Unconditional love - Susanna Hoffs

Susanna Hoffs followed up her debut solo single 'My side of the bed' with another track from her album 'When you're a boy': 'Unconditional love'. The song was written by Kelly, Steinberg and Cyndi Lauper. The single did not chart in America and the Netherlands, and in the UK it peaked at number 65. I guess that means it wasn't a hit anywhere then.

In the UK the single was also released as a picture disc, just like its predecessor. I found it in 1996 together with the other one, so buying the two of them was a logical decision. The B-side of the regular single and the picture disc single is the non-album track 'Circus girl'.

My collection: 7" single no. 1446 / 7" single no. 2669

Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, June 15, 1991 / Record fair, Leeds, June 30, 1996

Cost: 3,5 guilders / 1 pound

Tracks: 'Unconditional love' / 'Circus girl'

Download: here

Knock on wood - Amii Stewart

Disco queen Amii Stewart tried her hand at two cover versions in 1979 and it did her career some good. 'Knock on wood' was originally performed by Eddie Floyd in 1966. It was covered by many artists, but Amii's version reached number 1 in the American chart, making it the most well-known version of that song.

The same cannot be said for 'Light my fire', originally performed by the Doors. The original will always be the most fondly remembered, but Amii did a good danceable version of it in 1979. It reached number 5 in the UK singles chart and number 7 in the Dutch Top 40.

My collection: 7" single no. 1662

Found: Record fair, June 13, 1992

Cost: 2 guilders

Tracks: 'Knock on wood' / 'Light my fire'

Smooth operator - Sade

Attentive readers of this blog will have noticed that Sade's first 12" single 'Your love is king' already contained an extended version of 'Smooth operator'. Still, 'Smooth operator' was released as her third single in 1984, and it contained another version of the track. This time it was extended with another instrumental track, 'Red eye'. This 12" version was also the music for an extended music video, which was played on television every now and again.

The B-side of this 12" single is the song 'Spirit', which again was never released on cd. There is a rumour going round that Sade will release a new cd this year. Well, here's hoping...

My collection: 12" single no. 25

Found: Free Record Shop, Den Haag, 1985

Cost: 10 guilders

Tracks: 'Smooth operator', 'Red Eye' / 'Spirit'

Shattered dreams - Johnny hates Jazz

After signing to Virgin records, 'Shattered dreams' was the first single from Johnny hates Jazz for their new record company. Released in April 1987 it was their first and biggest hit, reaching number 5 in the UK. In the Netherlands, it peaked at number 30 in the Dutch Top 40. The single preceded their debut album, which hit number 1 in the UK albums chart.

Things had taken off for Johnny hates Jazz in a big way, but there was more to come. I would buy all their singles - but only years afterwards. Just like this one.

My collection: 7" single no. 1577

Found: All that music, Leiden, January 25, 1992

Cost: 3 guilders

Tracks: 'Shattered dreams' / 'My secret garden'

Download: here

Nothing to fear - Chris Rea

I don't know for sure, but this might well be the longest single ever released. Chris Rea's 'Nothing to fear' clocks in at 9 minutes and 10 seconds: truly an epic song. It's this length that piqued my interest when I came across this single during a week in London in 1992. I listened to it on a listening post, and decided I liked it enough to buy it.

I'm glad I did: it's probably the best song of Chris Rea's career. Taken from his 1992 album 'God's great banana skin', it reached number 16 in the UK singles chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 1737

Found: Virgin Megastore, October 17, 1992

Cost: 2 pounds

Tracks: 'Nothing to fear' / 'Nothing to fear (edit)', 'Strange dance'

The edge of heaven - Wham

'The edge of heaven' was Wham's last single. It was released in the spring of 1986, after George Michael and Andrew Ridgely announced their breakup. The single preceded a historic farewell concert at Wembley Stadium in London on June 28, 1986.

The single reached number 1 in the UK and the Netherlands that summer. It was sold as a double single including four tracks. One of them was 'Where did your heart go', which was also released separately as a single in some territories. The song, originally recorded by art-rock ensemble Was (Not Was), was a downbeat and sombre affair that would fit seamlessly onto George Michael's later solo albums.

