Happy - Michael Jackson

With Michael Jackson being at the top of his game in the Eighties, his former record company Motown were all too eager to make some money off his name. They re-released a handful of his songs from the Seventies, and one of them was 'Happy'. 

In order to boost sales, they made a limited edition of this single with a poster sleeve. It's a version I wanted to have for some time now, and I finally found it. The B-side is a rather more famous Michael Jackson song, 'We're almost there'. 

My collection: 7" single no. 7517
Found: Discogs.com, received 6 December 2024
Tracks: 'Happy' / 'We're almost there'

Primary - The Cure

The Cure have finally released a new album, and it made me curious about their output all over again. Then I started to realise that I don't have all of their singles - and I'm not even familiar with all of them. I heard 'Primary' and decided that I wanted to have that single.

It was actually the only single taken from their album Faith, released in 1981. It was their seventh single, but only the second to chart in the UK after 'A forest'. It only reached number 43. The song is unusual in that both Simon Gallup and Robert Smith play bass, with the effects pedals on Smith's giving the leads a unique sound. There are no guitars (other than bass) or keyboards played in the song. 

My collection: 7" single no. 7480
Found: Discogs.com, received 28 November 2024
Tracks: 'Primary' / 'Descent'

Strange - Boney M

Like the title indicates, this single is indeed strange. In Germany, the B-side 'Felicidad' was released as a single, and it was quite successful too. However, a few months after its release, the B-side became the A-side and 'Strange' saw the light of day.

'Strange' was originally recorded by Dobby Dobson in 1969. He was a Jamaican reggae singer and producer who released over a hundred singles between the Sixties and Nineties. Dobson died on July 21 2020 from COVID-19 in Florida, aged 78.

My collection: 7" single no. 7479
Found: Discogs.com, received 28 November 2024
Tracks: 'Strange' / 'Felicidad'

Du kennst die Liebe nicht - Nena

As popular as Nena was in Germany during the first half of the Eighties, things became a lot quieter when the year 1984 arrived. Most of their singles didn't chart, and although the album 'Feuer und Flamme' reached number 2 in the German albums chart, the singles didn't fare as well. The title track made it to number 8, 'Haus der drei Sonnen' scraped to number 43 and the two remaining singles didn't even chart. 

The last single taken from the album was 'Du kennst die Liebe nicht', released in 1985. The single features a live version of the same track on the B-side.

My collection: 7" single no. 7475
Found: Discogs.com, received 28 November 2024
Tracks: 'Du kennst die Liebe nicht' / 'Du kennst die Liebe nicht (live)'

Lola (live) - The Kinks

Around the time of John Lennon's death, the Kinks released a live version of their song 'Lola'. I remember this quite vividly, because a picture of the sleeve appeared in the printed version of the Dutch Top 40 and I always thought it was an image of a big cross. It seemed like quite a biblical sleeve. Of course, upon closer inspection - weeks later - I saw this was actually a live photograph of Ray Davies!

I didn't really like the song a lot back then, but as things go, you get to appreciate things decades later sometimes. And the added attraction of a colour vinyl edition - in this case, blue - also helped. And so I was glad to find a good copy, finally, after having failed to do so for a few years. The fact that the single arrived together with that Beatles one, really made my day.

My collection: 7" single no. 7464
Found: Discogs.com, received 21 November 2024
Tracks: 'Lola (live)' / 'Celluloid heroes'

Meneer Tarzan - Rubberen Robbie

Dutch music is a strange beast. These days there aren't that many artists from the Netherlands that I enjoy, but back in the Eighties there seemed to be more creativity all around. Rubberen Robbie was a group that seemed to enjoy making parodies on wellknown songs, combined with humour all about being without a job and having to depend on benefits. 

'Meneer Tarzan' ('Mister Tarzan') is about someone who decides to leave the country and go living in the jungle. It is the chance to "finally meet mister Tarzan". It turns out that Tarzan has become quite old and is looking for his dentures. Sounds weird? Well, yes, and it's set to the tune of 'It ain't what you do, it's the way that you do it'. 

My collection: 7" single no. 7460
Found: Kringloop, Den Haag, 16 November 2024
Tracks: 'Meneer Tarzan' / 'Opa, ik zie tranen op uw wangen'

Heart of stone - Bucks Fizz

Bucks Fizz had a succesful decade - the Eighties - but by the end of that decade things were starting to unravel. 'Heart of stone' was the group's 20th single and their last one to chart, reaching number 50 on the UK singles chart.

It was included in their greatest hits collection The Story So Far, released shortly after the release of this single, but since the single didn't get that high up in the singles chart, other recordings never saw the light of day. After that, Bucks Fizz fragmented and at some point there were even two versions of the group. Some members are still soldiering on as 'The Fizz' right now, but the old Eighties magic is long gone.

