One hello - Randy Crawford

Randy Crawford made a name for herself when she released 'One day I'll fly away' in 1980. It was a track from her fourth solo album Now we may begin. Her first three albums didn't get the amount of success this fourth album did. This was mainly thanks to her guest appearance on the track 'Streetlife' by the Crusaders. Further albums and singles got more recognition from the public.

'One hello' was the first single taken from her sixth album Windsong. The song became a minor hit, peaking at number 35 in the Dutch Top 40 and number 48 in the UK singles chart. 

My collection: 7" single no. 8452
Found: Plato, Leiden, 27 September 2026
Tracks: 'One hello' / 'That's how heartaches are made' 

Little Jackie wants to be a star - Lisa Lisa and Cult Jam

Lisa Lisa and Cult Jam formed after Lisa Velez auditioned for the production team Full Force at age 14. The group signed with Columbia Records, which released their debut single, 'I wonder if I take you home' in 1983 for the compilation album Breakdancing. The single eventually went gold in the United States. That same year, the group released their debut album, Lisa Lisa & Cult Jam with Full Force.

'Little Jackie wants to be a star' was released as a single off their third album Straight to the sky from 1989. The single reached number 5 in the Dutch Top 40, but only got to number 90 in the UK singles chart. In the US Billboard Hot 100, the single peaked at number 29.

My collection: 7" single no. 8450
Found: Plato, Leiden, 27 September 2026
Tracks: 'Little Jackie wants to be a star' / 'Star (The Jackie mix)' 

Masquerade - Sky

Inspired by classical music, Sky recorded several albums with their modern versions of compositions by various composers. Their best-known line-up featured two Australians - classical guitarist John Williams and electric guitarist Kevin Peek - alongside three Britons - bass player Herbie Flowers, drummer/percussionist Tristan Fry and keyboard player Francis Monkman. In 1980, Monkman was replaced by Steve Gray. In March 1982 they released their fourth album, and this single was taken from that one.

'Toccata' remains the band's only successful single, and I have to say that I never came across any other single by the band. Although I'd never heard 'Masquerade', I was intrigued enough to buy this single. The B-side, 'Fantasy', sounds more interesting, I have to say. According to Herbie Flowers, 'John was keen to do 'Fantasy' by Bach'. Turns out he had a good instinct.

My collection: 7" single no. 8448
Found: Plato, Leiden, 27 September 2026
Tracks: 'Masquerade' / 'Fantasy' 

Wonderful world, beautiful people - Amazulu

The reggae/ska/pop band Amazulu was started by Sharon Bailey and Lesley Beach, together with Rose Miner, the original lead singer. With Debbie Dread joining on drums, initially all the members were female. Miner was later replaced by Anne-Marie Ruddock, and Dread was replaced by John "Nardo" Bailey, whom they called their token male.

Their debut album Amazulu was quite successful, especially in New Zealand and Sweden. The biggest hit single taken from that album was 'Too good to be forgotten', originally recorded by the Chi-lites. By 1987, Ruddock and Bailey were the only members left and they released their second album Spellbound, which didn't chart. 'Wonderful world, beautiful people', a cover version of a song by Jimmy Cliff, was their final single, peaking at number 97 in the UK singles chart. 

My collection: 7" single no. 8447
Found: Plato, Leiden, 27 September 2026
Tracks: 'Wonderful world, beautiful people' / 'Wonderful world, beautiful people (instrumental)'

Superman - Vulcano

I bought a single by Vulcano recently ('Staying with it') and I enjoyed it enough to justify buying another one. 'Superman' was their second single after their debut 'Shut up and boogie' and it became their only English-language hit. 

The single entered the Dutch Top 40 on 24 October 1981 and reached number 29. After three more singles in English they switched to Dutch for the national final of the Eurovision Song Contest in the Netherlands. With 'Een beetje van dit' they would enjoy their only top 10 hit, causing them to stick with Dutch language songs for the rest of their career.

My collection: 7" single no. 8446
Found: Plato, Leiden, 27 September 2026
Tracks: 'Superman' / 'O-only you' 

Late in the evening - Paul Simon

'Late in the evening' was the lead single from Paul Simon's fifth studio album One Trick Pony, released in 1980. The song was praised for Simon's lyrics, the horn interlude, and the distinctive drum part, a New York City-style Cuban Mozambique drum groove by Steve Gadd. Gadd performed the part using two pairs of drumsticks – one in each hand – in order to give the impression of two drummers playing together.  

The single reached number 6 on the US Billboard Hot 100. In the UK singles chart it only reached number 58, but in the Dutch Top 40 it got to number 9. 

My collection: 7" single no. 8445
Found: Plato, Leiden, 27 September 2026
Tracks: 'Late in the evening' / 'One trick pony' 

Don't drive drunk - Stevie Wonder

Right now Stevie Wonder is planning a celebration of his seminal album Songs in the key of life with live performances, even in Europe. It's quite weird to hear this single knowing that he recorded a fair share of timeless classics, because 'Don't drive drunk' was certainly of its time, with the cheap samples and all.

