Cry and be free - Marilyn

I was only vaguely familiar with Marilyn's second single 'Cry and be free', released just before his only Dutch hit 'You don't love me'. 

Marilyn's first chart success came in late 1983 with his debut single 'Calling Your Name', which reached the Top 5 in the UK and Australia. 'Cry and be free' was less successful, as it only reached number 31 in the UK and number 24 in Australia. I found this perfect copy of the UK pressing, and I couldn't resist. 

My collection: 7" single no. 7271
Found: Record fair, Den Haag, 6 July 2024
Tracks: 'Cry and be free' / 'Running'

You don't love me - Marilyn

Well, I've got the 12" single of 'You don't love me', but I've got the 7" single as well. It was Marilyn's third single, reaching number 40 in the UK singles chart, which was lower than his previous two efforts - but it was his first single to score in European charts. In the Dutch Top 40, 'You don't love me' reached number 14.

His debut album 'Despite straight lines' was released one year later, in 1985. The album failed to chart and subsequent singles were also unsuccessful. The momentum of Marilyn had gone as fast as it came.

My collection: 7" single no. 781
Found: All that music, Leiden, March 24, 1989
Cost: 2 guilders
Tracks: 'You don't love me' / 'Raining again'

You don't love me - Marilyn

Peter Robinson was born in Kingston, Jamaica on November 3, 1962. During his teenage years, growing up in Hertfordshire, England, he started experimenting with his sexuality and image. Adopting the blonde hair, make-up and movements of his idol Marilyn Monroe, he quickly invented his stage name Marilyn.

Boy George and Marilyn were both part of the New Romantic movement and regulars at the Blitz nightclub, a highly stylised nightclub in London run by Steve Strange from the musical group Visage. Following the success of Culture Club, record companies were looking for similar transvestite stars, and so Marilyn was offered a recording contract. 'You don't love me' was Marilyn's third single from his 1985 debut album 'Despite straight lines'.

My collection: 12" single no. 245

Found: Record Exchange, London, 1993

Cost: 1 pound

Tracks: 'You don't love me [extended]' / 'Raining again'

Download: here