Matters of the heart - Freur

So here's another disc by Freur. The more often I write about this group, the less I know what to write. They are completely unknown to most people and I don't even know whether these posts appeal to anyone. But Freur has become an essential part of my collection with all their 7" and 12" singles taken from that debut album 'Doot doot', released in 1982.

'Matters of the heart' was another single taken from the album, and both the A-side are, as they call it, 'Dun dif'runt'. It's quirky and eclectic as always.

My collection: 12" single no. 391
Found: Record fair, 2000
Cost: 5 guilders
Tracks: 'Matters of the heart (Dun dif'runt)' / 'You're a hoover (Dun dif'runt too)'

Closest thing to heaven - Kane Gang

The Kane Gang recorded and released 'Closest thing to heaven' in 1984. I never heard a song any better than this from them, although initially I only knew the single version. This 12" version is slightly longer and adds a little extra to what's already quite a perfect song.

What a difference, though, with the B-side: two throwaway tracks that you are better off not listening to.

My collection: 12" single no. 247
Found: unknown
Cost: 2 guilders
Tracks: 'Closest thing to heaven (Full version)' / 'Mighty day', 'Bride of smalltown mudwrestles with Abbott & Costello in outer space (3D Mad Mix II creed)'

Ze geeft om mij - Frank Boeijen

Frank Boeijen recorded a new version of 'Ze geeft om mij' ('She cares for me'), a track from his debut solo album 'Wilde bloemen' ('Wild flowers') when it was released as the second single from that album. The track got an altogether 'warmer' sound.

The B-side was a Dutch language cover of Leonard Cohen's 'Suzanne', performed live during the television programme Rotland, presented by Jan Rot. Boeijen recorded that track in the studio with Belgian singer Yasmine some years later.

My collection: 7" single no. 1584
Found: February 15, 1992
Cost: 6,5 guilders
Tracks: 'Ze geeft om mij' / 'Suzanne (live)'

Popcorn - Popcorn players

Back in 1972, the composition 'Popcorn' by Gershon and Kingsley was a very popular track. No less than four different performers charted with it in the Dutch Top 40. When this LP was released in 1972, roughly translated as 'The first hits of Veronica 538' after the famous radio station broadcasting in the Netherlands, the track could not be omitted.

However, I think they couldn't get permission from Hot Butter, Revolution System, Anarchic System and the Popcornmakers, so a fifth version was included, as performed by the Popcorn players. And when you collect all versions of 'Popcorn' like me, this one is a definite must have.

My collection: LP, unnumbered
Found: Plaatboef, Den Haag, 2000
Cost: 2 guilders
Tracks: 'Vaya con dios' (The Cats), 'Popcorn' (The Popcorn Players), 'Everybody is telling me' (Monica & Oscar Benton), 'Black & white' (Three dog night), 'Femmes aux jeux d'amour' (Adamo), '10538 Overture' (Electric Light Orchestra) / 'Who was it?' (Hurricane Smith), 'To make my life beautiful' (Alex Harvey), 'Go all the way' (Raspberries), 'Devilish Mary' (Jen Rog), '6 Uhr früh in den Strassen' (Christian Anders), 'Oei oei' (Jan Boezeroen)

Little brother - Blue pearl

What kind of a name is Durga McBroom? It sounds like something from a fantasy movie. In actual fact, it's the name of the singer of Blue Pearl, one half of a dance duo consisting of her and Martin Glover, who later became famous as the producer Youth.

This 12" single features two unremarkable tracks, but since the B-side is a cover version of Kate Bush's 'Running up that hill', I still was tempted to buy it. Not that this version is actually any good: it's possibly the most unpassionate version of that song ever.

My collection: 12" single no. 408
Found: unknown
Cost: 5 guilders
Tracks: 'Little brother (remix)' / 'Running up that hill'

Hang on now - Kajagoogoo

Kajagoogoo were very successful after they stormed the pop scene with 'Too shy' in 1982. Subsequent singles 'Ooh to be ah' and 'Hang on now' reached the top 20 in the UK without too much trouble, and part of the appeal was, believe it or not, the outrageous hairstyles of the members of the group.

The record company recognised this fact with this release: the 12" single of 'Hang on now' came with a free poster. It took away attention from the fact that the music was pretty good, too: 'Hang on now' features lush synthesizers and a great guitardriven melody.

My collection: 12" single no. 344
Found: Plaatboef, Rotterdam, 1997
Cost: 2,5 guilders
Tracks: 'Hang on now (extended)' / 'Hang on now (instrumental)', 'Introduction'

Rain or shine - Five Star

One of Five Star's biggest hits, 'Rain or shine' is best described as a mid-tempo ballad. The single was released in the summer of 1986 and reached number 2 in the UK singles chart.

