Nathan Jones - Bananarama

'Nathan Jones' was originally recorded by the Supremes in 1971. The song was covered by Bananarama in 1987 on their album Wow!, which included a version of the song as performed by the original trio.

After Siobhan Fahey left, she was replaced by Jacquie O'Sullivan. Bananarama re-recorded the song (with completely new vocal and instrumental arrangements) and dubbed it the Psycho Mix. This new version was initially included on vinyl and cassette issues of Greatest Hits Collection. It was then remixed and released as a single. This version is considered the "official" version of the song, and is the version used for the accompanying music video. 

This box set version of the single presents two badges and a nice little poster of the trio. It was released as a limited edition in order to boost sales. The strategy worked: the single peaked at number 15 on the UK singles chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 8496
Found: Discogs.com, received 4 November 2026
Tracks: 'Nathan Jones' / 'Once in a lifetime' 

The word girl - Scritti Politti

'The word girl' was released as the fourth single from Scritti Politti's 1985 album Cupid & Psyche 85. It turned out to be the band's biggest hit, peaking at number 6 in the UK singles chart. 

This shaped picture disc may have helped sales. It shows a photograph of the band, placed over what looks like a letter, which shows part of the lyrics of the song. The B-side of this picture disc shows an envelope, appropriately enough. It is quite astounding that the disc has survived so well after all this time. As you can hear, it is in excellent state.

My collection: 7" single no. 8495
Found: Discogs.com, received 4 November 2026
Tracks: 'The word girl' / 'Flesh and blood' 

I can't help it - Bananarama

'I can't help it' was written and recorded by Bananarama together with their producers Stock, Aitken and Waterman. The track was included on their fourth studio album Wow! (1987) and released as the third single off the album. The song does not sound very different from other Stock, Aitken and Waterman productions from around that time.

The sleeve photography was made by Herb Ritts and showed the three girls in a way they had never been shown before. The sexy looks were a far cry from their tomboyish image from the early Eighties. This gatefold sleeve edition also included a poster with several photographs taken during their adventures around the world.

My collection: 7" single no. 8494
Found: Discogs.com, received 4 November 2026
Tracks: 'I can't help it' / 'Ecstasy' 

Bed of nails - Alice Cooper

After Alice Cooper made a comeback of sorts with the single 'Poison', the album Trash sold really well and further singles were taken from that album. The second single was 'Bed of nails', and it was released on red vinyl.

It became the second hightest charting single from the album (after 'Poison', obviously), peaking at number 38 in the UK singles chart. The single was not released in the USA.

My collection: 7" single no. 8492
Found: Discogs.com, received 4 November 2026
Tracks: 'Bed of nails' / 'I'm your gun' 

Selections from the magnificent new longplayer 'Beauty Stab' - ABC

After the amazing success of ABC's debut album The Lexicon of Love, their 'difficult second album' syndrome kicked in. With Beauty Stab they went down a completely different road, incorporating a more rock-oriented sound instead of the glitzy sheen of their debut.

The album was promoted with a flexi disc, presenting short clips from the tracks 'Unzip', 'Love's a dangerous language', 'The power of persuasion', 'Bite the hand', 'King Money', 'SOS' and 'That was then, but this is now'.

My collection: 7" single no. 8490
Found: Discogs.com, received 3 November 2026
Tracks: 'Unzip', 'Love's a dangerous language', 'The power of persuasion', 'Bite the hand', 'King Money', 'SOS', 'That was then, but this is now'

I'm on automatic - Sharpe & Numan

Bill Sharpe and Gary Numan recorded the album Automatic in 1989 and this single was taken from the album. Like the album, the single wasn't a commercial success despite the lightweight pop that was contained in the album. This picture disc should have helped sales, but it didn't. 

'We've got nothing to lose really', Numan said at the time. 'Bill's still got Shakatak and I've still got my solo career. If we do an album together and it's successful, then it'll benefit both of us individually. If it's not successful, we've both got outside interests to go back to...'

My collection: 7" single no. 8488
Found: Discogs.com, received 3 November 2026
Tracks: 'I'm on automatic' / 'Love like a ghost'

Breakfast - The Associates

Although the sleeve of the regular 7" single of the Associates' 'Breakfast' is quite dull, this picture disc looks absolutely amazing. The photograph was also used for the album Perhaps, from which this song was taken.

For some time I was obsessed with this song, also because of the B-side, which presents a slightly longer instrumental version of the song. 

My collection: 7" single no. 8487
Found: Discogs.com, received 3 November 2026
Tracks: 'Breakfast' / 'Breakfast alone' 

Slave to the rhythm - Grace Jones

The epic 'Slave to the rhythm' was released in several formats and remixes through the years, but it all started with the single from 1985. Trevor Horn, who produced the single, made an entire album consisting of this one track in several different guises.

