One better world - ABC

Although Up was one of the lesser albums by ABC, they still managed to release two marginally interesting singles off it. The first one was 'One better world', which would have worked better without the cringy choir at the start of the song. 

The 12" single contains the same remixes as the cd-single did, but I was still tempted when I saw this one for one euro. 

My collection: 12" single [unnumbered]
Found: Record fair, Den Bosch, 11 April 2026
Tracks: 'One better world (club mix)' / 'One better world (Garage mix)', 'One better world (Percapella mix)'

After the love has gone - Princess

I've bought a few 12" singles by Princess recently, and those remixes never let me down. And so, when I saw this one for just one euro, I bought it right away. It comes with two remixes of 'After the love has gone', which was released in 1985 as her second hit single after 'Say I'm your number one'.

My collection: 12" single [unnumbered]
Found: Record fair, Den Bosch, 11 April 2026
Tracks: 'After the love has gone [extended]' / 'After the love has gone (new mix)' 

Profiles in gold, album 1 - Abba, Spinners, Firefall, England Dan and John Ford Coley

In 1978, Burger King and the Coca-Cola Company in the USA conspired to release two EP's called Profiles in gold, featuring two tracks each from four different acts. The first one is probably the most collectable, since it features two tracks by Abba (and I would think that there are more Abba fans in the world than there are of other acts on this and the other EP). 

Playing at roughly 33rpm, this disc manages to fit in eight tracks in total. I would think that the A-side is the most interesting one, with the two Abba tracks and two cracking tunes by the Spinners, while the very American-sounding other side is standard radio far, with the most interesting song lyrics-wise is Firefall's second track. It says that if the world has crumbled, you're feeling lonely and have been abandoned by almost everyone, "Just remember I love you". That should make everything alright, then.

My collection: 7" single no. 8293
Found: Record fair, Den Bosch, 11 April 2026
Tracks: 'Fernando', 'Waterloo' (Abba), 'I'll be around', 'One of a kind (love affair)' (Spinners) / 'You are the woman', 'Just remember I love you' (Firefall), 'Gone too far', 'We'll never have to say goodbye again' (England Dan and John Ford Coley) 

Let it go? - Midge Ure

While I never knew this one existed, 'Let it go?' is the last single by Midge Ure that was also released on 7" vinyl. And then it was released in Germany only, back in 1992. The single was taken from his 1991 album Pure, which also featured 'Cold, cold heart' and 'I see hope in the morning light'. Of course, by 1992 record companies had decided they wanted to kill vinyl releases - something they seem to be regretting three decades later, because everything is about vinyl these days (although, regrettably, 7" singles are still quite rare).

'Let it go?' is a bit long for a single: at six minutes it barely fits on the disc, and the fidelity on this one is a bit questionable, to be honest. Still, it's a nice little thing to have.

My collection: 7" single no. 8295
Found: Record fair, Den Bosch, 11 April 2026
Tracks: 'Let it go?' / 'Dear God (live)' 

Ball of confusion - B.E.F. presents Tina Turner

I'm not particularly a fan of Tina Turner, but I bought a few B.E.F. singles before ('Anyone who had a heart' and 'I don't know why I love you (but I love you)') and they're always interesting. And so, here is B.E.F.'s version of 'Ball of confusion'. 

The song was originally a hit for The Temptations in 1970. It was written by Norman Whitfield and Barrett Strong. The lyrics list problems affecting the world, including crime, taxes and drugs, calling them a "ball of confusion." It was part of the group's "psychedelic soul" phase. Turner's synth-driven interpretation was taken from the B.E.F. 1982 album Music of Quality and Distinction Volume One. In Norway, this single peaked at number 5, though it didn't chart anywhere else.

My collection: 7" single 8294
Found: Record fair, Den Bosch, 11 April 2026
Tracks: 'Ball of confusion' / 'Ball of confusion (instrumental)'

Fernando / Dancing queen - Abba

The label BR Music specialized in releasing singles with hits from earlier decades. In 1986 they released this Abba single - a few years before Abba would be re-evaluated and re-appreciated thanks to the Abba Gold compilation album. As far as I know, it's one of very few singles released by a different record company than their own (Polydor or Epic). 

The single has become rare. In fact, I've seen it a couple of times at previous record fairs and the last one with one dealer who was asking 30 euros for it. Fortunately this time there was also another dealer who asked much less for this single - and so I snapped it up.

My collection: 7" single no. 8292
Found: Record fair, Den Bosch, 11 April 2026
Tracks: 'Fernando' / 'Dancing queen' 

Love is reason - A-ha

'Love is reason' was the first single to be released from A-ha's debut album Hunting high and low in april 1985. In 1984 they had released an unsuccesful first version of 'Take on me' - the song that would make them famous later on in 1985. This single, however, was only released in Norway.

Because of that, the single has become very collectable. After all, not many copies were pressed. Hence, copies online will cost you a few hundred euros. At last week's record fair I was lucky: I found a copy for much less. Either the dealer didn't know what he had, or he just wanted to get rid of this single. Anyway, I finally got the single I wanted to have for a long, long time!

My collection: 7" single no. 8291
Found: Record fair, Den Bosch, 11 April 2026
Tracks: 'Love is reason' / 'Dream myself alive'