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?'

We've got tonight - Kenny Rogers & Sheena Easton

I've always felt that 'We've got tonight' was a bit of a creepy duet between Kenny Rogers (born in 1938) and Sheena Easton (born in 1959). They recorded the song in 1983, when Sheena was 24 years old and Kenny 45. But apparently she was positive about the idea when Kenny called her and pitched the idea near the end of 1982. 

The song was originally written and performed by Bob Seger, who recorded it for his album Stranger in Town (1978). Easton would assert that it was the song choice which appealed to her, while allowing Rogers to be "a good singer with a distinctive voice" who she found "always helpful and co-operative" in the studio, debunking insider reports that the ten-day recording session for the track was a stormy one with Rogers overtly disliking Easton's high-pitched vocals.

My collection: 7" single no. 8383
Found: Parkstad Record Shop, Kerkrade, 29 July 2026
Tracks: 'We've got tonight' / 'You are so beautiful' 

In the night - Barbara Dickson

Not two, but three singles were taken from Barbara Dickson's 1980 album The Barbara Dickson Album. 'It's really you' and 'January February' were rather wellknown in the Netherlands, but 'In the night' escaped our attention completely. 

It was different in the UK: 'It's really you' wasn't released there, but 'In the night' was and it reached number 48 in the singles chart. Not a big hit, but it was noticed nonetheless. Barbara would only have one big hit after this: the duet 'I know him so well' together with Elaine Page, which became a number 1 hit in the UK in 1984. 

My collection: 7" single no. 8381 
Found: Parkstad Record Shop, Kerkrade, 29 July 2026
Tracks: 'In the night' / 'Now I don't know'

That's the way (I like it) - Dead or Alive

KC and the Sunshine Band had a huge hit with 'That's the way (I like it)' in 1975. Pete Burns and his band Dead or Alive realized that they could probably have similar success with the song a decade later. I remember the music video well: it was recorded in a shower room filled with muscular women. (Somehow I imagine that Pete Burns would have preferred men in there, but okay...)

It was Dead or Alive's first hit single, peaking at number 22 in the UK singles chart and number 23 in Ireland. Europe would only come to know Dead or Alive a year later, when they released 'You spin me 'round (like a record)'. 

My collection: 7" single no. 8379
Found: Parkstad Record Shop, Kerkrade, 29 July 2026
Tracks: 'That's the way (I like it)' / 'Do it' 

We don't talk anymore - Cliff Richard

Alan Tarney wrote 'We don't talk anymore' in 1979, planning to use it on an album with the Tarney/Spencer Band. However, Tarney played a demo of the song to Bruce Welch during a break in recording sessions for Where to Now by Charlie Dore (which the two were producing). Welch instantly knew it was going to be a hit and phoned up Richard's manager Peter Gormley, as he believed "there was only one person who could record it — Cliff Richard". It was then quickly recorded in May 1979.

It was released as a stop-gap single between his albums Green Light and Rock 'n' Roll Juvenile. However, it wasn't meant to be included on Rock 'n' Roll Juvenile, as Cliff Richard didn't think it was appropriate for "an energy packed album of progressive rock 'n' roll". However, his record label EMI were insistent on including it after it became a massive hit and Richard reluctantly conceded. 

Funnily enough, two different versions of the single's sleeve exist. The 'blue' one was released in the Netherlands, whereas the 'red' one was released in Germany and adds the 'No. 1 hit Engeland' logo (although a version without it also exists). I decided to buy both.

My collection: 7" single no. 8377 & 8378
Found: Parkstad Record Shop, Kerkrade, 29 July 2026
Tracks: 'We don't talk anymore' / 'Count me out'

 

Star - Earth, Wind & Fire

'Star' was a single taken from Earth Wind & Fire's 1979 studio album I Am. The song was written by Maurice White, Allee Willis and Eduardo Del Barrio. The single reached number 64 in the US Billboard Hot 100 chart, number 16 in the UK singles chart and number 9 in the Dutch Top 40.

Back in 1979, when this single was released, Earth Wind & Fire were the biggest they'd ever been. They were featured on television so regularly that I got sick of the band. Fortunately their music proves to be almost timeless. 

My collection: 7" single no. 8374
Found: Parkstad Record Shop, Kerkrade, 29 July 2026
Tracks: 'Star' / 'You and I' 

This is my life - Shirley Bassey

I already bought 'This is my life' in 2010, but I didn't buy this single for that song. I didn't buy it for the tittillating cover either. The B-side of this single is 'Anyone who had a heart', a song written by Burt Bacharach and Hal David for Dionne Warwick in 1963. In the UK, it was executed to perfection by Cilla Black. But Shirley Bassey does a fine version of this song too, even if it is hidden on a B-side. 