The song was recorded for the soundtrack of the movie The Woman in Red, a romantic comedy written and directed by Gene Wilder with Kelly LeBrock and himself in the starring roles. The movie soundtrack also included Wonder's 'I just called to say I love you', which is regarded as an overload of cheese these days. 

My collection: 7" single no. 8443
Found: Plato, Leiden, 27 September 2026
Tracks: 'Don't drive drunk' / 'Don't drive drunk (instrumental)' 

Hungry eyes - Sheena Easton

Seven years ago I bought the Japanese single 'Hungry eyes' by Sheena Easton and when I wrote about it on this blog I already mentioned the original release of that single. Well, here it is, and indeed, this sleeve is slightly less pretty than the re-released version. But still, I am always impressed by the quality of those Japanese pressings.

'Hungry eyes' and the B-side 'Strut' appeared on Sheena's fifth studio album Private Heaven, released in September 1984. The album was certified platinum in Canada and the USA, but didn't chart in Europe. Mission accomplished, I guess: a few years later she was working with Prince.

My collection: 7" single no. 8431
Found: Discogs.com, received 24 September 2026
Tracks: 'Hungry eyes' / 'Strut' 

We kill the world - Boney M

Long before America put an aging psychopath in the White House, Russia started killing as many innocent humans as they could and billionaires developed robots and 'artificial intelligence', Boney M warned us that we were busy killing the world. Naively they thought that environmental issues would do the trick, but I think humans are more efficient at the moment. The message, anyway, is still relevant today. 

The song starts strong but changes halfway and turns into the saccharine 'Don't kill the world', sung by  Brian Paul. He was a young boy who together with his friend Brian Sletten eventually sang all of the children's vocals themselves. 

My collection: 7" single no. 8434
Found: Discogs.com, received 24 September 2026
Tracks: 'We kill the world (Don't kill the world)' / 'Boonoonoonoos' 

 

Gadda-da-vida - Boney M

When the Seventies turned into the Eighties, Boney M started releasing a bit more serious material. 'Children of paradise' was a bible story compressed in a few melodic minutes. I remember the song made a big impression on me, because the music sounded a bit threatening. I was only nine years old after all.

The Japanese preferred the other side, 'Gadda-da-vida', which was a cover of the 1968 psychedelic track 'In a gadda-da-vida' by Iron Butterfly. Buyers were encouraged to buy this single. After all, it was a "Pops & Disco Hit No. 1!!".

My collection: 7" single no. 8432
Found: Discogs.com, received 24 September 2026
Tracks: 'Gadda-da-vida' / 'Children of paradise'

Don't talk to me about love - Altered Images

'Don't talk to me about love' was released as the first single from Altered Images's third album Bite in 1983. The single reached the top 10 in three countries; number 7 in the UK, and number 6 in both Ireland and New Zealand. The song was their last major hit, as the next three singles only had moderate to minor chart placings.

The UK sleeve of the single is supposed to be some kind of art piece, but personally I like this Japanese sleeve a lot better: it's a photograph of the band's singer Clare Grogan in a pose similar to that on the album sleeve.

My collection: 7" single no. 8435
Found: Discogs.com, received 24 September 2026
Tracks: 'Don't talk to me about love' / 'Last goodbye' 

Sunglasses at night - Corey Hart

Corey Hart was born on 31 May 1962 in Montreal, Canada. Hart's debut album, First Offense, was recorded at Revolution Recording Studios in Manchester, England, in the spring of 1982. It was produced by Jon Astley, then best known for his work with The Who, and Phil Chapman. Released in 1983, First Offense featured the single 'Sunglasses at night'. 

The song features one of the most beautiful synth intros of the Eighties, but then flies off the rails a little when the screeching guitars come in. It's typical of the Eighties rock style, but this song has its own particular charm. It reached number 7 in the US Billboard Hot 100 and was a minor hit in Europe. I do remember the music video: it was on high rotation on those European satellite channels in 1984. 

My collection: 7" single no. 8430
Found: Discogs.com, received 24 September 2026
Tracks: 'Sunglasses at night' / 'At the dance' 

My friend Jack - Boney M

The Japanese branch of record company Atlantic decided to release 'My friend Jack' as the A-side of this single, whereas 'I see a boat on the river' was the A-side in Europe. The sleeve of this single remained largely the same, with a photograph of the group performing a song. 

Originally 'My friend Jack' was a song released by the English freakbeat group The Smoke in 1967. The song was written by all four members of the group: Geoff Gill, Mal Luker, Zeke Lund and Mick Rowley. The song seems to suggest the use of psychedelic drugs (specifically LSD) in lines such as 'My Friend Jack eats sugar lumps' and suggests traversing the world inside his mind (such as 'Been on a voyage, across an ocean').

When Boney M recorded the song, Zeke Lund was working as a sound engineer for their producer Frank Farian. Presumably he suggested the song for the group. 

