Doot doot - Freur

I bought the single 'Doot doot' by Freur back in 1983 when it came out, but I was unaware that there was a clear vinyl/picture disc edition of this single until last April, when I spotted it at the record fair in Utrecht. However beautiful, I didn't buy it because the price was too high: 3 euros.

That same dealer was here again yesterday, but this time all the singles were priced down to 50 eurocents. It's the old Puck-trick all over again: wait until the price drops, and then get it.

My collection: 7" single no. 5228
Found: Record fair, Utrecht
Cost: 0,5 euro
Tracks: 'Doot doot' / 'Hold me mother'

Matters of the heart - Freur

So here's another disc by Freur. The more often I write about this group, the less I know what to write. They are completely unknown to most people and I don't even know whether these posts appeal to anyone. But Freur has become an essential part of my collection with all their 7" and 12" singles taken from that debut album 'Doot doot', released in 1982.

'Matters of the heart' was another single taken from the album, and both the A-side are, as they call it, 'Dun dif'runt'. It's quirky and eclectic as always.

My collection: 12" single no. 391
Found: Record fair, 2000
Cost: 5 guilders
Tracks: 'Matters of the heart (Dun dif'runt)' / 'You're a hoover (Dun dif'runt too)'

Riders in the night - Freur

'Riders in the night' is a track on Freur's debut album 'Doot doot' (1983). It was released as the fourth single from the album. The track was shortened by two minutes, as the album version clocked in at five and a half minutes. The record company probably hoped that a shorter version would be picked up by radio more easily.

Still, this single went the same way all its predecessors went: straight to the bargain bin. Freur has never been commercially successful - it's probably their eclectic mix of pop and rock that caused them so much lack of success.

My collection: 7" single no. 4791
Found: Record fair, Utrecht, April 10, 2010
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Riders in the night' / 'You're a hoover'

Matters of the heart - Freur

'Matters of the heart' was the second single taken from Freur's debut album 'Doot doot'. As with all of their other singles, it didn't reach the chart. The single version is 15 seconds shorter than the album version.

Why Freur never had a breakthrough remains a mystery: their music was not so different from other bands around at the time, but they certainly packed more power and had great melodies. I for one am a collector.

My collection: 7" single no. 4370
Found: Concerto, Amsterdam, December 30, 2009
Cost: 1,25 euro
Tracks: 'Matters of the heart' / 'You're a hoover'

Runaway - Freur

I found this 12" single in 1995, a beautiful relic from the early Eighties. As mentioned before, Freur's single 'Runaway' was the second single from Freur's debut album 'Doot doot' and didn't bring them the commercial success they may have hoped for.

The 12" single is a real treat, because it features alternate versions of both the A-side and the B-side of the single. I have always like Freur for their debut single 'Doot doot' (Well, and the 12" single 'Doot doot' as well), but this one is a close second.

My collection: 12" single no. 249
Found: London, 1995
Cost: 1 pound
Tracks: 'Runaway (Dun difrunt)' / 'You're a hoover (Dun difrunt too)'

The piano song - Freur

Freur's second album 'Get us out of here!' (1985) was only released in Germany and the Netherlands. The single 'The piano song' was taken from this album, but it was another unsuccessful release by the band.

In 1986, Freur went into recess when John Warwicker left the band. A year later, remaining members Karl Hyde, Rick Smith, Alfie Thomas and Bryn Burrows, along with bassist Baz Allen started a new band called Underworld, and had a minor success with the single 'Underneath the Radar' (1988).

My collection: 7" single no. 2955

Found: Record fair, February 7, 1998

Cost: 1 guilder

Tracks: 'The piano song' / 'Emeralds and pearls'

Runaway - Freur

'Runaway' was the second single taken from Freur's debut album 'Doot doot' (1983). Just like other singles taken from the album, it did not chart. When you listen to it now, you may be able to understand: the sound is a bit muddled, over-produced and although the whole thing sounds pretentious, the lyric is a bit simple. Still, I like the song for all its eccentricity.

My collection: 7" single no. 2734

Found: Record fair, Amsterdam, September 7, 1996

Cost: 3 guilders

Tracks: 'Runaway' / 'You're a hoover'

Doot doot - Freur

As written before, 'Doot doot' was Freur's debut single and only hit. The 7" single was a revelation for me, I bought almost as soon as it hit the Dutch 'bubbling under' chart. The single didn't make the Dutch Top 40, which at the time I saw as a big injustice.

Earlier editions of the single didn't have the explanatory '(Freur)' in the upper left corner. I've always searched for a copy of that, but so far, without luck.

My collection: 7" single no. 196

Found: Wouters, Den Haag, 1983

Cost: 6 guilders

Tracks: 'Doot doot' / 'Hold me mother'

Doot doot - Freur

Freur was formed in the early 1980s in Cardiff, Wales by Karl Hyde, Rick Smith, Alfie Thomas, John Warwicker and Bryn Burrows. In 1983 they got a contract with CBS Records. Originally the band's name was a graphic squiggle (see also the sleeve pictured here), but the label insisted on a pronounceable name. Thus Freur was chosen as the band name.

Their first single 'Doot doot' was their only hit, although it only peaked at no. 59 in the UK singles chart. The extended version of 'Doot doot' was a great find. I bought the 7" single soon after it came out, but this 12" only turned up a decade later.

My collection: 12" single no. 154

Found: Record fair, 1992

Cost: [unknown]

Tracks: 'Doot doot (special extended 12" mix)' / 'Hold me mother'

Download: here