As for 'Heart of stone', it became a hit for Cher, who recorded it for her 1989 album of the same name.

My collection: 7" single no. 7454
Found: Discogs.com, received 13 November 2024
Tracks: 'Heart of stone' / 'Here's looking at you'

Land of La La - Stevie Wonder

I wouldn't exactly qualify this single as one of Stevie Wonder's best songs, but even an average Stevie Wonder song beats most other artists' output. 'Land of La La' is a song best described as 'wordy', because the lyrics - printed on the back cover of this single - take up most of the space there.

The song was written, produced and arranged by Stevie himself. Although the single was released worldwide, it only reached number 86 in the US Billboard Hot 100 and failed to chart everywhere else.

My collection: 7" single no. 7453
Found: Discogs.com, received 12 November 2024
Tracks: 'Land of La La' / 'Land of La La (instrumental)'

Bombers in the sky - Thompson Twins

Thompson Twins had reached the peak of their career in the mid-Eighties, but things weren't so successful when the decade drew to an end. The album Big Trash couldn't match the success of Into the gap, and the song 'Bombers in the sky' wasn't even released commercially in the UK. It passed most of Europe by also, by the way.

Cue the Spanish record company WEA, who created this promotional 7" single. It features the same song on both sides. This disc represents the only European 7" vinyl of the track.

My collection: 7" single no. 7451
Found: Record fair, Den Bosch, 9 November 2024
Tracks: 'Bombers in the sky' / 'Bombers in the sky'

Nee, je moet het je broer laten doen - Rubberen Robbie

Last month my brother passed away and it was one of those things you expect to happen, except you just don't know when exactly. He wasn't an easy person to live with, my brother, and during these last few years there were multiple complications with his declining health and a big (and I do mean BIG) collection having to move from one house to another. It was a huge undertaking. 

With most of the moving done, he passed away. I faced another apartment that needs to be emptied out - by someone or another. I remembered this little single, hiding away in my collection. I don't often post Dutch music on my blog, because listeners overseas can't really understand the music, but this one by the group Rubberen Robbie was too appropriate for my recent predicament. 'Nee, je moet het je broer laten doen' ('No, you must let your brother do it') is something that came back in my head almost instantly. 

My collection: 7" single no. 930
Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, 1989
Tracks: 'Nee, je moet het je broer laten doen' / 'Onder me klomp'

Ik wil gelukkig zijn - Micha Marah

Micha Marah participated in the Eurovision Song Contest in 1979 with the song 'Hey nana'. She never recorded the song, until last year. Unfortunately it wasn't released on a 7" single.

In 1986 she did record a Eurovision song: a cover version of 'Über die Brücke geh'n' in Dutch. In this version it is called 'Ik wil gelukkig zijn' ('I want to be happy'). 

My collection: 7" single no. 7447
Found: Record fair, Den Bosch, 9 November 2024
Tracks: 'Ik wil gelukkig zijn' / 'Iedere dans'

Wenn ich dich verlier - Hoffman & Hoffmann

Alan Sorrenti represented Italy at the Eurovision Song Contest in 1980 with 'Non so che darei'. The song had a certain hit potential, and this was recognized by other artists as well. Some years before Hoffman & Hoffman would represent Germany at the same event, they recorded a cover version of the song in German.

'Wenn ich dich verlier' was given German lyrics by Bernd Meinunger and released as a single by the German duo.

My collection: 7" single no. 7433
Found: Record fair, Den Bosch, 9 November 2024
Tracks: 'Wenn ich dich verlier' / 'Nimm den nächtsten Zug nach Wuppertal'

Suspicious minds - Fine Young Cannibals

Quite in contrast with the frankly dull sleeve of the Fine Young Cannibals' single 'Suspicious minds', this picture disc actually shows the band as they were in the music video accompanying the release. It makes me wonder why the record company didn't use this imagery for the 'regular' single release as well. 

'Suspicious minds' is, of course, a cover version of the Elvis Presley song. The track was used in the cult films Dangerously close and Down twisted. 

My collection: 7" single no. 7430
Found: Record fair, Den Bosch, 9 November 2024
Tracks: 'Suspicious minds' / 'Prick up your ears'

2300 Jackson Street - The Jacksons

While Michael Jackson was enjoying the biggest success of his career after leaving The Jacksons, the other brothers soldiered on while enduring a lot less success than what they had before the Eighties. On '2300 Jackson Street' they managed to release one last single together with Michael and Marlon, who had both officially left the group. The song also features two of the Jackson sisters: Rebbie and Janet.

'2300 Jackson Street' is about the Jackson family's childhood home on 2300 Jackson Street in Gary, Indiana. The single was only a moderate success, reaching number 76 in the UK singles chart, but failed to chart in the Netherlands.

