Showing posts with label Eighties. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Eighties. Show all posts

Sunday, 20 July 2025

Kids in America - Kim Wilde

Since I am catching up on older acquisitions, I think it's time I highlight my Japanese pressings of Kim Wilde singles. I started last week with the exclusive release 'Take me tonight', and today I went for her debut single, the immortal 'Kids in America'. 

On the internet there's the recurring debate about the line 'New York to East California' in the song, with people wondering why exactly Kim chose to sing about East California while there's really nothing there to sing about. The simple explanation given by dad Wilde, who wrote the song, was that it sounded better than 'West California'. In pop, things usually are that simple.

In Japan, 'Kids in America' was released twice, and with different sleeves. In the absence of any chart data I have to assume that the first release wasn't successful enough, and so the record company went for a re-release after worldwide success became evident. 

My collection: 7" single no. 1838 / no. 3340
Found: Record fair, Amsterdam, 23 January 1993 / Ebay, 2001
Tracks: 'Kids in America' / 'Tuning in tuning on'  

Voy a volverme loco - Chris Rea

Chris Rea's single 'Fool (if you think it's over)' was released in 1978 and became quite successful. Although it only reached number 30 in the UK singles chart and number 25 in the Dutch Top 40, it also reached number 12 in the US Billboard Hot 100, which gave the singer the status of a 'one hit wonder' over there.

In 1980 he recorded a Spanish version of the song. 'Voy a volverme loco' was released in Spanish-speaking countries. This promotional single is a welcome addition to my collection, even if I already owned this version on CD.

My collection: 7" single no. 7728
Found: Discogs.com, received 15 July 2025
Tracks: 'Voy a volverme loco' / 'Three angels

Saturday, 19 July 2025

Mix - Cock Robin

I thought I had every Cock Robin single known to man, but then I spotted this Spanish release some time ago. Getting hold of a copy wasn't simple, because I tend to wait until the price goes down and/or the seller has more interesting releases to buy (in order to slash the relative shipping costs). 

I got lucky earlier this month, so now I can finally say that I own 'Mix', the most peculiar Cock Robin single out there. It is a medley of their three hit singles, and honestly I think it was mixed together in a slightly amateurish way. I wonder if the band approved the release back in 1986.  

My collection: 7" single no. 7726
Found: Discogs.com, received 15 July 2025
Tracks: 'Mix'

Thursday, 17 July 2025

What have you done for me lately - Janet Jackson

Janet Jackson shot to instant worldwide fame when she released 'What have you done for me lately' in 1986. It was the lead single for her third album Control, but the previous two albums didn't score as high as that one would. Of course she profited a little from the stellar popularity of her brother Michael, but engaging Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis for the album was also a smart move. They gave her the right sound for the mid-Eighties.

Back in 1993 I bought the UK pressing of this single, featuring a different sleeve and a different B-side. This European edition has another track from the album on the B-side and the sleeve that most people will recognize.

My collection: 7" single no. 7721
Found: Kay's Outlet, Wagenberg (Netherlands), 12 July 2025
Tracks: 'What have you done for me lately' / 'He doesn't know I'm alive

Wednesday, 16 July 2025

I'm not perfect (but I'm perfect for you) - Grace Jones

There's no-one quite like Grace Jones. She's got a few classic songs to her name, and the album Inside story (1986) was an attempt to add a few more. That album didn't really get that legendary status, despite the involvement of Nile Rodgers.

However, the album did contain a few nice pop songs, and this was one of them. The song came from an idea that Jones and Mick Jagger had "when you are famous, and having to be as perfect for your partner as you are as a performer"; one of the pair did one line and the other followed. Although they only got as far as the title, Jones told Jagger that she would go away and develop it into a song imagining what her and Jagger would have said. 

My collection: 7" single no. 7720
Found: Kay's Outlet, Wagenberg (Netherlands), 12 July 2025
Tracks: 'I'm not perfect (but I'm perfect for you)' / 'Scary but fun'

Electric circus - Spectral Display

I wasn't actively searching for this single, but when I saw it I immediately realized I had something pretty rare. And indeed it is: it's the final Spectral Display single to complete the series - I now have all of them (although I am still after a few different formats). Of the five, this is probably the most unexpected one, because 'Electric circus' is a fully instrumental track!

