Wonderful world, beautiful people - Amazulu

The reggae/ska/pop band Amazulu was started by Sharon Bailey and Lesley Beach, together with Rose Miner, the original lead singer. With Debbie Dread joining on drums, initially all the members were female. Miner was later replaced by Anne-Marie Ruddock, and Dread was replaced by John "Nardo" Bailey, whom they called their token male.

Their debut album Amazulu was quite successful, especially in New Zealand and Sweden. The biggest hit single taken from that album was 'Too good to be forgotten', originally recorded by the Chi-lites. By 1987, Ruddock and Bailey were the only members left and they released their second album Spellbound, which didn't chart. 'Wonderful world, beautiful people', a cover version of a song by Jimmy Cliff, was their final single, peaking at number 97 in the UK singles chart. 

My collection: 7" single no. 8447
Found: Plato, Leiden, 27 September 2026
Tracks: 'Wonderful world, beautiful people' / 'Wonderful world, beautiful people (instrumental)'

Superman - Vulcano

I bought a single by Vulcano recently ('Staying with it') and I enjoyed it enough to justify buying another one. 'Superman' was their second single after their debut 'Shut up and boogie' and it became their only English-language hit. 

The single entered the Dutch Top 40 on 24 October 1981 and reached number 29. After three more singles in English they switched to Dutch for the national final of the Eurovision Song Contest in the Netherlands. With 'Een beetje van dit' they would enjoy their only top 10 hit, causing them to stick with Dutch language songs for the rest of their career.

My collection: 7" single no. 8446
Found: Plato, Leiden, 27 September 2026
Tracks: 'Superman' / 'O-only you' 

Late in the evening - Paul Simon

'Late in the evening' was the lead single from Paul Simon's fifth studio album One Trick Pony, released in 1980. The song was praised for Simon's lyrics, the horn interlude, and the distinctive drum part, a New York City-style Cuban Mozambique drum groove by Steve Gadd. Gadd performed the part using two pairs of drumsticks – one in each hand – in order to give the impression of two drummers playing together.  

The single reached number 6 on the US Billboard Hot 100. In the UK singles chart it only reached number 58, but in the Dutch Top 40 it got to number 9. 

My collection: 7" single no. 8445
Found: Plato, Leiden, 27 September 2026
Tracks: 'Late in the evening' / 'One trick pony' 

Dancing the night away - The Motors

'Dancing the night away' was the debut single by English garage rock pub rock band the Motors, which was released in 1977 as the lead single from their debut studio album 1. On the album the song was a full six and a half minutes; for the single it was edited down to just three. The song was written by band members Andy McMaster and Nick Garvey, and produced by Robert John "Mutt" Lange. 

The single peaked at number 42 on the UK Singles Chart and remained in the top 50 for four weeks. In 1983 the American rock band Cheap Trick recorded a cover version of the song for their seventh album Next position please. They also released the song as a single, but it only reached number 111 in the UK.

My collection: 7" single no. 8444
Found: Plato, Leiden, 27 September 2026
Tracks: 'Dancing the night away' / 'Whisky and wine' 

Don't drive drunk - Stevie Wonder

Right now Stevie Wonder is planning a celebration of his seminal album Songs in the key of life with live performances, even in Europe. It's quite weird to hear this single knowing that he recorded a fair share of timeless classics, because 'Don't drive drunk' was certainly of its time, with the cheap samples and all.

The song was recorded for the soundtrack of the movie The Woman in Red, a romantic comedy written and directed by Gene Wilder with Kelly LeBrock and himself in the starring roles. The movie soundtrack also included Wonder's 'I just called to say I love you', which is regarded as an overload of cheese these days. 

My collection: 7" single no. 8443
Found: Plato, Leiden, 27 September 2026
Tracks: 'Don't drive drunk' / 'Don't drive drunk (instrumental)' 

Car wash - Rose Royce

'Car Wash' is a song by the American soul and R&B band Rose Royce. Written and arranged by the ex-Motown producer Norman Whitfield, the song was the group's first single and one of the most notable successes of the 1970s disco era. The theme of the 1976 film Car Wash was Rose Royce's most successful single and the lead single from their first studio album, the Car Wash soundtrack. 

I have vague memories of when this single was released in september 1976. Despite being just six years old I already watched the pop shows on television religiously every week, and this song bored me to death. But when I heard it on the radio recently, I quite liked it. So it only took me half a century to appreciate this song.

My collection: 7" single no. 8442
Found: Plato, Leiden, 27 September 2026
Tracks: 'Car wash' / 'Water'

Hungry eyes - Sheena Easton

Seven years ago I bought the Japanese single 'Hungry eyes' by Sheena Easton and when I wrote about it on this blog I already mentioned the original release of that single. Well, here it is, and indeed, this sleeve is slightly less pretty than the re-released version. But still, I am always impressed by the quality of those Japanese pressings.

'Hungry eyes' and the B-side 'Strut' appeared on Sheena's fifth studio album Private Heaven, released in September 1984. The album was certified platinum in Canada and the USA, but didn't chart in Europe. Mission accomplished, I guess: a few years later she was working with Prince.

My collection: 7" single no. 8431
Found: Discogs.com, received 24 September 2026
Tracks: 'Hungry eyes' / 'Strut'