Someday I'll find you - Shola Ama & Craig Armstrong / I've been to a marvellous party - The Divine Comedy

This single was taken from 'Twentieth-Century Blues: The Songs of Noël Coward', an album curated by Neil Tennant from the Pet Shop Boys. Profits from the album were donated to the Red Hot AIDS Charitable Trust. The single reached number 28 in the UK singles chart.

Both tracks on this single were among the strongest contributions. Shola Ama's take on 'Someday I'll find you' was made more compelling by the Massive Attack-alike instrumentation by Craig Armstrong, and The Divine Comedy contributed a decidedly stomping version of 'I've been to a marvellous party'. You have to wonder what Noël Coward would have thought of these modern interpretations.

My collection: 7" single no. 6262
Found: Discogs.com, received February 27, 2020
Cost: 3 pounds
Tracks: 'Someday I'll find you' (Shola Ama & Craig Armstrong) / 'I've been to a marvellous party' (The Divine Comedy)

Infernal machines - The Divine Comedy

Although I am a big Divine Comedy fan, I wasn't entirely convinced by their latest album, 'Office politics'. The idea of creating a themed album did appeal to me, but I haven't yet been able to get through the entire album. It isn't exactly easy listening.

Buying this single was a given, of course. And thankfully it contains two of the better tracks from the album: 'Infernal machines' (with a certain Depeche Mode vibe) and 'You'll never work in this town again', with all its "real instruments".

I have almost all of the Divine Comedy 7" singles, so this was a worthy addition. Now if I could only find the last few that I miss....

My collection: 7" single no. 6236
Found: Amazon.co.uk, received January 21, 2020
Cost: 6 pounds
Tracks: 'Infernal machines' / 'You'll never work in this town again'

Jerusalem - The Divine Comedy

This single features three different bands, but my reason for buying was undoubtedly the band featured on the A-side: The Divine Comedy. I own most of their albums (the earliest one are still hard to find) and most of their singles (again, the earliest ones are hard to find) so this is a nice addition. 'Jerusalem' also appeared on the Divine Comedy's debut mini album 'Europop'.

The other bands on this EP are A House and The Frank And Walters, also signed to the Setanta label. The two tracks on the B-side didn't grab me much - but perhaps you like them.

My collection: 7" single no. 6058
Found: Discogs.com, received May 3, 2019
Cost: 2 pounds
Tracks: 'Jerusalem' (The Divine Comedy) / 'I lied' (A House), 'Daisy chain' (The Frank And Walters)

Diva lady - The Divine Comedy

Released as the first single from the Divine Comedy's 2006 album 'Victory for the comic muse', 'Diva lady' peaked at number 52 in the UK singles chart. It was released on two different cd-singles as well as this 7" vinyl single, which included a small poster and an exclusive track on the B-side.

The album is unique in the Divine Comedy catalogue - and in the catalogue of most recent popular music - in that Hannon's original aim with the album was to record it entirely in two weeks, with the minimum of overdubbing. As such, almost all of the music on the album - much to the chagrin of the classical players involved on almost every track, and the Divine Comedy band itself - was recorded in live takes.

My collection: 7" single no. 3436

Found: HMV, London, 2006

Cost: 1 pound

Tracks: 'Diva lady' / 'Elaine'

Absent friends - The Divine Comedy

'Absent friends' was the title track of The Divine Comedy's 2004 album, and released as its second single. The song was a return to form, sounding like many tracks on the 1998 album 'Fin de siecle'. The B-side featured a track that was exclusive to the 7" vinyl format.

The single peaked at number 38 in the UK singles chart, not the big success the band and the record company were hoping for. As such, it was the last single to be released from the album.

My collection: 7" single no. 3406

Found: hmv.co.uk website, 2004

Cost: 2 pounds

Tracks: 'Absent friends' / 'Anthem for bored youth'

To die a virgin - The Divine Comedy

'To die a virgin' was the second single to be released from The Divine Comedy's 2006 album 'Victory for the comic muse'. The track begins with a sample of Jennifer Ehle in the 1992 TV film 'The camomile lawn'. The B-side, 'Long slow suicide' was an exclusive track, released on the 7" vinyl only.

The single peaked at number 67 in the UK singles chart. The single came with a small promotional poster.

My collection: 7" single no. 3669

Found: Record fair, Utrecht, April 18, 2009

Cost: 5 euro

Tracks: 'To die a virgin' / 'Long slow suicide'

Bad ambassador - The Divine Comedy

As far as I know, 'Bad ambassador' was the only single from The Divine Comedy's 2001 album 'Regeneration' that was released on 7" vinyl. Of course I bought it right away, even if I had to order it from the UK.

The reason for my greed was the fact that the 7" vinyl featured a live track not found on the two cd-single releases. 'Life on earth' is not, as it may seem, a cover of the David Bowie track, but a composition that appeared on The Divine Comedy's 1998 album 'Fin de siècle'.