This 12" single is an attractive package as it brings together two remixes of 'Rain or shine' plus an instrumental remix of 'Find the time', one of Five Star's previous hits. The throwaway B-side 'Summer groove' is also there, of course.

My collection: 12" single no. 259
Found: Record Exchange, London, 1995
Cost: 50p
Tracks: 'Rain or shine (remix)', 'Rain or shine (dub)' / 'Summer groove', 'Find the time (instrumental remix)'

Experiment IV - Kate Bush

In 1986, Kate Bush was involved in the creation of her first - and so far, only - compilation album. She recorded two new tracks for the album, both of which were released on this 7" single. The new track 'Experiment IV' was about the army experimenting with sound to 'kill someone from a distance'. The other track was an old one: 'Wuthering heights', Kate's debut single, in a new version. According to her, the original sounded too much like a young woman.

Both tracks showcase a woman who is definately a perfectionist. But in the case of the B-side, it doesn't always work out well. Fortunately, the A-side compensates a lot for it. The guest appearance of Nigel Kennedy on violin adds much to the spooky atmosphere of the track.

My collection: 7" single no. 473
Found: Free Record Shop, Den Haag, 1986
Cost: 6 guilders
Tracks: 'Experiment IV' / 'Wuthering heights (new vocal)'

Koud in mijn hart - Frank Boeijen

After disbanding the Frank Boeijen Groep, frontman Frank Boeijen went solo. His first solo album was released a year after the last Frank Boeijen Groep album, so fans didn't have to wait for too long for new work from the singer.

'Koud in mijn hart' ('Cold in my heart') was released as the album's first single in November 1991. The song was written, composed and produced by Boeijen himself, but the B-side was proof that he wasn't just a lonely singer/songwriter now: that track was made in collaboration with Henk Hofstede from the band The Nits.

My collection: 7" single no. 1550
Found: Free Record Shop, Den Haag, December 7, 1991
Cost: 6,5 guilders
Tracks: 'Koud in mijn hart' / 'Wilde bloemen'

I'm only shooting love - Time Bandits

I have no idea whether the Time Bandits had any success in America in 1984, but that is where this 12" single comes from. The record company must have thought it a viable option, as they put a lot of work into it: the original track, produced by Pim Koopman, was remixed by Steve Thompson, who was a wellknown producer and remixer stateside.

Three versions of the track appear on this 12" single, which is marked 'For promotion only' on the back of the sleeve. 'Sale is unlawful', it says too. Still, I bought this disc in a shop in London.

My collection: 12" single no. 309
Found: Record Exchange, London
Cost: 1 pound
Tracks: 'I'm only shooting love (extended version)' / 'I'm only shooting love (dub)', 'I'm only shooting love (single)'

There's more to love - The Communards

This 12" single contains a very different kind of extended mix: basically it sounds like the whole track has been re-recorded. 'There's more to love (than boy meets girl)' has been given an infusion of Latin brass, giving the track a summery feel. The serious message in the lyric still remains: love is not reserved for straight couples only.

The B-side gives the listener three further treats: two old-fashioned-sounding tracks and one acapella-ish version of the A-side track.

My collection: 12" single no. 539
Found: unknown
Cost: unknown
Tracks: 'There's more to love (extended)' / 'Zing went the strings of my heart', 'Spanish rap', 'When the boy in your heart is the boy in your arms'

Interview 1986 - Kate Bush

When Kate Bush returned to the pop scene with her landmark album 'Hounds of love', everybody wanted to make money with it. There were quite a few bootleggers who released interview cd's, lp's and singles at the time.

This white vinyl 7" single was made in the UK and contains an interview of unknown origins. Not much surprises in the answers, because even at the time the information given was quite wellknown.

My collection: 7" single no. 1223
Found: Record fair, April 22, 1990
Cost: 3 guilders
Tracks: 'Interview (part 1)' / 'Interview (part 2)'

So many men, so little time - Miquel Brown

It's no wonder, I guess, that one of the most popular gay anthems of 1983 was also a hit in the clubs and discotheques. This extended version of Miquel Brown's very appropriate 'So many men, so little time' was a corker at many gay - but also straight parties.

Accoding to the bio on the back of the sleeve, Miquel Brown was born in Detroit, Michigan (USA) and arrived in London in May 1973 to start a career as a singing and dancing actress. 'So many men, so little time' is called 'a biography of a modern day girl' and is dedicated to Miquel's father, Samuel Stevenson. I bet he's proud.

