Heart and soul - Exile

A very early favourite song of mine is Exile's 'Heart and soul'. The group scored a huge hit with 'Kiss you all over' before it, but the power pop approach of this song appealed to me more.

It was therefore exhilirating that I discovered there was a 12" single of this song. Quite why I never investigated this before will always remain a mystery, but once I found out I ordered a copy right away. This extended version is excellent and does a lot to make the song even more of an anthem.

My collection: 12" single [unnumbered]
Found: Discogs.com, received 7 August 2026
Tracks: 'Heart and soul [extended]' / 'Your love is everything' 

Tiger - Promises

Promises was a girl trio that recorded three singles on the CBS label in 1976 and 1977. They debuted with 'The old fashioned way', a cover version of the famous Charles Aznavour song. Their last single was a song called 'Love attack'. But before that, they released this single.

'Tiger' is a cover version of an early Abba song. The sleeve of this promotional single confidently proclaims that a chart placing is almost certain, but the single didn't chart.  

My collection: 7" single no. 8386
Found: Discogs.com, received 7 August 2026
Tracks: 'Tiger' / 'Cry baby' 

Say I'm your no. 1 - Princess

I was lucky enough to buy some 12" singles by Princess recently, but her debut single 'Say I'm your no. 1' was still missing. It was only a matter of time before I would find a copy - and a cheap copy at that. 

This 12" single features three versions of the song, including a 'short version' which isn't really that short at all. Whoever created these versions remains unknown, as only the producers - Stock, Aitken & Waterman - are credited on the sleeve. 

My collection: 12" single [unnumbered] 
Found: Parkstad Record Shop, Kerkrade, 29 July 2026
Tracks: 'Say I'm your no. 1 [extended]' / 'Say I'm your no. 1 (short version)', 'Say I'm your no. 1 (senza voce)'

Tomorrow - The Communards

The Communards released several very good 12" singles and when I found this copy of 'Tomorrow' I thought it would be another great extended version of this great song. I wasn't disappointed. The 12" stretches the single version to almost twice its original length. There are also three tracks on the B-side: 'I just want to let you know' (which is also the B-side of the 7" single) plus a solo track by Richard Coles (an instrumental piece) and a solo track by Jimmy Somerville (a vocal track). It's a good package which should have helped the single to a top position.

My collection: 12" single [unnumbered]
Found: Parkstad Record Shop, Kerkrade, 29 July 2026
Tracks: 'Tomorrow [extended version]' / 'I just want to let you know', 'Romanze for violin, piano and hedgehog', 'Scat' 

I just can't wait - Mandy Smith

After going through hundreds of 7" singles at Parkstad Record Shop in two hours, I only had ten minutes or so left until closing time to go through the 12" singles. Fortunately there wasn't much there - I managed to get three titles that were mildly interesting. The first one was this one by Mandy Smith.

Mandy Smith's debut single 'I just can't wait' was produced by Stock, Aitken & Waterman, so it was only logical that 12" singles would appear, as the trio was quite prolific at the time. The 'cool and breezy jazz version' was mixed by 'The Extra Beat Boys With The Funky Sisters'. One can only guess who they were. It's not so much jazz as it is a relaxed piece of pop.

My collection: 12" single [unnumbered]
Found: Parkstad Record Shop, Kerkrade, 29 July 2026
Tracks: 'I just can't wait (The cool and breezy jazz version)' / 'I just can't wait (instrumental)', 'You're never alone' 

Merci, Chérie - Roy Etzel

Roy Etzel appeared on this blog before, when I bought his version of 'Dansevise' (the winner of the Eurovision Song Contest in 1964) two years ago. But that wasn't the only Eurovision song he recorded.

In 1966 Udo Jürgens won the Eurovision Song Contest with 'Merci, Chérie'. The piano-based melody is recorded surprisingly well with the sound of trumpets by Roy Etzel. For the B-side of this single he also does a version of 'Strangers in the night', the famous Frank Sinatra song. 'Deux succes sur un single', indeed.

My collection: 7" single no. 8385
Found: Parkstad Record Shop, Kerkrade, 29 July 2026
Tracks: 'Merci, Chérie' / 'Strangers in the night' 

I get weak - Belinda Carlisle

'I get weak' was released as the second single from Belinda Carlisle's second album Heaven on Earth in 1987, after the million-selling 'Heaven is a place on earth'. The song was written by Diane Warren and produced by Rick Nowels. After completing the song, songwriter Diane Warren initially had Stevie Nicks in mind – a suggestion she made to producer Rick Nowels, who felt it would be a better fit for Carlisle.

The single reached number 2 in the US Billboard Hot 100 and number 10 in the UK singles chart. In the Netherlands, however, the single didn't chart. Somehow this US pressing of the single ended up in a Dutch record shop.

My collection: 7" single no. 8384
Found: Parkstad Record Shop, Kerkrade, 29 July 2026
Tracks:  'I get weak' / 'Should I let you in?'