At the age of eighteen he became involved in the music business. Six years later, in 1972, he married Carly Simon. By that time, both were successful singer/songwriters. In 1981, James Taylor released his eleventh album, 'Dad loves his work'.
'That certain smile' was the second single to be taken from Midge Ure's debut solo album 'The gift'. It was preceded by the number one hit 'If I was'. By comparison, the second single did worse, only peaking at number 28 in November of 1985.
Leon Haywood was born on February 11, 1942 in Houston, Texas (USA). He launched his career in America as a conventional entertainer, scoring over 20 hit singles on the US R&B chart since 1965.
'Sanctuary' is, in my opinion, one of the best synthpop songs ever. Created by New Musik, it fitted perfectly in the sound they had created for themselves. It was the second single to be taken from their album 'From A to B', and the last single to reach the UK singles chart. Just like 'This world of water' a few months earlier, it reached number 31.
The Immaculate fools formed in 1984 in Kent, England by two sets of brothers: Kevin and Paul Weatherill and Andy and Peter Ross. Their self-titled debut single was released in January 1985 and reached number 51 in the UK singles chart. It would end up being their only chart success, as further singles failed to make any commercial impact in the UK.
Gina G was born as Gina Mary Gardiner on August 3, 1970 in Brisbane, Australia. In 1996 she was chosen by producer Jonathan King to represent the UK in the 1996 Eurovision Song Contest. It was the UK's most successful Eurovision entry - at least in the UK singles chart: it went to number one in the week of the Contest. Unfortunately, the song only came eighth in the Contest itself, which was mainly down to her singing off-key during her performance.
Al Jarreau was born on March 12, 1940 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin (USA). In the late Sixties he made a name for himself in the jazz circuit. In 1975, Jarreau was working with pianist Tom Canning when he was spotted by a representative of Warner Bros. Records. His debut album was soon released. 'We got by' gave him international fame.
I think everyone who grew up in or around the Seventies remembers their first cassettes. I got a tape recorder in 1980 and spent hours on end filling tapes with the music I heard on the radio. So in 1981 I recorded an instrumental track from a Belgian radio station, without actually hearing a title or artist. Instrumental tracks can be very hard to identify. And so it took me years to find out that this particular track was Jean Michel Jarre's 'Magnetic Fields part 2'. It was a minor hit in the Netherlands for Jarre, reaching number 34 in the Dutch Top 40.
The first single by Mo I ever bought was this one, the ballad 'Old friend' taken from their second album 'Ha Ha! The sound of laughing'. Contrary to most of their singles, this one was a ballad. The single version lasted three minutes and was one minute shorter than the album version, in an attempt to make it radiofriendly. Despite this, 'Old friend' didn't make the Dutch Top 40.
UK released two singles from their 1979 album 'Danger Money': 'Rendezvous 6:02' and 'Nothing to lose'. Funnily enough, 'Rendezvous' was a only a hit in the Netherlands, whereas 'Nothing to lose' could only reach the UK singles chart. It peaked at number 67 in the Summer of 1979. A live album, 'Night after night', was recorded in Japan in 1979 and released in September. Following a final European tour in December 1979, and in spite of plans to record a new studio album in America in March 1980, UK disbanded.
I remember seeing the video for 'Into the fire' on MTV in 1992 and thinking that it was a rather boring video. It spoiled any chance of me buying the single. Then a couple of years later I got into the album 'Fumbling towards ecstacy' by Sarah McLachlan, and discovered that she was actually a really great singer/songwriter. I bought the vinyl single as soon as I got a chance after that. It completed my Sarah McLachlan-collection, because as far as I know there are no further 7" singles by her besides this one and 'Vox'.
Scritti Politti's main member Green Gartside moved to New York in 1983 to begin working on what was to become his band's signature sound.
In 1983, Kim Wilde reinvented herself as a 'Love blonde'. It was the title of her new single, the first to be taken from her third album 'Catch as catch can'. For the first time, I bought a Kim Wilde single while it was still in the charts. I was actually starting to collect her singles, although at that point I don't think I actually realised it.
