Ball of confusion - B.E.F. presents Tina Turner

I'm not particularly a fan of Tina Turner, but I bought a few B.E.F. singles before ('Anyone who had a heart' and 'I don't know why I love you (but I love you)') and they're always interesting. And so, here is B.E.F.'s version of 'Ball of confusion'. 

The song was originally a hit for The Temptations in 1970. It was written by Norman Whitfield and Barrett Strong. The lyrics list problems affecting the world, including crime, taxes and drugs, calling them a "ball of confusion." It was part of the group's "psychedelic soul" phase. Turner's synth-driven interpretation was taken from the B.E.F. 1982 album Music of Quality and Distinction Volume One. In Norway, this single peaked at number 5, though it didn't chart anywhere else.

My collection: 7" single 8294
Found: Record fair, Den Bosch, 11 April 2026
Tracks: 'Ball of confusion' / 'Ball of confusion (instrumental)'

Fernando / Dancing queen - Abba

The label BR Music specialized in releasing singles with hits from earlier decades. In 1986 they released this Abba single - a few years before Abba would be re-evaluated and re-appreciated thanks to the Abba Gold compilation album. As far as I know, it's one of very few singles released by a different record company than their own (Polydor or Epic). 

The single has become rare. In fact, I've seen it a couple of times at previous record fairs and the last one with one dealer who was asking 30 euros for it. Fortunately this time there was also another dealer who asked much less for this single - and so I snapped it up.

My collection: 7" single no. 8292
Found: Record fair, Den Bosch, 11 April 2026
Tracks: 'Fernando' / 'Dancing queen' 

Love is reason - A-ha

'Love is reason' was the first single to be released from A-ha's debut album Hunting high and low in april 1985. In 1984 they had released an unsuccesful first version of 'Take on me' - the song that would make them famous later on in 1985. This single, however, was only released in Norway.

Because of that, the single has become very collectable. After all, not many copies were pressed. Hence, copies online will cost you a few hundred euros. At last week's record fair I was lucky: I found a copy for much less. Either the dealer didn't know what he had, or he just wanted to get rid of this single. Anyway, I finally got the single I wanted to have for a long, long time!

My collection: 7" single no. 8291
Found: Record fair, Den Bosch, 11 April 2026
Tracks: 'Love is reason' / 'Dream myself alive' 

101 - Sheena Easton

I bought a copy of Sheena Easton's '101' a long time ago, but that was before I knew that there was also a UK edition with a poster sleeve. To find this version decades later was nothing less than a revelation for me. I've always liked these poster editions, and the fact that Sheila Rock's beautiful photograph of the Scottish singer is replicated here a few times is an added bonus. The single is also present here in its original picture sleeve.  

'101' was famously written and produced by Prince. The single reached number 54 in the UK singles chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 8290
Found: Record fair, Den Bosch, 11 April 2026
Tracks: '101' / '101 (instrumental)'

Every little kiss / The way it is - Bruce Hornsby & the Range

In the Eighties, it wasn't uncommon for record companies in the UK to release new singles by an artist bundled with the previous hit single. They were often shrinkwrapped together, but this package of Bruce Hornsby and the Range's 'Every little kiss' is something different: it's a gatefold sleeve with the artwork of both singles simply printed on opposing sides. Still, you got both singles by the band for the price of one.

'The way it is' is, of course, the song that will forever be Bruce Hornsby's finest hour, while 'Every little kiss' is a largely forgettable bop. 

My collection: 7" single no. 8289
Found: Record fair, Den Bosch, 11 April 2026
Tracks: 'Every little kiss' / 'The river runs low' // 'The way it is' / 'The red plains' 

She drives me crazy - Fine Young Cannibals

'She drives me crazy' is probably the best known track by the Fine Young Cannibals. It was a huge hit back in 1988 and you can still regularly hear it on the radio. What I didn't know was that there were so many different versions of the single. 

This version of the single comes in a silver sleeve (with a gray dot in the middle). It's like a grayscale version of the original sleeve design - with orange 'FYC' letters in the middle. I thought it was a beautiful version of the most familiar sleeve design, and the track, of course, can't be beat.

My collection: 7" single no. 8288
Found: Record fair, Den Bosch, 11 April 2026
Tracks: 'She drives me crazy' / 'Pull the sucker off' 

This is love - Gary Numan

'This is love' sounds like an strangely conventional title for a Gary Numan song, but it was really a single released by him in 1986. It was the lead single from his eighth studio album Strange Charm.

Early copies of the single included a free interview flexi disc, and I was lucky enough to score one of those at last week's record fair. The single was reasonably successful in the UK, reaching number 28 in the UK singles chart. 

