Slave to the rhythm - Grace Jones

The epic 'Slave to the rhythm' was released in several formats and remixes through the years, but it all started with the single from 1985. Trevor Horn, who produced the single, made an entire album consisting of this one track in several different guises.

What I didn't know was that the single was also released as a picture disc in 1985. This picture disc is quite intriguing, since part of it is clear and the image of Grace Jones is the same on both sides (although it is obviously mirrored on the B-side). Some slight discoloration of the clear part of the disc doesn't ruin it for me; it's still a lovely item.

My collection: 7" single no. 8486
Found: Discogs.com, received 3 November 2026
Tracks: 'Slave to the rhythm' / 'Annihilated rhythm' 

Hypnotize - Scritti Politti

'Hypnotize' is a single from the album Cupid & Psyche 85 by Scritti Politti. The album was recently re-released with a few bonus tracks; mainly 12" versions of the singles from that album.

I wasn't aware that some of the singles were also released as picture discs, but I found out recently and started hunting for them. Fortunately they're not very expensive. This one is especially nice because the original sleeve was already beautiful and this slight variation makes it rather fun.

My collection: 7" single no. 8485
Found: Discogs.com, received 3 November 2026
Tracks: 'Hypnotize' / 'Hypnotize (version)' 

Don't look back - The Korgis

'Don't look back' by the Korgis could have been an epic hit single, but for some reason it didn't get to the charts. All this despite production duties by Trevor Horn and a beautiful melody. 

What's more, this single was released as a limited edition picture disc. While the regular single uses an illustration on the front cover, the illustration on this picture disc is different. A 12" single doesn't exist for this single, unfortunately.

My collection: 7" single no. 8484
Found: Discogs.com, received 3 November 2026
Tracks: 'Don't look back' / 'Xenophobia' 

The sun always shines on TV - A-ha

When A-ha were at the start of their career, they were involved in various promotional duties. They appeared in magazines in silly photoshoots and had to record 'special messages' for their fans. While they craved being taken seriously as artists, they were boxed in as 'teen idols' for most of the Eighties.

Documentary evidence of this was presented by No. 1 magazine in the UK. A special booklet was made in which they answered questions like 'What is your favourite Duran Duran song?' and 'Would you marry a girl who wasn't Norwegian?'. This flexi disc was added in the next issue of the magazine, on which the members of the band recorded a short message. Fortunately the disc also includes a dance mix of 'The sun always shines on TV'. The fact that it was edited from the original remix makes this rather a collectable item.

My collection: 7" single no. 5763
Found: Discogs.com, received 1 July 2016
Tracks: 'The sun always shines on TV (dance mix) [edited]' 

Wonderful life - T.J. Davis

'Wonderful life' by Black is probably one of the best songs ever written, which is why it has been covered many times by various artists. One of those covers was released in 2001 by Teresa Jane Davis. She was a backing vocalist for artists such as Gary Numan, D:Ream, Tom Jones, Stereophonics and Burt Bacharach. 

Her version of 'Wonderful life' was released on a cd-single, which I bought back in the day, but it only features three versions that are not on this 12" single. So it's a worthwhile addition: this disc presents four remixes that were only ever released on vinyl.

My collection: 12" single [unnumbered]
Found: Discogs.com, received 24 October 2026
Tracks: 'Wonderful life (Nylon remix)', 'Wonderful life (Nylon accapella mix)' / 'Wonderful life (Original mix)', 'Wonderful life (Silverstone mix)'

Wuthering heights - Wanda Fisher

Italy has produced a lot of cover versions of Kate Bush songs, and this is just one of them. Wanda Fisher was born as Vanda Radicchi on 28 October 1947 in Crotone. She began her career as a vocalist in Italy after she left the States with a singing and sol-fa degree obtained at the Saint Cecil’s conservatoire.

Her version of the Kate Bush song 'Wuthering Heights' appears on the B-side of this 12" single, alongside the single 'Meteor Man', which was a big hit in Southern Europe.

My collection: 12" single [unnumbered]
Found: Discogs.com, received 24 October 2026
Tracks: 'Meteor Man' / 'Wuthering heights'

Mon coeur est libre - Gemma Barra

Gemma Barra was born in 1936 in Quebec, Canada. She combined the activities of actress and songwriter in the early Fifties before becoming a performer and then a radio host. Over the next few decades, she hosted a television series and became a screenwriter, writer and publisher. 

In 1964 she recorded 'Mon coeur est libre', a cover version of Mike Hawker and Marty Wilde's 'My heart is free', originally recorded by Jimmy Gilmer, with French lyrics by Paul Bébard. Wilde enjoyed a run of hit singles in the UK between 1958 and 1962, after which he devoted much of his time to songwriting for other artists. This single proves that his songs ended up far beyond the UK.

My collection: 7" single no. 8483
Found: Discogs.com, received 28 October 2026 
Tracks: 'Mon coeur est libre' / 'J'aime danser'