When the lights go out - Naked Eyes

The single 'When the lights go out' was only released in Canada and the USA, and this copy is the promotional 7" single, made in the USA. Instead of the album track 'Low life' on the B-side, this single plays the same song on both sides, which is not unusual for promotional 7" singles. 

Naked Eyes had a very distinctive sound, made possible by the extraordinary producer Tony Mansfield, who had previously created those great New Musik singles and albums. I've been playing those albums a lot lately, and so it was no wonder that I went to search for related singles recently. Here I was thinking that I had all the Naked Eyes singles - but I didn't. 

It's an appropriate title to end this year with. Let's put out the lights on 2020, it's time to enter 2021. Hopefully it will be a better year for all of us.

My collection: 7" single no. 6340
Found: Discogs.com, received 30 December 2020
Cost: 2 pounds
Tracks: 'When the lights go out' / 'When the lights go out'

Always something there to remind me - Naked Eyes

Record companies can be strange, especially when different strategies are employed in different territories. In the UK, EMI released Naked Eyes' 'Always something there to remind me' in a perfectly great picture sleeve featuring a photograph of the band, but somehow EMI in Germany decided to use the same design while omitting the photograph. I thought the difference was weird enough to make me want to have this version as well.

Of course, the songs remain the same, so this is mainly an opportunity for me to repost the tracks.

My collection: 7" single no. 5927
Found: Velvet Vinyl Outlet, Leiden, August 31, 2018
Cost: 0,5 euro
Tracks: 'Always something there to remind me' / 'Pit stop'

(What) In the name of love - Naked Eyes

Back in 1984, while I was constantly watching television to see music videos, I got to know the duo Naked Eyes thanks to their video of '(What) In the name of love'. They were unknown in the Netherlands, but in the UK - where Music Box was based - they already had one hit under their belt with 'Always something there to remind me'.

It took me years to find this single, but I finally did in 1995. What a relief! It was not a hit for Naked Eyes, even though the music video was a regular on television in the summer of 1984.

My collection: 7" single no. 2431
Found: August 19, 1995
Cost: 2 guilders
Tracks: '(What) In the name of love' / 'Two heads together'

Promises promises - Naked Eyes

There's no mistaking the sound of producer Tony Mansfield on this single. It might well have been a New Musik track. Instead, it's Naked Eyes, with their second hit single 'Promises promises' (1983). At least, it was a hit single in the USA, where it peaked at number 11. Oddly enough, the British duo didn't manage to have a hit with this in their own country.

The B-side features an early version of '(What) In the name of love', a track they would release as a single in 1984.

My collection: 7" single no. 2131
Found: Record Palace, Amsterdam, July 30, 1994
Cost: 2 guilders
Tracks: 'Promises promises' / 'In the name of love'

Voices in my head - Naked eyes

'Voices in my head' is a single taken from Naked Eyes' 1983 album 'Burning bridges'. Like most of their singles, this one wasn't successful: it did not chart in the UK, nor anywhere else.

It was the first single by Naked Eyes that I bought, although I was looking for other releases such as '(What) In the name of love', the music video of which was shown regularly on television.

My collection: 7" single no. 1289
Found: All that music, Leiden, August 31, 1990
Cost: 2 guilders
Tracks: 'Voices in my head' / 'Sweet poison'

Always something there to remind me - Naked Eyes

I had the 12" single of 'Always something there to remind me' by Naked Eyes years before I found the 7" single. The track was produced by Tony Mansfield, of New Musik fame.

Released in July 1983, this single became the only (minor) hit for Naked Eyes in the UK. It peaked at number 59 in the UK singles chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 3075
Found: Beanos, East Croydon, London, May 10, 1999
Cost: 2 pounds
Tracks: 'Always something there to remind me' / 'Pit stop'

Always something there to remind me - Naked eyes

'Always Something There to Remind Me' is a song written in the 1960s by Burt Bacharach and Hal David. Originally a minor hit for American singer Lou Johnson, it was then recorded by Sandie Shaw. It became her breakthrough hit in the UK in 1964, reaching number one in the UK singles chart.

Naked Eyes recorded a cover version of this song in 1982. This 12" version was remixed by John 'Jellybean' Benitez.

My collection: 12" single no. 147

Found: Record Palace, Amsterdam, 199X

Cost: 2,5 guilders

Tracks: 'Always something there to remind me (remixed version)' / 'Voices in my head'

Download: here

(What) In the name of love - Naked Eyes

Watching music television daily can provide you with lots of new impressions. I learned a lot about the music scene in 1983 and 1984. When I saw this clip, I knew Naked Eyes was a group to watch. Two decades later, I own a compilation cd and several 7" and 12" singles by this duo.

'(What) In the name of love' appeared on the B-side of the 12" single of 'Promises, Promises', but got released as a single a year later. The new version was produced by Arthur Baker. The 12" single I own was made in America, meaning that they were actually attracting some attention over there as well. Not bad for an English duo.

My collection: 12" single no. 357

Found: Record fair, Rotterdam, 2002

Cost: 5 guilders

Tracks: '(What) In the name of love (extended version)' / '(What) In the name of love (instrumental version)', '(What) In the name of love (single version)'

Download: here

Promises, promises - Naked Eyes

Naked Eyes was an English synthpop band, consisting of childhood friends Pete Byrne (vocals) and Rob Fisher (keyboards). The latter would continue his career in the second half of the eighties as one half of the duo Climie Fisher.

'Promises, promises' was their first self-penned hit in the USA, after their version of Bacharach's standard 'Always something there to remind me'. The extended version of 'Promises, promises' apparently features backing vocals by Madonna, although I never heard them... What's more interesting is that the B-side of the 12 inch features an early version of 'In the name of love', a track they would re-record a year later and have another hit with.

My collection: 12" single no. 107

Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, 1988

Cost: 6 guilders

Tracks: 'Promises, promises (extended version)' / 'Low life', 'In the name of love'

Download: here