Young 'n' Russian - The Korgis

AlthoughI bought a copy of the Korgis' debut single 'Young 'n' Russian' a few months ago, I bought another one last week. The reason for that was the attractive sleeve and the fact that it had a different B-side.

This copy was made in the United Kingdom, whereas the one I had was made in France. I already have an obsession for UK copies of singles, and when they have different B-sides, that doesn't help much to restrain me, of course...

My collection: 7" single no. 4634
Found: All that music, Leiden, March 13, 2010
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Young 'n' Russian' / 'Mount Everest sings the blues'

Don't say that it's over - The Korgis

Over the past year, I have made an effort in completing some artist discographies. One of those artists was the British band the Korgis. They have released many singles in the first half of the Eighties, and most of them turn up in second hand shops for really good prices.

One of the singles I couldn't find last year was 'Don't say that it's over'. So I was glad to finally add that one to my collection last weekend. The picture sleeve is a bit boring, but the two tracks on this disc more than make up for that.

My collection: 7" single no. 4633
Found: All that music, Leiden, March 13, 2010
Cost: 1,25 euro
Tracks: 'Don't say that it's over' / 'Drawn and quartered'

Wish you a merry Christmas - The Korgis

'Wish you a merry Christmas' is a non-album track by the Korgis. In the UK, it appeared as the B-side to 'Rovers return' in 1980. In France, the track was released as the A-side of the single, with 'Rovers return' on the flipside.

It is a lovely Christmas track, written by James Warren and Phil Harrison from the Korgis. I don't know whether this single actually charted in France.

My collection: 7" single no. 4172
Found: Chelsea Records, November 8, 2009
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Wish you a merry Christmas' / 'Rovers return'

Everybody's got to learn sometime - The Korgis

Despite decreasing success, charity projects in pop music were still going on towards the end of the Eighties. In 1990, a compilation album called 'Everybody's got to learn sometime' to benefit International Hostage Release was released. It included tracks by Dire Straits, Tina Turner, Simple Minds, Steve Winwood, Mike Oldfield and many other artists who were wellknown for their commitment towards the freeing of hostages (?) .

The title track was performed by the Korgis. However, it was not the wellknown original version from 1980, but a new recording of the track. As far as re-recordings go, this was a rather good version, although it added nothing to the original version. The single did not chart.
My collection: 7" single no. 1395
Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, March 9, 1991
Cost: 3,5 guilders
Tracks: 'Everybody's got to learn sometime' / 'Everybody's got to learn sometime (instrumental)'

True life confessions - The Korgis

Although commercial success eluded them, the Korgis continued to record and release singles until the mid-Eighties. In their catalogue, 'True life confessions' is a somewhat atypical song for them, with a rather breezy pop sound, slightly caribbean.

'True life confessions', which was released as a single in the summer of 1985, also appears on the 1986 album by lead singer James Warren, 'Burning questions'. A 12" single with an extended version of 'True life confessions' also exists, but I have yet to find a copy.

My collection: 7" single no. 4331
Found: Chelsea Records, Antwerpen, December 1, 2009
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'True life confessions' / 'Possessed'

If I had you - The Korgis

For the second time I bought the single 'If I had you' by the Korgis. I already had this version, which includes two tracks on the B-side, but this single only includes one of them. Furthermore, the sleeve design is similar to the one of 'Young 'n' Russian', also released in 1979.

After all this information, one would almost forget that 'If I had you' is simply a lovely pop song, which should have been a big hit all over Europe.

My collection: 7" single no. 4258
Found: Record fair, Utrecht, November 21, 2009
Cost: 0,5 euro
Tracks: 'If I had you' / 'Chinese girl'

Don't look back - The Korgis

In 1982, the Korgis turned to legendary producer Trevor Horn for their single 'Don't look back'. It remains one of the most monumental ballads in their catalogue, with grand instrumentation and a great mournful lyric.

It's a mystery to me why this single didn't meet any commercial success. When everything Horn touches turns into gold, this one remains one of the hidden gems of his body of work.

My collection: 7" single no. 740
Found: All that music, Leiden, February 9, 1989
Cost: 2 guilders
Tracks: 'Don't look back' / 'Xenophobia'

Young 'n' Russian - Korgis

'Young 'n' Russian' was the debut single of the Korgis, back in 1979. The label Rialto records, on which it was released, was owned by their managers Nick and Tim Heath.

The single did not chart, but it would appear on their self-titled debut album, released a few months later.

My collection: 7" single no. 4146
Found: Chelsea Records, Antwerpen, November 7, 2009
Cost: 2 euro
Tracks: 'Young 'n' Russian' / 'Cold tea'

Burning questions - Korgis

Things got rather confusing circa 1985. While James Warren recorded a solo album entitled 'Burning questions' in 1986, singles from this album were released under the band name 'The Korgis'. The title track was already released in 1985 as 'Burning questions' by the Korgis. The single did not chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 4145
Found: Chelsea Records, Antwerpen, November 7, 2009
Cost: 2 euro
Tracks: 'Burning questions' / 'Waiting for Godot'

Sticky George - James Warren and the Korgis

'Sticky George' was the title track from the Korgis' third studio album. It was released as a single in 1981. Like with the single 'Dumb waiters', the artwork department had an easy week, as again the album sleeve was used for this single.

