Only for you - Louise Tucker

The classically trained Louise Tucker became involved in the world of pop when producers Charlie Skarbek and Tim Smit recorded the album 'Midnight blue' with her. Her soprano voice and synthpop music were an interesting combination and gave her a hit in America and the Netherlands with the title track of that debut album.

In some countries a second single was released, 'Only for you'. This single was considerably less successful, as it didn't chart in any territory.

My collection: 7" single no. 4920
Found: Record fair, Den Haag, June 5, 2010
Cost: 0,5 euro
Tracks: 'Only for you' / 'Jerusalem'

Belangrijk nieuws van Louise Tucker

'Belangrijk nieuws van Louise Tucker' ('Important news from Louise Tucker') is a promotional 7" single from the Netherlands. It offers a fascinating insight in the world of the music business in 1983. The single, which can only be played on one side, contains a short greeting by Louise Tucker himself, followed by the original recording of 'Midnight blue', the single that was a hit in the Netherlands the year before. A voice-over then starts to talk about her 'phenomenal success' in the Netherlands and Europe.

The important news, which is announced on the sleeve of the record, is that DJ's and other recipients of this promotional 7" single should look in their mailbox next week, as they will get something (it is not specified what). The single was part of the promotion for Tucker's 1983 album 'After the storm'. Since the album nor the singles were a hit in the Netherlands, I doubt this promotional single was effective.

My collection: 7" single no. 3776

Found: Record fair, Den Haag, June 20, 2009

Cost: 1 euro

Tracks: 'Belangrijk nieuws van Louise Tucker'

Midnight blue - Louise Tucker

Louise Tucker was born in Bristol. She set out to train as an opera singer and studied singing at the famous Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London. She achieved success in the early eighties by recording two albums with producers Charlie Skarbek and Tim Smit. The albums are notable for combining Tucker's classically-trained opera voice with synthpop music.

Her 1982 album 'Midnight blue' is regarded as one of the first combinations of classical melody in a popular idiom to have enjoyed world-wide success. I bought this single when it reached the Dutch Top 40, where it peaked at number 13 near the end of 1982.

My collection: 7" single no. 162

Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, 1982

Cost: 3,5 guilders

Tracks: 'Midnight blue' / 'Voices in the wind'

Download: Album 'Midnight blue', including both tracks (password: louise)