Don't talk to me about love - Altered Images

'Don't talk to me about love' was released as the first single from Altered Images's third album Bite in 1983. The single reached the top 10 in three countries; number 7 in the UK, and number 6 in both Ireland and New Zealand. The song was their last major hit, as the next three singles only had moderate to minor chart placings.

The UK sleeve of the single is supposed to be some kind of art piece, but personally I like this Japanese sleeve a lot better: it's a photograph of the band's singer Clare Grogan in a pose similar to that on the album sleeve.

My collection: 7" single no. 8435
Found: Discogs.com, received 24 September 2026
Tracks: 'Don't talk to me about love' / 'Last goodbye' 

Sunglasses at night - Corey Hart

Corey Hart was born on 31 May 1962 in Montreal, Canada. Hart's debut album, First Offense, was recorded at Revolution Recording Studios in Manchester, England, in the spring of 1982. It was produced by Jon Astley, then best known for his work with The Who, and Phil Chapman. Released in 1983, First Offense featured the single 'Sunglasses at night'. 

The song features one of the most beautiful synth intros of the Eighties, but then flies off the rails a little when the screeching guitars come in. It's typical of the Eighties rock style, but this song has its own particular charm. It reached number 7 in the US Billboard Hot 100 and was a minor hit in Europe. I do remember the music video: it was on high rotation on those European satellite channels in 1984. 

My collection: 7" single no. 8430
Found: Discogs.com, received 24 September 2026
Tracks: 'Sunglasses at night' / 'At the dance' 

My friend Jack - Boney M

The Japanese branch of record company Atlantic decided to release 'My friend Jack' as the A-side of this single, whereas 'I see a boat on the river' was the A-side in Europe. The sleeve of this single remained largely the same, with a photograph of the group performing a song. 

Originally 'My friend Jack' was a song released by the English freakbeat group The Smoke in 1967. The song was written by all four members of the group: Geoff Gill, Mal Luker, Zeke Lund and Mick Rowley. The song seems to suggest the use of psychedelic drugs (specifically LSD) in lines such as 'My Friend Jack eats sugar lumps' and suggests traversing the world inside his mind (such as 'Been on a voyage, across an ocean').

When Boney M recorded the song, Zeke Lund was working as a sound engineer for their producer Frank Farian. Presumably he suggested the song for the group. 

My collection: 7" single no. 8433
Found: Discogs.com, received 24 September 2026
Tracks: 'My friend Jack' / 'I see a boat on the river' 

The wild life - Bananarama

Bananarama's 1984 single 'The wild life' was composed for and included in the 1984 American film of the same name. The song was released as a single in the U.S., Canada, Australia, and Japan only. The single actually peaked at number 70 in the US Billboard Hot 100 chart, thus becoming their second-biggest hit single up to that point, behind 'Cruel summer' (which reached number 9 in 1983). 

The trio was to become even more popular worldwide with their version of 'Venus', taken from their next album True confessions, which recently got the deluxe treatment and landed them back in the UK albums chart - in the top 10! 

My collection: 7" single no. 8441
Found: Discogs.com, received 24 September 2026
Tracks: 'The wild life' / 'State I'm in' 

 

Turn your back on me - Kajagoogoo

After Kajagoogoo lost their lead singer Limahl, they actually went from strength to strength. 'Turn your back on me' is one of the strongest songs in their catalogue, released as the third single from their second album - the first one without Limahl. The single only reached number 47 in the UK singles chart, but went to number 13 in the Dutch Top 40: their second-biggest hit after 'Too shy'. 

Nick Beggs, the bassplayer of the band who took over the lead vocal duties, went on to have success with various bands like Trifecta and the Mute Gods. He also played bass for Steve Hackett, Kim Wilde and Howard Jones among others. Kajagoogoo weren't taken very seriously in the Eighties, but he proved that he was one of the world's most gifted musicians anyway!

My collection: 7" single no. 8440
Found: Discogs.com, received 24 September 2026
Tracks: 'Turn your back on me' / 'The pump rooms of Bath' 

Tingalingaling - Luv

Maybe it's embarrassing, but I don't care: Luv was a nice girl trio at the end of the Seventies and under the production of Hans van Hemert they managed to release a handful of albums and singles that were poppy as hell. In my opinion they were a lot better than the Dolly Dots (twice the amount of girls, half the amount of appeal). 

This Japanese edition comes in a completely different sleeve when compared to the European one, and has a different B-side as well. It was actually their last single before they broke up and went their separate ways - before several reunions happened years later.

My collection: 7" single no. 8439
Found: Discogs.com, received 24 September 2026
Tracks: 'Tingalingaling' / 'Be my lover tonight'

Time after time - Cyndi Lauper

As long as I was ordering some singles from Japan, I thought I might as well pick up a few cheap ones in beautiful sleeves. Cyndi Lauper's ' Time after time'  was one of them. This sleeve was exclusive to Japan and shows the American singer in a dramatic pose.

'Time after time' was one of her biggest hits, peaking at number 1 in the US Billboard Hot 100 chart, while the single peaked at number 3 in the UK singles chart and number 5 in the Dutch Top 40. 

My collection: 7" single no. 8438
Found: Discogs.com, received 24 September 2026
Tracks: 'Time after time' / 'I'll kiss you'