Star - Kiki Dee

In 1981, 'Star' was Kiki Dee's first solo single release in four years, after the duet with Elton John, 'Don't go breaking my heart' made her a household name in 1978. The single was taken from her first album for her new label Ariola, 'Perfect timing'. Until then, Kiki Dee had been signed to Elton John's record company Rocket.

'Star' was written by Doreen Chanter of the Chanter Sisters. The single reached number 13 in the UK singles chart. Between 1987 and 1990 it was the theme song of the BBC One programme 'Opportunity knocks'.

My collection: 7" single no. 4842
Found: Record fair, Den Haag, May 8, 2010
Cost: 0,5 euro
Tracks: 'Star' / 'Give it up'

Amoureuse - Kiki Dee

Kiki Dee was born as Pauline Matthews on March 6, 1947 in Little Horton, Bradford (UK). In the days before BBC Radio 1, Dee was a regular performer of cover versions on BBC Radio, and she starred with a group of session singers in the BBC Two singalong series One More Time.

Nevertheless, it was only after she signed with Elton John's Rocket Records that she became a household name in the UK. Her first hit was the song 'Amoureuse', written by Véronique Sanson with English lyrics by Gary Osborne. Released in November 1973, it peaked at number 13 in the UK singles chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 2088
Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, March 30, 1994
Cost: 1 guilder
Tracks: 'Amoureuse' / 'Rest my head'

Don't go breaking my heart - Elton John and Kiki Dee

Elton John and Kiki Dee recorded and released the duet 'Don't go breaking my heart' in 1976. Like many of Elton John's singles from the Seventies, it was never included on any of his original albums (though it was recorded during the same sessions that produced 'Blue Moves'). The single was Elton John's first number 1 single in the UK. It was his sixth number one in the USA. In the Netherlands, it was just kept off the top spot by 'Kiss and say goodbye' (Manhattans) and 'Dancing queen' (Abba).

The song’s video is apparently one of the cheapest music videos ever produced. The director was found while filming a Rod Stewart television special. He was pulled aside, located an unused soundstage, hastily dressed it to give the appearance of a recording studio, set up three cameras and had the two singers pretend to record their vocals. Shot in a single take while being told to ‘improvise’, Elton John and Kiki Dee often missed their cues. Elton John’s attempt to lead Dee in a very haphazard dance sequence caught his companion off guard.

My collection: 7" single no. 3534

Found: Empire Records, January 9, 2009

Cost: 0,5 euro

Tracks: 'Don't go breaking my heart' / 'The snow queen'

Download: Album 'Stay with me - The Rocket Years' (Kiki Dee), including both tracks (part 1 / part 2)