Spectral Display came to prominence in 1982 with 'It takes a muscle to fall in love', a single I bought soon after it came out. I only heard 'There's a virus going round' over a decade after it came out, but that made me curious about this band and I started collecting their singles after that. If you like electronic music, this should pique your interest.

My collection: 7" single no. 7718
Found: Kay's Outlet, 12 July 2025
Tracks: 'Electric circus' / 'Sailor

Suddenly - Olivia Newton-John & Cliff Richard

The duet 'Suddenly' was a love theme for the movie Xanadu, which premiered in 1980. The song was performed by two big stars: Olivia Newton-John and Cliff Richard. The single reached number 15 in the UK singles chart and number 20 in the US Billboard Hot 100 chart. Surprisingly, it didn't chart at all in the Netherlands.

The B-side, 'You made me love you', performed by Olivia, didn't appear on the soundtrack album for Xanadu, although it did appear in the movie. 

My collection: 7" single no. 7717
Found: Kay's Outlet, Wagenberg (Netherlands), 12 July 2025
Tracks: 'Suddenly' / 'You made me love you

Tuesday, 15 July 2025

Take me tonight - Kim Wilde

Although I own a lot of Kim Wilde records (and I do mean a lot) most of them have never featured on this blog. Which kind of distorts the image of my collection, so I plan to rectify that in the weeks to come. Although I won't bore you with the many different pressings of certain singles, I should really point out the weird variations and, of course, 12" singles that I own.

This single is a great one to start off with. 'Take me tonight' was released in Europe and the UK as the B-side of 'View from a bridge', but in Japan it was promoted to the A-side, because the song was used at the end of the movie Shadow (or Tenebrae as it was called elsewhere) - although that happened without director Dario Argento's consent. His dismay was loud and clear on a commentary track when the movie was released on DVD decades later. 

My collection: 7" single no. 1611
Found:  Record fair, Amsterdam, 28 March 1992
Tracks: 'Take me tonight' / 'View from a bridge'

The best of 1987 - Europe, Spagna, Cock Robin, Johnny Logan

I've never seen this EP before, and that may be because it was a special product for Johnson & Co. I don't know the company, but they had CBS make them this compilation with four tracks they present als 'the best of 1987'. Well, not necessarily, but there are a few nice tracks on there.

Most importantly for a Eurovision collector is Johnny Logan's 'Hold me now', the song that caused him to win the Contest for the second time. Cock Robin's 'Just around the corner' is a nice piece of mellow pop, and 'Call me' was a bit of a hype back in 1987 with its Euro Dance vibe. Europe's 'Rock the night' is probably the most dodgy track on here, with its lazy lyrics: 'Rock now, rock the night / 'Til early in the morning light / Rock now, rock the night / Whoa-oh, whoa-oh'. It's a far cry from the era-defining 'The final countdown'. But that was 1986. 

My collection: 7" single no. 7714
Found: Kay's Outlet, Wagenberg (Netherlands), 12 July 2025
Tracks: 'Rock the night' (Europe), 'Call me' (Spagna) / 'Just around the corner' (Cock Robin), 'Hold me now' (Johnny Logan) 

Lucifer (and Mammagamma) - Andrew Powell and the Philharmonia Orchestra

So this is an interesting find. 'Lucifer' is of course the fascinating instrumental track by the Alan Parsons Project, which has been featured on this blog quite recently. In 1983 Andrew Powell and the Philharmonia Orchestra released an album of versions of Alan Parsons Project tracks. Hearing those tracks in an orchestral setting is quite exciting. 

This single presents two of the tracks: 'Lucifer' (mixed with 'Mammagamma') and 'Time'. The latter was originally a vocal track, but this version is entirely instrumental. I'm not necessarily a fan of the Alan Prasons Project, but 'Lucifer' is an outstanding piece of music and it sounds pretty impressive here.