What I didn't know was that the single was also released as a picture disc in 1985. This picture disc is quite intriguing, since part of it is clear and the image of Grace Jones is the same on both sides (although it is obviously mirrored on the B-side). Some slight discoloration of the clear part of the disc doesn't ruin it for me; it's still a lovely item.

My collection: 7" single no. 8486
Found: Discogs.com, received 3 November 2026
Tracks: 'Slave to the rhythm' / 'Annihilated rhythm' 

Hypnotize - Scritti Politti

'Hypnotize' is a single from the album Cupid & Psyche 85 by Scritti Politti. The album was recently re-released with a few bonus tracks; mainly 12" versions of the singles from that album.

I wasn't aware that some of the singles were also released as picture discs, but I found out recently and started hunting for them. Fortunately they're not very expensive. This one is especially nice because the original sleeve was already beautiful and this slight variation makes it rather fun.

My collection: 7" single no. 8485
Found: Discogs.com, received 3 November 2026
Tracks: 'Hypnotize' / 'Hypnotize (version)' 

Don't look back - The Korgis

'Don't look back' by the Korgis could have been an epic hit single, but for some reason it didn't get to the charts. All this despite production duties by Trevor Horn and a beautiful melody. 

What's more, this single was released as a limited edition picture disc. While the regular single uses an illustration on the front cover, the illustration on this picture disc is different. A 12" single doesn't exist for this single, unfortunately.

My collection: 7" single no. 8484
Found: Discogs.com, received 3 November 2026
Tracks: 'Don't look back' / 'Xenophobia' 

The sun always shines on TV - A-ha

When A-ha were at the start of their career, they were involved in various promotional duties. They appeared in magazines in silly photoshoots and had to record 'special messages' for their fans. While they craved being taken seriously as artists, they were boxed in as 'teen idols' for most of the Eighties.

Documentary evidence of this was presented by No. 1 magazine in the UK. A special booklet was made in which they answered questions like 'What is your favourite Duran Duran song?' and 'Would you marry a girl who wasn't Norwegian?'. This flexi disc was added in the next issue of the magazine, on which the members of the band recorded a short message. Fortunately the disc also includes a dance mix of 'The sun always shines on TV'. The fact that it was edited from the original remix makes this rather a collectable item.

My collection: 7" single no. 5763
Found: Discogs.com, received 1 July 2016
Tracks: 'The sun always shines on TV (dance mix) [edited]' 

With one look (The wildest dream) - Rupert Hine & Cy Curnin

Rupert Hine was one of the world's best producers, having worked with Howard Jones, Noa and Stevie Nicks, among many others. He also released some very great singles on his own, like 'Blue flame' and 'Eleven faces'. The name Cy Curnin might not ring a bell with everyone, but he is the lead vocalist of the new wave band The Fixx. 

Together they recorded 'With one look (The wildest dream)' for the soundtrack of the movie Better Off Dead, a romantic teen comedy starring John Cusack. That soundtrack also featured a song called 'Arrested by you', performed by Rupert Hine. That song was later covered by Dusty Springfield.

My collection: 7" single no. 8482
Found: Discogs.com, received 28 October 2026
Tracks: 'With one look (The wildest dream)' / 'With one look (The wildest dream)'

Say you really want me - Kim Wilde

Last Friday a new deluxe edition of Kim Wilde's 1986 album Another Step was released, featuring 3 cd's en a dvd. It collects all the tracks she released in 1986 and 1987, including several versions of 'Say you really want me'. When I say 'several versions', I mean twelve versions. That's how much was released at the time, owing to the fact that it was first released in America and Canada, and a year later, in remixed form, in the UK.

One of the remixes was the so-called 'CHR version', released in the US and Canada in 1986. I was very pleased to find a Canadian promotional single of that version recently, and ordered it straight from Canada in fact. You'd think by now I had all of Kim Wilde's output, but of course I don't. 'Close', would be my best guess. 

My collection: 7" single no. 8481
Found: Discogs.com, received 28 October 2026
Tracks: 'Say you really want me (CHR version)' / 'She hasn't got time for you' 

Vox - Sarah McLachlan

Although I have the commercial version of Sarah McLachlan's 'Vox' on 7", it's always a pleasure to find rare promotional discs, and this one was released in Canada only. As usual for promotional discs, it features the same track on both sides, so that DJ's wouldn't inadvertedly play the B-side of the single.

Sarah went on to make many fabulous albums, but her debut still stands out as probably the most pure collection of her early songwriting craft. 

My collection: 7" single no. 8480
Found: Discogs.com, received 28 October 2026
Tracks: 'Vox (radio remix)' / 'Vox (radio remix)' 

Genghis Khan - Lam

George Lam is a singer, songwriter and actor from Hong Kong, born on 12 October 1947. His career spans more than four decades. 