My collection: 7" single no. 8433
Found: Discogs.com, received 24 September 2026
Tracks: 'My friend Jack' / 'I see a boat on the river' 

The wild life - Bananarama

Bananarama's 1984 single 'The wild life' was composed for and included in the 1984 American film of the same name. The song was released as a single in the U.S., Canada, Australia, and Japan only. The single actually peaked at number 70 in the US Billboard Hot 100 chart, thus becoming their second-biggest hit single up to that point, behind 'Cruel summer' (which reached number 9 in 1983). 

The trio was to become even more popular worldwide with their version of 'Venus', taken from their next album True confessions, which recently got the deluxe treatment and landed them back in the UK albums chart - in the top 10! 

My collection: 7" single no. 8441
Found: Discogs.com, received 24 September 2026
Tracks: 'The wild life' / 'State I'm in' 

 

Turn your back on me - Kajagoogoo

After Kajagoogoo lost their lead singer Limahl, they actually went from strength to strength. 'Turn your back on me' is one of the strongest songs in their catalogue, released as the third single from their second album - the first one without Limahl. The single only reached number 47 in the UK singles chart, but went to number 13 in the Dutch Top 40: their second-biggest hit after 'Too shy'. 

Nick Beggs, the bassplayer of the band who took over the lead vocal duties, went on to have success with various bands like Trifecta and the Mute Gods. He also played bass for Steve Hackett, Kim Wilde and Howard Jones among others. Kajagoogoo weren't taken very seriously in the Eighties, but he proved that he was one of the world's most gifted musicians anyway!

My collection: 7" single no. 8440
Found: Discogs.com, received 24 September 2026
Tracks: 'Turn your back on me' / 'The pump rooms of Bath' 

Tingalingaling - Luv

Maybe it's embarrassing, but I don't care: Luv was a nice girl trio at the end of the Seventies and under the production of Hans van Hemert they managed to release a handful of albums and singles that were poppy as hell. In my opinion they were a lot better than the Dolly Dots (twice the amount of girls, half the amount of appeal). 

This Japanese edition comes in a completely different sleeve when compared to the European one, and has a different B-side as well. It was actually their last single before they broke up and went their separate ways - before several reunions happened years later.

My collection: 7" single no. 8439
Found: Discogs.com, received 24 September 2026
Tracks: 'Tingalingaling' / 'Be my lover tonight'

Time after time - Cyndi Lauper

As long as I was ordering some singles from Japan, I thought I might as well pick up a few cheap ones in beautiful sleeves. Cyndi Lauper's ' Time after time'  was one of them. This sleeve was exclusive to Japan and shows the American singer in a dramatic pose.

'Time after time' was one of her biggest hits, peaking at number 1 in the US Billboard Hot 100 chart, while the single peaked at number 3 in the UK singles chart and number 5 in the Dutch Top 40. 

My collection: 7" single no. 8438
Found: Discogs.com, received 24 September 2026
Tracks: 'Time after time' / 'I'll kiss you' 

Don't go down that street - Culture Club

Culture Club's 'Don't go down that street' appears on the B-side of 'Love is love' and 'The medal song', but in Japan it was released as an A-side. And that's not surprising, given that there is some actual Japanese in the lyrics of this song!

The Japanese chatting was recorded by Miko, Boy George's friend at the time. The song was recorded especially to be a B-Side, after the other songs were recorded for the Waking up with the house on fire album. The B-side version clocks in on around six minutes, whereas the edited single version, found on this single, was released in Japan only.  

My collection: 7" single no. 8437
Found: Discogs.com, received 24 September 2026
Tracks: 'Don't go down that street' / 'Mistake no. 3' 

6 years of Boney M hits - Boney M

I bought '6 años de exitos de Boney M' in 2017 without realising that this single was actually released elsewhere as well. You can see it here: it's the Japanese single '6 years of Boney M hits'. It's still the same medley, but with a different B-side this time.

The sleeve of this single is interesting as well: it's a photograph of various Japanese sleeves from all the hits included in this medley. And with a picture like this, it becomes clear that I really have to have all these singles myself, obviously.

My collection: 7" single no. 8436
Found: Discogs.com, received 24 September 2026
Tracks: '6 years of Boney M hits' / 'Sad movies' 

 

Heaven knows - Jaki Graham

Jaki Graham's 'Heaven knows', the title track of her debut album, was originally released in 1984 as 'Heaven knows (feels so good)' with a different sleeve and a different B-side. This single, simply titled 'Heaven knows', is a re-release from 1985. 

The re-release was prompted by the success of her duet with David Grant, 'Could it be I'm falling in love', which reached number 5 in the UK singles chart. By comparison, 'Heaven knows' didn't do that well: it only reached number 59 in September 1985. Still, it was an improvement on the number 80 a year earlier!

My collection: 7" single no. 8429
Found: De Waterput, Bergen op Zoom, 17 September 2026
Tracks: 'Heaven knows' / 'Who's making up your mind'