My collection: 7" single no. 7713
Found: Kay's Experience, Wagenberg (Netherlands), 12 July 2025
Tracks: 'Lucifer (and Mammagamma) (edited version)' / 'Time

Every little thing she does is magic - The Police

Although I bought a lot of singles by the Police through the years, amazingly this Dutch number one hit was still missing. Although the song was recorded in 1981, Sting wrote it in early 1977 around the time of the Silver Jubilee of Elizabeth II, prior to the formation of the Police. His split from his wife, Frances Tomelty, was controversial; as The Independent reported in 2006, Tomelty "just happened to be Trudie [Styler]'s best friend (Sting and Frances lived next door to Trudie in Bayswater, West London, for several years before the two of them became lovers)". 

In a 2025 interview, Sting revealed that Trudie Styler, whom he later married and is still married to, was his inspiration for the song.

My collection: 7" single no. 7712
Found: Kay's Experience, Wagenberg (Netherlands), 12 July 2025
Tracks: 'Every little thing she does is magic' / 'Shambelle

Monday, 14 July 2025

Controversy - Prince

Prince released 'Controversy' in September 1981 as the lead single and title track to his fourth album (1981). The song was written and produced by him, and addresses speculation about Prince at the time such as his sexuality, gender, religion, and racial background, and how he could not understand the curiosity surrounding him. Prince played almost all the instruments on the track, except perhaps some drums by Morris Day and backing vocals by Lisa Coleman.

The single reached number 70 in the US Billboard Hot 100, but only reached the chart in the UK when it was re-released in 1993. 

My collection: 7" single no. 7711
Found: Kay's Experience, Wagenberg (Netherlands), 12 July 2025
Tracks: 'Controversy' / 'When you were mine

Rette mich - Nena

When I received this Amiga EP featuring four Nena tracks, I realized that the only single that I didn't have was 'Rette mich'. I was planning the trip I made to Wagenberg last Saturday and I figured that 'the biggest record store of the Netherlands' might actually have a copy. And so they did! It made me smile, because it actually completes my subcollection of Nena singles as far as I know.

'Rette mich' was released as the second single from the band's album ? (Fragezeichen) and became a big hit in Germany, Switzerland and Austria. In the Netherlands it was the band's first single not to reach the Dutch Top 40.

My collection: 7" single no. 7709
Found: Kay's Experience, Wagenberg (Netherlands), 12 July 2025
Tracks: 'Rette mich' / 'Susi K.'

Sunday, 13 July 2025

I'm the one who really loves you - Mel & KIm

Although this single was never relased with a picture sleeve, it is still a pretty essential addition to any Mel & Kim collection. It features two edits of remixes of 'I'm the one who really loves you', a track from the duo's only album F.L.M. The single was released in the USA only, which is logical when you listen to these remixes - unfortunately they get rid of most of the charm of the original version. 

The remixes were included in the Singles box set that was released in 2019. But obviously it is always good to have the original vinyl single. It's an item I've wanted to have for quite some time - and here it is!

My collection: 7" single no. 7706
Found: Discogs.com, received 11 July 2025
Tracks: 'I'm the one who really loves you (Vocal/Pop radio mix)' / 'I'm the one who really loves you (Vocal/Hip hop radio mix)'

Blasphemous rumours / Somebody - Depeche Mode

Back in 1984, Depeche Mode released two great songs as a double A-side. 'Blasphemous rumours' explored the industrial sound the band had pioneered to great effect on their album Some great reward, whereas 'Somebody' was a fragile ballad, which according to rumours was sung by Martin Gore in the studio after having shed all his clothes. Make of that what you will.

 German buyers were lucky: the first edition of the single was released on red vinyl. These red vinyl editions of Depeche Mode's earlier singles are now highly sought after collectibles, to the point where I think the price has gone up too high. This copy with its tattered sleeve and scratchy vinyl was more affordable, so I went with this one.