Altered Images released their second album 'Pinky blue' after a successful headlining tour, in 1982. The album provided them with two top 20 hits in the UK: 'See those eyes' and 'I could be happy'. Since the band were going down a pop path, many critics who supported them before started to turn sour.
'Ace of spades' is a loud, proud and obnoxious song by the metal band Motörhead. It is universally regarded as their main anthem. For the lyrics, lead singer Lemmy said he 'used gambling metaphors, mostly cards and dice - when it comes to that sort of thing, I'm more into the one-arm bandits actually, but you can't really sing about spinning fruit, and the wheels coming down'. In March 2005, Q Magazine placed it at number 27 in its list of the 100 greatest guitar tracks, stating 'This song has an intro which wouldn't be out of place ushering in the end of the world'.
In September 1976, John Wetton, Bill Bruford, Eddie Jobson and Allan Holdsworth formed the band UK. They released a self-titled debut album in 1978 and went on a lengthy tour of America. Holdsworth and Bruford left the band, claiming musical differences as the reason. Terry Bozzio joined the band, and as a result the band became a trio, playing keyboards, bass and drums, supplemented by the violin played by Jobson. They recorded the album 'Danger Money', which was released in March 1979.
After spending a decade in the band Japan, David Sylvian released his debut solo album 'Brilliant trees' in 1984. The album was split in two parts: the more accessible tracks were on side A of the album, whereas the more experimental work was grouped together on side B. The biggest hit from this album was 'Red guitar', which reached number 17 in the UK singles chart in the Summer of 1984.
The Waterboys released 'The whole of the moon' in November 1985. It reached number 28 on the UK singles chart. It only reached number three in the chart after it was re-released in 1990.
Gavin and Iain Sutherland formed originally in London in 1970, but they only found success when they fused together with another band, Quiver, that they started to enjoy chart success. Quiver consisted of Tim Renwick, Bruce Thomas and Willie Wilson. When they released 'Arms of Mary' in the Summer of 1976, they enjoyed a number 5 hit in the UK and a number 1 hit in the Netherlands. They were just enjoying this success when the punk music explosion happened. They ended up being ousted from their residency at London's Marquee Club to make way for bands like the Damned and X-Ray Spex. By the end of the Seventies, the band split up.
Missing Persons was founded by Warren Cuccurullo, Dale Bozzio and Terry Bozzio. They recruited Patrick O'Hearn and Chuck Wild. After releasing an EP and a debut album, the album 'Rhyme & Reason' came out in 1984. After the success of their debut album, this album sold less well.
'Sol' was the second single released by the instrumental synthpop band Nova. Expectations were high, since 'Aurora' made number one in the Dutch Top 40. By comparison, 'Sol' did less well, but it still made a very respectable number 20 in the summer of 1982.
Besides the Swedish group Gemini, there is also a Belgian one. A quite different one, too. It is obvious from this sleeve, but when you listen to the music, you notice another difference: this is not serious pop music, but a track styled after other novelty records like 'Je t'aime... moi non plus' by Jane Birkin and Serge Gainsbourg. In other words: lots of groaning and moaning.
Gemini consists of Karin and Anders Glenmark. They debuted in 1985 with a self-titled album, which included their only international hit, 'Just like that'. 'Have mercy' was the follow-up single in Europe, but it flopped. Just like all the other songs on their debut album, 'Have mercy' was written by Benny Andersson and Bjorn Ulvaeus, from Abba. Which just goes to show that even that didn't guarantee success in the eighties.
After 'Aurora' and 'Sol' had become chart hits, CNR Records released a third single from Nova's debut album 'Terranova', 'La luna'. Despite the fact that it was another beautiful instrumental synthpop tune, the audience had had enough: the single didn't chart at all.
'Clean clean' is the third single to be taken from the Buggles debut album 'The age of plastic'. Backed by the non-album track 'Technopop', the single reached number 38 in the UK singles chart, but fared less well in other territories.
The Spanish group Bravo consisted of Amaya Saizar, Luis Villar, Yolanda Hoyos and Esteban Santas. They represented Spain in the 1984 Eurovision Song Contest, held in Luxemburg. Their song 'Lady Lady' finished third in the contest, behind the Swedish winners The Herrey's ('Diggi loo diggi ley') and Linda Martin from Ireland ('Terminal 3').