My collection: 7" single no. 8287
Found: Record fair, Den Bosch, 11 April 2026
Tracks: 'This is love' / 'Survival' // '[Interview]' (flexi disc) 

Rules of the game - Bucks Fizz

When I saw this single at some dealer's stand, I didn't think I had it. Although I have a pretty complete collection of Bucks Fizz singles, it could have passed me by. But of course, I already have a copy of 'Rules of the game', but it's a German pressing.

This UK pressing comes in a funny gatefold sleeve, which presents facts about the group's career in a 'Game of the Goose' style. A limited edition like this should have pushed the sales somewhat, but in fact this single only managed to reach number 57 in the UK singles chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 8285
Found: Record fair, Den Bosch, 11 April 2026
Tracks: 'Rules of the game' / 'When we were at war' 

People are people - Depeche Mode

After my visit to the record fair last Saturday I was waiting for the bus to take us back to the station of Den Bosch and talked for a while with a German buyer. We both were pretty satisfied despite not having found many collector's items this time around. He told me that he bought the Depeche Mode 12" singles box containing the singles of the album Violator, but sold it after a few years because its value had tripled in the meantime.

I said I was collecting the red vinyl singles from the early days and he assumed that they had become very expensive too, since Depeche Mode fans are now at an age where they can spend more money on music. But fortunately, that isn't the case: I bought this red vinyl version of 'People are people' for a mere 5 euros. It looks like I might get the set complete, as long as I keep on searching, both online and offline.

My collection: 7" single no. 8284
Found: Record fair, Den Bosch, 11 April 2026
Tracks: 'People are people' / 'In your memory' 

80's romance - The Belle Stars

The Belle Stars were quite popular for a while in the first half of the Eighties, especially with their song 'Sign of the times', which was a top 3 hit in the UK. 

Their last hit was '80's romance', released in the summer of 1984. It only reached number 71 in the UK singles chart, but for some reason I remembered this song instantly when I saw this single during this weekend's record fair. It was actually the first time I saw this single; at least, I don't recall ever seeing it before. It's so nice to own a copy.

My collection: 7" single no. 8279
Found: Record fair, Den Bosch, 11 April 2026
Tracks: '80's romance' / 'It's me' 

Ten American girls - Bolland

The Bolland brothers made some excellent music and quite a few duds too. But when they were at the top of their game, they made 'Ten American girls'; a track that youngsters these days would call a 'banger'. I've had the 7" single for four decades now, but I was not aware that there was also a 12" single of this track. 

Until now, that is. I found this wonderful 12" single. pressed on clear yellow vinyl and featuring extended versions of both the A- and B-sides of the single! I quite like the extended version of 'Ten American girls', but the extended version of 'Night of the shooting stars' is even better, to be honest. Check it out!

My collection: 12" single [unnumbered]
Found: Record fair, Den Bosch, 11 April 2026
Tracks: 'Ten American girls (extended version)' / 'Night of the shooting stars (extended version)'

Eve's volcano - Julian Cope

Although I only own single by Julian Cope - Eve's volcano - it is such a brilliant song that I wouldn't mind hearing an extended version of it. I was in luck this weekend, because I found a 12" single of the track. Well, I thought I was lucky, because upon getting home I discovered that the disc was seriously warped. And that was caused by the extremely large poster included in the sleeve. It's a huge thing the size of an Underground poster, the kind you see all over London still these days. 

Fortunately I was able to find the tracks online, and so I have the doubtful honour of owning a disc I can't play with a poster that I don't really need. At least the item was cheap!

My collection: 12" single [unnumbered]
Found: Record fair, Den Bosch, 11 April 2026
Tracks: 'Eve's volcano (Vulcano Lungo)' / 'Spacehopper - Annexe', 'Almost beautiful child (I & II)'

Cloudbusting - Kate Bush

It seems appropriate that I managed to find a rare Kate Bush single this weekend, because today marks a small milestone in my own life which I will reveal more about later in the year. This South African copy of 'Cloudbusting' is a nice item to mark today with. 

I found it on a stand from a dealer who only had South African records, and this was the only Kate Bush item he had. It's a lovely copy with a wraparound sleeve and a disc with a small center hole. 'Cloudbusting' is, of course, one of the biggest songs of Kate's career and I will put this moment.... 
....here.