The single did not reach the chart in any territory. I do remember hearing it for the first time back in 1981 and being very impressed.

My collection: 7" single no. 1534
Found: Brussels, October 11, 1991
Cost: 80 Belgian Francs
Tracks: 'Sticky George' / 'Nowhere to run'

If I had you - The Korgis

'If I had you' was the Korgis' second single, released in June 1979. It reached number 13 in the UK singles chart, giving them their first hit single. Their self-titled debut album was released a month later, in July 1979.

The song was later covered by various artists, amongst which Tracey Ullman and Rod Stewart.

My collection: 7" single no. 2960
Found: Record fair, February 9, 1998
Cost: 2,5 guilders
Tracks: 'If I had you' / 'Chinese girl', 'Art school annexe'

Dumb waiters - The Korgis

The artwork department must have been happy when 'Dumb waiters' by the Korgis was released as a single. They didn't even bother to design a new sleeve: the single sleeve was identical to the album sleeve - as the album was also called 'Dumb waiters' anyway.

'Dumb waiters' was the third single from the album, but unlike its two predecessors, it did not reach the UK singles chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 2916
Found: London, November 1, 1997
Cost: 1 pound
Tracks: 'Dumb waiters' / 'Perfect hostess'

Rover's return - The Korgis

I don't have an enormous amount of instrumental hit singles, and certainly the only instrumental song that became the signature track for an artist I can think of was Mike Oldfield's 'Tubular bells'. But 'Rover's return' by the Korgis is another good example.

It may have been the funny barking noises and the upbeat character of the track that caused it to be played so often on the radio in 1980. This in turn helped it become a big hit in the Netherlands, peaking at number 6 in the Dutch Top 40. The track was obviously less popular with UK DJ's, as it didn't chart there.

My collection: 7" single no. 2466
Found: September 9, 1995
Cost: 3 guilders
Tracks: 'Rover's return' / 'Dumb waiters'

That was my big mistake - Korgis

For a while in the early Eighties, I thought the Korgis were the coolest thing since sliced bread. That was largely thanks to their biggest hit 'Everybody's got to learn sometime', but this single was a close second in my book.

'That was my big mistake' was the first single from their 1981 album 'Sticky George'. A lot of people did not agree with me, as the single did not chart in any country.

My collection: 7" single no. 739
Found: All that music, February 9, 1989
Cost: 2 guilders
Tracks: 'That was my big mistake' / 'Can't we be friends'

I just can't help it - The Korgis

Released in 1980, 'I just can't help it' was the Korgis' fourth single release. Their debut single 'Young 'n Russian' was released twice without chart success, whereas their second single 'If I had you' gave them their first chart success.

'I just can't help it' was remixed for the single release, but it didn't help matters much: the single didn't reach the UK singles chart. Their next single would be the biggest hit of their career: 'Everybody's gotta learn sometimes'.

My collection: 7" single no. 2899
Found: Record Exchange, London, October 30, 1997
Cost: 30p
Tracks: 'I just can't help it' / 'O Maxine'

If it's alright with you baby - The Korgis

The Korgis released 'If it's alright with you baby' in 1980 as the second single from their second album 'Dumb waiters'. The single version was slightly different from the album version, omitting a few synthesizer sounds in the musical break in the middle of the song.

The single reached number 56 in the UK singles chart and number 33 in the Dutch Top 40. It was a slightly disappointing chart performance after the top 10 hit 'Everybody's got to learn sometimes'.

My collection: 7" single no. 808
Found: All that music, Leiden, May 5, 1989
Cost: 2 guilders
Tracks: 'If it's alright with you baby' / 'Love ain't too far away'

Everybody's got to learn sometime - Korgis

It's hard to imagine now, but in the days before the internet, there were ways of getting singles from abroad. One of those ways was Oldies Unlimited, a mail order company based in the UK where one could order 7" and 12" singles. This was in the days before cd's, mind. I used to go to the post office, exchange guilders for pounds and then send letters to the UK containing a few five or ten pound notes and my order form. A week or so later I would get a parcel with records. Every time it felt like Christmas.

However, there were also disappointments. Like this one: I ordered a copy of the Korgis 'Everybody's got to learn sometime', and got a copy in a plain yellow sleeve instead of a photo cover. It's the music that counts, but still... I didn't get what I expected. That's the one thing about mail ordering from abroad via snail mail: you never went back with a complaint, because that was too expensive to begin with.

My collection: 7" single no. 336

Found: Oldies Unlimited, UK, 1985

Cost: 1 pound

Tracks: 'Everybody's got to learn sometime' / 'Dirty postcards'

Download: here