In 1980 he released this single, featuring cover versions of 'Genghis Khan' and 'Y.M.C.A.' - in Chinese. Quite why these tracks were released in Germany is unknown, but I am pretty sure that an element of nationalism was there: 'Genghis Khan' was of course the German entry for the Eurovision Song Contest in 1978, and to have it covered in a different language must have been some compliment to the Germans. But perhaps there is a different explanation (I'd love to know it). Anyway, it's a great, curious single.

My collection: 7" single no. 8477
Found: 33 1/3 Schallplatten, Duisburg, 22 October 2026
Tracks: 'Genghis Khan' / 'Y.M.C.A.' 

Neutron dance - Pointer Sisters

'Neutron dance' by the Pointer Sisters was used in the movie Beverly Hills Cop, but I couldn't tell you where and if the song was even important for the story line. (My best guess is: probably not.)

The song features Ruth Pointer on lead vocals. She recalled: 'When I first heard 'Neutron Dance' I didn't want to sing it. I liked [its] rhythm and vigorous arrangement but to me the word 'neutron' had a violent connotation on account of the neutron bomb then so much in the news.' According to Ruth, she suggested to the songwriter Allee Willis that the lyric be modified: 'She told me to quit overthinking it and just sing the damn song! Luckily I shut up and listened. I gave 'Neutron Dance' a gospel feel and nailed it in a few takes.'

My collection: 7" single no. 8476
Found: 33 1/3 Schallplatten, Duisburg, 22 October 2026
Tracks: 'Neutron dance' / 'Telegraph your love' 

Don't let him steal your heart away - Phil Collins

For the first time in 15 years I bought a Phil Collins single again. And it's a beauty! 'Don't let him steal your heart away' is one of the best tracks of his second solo album Hello, I must be going. It was the third single off that album, although it was only released in the UK and Ireland. In Europe the track was the B-side of 'I don't care anymore', which for its passion and fury remains the best track off the album. 

The single only reached number 45 in the UK singles chart and number 18 in Ireland, which of course is a sad fact. This should have been top 5 at least!

My collection: 7" single no. 8475
Found: 33 1/3 Schallplatten, Duisburg, 22 October 2026
Tracks: 'Don't let him steal your heart away' / 'Thunder and lightning' 

I wasn't the one (who said goodbye) - Agnetha Fältskog (duet with Peter Cetera)

'I wasn't the one (who said goodbye)' is a duet by Agnetha Fältskog and American singer Peter Cetera, formerly the lead singer and bass guitar player for rock band Chicago. The track was recorded for Fältskog's third English language studio album I Stand Alone (1987). It was written by Mark Mueller and Aaron Zigman, with Cetera providing production. It was released on 22 February 1988 as the second single from the album. 

It proved arguably the album's biggest chart success, peaking at number 93 in the US Billboard Hot 100 chart. Finding this single was a bit of a surprise for me; it doesn't happen very often to find Agnetha singles other than the ones released from the previous album Wrap your arms around me.

My collection: 7" single no. 8472
Found: 33 1/3 Schallplatten, Duisburg, 22 October 2026
Tracks: 'I wasn't the one (who said goodbye)' / 'If you need somebody tonight'

Wings of a dove - Madness

My attempts to buy all the picture disc editions of Madness singles were stalling a bit, because ordering them online can become quite expensive, with shipping costs and import charges from the UK. Which is why I was happy to find one in a real shop.

The regular version of 'Wings of a dove' was released in a rather dull sleeve, but the picture disc is actually quite pretty. The B-side features a collage of band members, and the A-side shows, how appropriate, a dove. It must have helped sales: the single spent 10 weeks in the UK singles chart, peaking at number 2.

My collection: 7" single no. 8471
Found: 33 1/3 Schallplatten, Duisburg, 22 October 2026
Tracks: 'Wings of a dove' / 'Behind the 8 ball' 

Perfect game - Thompson Twins

If you know Thompson Twins from 'Hold me now' and 'Lay your hands on me', this single may come as a shock. Their early singles are certainly less polished. 

In 1981, the line-up consisted of Tom Bailey, Pete Dodd, John Roog and Chris Bell. Indeed, no sight of Alannah Currie and Joe Leeway yet, although Leeway did perform percussion on the album A product of..., where this single 'Perfect Game' came from. The single was released on 30 January 1981. It was the third of six consecutive singles that didn't chart at all. The band would finally find success with their seventh single, 'In the name of love'.

My collection: 7" single no. 8470
Found: 33 1/3 Schallplatten, Duisburg, 22 October 2026
Tracks: 'Perfect game' / 'Politics'