My collection: 7" single no. 7427
Found: Record fair, Den Bosch, 9 November 2024
Tracks: '2300 Jackson Street' / 'When I look at you'

The Wall: Music from the film - Pink Floyd

I consider Pink Floyd's The Wall the best album the band made, perhaps contrary to most people who always cite The dark side of the moon. The impact the movie had on me when I first saw it towards the end of the Eighties was huge. I've heard the album many times, and even bought the super deluxe set with the mad marbles.

It's quite funny how I never came across this single. Well, I did see it various times over the past few years but it always kept me wondering if I didn't already have it. This time I knew I didn't, and so I could buy it. It's a beautiful package with a foldout sleeve and two tracks that were not included on the album. I think it completes my collection of singles from The Wall, finally.

My collection: 7" single no. 7425
Found: Record fair, Den Bosch, 9 November 2024
Tracks: 'When the tigers broke free' / 'Bring the boys back home'

Love is the drug - Grace Jones

'Love is the drug' was originally recorded by Roxy Music and released in September 1975. Grace Jones recorded the song for her fourth studio album Warm Leatherette (1980). The track was released as the second single, following 'A Rolling Stone' in the UK, while it was the first single to be released in Germany. 

Bryan Ferry from Roxy Music has since spoken positively of Jones' version, commenting, "I really liked Grace Jones's 'Love Is the Drug' cover, produced by the great Alex Sadkin – she gave it such attitude."

My collection: 7" single no. 7422
Found: Record fair, Den Bosch, 9 November 2024
Tracks: 'Love is the drug' / 'Sinning'

I feel free - Belinda Carlisle

'I feel free' was originally recorded by the British rock band Cream. The lyrics were written by Pete Brown, with the music by Jack Bruce. In 1987, American singer Belinda Carlisle recorded the song for her second studio album, Heaven on Earth (1987). The recording was produced by Rick Nowels. It was the fourth single released from the album, released in the USA only. It peaked at number 88 on the US Billboard Hot 100. 

Belinda Carlisle singles from the Eighties are usually attractive because of their picture sleeves, and this one is not an exception. The song's nice too, though.

My collection: 7" single no. 7421
Found: Record fair, Den Bosch, 9 November 2024
Tracks: 'I feel free' / 'Should I let you in?'

We got the beat - Go-Go's

Originally this picture disc came in a transparent sleeve with a sticker, but the sticker is gone and now all I have is the picture disc. It's a beautiful picture disc and it features two songs by the Go-Go's: 'We got the beat' and 'Our lips are sealed'. I already owned the latter, of course, but I couldn't leave this picture disc behind  

'We got the beat' was originally released in 1980 on Stiff Records, but it was re-recorded for their debut album Beauty and the Beat on I.R.S. Records. It became the Go-Go's biggest hit, spending three weeks at number 2 on the US Billboard Hot 100, behind Joan Jett & the Blackhearts' 'I love Rock 'n Roll'.

My collection: 7" single no. 7420
Found: Record fair, Den Bosch, 9 November 2024
Tracks: 'We got the beat' / 'Our lips are sealed'

Ecstacy (Apple of my eye) - Strawberry Switchblade

A long time ago I discovered that the only album by Strawberry Switchblade - featuring the singles 'Since yesterday', 'Let her go' and most of all 'Who knows what love is' - is actually a perfect pop album. When I bought the CD, a Japanese pressing, it came with a lot of bonus tracks.

One of those bonus tracks is 'Ecstacy (Apple of my eye)', a track recorded, most probably, for the Japanese market. Judging from the sleeve of this single it was made for a commercial of a Subaru car. Music for commercials was a common practice in Japan. I don't know if it was a hit; I do know that I was pleased and surprised to find this single.

My collection: 7" single no. 7419
Found: Record fair, Den Bosch, 9 November 2024
Tracks: 'Ecstacy (Apple of my eye)' / 'Being cold'

Það sem enginn sér - Daniel

Daníel Ágúst Haraldsson (born 26 August 1969) is an Icelandic singer. He has been part of the local and international music scene since he started his career with the Icelandic pop group Nýdönsk in 1987. In 1989, he participated in the Eurovision Song Contest 1989 for Iceland with the song 'Það sem enginn sér'. He finished in 22nd place, scoring no points.

The single has become a bit of a rarity. Online it isn't sold at all (at the moment), and at the record fair last week I could only buy the single for a bit of an inflated price. Still, it's worth it, because the song appears on this disc both in Icelandic and English.

My collection: 7" single no. 7410
Found: Record fair, Den Bosch, 9 November 2024
Tracks: 'Það sem enginn sér' / 'No one knows'