The band had been together five years, selling close to 20 million albums and 10 to 15 million singles.

My collection: 7" single no. 483

Found: Free Record Shop, Den Haag, 1986

Cost: 6,5 guilders

Tracks: 'The edge of heaven' / 'Battlestations' // 'Wham Rap '86' / 'Where did your heart go?'

If you don't love me - Prefab Sprout

In 1992, Prefab Sprout released their greatest hits album 'A life of surprises'. The album reached number 3 on the UK albums chart. It was a chance for me to get my favourite tracks 'When love breaks down', 'Appetite' and 'Johnny Johnny' on cd. And as has happened to me before: once I started playing the cd a lot, I started looking for more singles.

During a visit to London, I came across this single, 'If you don't love me', one of the nicest tracks from the compilatoin cd. I was very happy to see that a remixed version appeared on the B-side. It didn't take me long to make the decision to buy this single.

My collection: 7" single no. 1756

Found: Tower Records, London, October 19, 1992

Cost: 2 pounds

Tracks: 'If you don't love me' / 'If you don't love me (String driven thing)'

Becoming more like Alfie - The Divine Comedy

After the chart success of 'Something for the weekend', the Divine Comedy released the second single from their album 'Casanova', 'Becoming more like Alfie'. It peaked at number 27 in the UK singles chart, which meant that it did slightly worse than its predecessor.

The B-side, 'Your daddy's car' is another album track, but performed live on BBC Radio 1's Mark Radcliffe Show on April 29, 1996.

My collection: 7" single no. 3140
Found: Setanta mailorder, 1999
Cost: 4 pounds
Tracks: 'Becoming more like Alfie' / 'Your daddy's car'

Real men - Joe Jackson

Joe Jackson was born as David Ian Jackson on August 11, 1954 in Burton upon Trent, England. He started off learning to play the violin but soon switched to piano. When he was sixteen he started playing in bars, and eventually won a scholarship to study musical composition at London's Royal Academy of Music. Jackson did not like the prospect of being a classical composer, and moved towards pop and rock instead.

Starting his career in the late Seventies, he had some early hits in the UK with 'It's different for girls' and 'Is she really going out with him?'. His first big hit in the Netherlands was 'Real men', taken from the 1982 album 'Night and day'. The album paid tribute to the wit and style of Cole Porter (and indirectly to New York City). 'Real men' pointed obliquely to the city's early Eighties gay culture.

My collection: 7" single no. 142

Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, 1982

Cost: 3,5 guilders

Tracks: 'Real men' / 'Chinatown'

Download: Album 'Night and day', including both tracks

Spacer - Sheila B. Devotion

Sheila was born as Annie Chancel on August 16, 1945 in Créteil, France. She started her musical career in 1962. She had numerous hits in France during the Sixties, Seventies and Eighties. One of her biggest hits was 'Spacer' (1979). The song was taken from her album 'King of the world', which was produced by Nile Rodgers and Bernard Edwards of Chic fame.

The song was sampled by the Swedish pop group Alcazar for their track 'Crying at the discotheque' in 2000. Of course I prefer the original.

My collection: 7" single no. 3298

Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, February 24, 2001

Cost: 1 guilder

Tracks: 'Spacer' / 'Don't go'

I believe in you - Talk Talk

Out of all the Talk Talk 7" singles I have, this is probably the rarest one. It showed up in my record shop and I bought without hesitation. 'I believe in you' was already out for a few weeks, and spotting this promotional single with twice the edit of the song on it, I had to have it. This edit wasn't released on cd at the time, so I even wrote down which side of the disc I played, so I could preserve the other side for later. Fortunately, the edit was released on cd in 1997.

Taken from the excellent album 'Spirit of Eden', 'I believe in you' is apparently an 'anti-heroin song'. When asked whether the lyrics are based on personal experience, Mark Hollis replied, 'No, not at all. But, you know, I met people who got totally fucked up on it. Within rock music there's so much fucking glorification of it, and it is a wicked, horrible thing.'