Producer and composer Hans van Hemert brought together Anna Dekkers (a.k.a. Dee Dee), René van der Wel, Suzanne Venneker and Jos Groothuizen to form Vulcano. They debuted in 1981 with this single 'Shut up and boogie'. The B-side, an instrumental version, is aptly titled 'Shut up'. It was a nice disco track, but it didn't reach the Dutch Top 40.
'Change your mind' by Bill Sharpe and Gary Numan was one of my favourite tracks of the year 1985. When I had the opportunity to buy Bill Sharpe's album 'Famous people' on cd at a discount price a few years later, I got to know many more great tracks. The instrumental track 'Peace' for instance, and the title track, which was apparently released as a single as well.
The Dutch instrumental synthpop band Nova was founded in 1982 by Rob Papen, Ruud van Es and Peter Kommers. They started out as Peru (The first two letters of the names of original band members Peter Kommers and Ruud van Es) but decided to also start Nova as the commercial side of their music projects.
Dutch singer Gerard Joling debuted in 1985 as a contestant of the Soundmix show on television, singing 'Crying' from Don McLean. A few number one hits in the Netherlands followed, and so it came to pass that he was asked to represent the country during the 1988 edition of the Eurovision Song Contest. One of the factors that caused this was his distinctive high voice. The song included a high note at the end of the track, which many felt would stun the international juries and make them vote for the Netherlands.
After his Europe-wide success with 'Moviestar', Swedish singer followed this single up with 'Motorcycle mama' in Decembe 1975. It didn't reach the Dutch Top 40, and for a year, Harpo went silent. He came back in January 1977 with 'Rock 'n' Roll clown', which showed signs of it being a novelty song, with its 'Hee haw haw' chorus.
It should come as no surprise, that writing about my record collection makes me realise that there are still holes in that collection. Having written several articles about Peter Godwin, I knew that the single 'Window shopping' was still missing. So I was very glad to find that single yesterday.
Gisela Wuchinger was born on February 7, 1950 in Austria. She was discovered by German producer Frank Farian in 1974. He signed her to Hansa Records and gave her the stage name Gilla. After an unsuccessful German cover version of an Italian song, Farian had her record a German disco version of 'Lady Marmalade'. Still singing in German, she caused some commotion for singing explicit lyrics: 'Willst du mit mir schlafen gehn?' was a direct translation of the song's famous line 'Voulez vous coucher avec moi'.
Flash and the Pan was an Australian new wave band, formed in the late Seventies by Harry Vanda and George Young. They had several hits in Europe, although in the UK they only had a minor hit with 'And the band played on (Down among the dead men)' in 1978 and a top 10 hit with 'Waiting for a train' in 1983.
There's always a tingle of excitement when I spot a version of Gershon Kingsley's 'Popcorn' that I don't have yet. My most recent tingle came about when I saw this single by Fresh Cream. Apparently, it's a French group, which released one album of classical melodies played on the Moog synthesizer, and this single, released in various countries in 1972, when a lot of other versions of this instrumental favourite came out. The Japanese version portrays a topless woman throwing popcorn in the air. By comparison, this is a rather dull sleeve.
For the last few years, I have wanted to buy a complete compilation album by Foreigner. And by complete, I mean that it should contain all their hit singles. One of those hits - at least, in the Netherlands - was 'Love on the telephone'. It reached number 34 in the Dutch Top 40 in March 1980. Yet it's absent from every Foreigner compilation I have seen so far.
The album 'Red hot and blue' was released in 1990 by the Red Hot Organization. Twenty artists contributed twenty songs for an album that would raise funds and awareness for HIV and AIDS. The album was named after a 1936 musical by Cole Porter, and contained versions of songs written by him.
There is no way of knowing, but I always imagine that Talk Talk fans in other countries were quite envious of this single release. Dutch broadcaster Veronica organised an annual Rock Night, which in 1984 took place in Ahoy, Rotterdam on September 21. One of the acts performing was Talk Talk. Their live version of 'Tomorrow started' got so much attention that record company EMI released the track as a single in the Netherlands. Only to find that it didn't reach the Dutch Top 40 after all. 