An amusing list of big names performing the song is found on the "Anyone Who Had a Heart" Olympics. It's amusing because the writer writes off a lot of the versions - even the good ones.

My collection: 7" single no. 8373
Found: Parkstad Record Shop, Kerkrade, 29 July 2026
Tracks: 'This is my life' / 'Anyone who had a heart'

Rivers of Babylon / Sunny - Boney M

I bought the 'Original Double Hit' single featuring 'Ma Baker' and 'Baby do you wanna bump' three years ago, and found myself pleasantly surprised when I found this one recently. It features a photograph from Boney M's Love For Sale album and two other big hits from the group: 'Rivers of Babylon' and 'Sunny'.

It's not an essential purchase by any means, but as one great philosopher once said: 'Gotta catch 'em all'. And so I did. As far as I know, no other 'Original Double Hit' single by Boney M exists.

My collection: 7" single no. 8372
Found: Parkstad Record Shop, Kerkrade, 29 July 2026
Tracks: 'Rivers of Babylon' / 'Sunny' 

Sweet Lui-Louise - Ironhorse

I heard 'Sweet Lui-Louise' on the radio recently and when I heard it, I thought it was a track by Bachman Turner Overdrive, because of the similarities with 'You ain't seen nothing yet'. I was not wrong: the Canadian band Ironhorse was founded by Randy Bachman, who left BTO in May 1977. Together with Tom Sparks (vocals, guitars), John Pierce (bass), and Mike Baird (drums) he recorded an album, also titled Ironhorse.

'Sweet Lui-Louise' was released as a single and reached number 36 in the US Billboard Hot 100 chart, number 60 in the UK singles chart and number 23 in the Dutch Top 40.

My collection: 7" single no. 8371
Found: Parkstad Record Shop, Kerkrade, 29 July 2026
Tracks: 'Sweet Lui-Louise' / 'Watch me fly' 

Amateur hour - Sparks

After the Sparks enjoyed international success with 'This town ain't big enough for both of us', they released 'Amateur hour' as the second single from their album Kimono My House. The single peaked at number 7 in the UK singles chart and made it into the German and Irish charts as well. Despite a rousing performance in the Dutch TV show Toppop, the single didn't make it into the Dutch Top 40. 

In 1997 they made a new recording of the track for their 17th album Plagiarism. This new version was given a complete electronic synth-pop overhaul and was performed with Erasure.

My collection: 7" single no. 8370
Found: Parkstad Record Shop, Kerkrade, 29 July 2026
Tracks: 'Amateur hour' / 'Lost and found'

 

To be reborn - Boy George

After Culture Club fell apart, Boy George, having recovered from a drug addiction, released his first solo album Sold in June 1987. The first single, 'Everything I own' became a big hit (a number one hit in the UK), three more singles were released off the album. 'To be reborn' was the last. 

A limited edition of the single was released in a gatefold sleeve with a booklet, featuring several photographs of the singer.

My collection: 7" single no. 8369
Found: Didi's Record Shop, Heerlen, 29 July 2026
Tracks: 'To be reborn' / 'Where are you now?' 

Amiga Quartett - Culture Club

My collection of Amiga Quartett EP's continues with this one, featuring four hit singles by Culture Club. The photograph on the cover belies the fact that it was released in 1985, after they released 'The War Song', which is the last track on this EP. By that time, Boy George's image had totally changed. 

The EP was exclusive to the GDR, the Eastern part of Germany which was still behind the Iron Curtain in those days. The state-owned record company Amiga released many of these EP's which were totally unavailable in Western Europe back then. These day they are popping up almost everywhere! 

My collection: 7" single no. 8368
Found: Didi's Record Shop, Heerlen, 29 July 2026
Tracks: 'Do you really want to hurt me', 'It's a miracle' / 'Karma Chameleon', 'The War Song' 

Equinoxe 4 - Jean Michel Jarre

It's pure coincidence that I found this single just days after I found a different version of 'Magnetic fields' -this time it's a different version of 'Equinoxe'. I found this single while scouring a shop in Heerlen, which is quite far away from where I live! I expected to find lots of cheap singles (since they advertised having thousands of them), but unfortunately they were all priced. So this was only one of three singles I bought there.

It was, of course, worth it. This 'version inédite' is an edit of the album version, cutting it to half its length. The B-side is also two minutes shorter than its album counterpart. I've never come across this single before, so it was worth picking up.

My collection: 7" single no. 8367
Found: Didi's Record Shop, Heerlen, 29 July 2026
Tracks: 'Equinoxe part 4' / 'Equinoxe part 3'