Boogie Wonderland - Earth Wind & Fire

I posted my 12" single of Earth Wind & Fire's 'Boogie Wonderland' just two weeks ago, a few days before I ordered this 7" single. I didn't know I didn't have the 7" single, but as I was writing that piece, I found out. It was a pleasure to correct this small omission.

The 7" single is, obviously, shorter than the 12" single. The full length version is 8'30 minutes, whereas the single edit is just 5 minutes. The instrumental version on the B-side is just 50 seconds shorter than its 12" counterpart.

My collection: 7" single no. 5290
Found: Fun Records, Berlin, received February 1, 2012
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Boogie wonderland' / 'Boogie wonderland (instrumental)'

Boogie Wonderland - Earth Wind & Fire

Released in 1979, 'Boogie Wonderland' became a signature song for the band Earth Wind & Fire. The track featured female soul and R&B singing group The Emotions and became a worldwide hit after its single release.

This 12" single features the full length version of 'Boogie Wonderland'. According to the label, it should clock in at 9'30 minutes but it is in fact a minute shorter than that. A mere typo? Who knows. As for the lyric of the song... Can you guess the first few lines being sung here?

My collection: 12" single no. 300
Found: Plaatboef, Rotterdam, 1994
Cost: 5 guilders
Tracks: 'Boogie wonderland' / 'Boogie wonderland (instrumental)'

Dance Classics: the party mix - Various artists

The Arcade label was very successful with compilation albums of old hits. It made their albums chart hits and its boss, who would later go into politics for purely selfish reasons of course, very rich. One of their staples was the 'Dance Classics' series. In fact, it was such a hype that it spawned a few singles as well. The first two, released in 1990, were mixed by Ben Liebrand, and reached the Dutch Top 40.

This single was released two years later and didn't chart at all. The mixers, Koen Groeneveld and Addy van der Zwan weren't as wellknown as Liebrand, and by 1992, the concept was hardly new. Still, it included a few timeless dance classics by Dan Hartman and the Jacksons.

My collection: 7" single no. 5117
Found: Backtrack, Antwerpen, June 9, 2011
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Dance Classics - The Party Mix' / 'Dance Classics - Party groove'

September - Earth Wind and Fire

Groups like Earth, Wind & Fire don't really exist anymore, I think. Looking at this sleeve, it's hard to imagine how these nine people resolved issues like wages, dinner and successful group photos. Look closely at this one: at least two of them have their eyes closed.

'September' (Yes, I had to put it up this month) was recorded during the sessions for the album 'I am', but released ahead of the album. It reached number 2 in the US Billboard Hot 100 chart and number 3 in the UK singles chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 3209
Found: Record fair, Amsterdam, September 30, 2000
Cost: 1 guilder
Tracks: 'September' / 'Can't hide love'

After the love has gone - Earth Wind and Fire

'After the love has gone' was a 1979 hit single for Earth Wind & Fire, taken from their 1979 album 'I am'. In America, the song was nominated for a Grammy for Record of the Year and won for Best R&B Vocal Performance by a Duo or Group.

The single sold over a million copies in the USA alone, peaking at number 2 in the US Billboard Hot 100, number 4 in the UK singles chart and a relatively low number 20 in the Dutch Top 40.

My collection: 7" single no. 3288
Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, February 24, 2001
Cost: 1 guilder
Tracks: 'After the love has gone' / 'Rock that!'

Let's groove - Earth Wind and Fire

In 1981, Earth Wind & Fire released their album 'Raise!'. From this album, the single 'Let's groove' was taken. The song peaked at number 3 in the UK and USA and number 5 in the Netherlands. The song was nominated for a Grammy in the category 'Best R&B Vocal performance by a duo or group'.

I was never a fan of Earth Wind & Fire during their heyday, but like many songs from the Eighties, I started to like them in hindsight.

My collection: 7" single no. 3924
Found: Record Exchange, London, August 5, 2009
Cost: 50p
Tracks: 'Let's groove' / 'Let's groove (instrumental)'

Fall in love with me - Earth Wind and Fire

'Fall in love with me' was written by Wayne Vaughn and Wanda Vaughn. It was released in 1982 as a single from Earth Wind & Fire's 1983 album 'Powerlight'. The single peaked at number 47 in the UK singles chart and number 11 in the Dutch Top 40.

'Fall in love with me' was also nominated for a Grammy in the category Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals.

My collection: 7" single no. 3889
Found: Plaatboef, Rotterdam, July 20, 2009
Cost: 0,25 euro
Tracks: 'Fall in love with me' / 'Lady sun'