As written earlier, 'When love breaks down' was released four times by CBS Records before it finally reached the UK Singles chart in November 1985. This is one of those attempts, with a different sleeve than the other releases. The B-side featured the track 'The yearning loins', whereas other releases feature the track 'Diana' on the B-side.
When Matia Bazar released their eighth album 'Tango' in 1983, the group consisted of Antonella Ruggiero, Aldo Stellita, Carlo Marrale and Mauro Sabbione. 'Vacanze Romane' was a very melodic song, synthbased and elegant. It barely missed the Dutch Top 40. I noticed the song immediately, but it would take me six years to finally buy the single.
Lisa Stansfield recorded 'Someday (I'm coming back)' for the soundtrack of 'The Bodyguard', the 1992 movie starring Whitney Houston and Kevin Costner. Stansfield had just had a very successful year with her album 'Real love' reaching number 3 in the UK albums chart and top 10 in several other countries. The album spawned four hit singles, and when this one was released as a single, it went to number 10 in the UK singles chart.
Hot Butter was an instrumental cover band consisting of Stan Free, Dave Mullaney, John Abbott, Bill Jerome, Steve Jerome and Danny Jordan. Their version of Gershon Kingsley's composition 'Popcorn' is one of the best known versions of the wave of versions that were released in 1972. Sales in the UK exceeded a quarter of a million, and worldwide Hot Butter sold two million copies of this single.
Evangelos Odysseas Papathanassiou was born near Volos, Greece on March 29, 1943. He became a composer of electronic music under the artist name Vangelis in the Sixties. In 1968, he founded Aphrodite's Child with that other famous Greek, Demis Roussos. Their first single became their biggest hit: 'Rain and tears'.
Frazier Chorus were an unconventional band, as they didn't have a drummer, guitarist and bassist. Tim Freeman, who wrote most of the songs, semi-whispered the vocals, Kate Holmes played the flute, Chris Taplin played clarinet and keyboards and Michele Allardyce played the bongos. Still, they made very danceable music, as evidenced in this single, 'Dream kitchen', released in the first week of 1989.
'Hello students'... So begins one of the most hilarious videos of 1984 (see it here). Actor Mark Metcalf, best known as the sadistic Neidermeyer from the movie 'Animal house', portrays a teacher who attacks a student for drawing the Twisted Sister logo on his textbook. A version of this song appeared in the Spongebob Squarepants Movie in 2006. It was actually one of the less amusing part of that movie, but it was nice to recognise a familiar song nonetheless.
Silent Eruption was formed in 1974 in Britain. The members were lead singer Leslie Johnson, Greg Perrineau, Morgan Perrineau, Gerry Williams and Eric Kingsley. In 1975 they won the RCA Soul Search contest. A year later, their debut single 'Let me take you back in time' was released. The lack of success disappointed Johnson, so she left the band and backing singer Precious Wilson stepped in to replace her. During a tour in Germany they got noticed by producer Frank Farian, who signed them to Hansa Records, and gave them a support slot during Boney M's tour. After a minor hit single with 'Party party', they released 'I can't stand the rain' in December 1977. It became a big hit, reaching number 5 in the UK and the Netherlands and even making number 18 in the US Billboard Hot 100.
'Amsterdamned' is the name of a thriller movie produced in the Netherlands in 1988. Two bands were asked to deliver a song for the soundtrack of the movie: the famous rock group Golden Earring and the relatively unknown group Lois Lane. Surprisingly, the latter were asked to sing the title song. 'Amsterdamned' was released in April 1988 and peaked at number 33 in the Dutch Top 40. It was the first success for Lois Lane. From then on, they would have more hit singles.
The Motors were formed in London in 1977 by Nick Garvey, Andy McMaster, Rob Hendry (quickly replaced by Bram Tchaikovsky) and Ricky Slaughter. Their third album, 'Tenement steps' was released in 1980. The title track was released as a single, and was often played on Dutch radio at the time. It didn't become a hit.