My collection: 12" single no. 538
Found: unknown
Cost: 2 guilders
Tracks: 'So many men, so little time (extended)' / 'So many men, so little time (extended instrumental)'

Wonderful life - Black

Black will always be remembered for that one song, 'Wonderful life'. Through the years it has been covered by Chinese techno bands, German rock bands and Dutch female singers, it has been a popular song during funerals and it has even been used on advertisements for cereals and life insurances.

It was an English life insurance ad that prompted Polygram to re-release 'Wonderful life' in 1994. The single reached number 42 in the UK singles chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 2439
Found: August 22, 1995
Cost: 2 pounds
Tracks: 'Wonderful life' / 'Sweetest smile'

Kronenburg park (live) - Frank Boeijen Groep

Frank Boeijen had just decided to disband the group he'd worked with for the last ten years, when this single was released. The final live dates were still happening, and in a way, this single was a big farewell to all the fans. Hearts were broken, girls were weeping and the end of an era had come. Indeed, there was never another Frank Boeijen Groep single release after this.

'Kronenburg park' had been one of the biggest hits for the band back in 1985, and this single featured both that hit version and the live version from the then-current album. Like the other singles from the album, this one failed to chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 1382
Found: Melody Maker, Den Haag, February 16, 1991
Cost: 6,5 guilders
Tracks: 'Kronenburg park (live)' / 'Kronenburg park'

The word girl - Scritti Politti

I never actually took the time to compare them, but I do have the suspicion that all the versions of 'The word girl' included on this 12" single are actually different from the two versions on the 7" single. And if that isn't so, at least there's the extra extended version of the track on the B-side.

That B-side version was remixed by Julian Mendelsohn, one of the top remixers and producers of the Eighties. The track also features Ranking Ann, who I think is a complete unknown. But then again, I might just be missing some information there.

My collection: 12" single no. 321
Found: Record Exchange, London
Cost: 50p
Tracks: 'The word girl', 'Flesh & blood' / 'The word girl / Flesh & blood (version)'

In my life - Kim Wilde

'In my life' was the second new song on the compilation album 'The Singles Collection 1981-1993' and was released as a single in remix form in 1993. It was the final Kim Wilde single to be released on the 7" vinyl format.

Partly due to the flat and uninspired remix by West End, 'In my life' achieved little chart success, peaking at number 54 in the UK singles chart and number 78 in Germany.

My collection: 7" single no. 2060
Found: Wreckastow, Rotterdam, December 24, 1993
Cost: 10 guilders
Tracks: 'In my life (West End 7")' / 'In my life'

Election day - Arcadia

Arcadia presented themselves for the first time with their debut single 'Election day'. But they were no debutants: the trio consisted of three members from the band Duran Duran, and guest vocals on this track were provided by Grace Jones.

This extended version showcases those vocals even better, while adding some elements to the track that were not on the single and album versions.

My collection: 12" single no. 176

Found: Record Exchange, London

Cost: 1 pound

Tracks: 'Election day (Consensus mix)' / 'Election day', 'She's moody and grey, she's mean and she's restless'

If I can't have you - Kim Wilde

When Kim Wilde was about to release a compilation album in 1993, there was a need for a hit single. Not convinced that they had a hit single among their newly written material, the Wildes set about searching for a song to cover. Eventually they decided on Yvonne Elliman's Saturday Night Fever hit 'If I can't have you'.

Although not as inspired as the 1986 cover of 'You keep me hangin' on', Kim's version of 'If I can't have you' certainly gives the old song a kick up the arse, and it was rewarded with good chart placings: the single reached number 12 in the UK singles chart and number 23 in the Dutch Top 40.

My collection: 7" single no. 2042
Found: Wreckastow, Rotterdam, October 23, 1993
Cost: 10 guilders
Tracks: 'If I can't have you' / 'Never felt so alive'

Onverstoorbaar (live) - Frank Boeijen Groep

'Onverstoorbaar' ('Unstirred') was one of the six new tracks on the Frank Boeijen Groep's 1990 live double cd, 'Hier komt de storm' ('Here comes the storm'). It was, however, the only new track to be recorded live, as the other five were recorded in the studio. Hence, no studio version of 'Onverstoorbaar' exists - but still the single was titled 'Onverstoorbaar (live)'.

Personally, I thought this track represented everything which made the band so great: a great melody, a lyric that clicks on an emotional level, and sounding full and lively. Most people did not agree with me: the single did not chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 1362
Found: Free Record Shop, Den Haag, December 8, 1990
Cost: 6 guilders
Tracks: 'Onverstoorbaar (live)' / 'Hemel en hel'