Absolutely immune - Act

Claudia Brücken and Thomas Leer formed Act after Brücken left her previous band Propaganda. 'Absolutely immune' was released as the couple's second single, after the hit single Snobbery and decay. This single didn't reach the chart, unfortunately.

It is a pity that Act broke up after the release of their debut album. Judging from the contents of this single, they could have released much more interesting tracks. 


My collection: 7" single no. 6045
Found: Record fair, Utrecht, April 13, 2019
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Absolutely immune' / 'Bloodrush'

I can't escape from you - Act

'I can't escape from you' was written by Claudia Brücken and Thomas Leer. It was the fourth and final single from Act. ZTT Records withdrew the previous single 'Chance' and hurriedly released 'I can't escape from you' on 7 March 1988. The single only managed to reach number 90 in the UK singles chart.

A 12" single and cd-single also appeared, featuring a cover of the Smiths' single 'Heaven knows I'm miserable now'.

My collection: 7" single no. 5259
Found: Record fair, Utrecht, November 19, 2011
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'I can't escape from you' / 'Dear life'

Snobbery and decay - Act

Not only do I have the 7" single of 'Snobbery and decay', I've got the 12" single too! Quite a feat, because these things became increasinly expensive during the Nineties, when record buyers were finally catching on to the phenomenon Act. According to Claudia Brücken: 'The whole idea was based on a programme called 'Lifestyles of the rich and famous'. That was when we discovered how much we wanted to write about that idea and what a great introduction it would be for Thomas and me to have a duet as a first single. Two characters talking about that whole thing.'

This 12" single also features a cover of 'I'd be surprisingly good for you' from the musical 'Evita', chosen according to Thomas Leer, because 'we both dislike Andrew Lloyd Webber intensely. We wanted to do something from a musical, something that was crap and that we could make great. It also fitted the idea of the package.'

My collection: 12" single no. 510
Found: ?
Cost: 10 guilders
Tracks: 'Snobbery and decay (That's entertainment)' / 'Poison', 'I'd be surprisingly good for you'

Snobbery and decay - Act

Act were a synthpop group in the late eighties, consisting of Thomas Leer and ex-Propaganda singer Claudia Brücken. Lyrically their songs tended to be concerned with decadence and the moral bankruptcy of the world as they saw it, as summed up in the title of their debut single 'Snobbery and decay'. On the cover you see Quentin Crisp and Liberace.

The band dissolved shortly after the release of their debut album, 'Laughter, tears and rage'. This album was reissued in 2003 as a three cd set, including bonus tracks, remixes, alternative versions and previously unreleased material. The single is a great piece of dramatic and melodic synthpop.

My collection: 7" single no. 2992
Found: Record fair, May 27, 1998
Cost: 5 guilders
Tracks: 'Snobbery & decay' / 'Poison'
Download: here