My collection: 7" single no. 659
Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, October 1, 1988
Cost: 3,5 guilders
Tracks: 'I believe in you (edit)' / 'I believe in you (edit)'

What becomes of the broken hearted - Dave Stewart featuring Colin Blunstone

Dave Stewart (not to be confused with David A. Stewart of Eurythmics fame) was born as David Lloyd Stewart on December 30, 1950 in London. As a musician he has worked in various progressive rock bands like Uriel, Egg, Gong, National Health and others. In 1981 he recorded a solo single with vocals by Colin Blunstone. It peaked at number 13 in the UK singles chart and number 22 in the Dutch Top 40.

'What becomes of the broken hearted' was originally a hit for Jimmy Ruffin in 1966. I didn't know the original song when I first heard this in 1981. I thought it was a great electronic composition!

My collection: 7" single no. 360
Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, 1985
Cost: 1 guilder
Tracks: 'What becomes of the broken hearted' / 'There is no reward'

Embarrassment - Madness

'Embarrassment' was Madness' sixth single and lyrically one of their darkest tracks up to that point. Primarily written by Lee Thompson, the song reflected the unfolding turmoil following the news that his teenage sister, Tracy Thompson, had become pregnant and was carrying a black man's child. The song describes the following rejection by her family, and the shame felt.

The song is a clear indication of changing times and attitudes as time goes on. The real life story had a happy ending, however; Thompson later stated that when the child, named Hayley, was born, the antipathy of Tracy's relatives dissolved.

My collection: 7" single no. 1796
Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, December 4, 1992
Cost: 1 guilder
Tracks: 'Embarrassment' / 'Crying shame'

Under stjernerne på himlen - Tommy Seebach Band

Tommy Seebach had represented Denmark in the Eurovision Song Contest on two previous occasions. In 1979, he did it for the first time with the song 'Disco tango', which ended up on 6th place. 1981, he took Denmark to 11th place with the song 'Krøller eller ej'. He participated in a number of national finals since then, without winning the competition. Finally, in 1993 he got another chance. 'Under stjernene på himlen' was the song that should bring him international acclaim. But unfortunately, it didn't. Instead, he brought back Denmark's worst result in years, finishing 22nd out of 25. The result was that Denmark wouldn't compete in the 1994 edition of the Contest.

In the Nineties, Seebach's career in Denmark took a nosedive. It was only in 1999 that he could find new audiences with a disco version of 'Krøller eller ej'. After that, he became the head of musical entertainment at amusement park Bakken in Klampenborg, Denmark. But Seebach's problems with alcoholism took their toll on him and he died at the age of 53 from a heart attack on March 31, 2003.

This single actually features another Danish song on the A-side, but since I bought this 'promotion only' single for the Eurovision song, it's only fitting that I should highlight that one. It's a wonderful upbeat song, and really should have done better in the Contest.

My collection: 7" single no. 1974

Found: Bea Records, October 17, 1993

Cost: 7,5 guilders

Tracks: 'Går det ikk', så går det nok' (Teddy Edelmann) / 'Under stjernene på himlen' (Tommy Seebach Band)

Aquarius - Gary Fane

This single comes from the album 'Horoscope' (1980), subtitled 'Gary Fane's musical interpretation of the Zodiac'. The album apparently features 14 tracks, one track for every sign in the zodiac plus an 'Overture' and a 'Finale'. The album was produced by Jaap Eggermont (of 'Stars on 45' fame), who enlisted the help of famous Dutch musicians Jan Rietman, Hans Hollestelle and Dick Bakker.

Gary Fane's real name is Gerard Veen. He started his career with the Dutch group Johnny Kendall and the Heralds. This group has a couple of hits in the Sixties. 'Aquarius' peaked at number 10 in the Dutch Top 40. It was his only solo hit, although he did release another single, entitled 'Love' in 1981. Since then, he has kept on making music, although it didn't bring him any commercial success.

