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!
Although I already own a copy of Hang on now by Kajagoogoo, this single caught my eye because of the completely different sleeve. When I checked the label, it turned out to contain a "US mix" of the song. Obviously I had to buy this one. Checking this single out on Discogs.com, I found out that this particular mix was never released on CD, which makes it a nice collectable one. Sometimes you get lucky.
The synth saturated 'Hang on now' is one of my favourite Kajagoogoo singles. It flopped it the Netherlands, but reached a respectable number 13 in the UK singles chart. This single was made in France. I wonder if the single was a hit there...
My collection: 7" single no. 5830 Found: Velvet Vinyl Outlet, Leiden, May 13, 2017 Cost: 1 euro Tracks: 'Hang on now (US mix)' / 'Hang on now (instrumental)'
Kajagoogoo were scorned in the Eighties (and after) became they were considered to be naff. But when you listen to their music now, it holds up very well. The song with the nonsensical title 'Ooh to be aah' is a great piece of breezy pop that has stood the test of time better than you'd think.
This 12" single features an extended remix of 'Ooh to be ah' plus a B-side track that was not featured on the 7" single.
My collection: 12" single no. 544 Found: Plaatboef, Rotterdam, 2000 Cost: 2,5 guilders Tracks: 'Ooh to be ah (The Construction mix)' / 'Ooh to be ah', 'Interview rooms'
Kajagoogoo were very successful after they stormed the pop scene with 'Too shy' in 1982. Subsequent singles 'Ooh to be ah' and 'Hang on now' reached the top 20 in the UK without too much trouble, and part of the appeal was, believe it or not, the outrageous hairstyles of the members of the group.
The record company recognised this fact with this release: the 12" single of 'Hang on now' came with a free poster. It took away attention from the fact that the music was pretty good, too: 'Hang on now' features lush synthesizers and a great guitardriven melody.
My collection: 12" single no. 344 Found: Plaatboef, Rotterdam, 1997 Cost: 2,5 guilders Tracks: 'Hang on now (extended)' / 'Hang on now (instrumental)', 'Introduction'
Without Limahl, Kajagoogoo were still able to produce some cracking tracks. And the 1984 single 'Turn your back on me' with its great drums and percussion may be their finest track.
It was released as a 12" single as well, featuring an extended version that brought out all the best bits from the song plus some extras.
My collection: 12" single no. 537 Found: unknown Cost: 2,5 guilders Tracks: 'Turn your back on me (extended version)' / 'The pump rooms of Bath', 'Turn your back on me'
I always am a bit miffed when I find out that there's a special edition of a record or cd I already have. And so, just a few weeks after buying Kaja's 'Shouldn't do that', I found out there was a limited edition double single edition - and I was rather irritated by that. Fortunately, I didn't spend a fortune on the single I bought in April, and this double single version wasn't particularly expensive either, so I've got three discs for the price of one, so to speak.
'Shouldn't do that' was only a minor hit in the UK, peaking at number 63. No further singles by Kaja, as the band named themselves in 1985 when they tried to shed the image of the teen idol band Kajagoogoo, charted.
My collection: 7" single no. 4359 Found: Record mania, Amsterdam, December 30, 2009 Cost: 4 euro Tracks: 'Shouldn't do that' / 'Charm of a gun' // 'Huricane' / 'What ever you want'
Released in the summer of 1984, 'Turn your back on me' was Kajagoogoo's last significant hit. Although it only reached number 47 in the UK singles chart, it reached number 16 in the Dutch Top 40 and also made number 2 in the American dance chart.
This single contains the original version of the song. It was subsequently remixed, and that version appears on most cd's nowadays.
My collection: 7" single no. 1390 Found: All that music, Leiden, February 22, 1991 Cost: 2 guilders Tracks: 'Turn your back on me' / 'The pump rooms of Bath'
With the benefit of hindsight, I think you can conclude that the lack of success for Kajagoogoo can be explained by their inconsistence in sound. After the hard rock sound of 'Big apple', they suddenly presented 'The lion's mouth', a brass-driven affair.
The single reached number 25 in the UK singles chart but failed to chart in many European countries. 25 years later, this track still sounds pretty fresh.
My collection: 7" single no. 3078 Found: Beanos, East Croydon, London, May 10, 1999 Cost: 2 pounds Tracks: 'The lion's mouth' / 'The garden (instrumental)'
'Big apple' was the first single release by Kajagoogoo after lead singer Limahl had left the band. The remaining four members recorded this song with bassist Nick Beggs taking over vocal duties. The song features a harder, somewhat rockier sound when compared to the more 'polished' sound of their debut album.
The single peaked at number 8 in the UK singles chart and number 10 in the Dutch Top 40. Things seemed to turn out alright for the band.
My collection: 7" single no. 738 Found: All that music, Leiden, February 9, 1989 Cost: 2 guilders Tracks: 'Big apple' / 'Monochromatic (live)'
With its swirling synthesizers and lush production, 'Hang on now' was the third top 20 hit for Kajagoogoo in 1981, taken from their debut album 'White feathers'. It was also their last single before lead singer Limahl left Kajagoogoo.
From the second album on, Kajagoogoo continued as a quartet, with bassist Nick Beggs taking over vocal duties.
My collection: 7" single no. 1308 Found: Record Exchange, London, October 15, 1990 Cost: 50p Tracks: 'Hang on now' / 'Hang on now (instrumental)'
After the success of their debut single 'Too shy', Kajagoogoo's follow-up single 'Ooh to be ah' was released quickly. Although not topping the chart like its predecessor, the single still reached a respectable seventh place in the UK singles chart.
The nonsensical title hides a lyric about the showbiz and glamour world in which appearance is all-important. It is still a very topical song, then.
My collection: 7" single no. 1307 Found: Record Exchange, London, October 15, 1990 Cost: 50p Tracks: 'Ooh to be ah' / 'Animal instincts'
The English band Kajagoogoo was formed in 1979 by Nick Beggs, Steve Askew, Stuart Croxford Neale and Jez Strode. Originally named Art Nouveau, they struggled to find a record company but were unsuccessful. In 1981 they auditioned for a lead singer to add to their band and found Christopher Hamill. He made his profile catchier by using a stage name, 'Limahl', an anagram of his surname. His hairdo, blond on top and black on the sides, also helped, of course.
With this new addition, they attracted interest from record companies and got Nick Rhodes from Duran Duran to produce their debut album 'White feathers'. The debut single 'Too shy' was released in January 1983 and became a number 1 hit in the UK and Germany. In the Netherlands, the single peaked at number 4. The B-side is not a straightforward instrumental version as you might expect, but a rather interesting dub version.
My collection: 7" single no. 1941 Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, August 11, 1993 Cost: 1 guilders Tracks: 'Too shy' / 'Too shy (instrumental)'
After all the international success as Kajagoogoo, first together with singer Limahl and then without him, the band found themselves reduced to a trio when Jez Strode left the band in 1985. The band was relaunched as Kaja in 1985.
The first single released by Kaja was 'Shouldn't do that', as a taster from the album 'Crazy people's right to speak'. It also featured on the soundtrack for 'Santa Claus: The Movie'. Still, this single peaked only at number 63 in the UK, and it signalled the end for the band in this line-up. Kajagoogoo has recently reformed and they are touring Europe and the UK again.