My collection: 7" single no. 7704
Found: Discogs.com, received 5 July 2025
Tracks: 'Blasphemous rumours' / 'Somebody (remix)

Tuesday, 8 July 2025

Amiga Quartett - Münchener Freiheit

The German band Münchener Freiheit actually achieved some success internationally as Freiheit, with hits like 'Keeping the dream alive', 'Baby it's you' and 'Play it cool'. All three are represented here, but in their original German versions ('So lang' man Träume noch leben kann', 'Tausendmal du' and 'Herz aus Glas' respectively). The only song that didn't get an English translation as far as I know was 'Ohne Dich', but that one became a hit for Dutch singer Erik Mesie, who translated the song into Dutch as 'Zonder jou'. 

This is another attractive Amiga Quartett EP featuring four hit songs. I can only assume that the songs were received favourably in the Eastern part of Germany at the time as well.

My collection: 7" single no. 7703
Found: Discogs.com, received 5 July 2025
Tracks: 'So lang' man Träume noch leben kann', 'Herz aus Glas' /  'Ohne dich (schlaf' ich heut' nacht nich ein)', 'Tausendmal du'

Monday, 7 July 2025

Amiga Quartett - Fine Young Cannibals

Another Amiga Quartett EP and this time it's the Fine Young Cannibals with a selection of their biggest hits. It's a nice quartet this time, consisting of four singles that were taken from the album The Raw & the Cooked from 1989. 

In 1990 the last Quartetts were released, since West and East Germany ended the 'iron curtain' era and the state-run record company from the Eastern part, Amiga, ceased to exist. The last interesting EP - for me at least - was the next one, by the Bangles. But I bought that one last year. 

My collection: 7" single no. 7700
Found: Discogs.com, received 5 July 2025
Tracks: 'She drives me crazy', 'I'm not satisfied' / 'Ever fallen in love', 'Good thing

Sunday, 6 July 2025

Amiga Quartett - Boney M

Is Boney M still Boney M without Bobby Farrell? I've always had my doubts. He was sacked from the group by the end of 1981, and the band soldiered on with Reggie Tsiboe, a Ghanaian-British singer who previously was a member of the group Sugarcane, who had a hit in 1978 with 'Montego Bay'. 

'Kalimba de luna', released in 1984 is a decent track and pretty well performed too. Still, with this single and the tracks that appear on this Amiga Quartett EP the group failed to attract as many record buyers as before. By 1986, the band fell apart. 

My collection: 7" single no. 7701
Found: Discogs.com, received 5 July 2025
Tracks: 'Kalimba de luna', 'Felicidad' / 'My Chérie Amour', 'Consuela Biaz

Irgendwie, irgendwo, irgendwann - Nena

My little subcollection of Amiga Quartett EP's continues with this release of Nena's hit singles from 1984. The title track, 'Irgendwie, irgendwo, irgendwann' may sound more familiar than most tracks on this one, becuase it also became a hit in English as 'Anyplace, anywhere, anytime' as a duet with Kim Wilde in 2003. 

The four other tracks were all released separately as singles in the West, but in the German Democratic Republic this EP would have to do. It's a great selection, actually, because these Quartett's often also included B-sides or album tracks. 

My collection: 7" single no. 7699
Found: Discogs.com, received 5 July 2025
Tracks:  'Irgendwie, irgendwo, irgendwann', '? (Fragezeichen)' / 'Rette mich', 'Lass mich dein Pirat sein'

Monday, 23 June 2025

Julie - Arne Jansen & les Cigales

Back in the summer of 1983, 'Julie' by Daniel was the summer hit of the year. The Yugoslavian entry for that year's Eurovision Song Contest made it to fourth place on the scoreboard and subsequently became a big hit in several European countries.

And at the time there were plenty artists who thought they could profit from the song's success as well. Enter Arne Jansen, a moderately successful Dutch singer, who with his support group Les Cigales recorded a version of the song in Dutch. The lyrics were provided by record company mogul Johnny Hoes, who conveniently also ran Arne Jansen's record company Telstar. A hit was born: this version of 'Julie' made it to number 28 in the Dutch Top 40.

My collection: 7" single no. 7696
Found: Record fair, Rotterdam, 15 June 2025 
Tracks: 'Julie' / 'Lorelei'

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