My collection: 7" single no. 8271
Found: Record fair, Den Bosch, 11 April 2026
Tracks: 'Cloudbusting' / 'Burning bridge'

A little peace - Nicole

Although I already own a UK pressing of Nicole's 'A little peace', I was quite surprised to find this version with a different, almost anonymous, sleeve. I must have seen it a few times before, but this time I was sure that I didn't own it already. And so I added it to my collection of Nicole's winning Eurovision song. It's her only song I own, but in many different versions.

The back sleeve features a small black and white photograph of the singer, along with the typo for the B-side: 'Thank you, mercy' - which of course should be 'merci', as in the French word for 'thank you'. I guess the British got confused.

My collection: 7" single no. 8270
Found: Record fair, Den Bosch, 11 April 2026
Tracks: 'A little peace' / 'Thank you, merci' 

Under attack - Abba

The very first item I found during the record fair in Den Bosch this weekend was this single by Abba. It's another copy of 'Under attack' - this time the UK pressing. UK pressings are always interesting, of course, and in this case the back of the sleeve features an advert for the compilation album The Singles - The First 10 Years. 

Maybe my collection of Abba singles is getting out of hand - but it's always a pleasure to find a version that I don't already have. 

My collection: 7" single no. 8269
Found: Record fair, Den Bosch, 11 April 2026
Tracks: 'Under attack' / 'You owe me one' 

Same old story - Ultravox

Just 31 years after I first bought 'Same old story' by Ultravox, I found this rather handsome picture disc of the same single. As far as I know it's the only picture disc they ever released with a band photo on it. Unfortunately, the line-up had shrunk to three persons at that time, because Warren Cann was dismissed, citing 'musical differences' at the time. In later years Midge Ure would reflect on that decision as 'a mistake'. 

The same could be said for the entire U-Vox album, which isn't a favourite among fans. Released after Ure's adventures around Band Aid and Live Aid, the album was a strange affair, mixing rock and folk influences but ditching most of the synth-based material that they had become famous for. 'Same old story' is a good example of that: it is not by any means a strong Ultravox track. But it's a pretty picture disc!

My collection: 7" single no. 8266
Found: Discogs.com, received 25 March 2026
Tracks: 'Same old story' / '3' 

Rovers return - Korgis

After 'Everybody's got to learn sometime' and 'If it's alright with you baby', I was totally surprised by the next Korgis single, 'Rovers return'. It was an instrumental piece with just a few dogs barking during it. I'm not exactly a dog lover, but the melody was strong enough to keep me hooked. It was the kind of synthpop I absolutely loved back in 1980 - and kept loving ever since. 

Through the years I've bought my fair share of 'Rovers return' singles: the original Dutch version, a French version and this version which features two singles on one disc. The latest addition is the original UK pressing, which is a double A-side with 'Wish you a merry Christmas'. It's a bit early for that. 

My collection: 7" single no. 8262
Found: De Waterput, Bergen op Zoom, 6 March 2026
Tracks: 'Rovers return' / 'Wish you a merry Christmas' 

The harder they come - Joe Jackson Band

'The harder they come' was originally written and recorded by Jimmy Cliff, who released it as a single in 1972. It was written for the movie of the same name. 

In 1980 Joe Jackson and his band recorded a cover version of the song. The single was not a hit in the UK, but reached number 35 in the Dutch Top 40. I remember the song from long ago and so I decided to buy the single when I came across a copy recently. 

My collection: 7" single no. 8261
Found: De Waterput, Bergen op Zoom, 6 March 2026
Tracks: 'The harder they come' / 'Out of style', 'Tilt' 

Won't you hold my hand now - King

The sleeve of this 7" single is similar to the American 12" single in my collection, but with green lettering instead of red. The B-side features a track that doesn't appear on that 12" single. 

The single made less of an impression than the biggest hit the band ever had, the ubiquitous 'Love and pride'. Ironically, the last single by King I bought - just last year - was also 'Won't you hold my hand now', but that was the 1985 re-release.

My collection: 7" single no. 8259
Found: Discogs.com, received 3 March 2026
Tracks: 'Won't you hold my hand now' / 'Endlessly' 

I could be happy - Altered Images

Clare Grogan was just seventeen years old when she started Altered Images with her bandmates Gerard "Caesar" McInulty (guitar), Michael "Tich" Anderson (drums), Tony McDaid (guitar), and Johnny McElhone (bass guitar). Two years later they had a big hit in the UK with the first single from their second album Pinky Blue. 

'I could be happy' is a song that always cheers you up with its bright sound and cheerful singing. This picture disc was released at the time to boost sales of the single, which ended up peaking at number 7 in the UK singles chart. 

My collection: 7" single no. 7944
Found: Discogs.com, received 25 March 2026
Tracks: 'I could be happy' / 'Insects'