My collection: 7" single no. 1942

Found: Disco Market, Den haag, August 11, 1993

Cost: 1 guilder

Tracks: 'Aquarius' / 'Leo'

Download: Album 'Horoscope', including both tracks

More than just the two of us - Sneaker

Sneaker was formed in 1973 by Mitch Crane, Michael Carey Schneider, Michael Cottage, Tim Torrance, Mike Hughes and Jim King. The band cited Steely Dan, the Eagles and the Doobie Brothers as their primary musical influences. Indeed, the band's name came from a Steely Dan track, 'Bad sneakers'.

'More than just the two of us' was the band's biggest hit, which became a top 40 hit in America. The single was taken from their self-titled debut album, released in 1981. After their second album, 'Loose in the world' (1982) the band broke up.

My collection: 7" single no. 1492

Found: Den Haag, July 18, 1991

Cost: 2 guilders

Tracks: 'More than just the two of us' / 'In time'

Nocturne - Clerx and Van Dijk

Secret Garden represented Norway during the 1995 edition of the Eurovision Song Contest. They won the edition with 'Nocturne'. Featuring a lyric consisting of about eight lines, some were outraged that an instrumental track would win a 'song' contest. Personally I still think it's one of the best winners ever - especially when you consider all the boring predictable Irish songs that won the Contest in the Eighties.

Jan, who makes the excellent Eurocovers blog, informs me that there are at least 47 cover versions of this track. One of them is this dance version by Clerx & Van Dijk, released in 2002. Vocals in this version are performed by Margot Roeken. I ordered the 12" single recently and received it today. What a great way to start the weekend.

My collection: 12" single no. 487
Found: Y-Music, mailorder, received February 21, 2009
Cost: 10 euro
Tracks: 'Nocturne (Fire & Ice mix)', 'Innocent' / 'Nocturne (Original mix)', 'Nocturne (Remix)'

Going in with my eyes open - David Soul

As much as I remembered 'Don't give up on us', the only thing I knew about 'Going in with my eyes open' was that I didn't dislike the song when it was in the chart. Of course, I was only six years old at that time - so when I bought the single two decades later it was a bit of a gamble. What's more, the copy I bought originally didn't even have a picture sleeve. I replaced it two weeks after buying that one with a copy that did.

'Going in with my eyes open' peaked at number 17 in the Dutch Top 40, number 2 in the UK and number 54 in the US Billboard Hot 100. I think the British people were right: it's still a beautiful song now.

My collection: 7" single no. 2380

Found: House of rhythm, London, July 1, 1995

Cost: 1 pound

Tracks: 'Going in with my eyes open' / 'Topanga'

The best thing - Charley

Michelle Charles played Marilyn 'Charley' Charlton in the British youth TV series Byker Grove between 1990 and 1992. She recorded 'The best thing', a song which apparently she also sung in the television series.

But this is not why I bought this 12" single. The real reason is the B-side track, 'You don't know me'. Written by Kim Wilde and Tony Swain, this track was never recorded by Kim herself as far as I know (although it might well have been), and ended up being performed by Charley. This 12" single is pretty rare these days, although the cd-single is even more rare. It does exist - so if anyone has a copy for me, don't hesitate to contact me...

My collection: 12" single no. 421

Found: Record Exchange, London, 2000

Cost: 50p

Tracks: 'The best thing (FM mix)', 'The best thing (Byker Grove mix)' / 'The best thing (12" original mix)', 'You don't know me'

The man with the child in his eyes - Inside moves

I think I've mentioned a few times that I like cover versions. Especially Kim Wilde and Kate Bush cover versions are always interesting to me, just because I love the original songs so much I always like to hear what other artists do with them. (I also like cover versions of Eurovision songs, so Eurocovers is really an addictive blog for me.)

So every now and again I go hunting for cover versions I haven't heard yet. That is how I found this single by Inside moves, an anonymous dance outfit from 1992. Their version of 'The man with the child in his eyes' is typical nineties fare, nothing too high class unfortunately. It's hard to do justice to Kate Bush.

My collection: 7" single no. 3364

Found: Esprit mail order, 2002

Cost: 5 pounds

Tracks: 'The man with the child in his eyes' / 'I wish'