My collection: 7" single no. 3339

Found: HMV mail order, London, 2001

Cost: 3 pounds

Tracks: 'Bad ambassador' / 'Life on earth (live)'

Generation sex - The Divine Comedy

After the 7" single for 'Becoming more like Alfie', subsequent singles 'The frog princess' and 'Everybody knows (except you)' weren't released on 7" vinyl. So maybe it was all over? Well, no, because the first single from The Divine Comedy's 1998 album 'Fin de siècle' was released on the format again. What's more: it contained an exclusive track, not released on other formats.

'Generation sex' was the opening track of said album and features narration by presenter and columnist Katie Puckrik. It reached number 19 in the UK singles chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 3041

Found: Mail order, UK, received November 14, 1998

Cost: 3 pounds

Tracks: 'Generation sex' / 'Postcard to Rosie'

Becoming more like Alfie - The Divine Comedy

After the chart success of 'Something for the weekend', the Divine Comedy released the second single from their album 'Casanova', 'Becoming more like Alfie'. It peaked at number 27 in the UK singles chart, which meant that it did slightly worse than its predecessor.

The B-side, 'Your daddy's car' is another album track, but performed live on BBC Radio 1's Mark Radcliffe Show on April 29, 1996.

My collection: 7" single no. 3140
Found: Setanta mailorder, 1999
Cost: 4 pounds
Tracks: 'Becoming more like Alfie' / 'Your daddy's car'

Something for the weekend - The Divine Comedy

After having been in the music business for seven years, and having released three albums, The Divine Comedy suddenly found chart success in the UK for the first time with this single, 'Something for the weekend'. Released in June 1996 in advance of the fourth album 'Casanova' it peaked at number 14 in the UK singles chart - and it would be the first of many chart hits that followed.

I found this single while on holiday in York. I knew about the Divine Comedy, but wasn't aware that this new single was released. I bought it despite not having heard it, and of course I bought every single and album since then.

My collection: 7" single no. 2647

Found: HMV, York, June 28, 1996

Cost: 1 pound

Tracks: 'Something for the weekend' / 'Songs of love (Theme from 'Father Ted')

Download: here

Indulgence no. 2 - The Divine Comedy

In 1994, the Divine Comedy supported Tori Amos during her European tour. They played a few dozen dates all over Europe, including three in the Netherlands. I went to see Tori Amos on May 8 and in Scheveningen on May 9, and was pleasantly surprised by the support act. (That in itself was a remarkable feat!) The beautiful melodies and humorous lyrics appealed to me greatly.

It didn't take long to get 'Promenade', their then-current album, but soon I started to look for other things as well. I found this ep in London, while I was on holiday there. It contains three live recordings from that 1994 tour. Later it turned out to be a collector's item - I still haven't found 'Indulgence no. 1'.

My collection: 7" single no. 2183

Found: Sister Ray, London, September 28, 1994

Cost: 5 pounds

Tracks: 'A drinking song (live)' / 'When the lights go out all over Europe (live)', 'Tonight we fly (live)'
Download: here

Come home Billy Bird - The Divine Comedy

In 2004, The Divine Comedy released their eighth studio album, 'Absent friends'. The first single, 'Come home Billy Bird' featured ex-Kenickie vocalist Lauren Laverne. Released on 7" vinyl, the B-side track was 'All things', which was not released on the cd-single and remains unreleased on cd to this day.

'Come home Billy Bird' was only the second 7" vinyl single I bought in 2004 (the first one being 'Waterloo'), on a total of only five. To date it is still the year in which I bought the lowest number of 7" singles since 1977.

My collection: 7" single no. 3405

Found: hmv.co.uk website, 2004

Cost: 2 pounds

Tracks: 'Come home Billy Bird' / 'All things'

Download: here

I've been to a marvellous party - The Divine Comedy

The Divine Comedy contributed a cover version of Noel Coward's 'I've been to a marvellous party' to the 1998 compilation album 'Twentieth Century Blues' to benefit the Red Hot AIDS Charitable Trust. Subsequently, the track was remixed by Trouser Enthusiasts, Sharp South Park, Floorgazm and Pink Noise for a promotional 12" single release, which was never made available commercially. As such, this 12" set was hard to come by.

Having become a fan of the remixes by Trouser Enthusiasts, it didn't take me long to order the set up from England. Within a week I was the proud owner of this set, which, aside from that Trouser Enthusiasts remix, consists mainly of loud bouncing noises...

My collection: 12" single no. 399

Found: Esprit Mail Order, UK, 1999

Cost: 15 pounds

Tracks: 'I've been to a marvellous party (Trouser Enthusiasts Formaldehyde Spritzer mix)' / 'I've been to a marvellous party (Sharp South Park Remix)' // 'I've been to a marvellous party (Floorgazm remix)' / 'I've been to a marvellous party (Pink Noise remix)'

Download: here