Water - Martika

Martika's debut album was very successful and spawned a few hit singles in 'Toy Soldiers' and 'I Feel The Earth Move'. When the record company wanted to milk the album a little more, they released 'Water', which is a significantly weaker track. It's got that typical Eighties 'big drum' treatment, but the song doesn't really impress. The real draw here is the B-side: a Spanish version of 'Toy Soldiers'.

Fortunately Martika was smart enough to record a second album with some more strong tracks, managing to briefly revive her career. But 'Water' is probably the first sign that she wouldn't become the big star she hoped to be. She eventually faded from the public eye in 1992 after walking away from the music industry, due to burnout.

My collection: 7" single no. 7359
Found: Record fair, Rotterdam, 5 October 2024
Tracks: 'Water (remix)' / 'Como un juguete (Toy Soldiers - Spanish version)'

Toy soldiers - Martika

If you think you're suffering from deja vu, you're almost right. I did write about Martika's 1989 single 'Toy soldiers' once before, right in the first month of this blog's existance. But this single is different: for one, it has a diferent sleeve, and also, it contains an edit of the track, cutting it short by a full 37 seconds.

While the single reached number 17 in the Netherlands, this UK version reached number 5. So I guess the lesson is: if you can edit a song for commerciality's sake, don't hesitate to do so.

My collection: 7" single no. 2703
Found: House of Rhythm, London, July 3, 1996
Cost: 1 pound
Tracks: 'Toy soldiers (edit)' / 'Exchange of hearts'

More than you know - Martika

Martika released 'More than you know' as a single from her debut album 'Martika' in 1988. The single reached number 15 in the UK singles chart.

This is a delicious EP. Released as a limited edition, it features three of Martika's hits performed in Spanish. 'More than you know' is performed as 'Quiero entregarte mi amor', 'Toy soldiers' becomes 'Como un juguete' and 'I feel the earth move' is 'Siento tembla la tierra' here. To top it all off, the EP is housed in a poster sleeve. Those lucky UK record buyers, they get all the nice extras.

My collection: 7" single no. 3055
Found: May 8, 1999
Cost: unknown
Tracks: 'More than you know', 'Quiero entregarte mi amor' / 'Como un juguete', 'Siento tembla la tierra'

Martika's kitchen - Martika

Although this song sounds innocent and playful, rumour has it that Prince wrote this song for Martika with something else than cooking on his mind. When you see 'kitchen' and 'oven' as a metaphor for something, this track takes on an entirely different meaning.

In America this suggestive song failed to become a hit. In the UK, it reached number 17 whereas in the Netherlands it only managed a number 38 placing in the Dutch Top 40.

My collection: 7" single no. 2503
Found: House of Rhythm, London, October 30, 1995
Cost: 60p
Tracks: 'Martika's kitchen' / 'Broken heart'

I feel the earth move - Martika

'I feel the earth move' was originally released as the debut single by Carole King in 1971. Martika recorded a cover version in 1988 on her debut album, and it was released as the third single from that album. It reached number 7 in the UK singles chart.

Part of the success must have been the release of this limited edition with a colour poster of the pretty singer.

My collection: 7" single no. 3094
Found: House of Rhythm, London, 1999
Cost: 20p
Tracks: 'I feel the earth move' / 'Alibis'

Love... thy will be done - Martika

Martika was contacted by Prince after her debut album 'Martika' was a success. She agreed to become one of his protégées, and they wrote the song 'Love... thy will be done' together. It was another hit for the American singer.

The single became her last top 10 hit in the UK, peaking at number 9, and also reached the lower regions of the Dutch Top 40, peaking at number 30.

My collection: 7" single no. 1516
Found: Melody Maker, Den Haag, September 20, 1991
Cost: 6 guilders
Tracks: 'Love... thy will be done' / 'Mi Tierra'

Coloured kisses - Martika

Martika was born as Marta Marrero on May 18, 1969 in Whittier, California. She entered showbusiness in 1982 in an uncredited role as one of the orphan girls in the 1982 motion picture 'Annie'. Her first self-titled album 'Martika' (1988) featured the successful debut single 'Toy soldiers'. In 1991 she released her second album 'Martika's kitchen', which included this single, 'Coloured kisses'.

I bought this single for one reason, and one reason only: it came in coloured vinyl. The red single was a cheap collector's item, which I bought on the basis of good experiences with some of Martika's other singles. This track is standard nineties fare: not bad, but not remarkable either.

My collection: 7" single no. 3407

Found: Record exchange, London, December 2004

Cost: 1 pound

Tracks: 'Coloured kisses' / 'Pride & prejudice'

Download: Album 'Martika's kitchen', including both tracks

Toy soldiers - Martika

Some would call it an obsession. In September 1989, I realised that every time I left my hometown, I bought a record wherever I went. So when I went to Noordwijk for a three day course with my fellow students, I simply had to get myself a record too. On the morning of the last day, I ran out to the centre of town, got into a record store and bought myself the best chart single I could find. It was Martika's 'Toy soldiers'.

It was Martika's debut single, which ended up number one in the USA. The inspiration for the song came from a friend of Martika who was battling a drug addiction at the time. The chorus of the song featured former castmates from 'Kids Incorporated', an American children's TV programme.

My collection: 7" single no. 983

Found: Noordwijk, September 13, 1989

Cost: 6 guilders

Tracks: 'Toy soldiers' / 'Exchange of hearts'

Download: here